Afghanistan crisis: White House invokes Civil Reserve Air Fleet to increase evacuation efforts in Afghanistan

The US is scrambling to control the evacuation efforts in Afghanistan as the nation has fallen into the hands of the Islamic insurgent group Taliban. Over the weekend, the White House has invoked the Civil Reserve Air Fleet, ordering commercial airlines to join in the efforts of evacuations.

Reuters reports that the US ordered six commercial airlines to join in the efforts of transporting people out of Afghanistan over the weekend also known as the Civil Reserve Air Fleet. This comes as Washington looks to ramp up efforts in evacuating Afghans and Americans who seek refuge as the insurgent group continues to establish its control over the country. The Pentagon announced that it reached out to 18 commercial aircraft from United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air among other commercial airlines to help carry people from temporary locations after being flown out of Afghanistan.

This is the third time the US has ordered commercial aircraft in a crisis such as this one. Thousands of people are still at Kabul airport looking to flee from the Taliban over the weekend. Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said that the first phase of the plan would not involve the aircraft flying into Kabul, suggesting that more aircraft could be called on to join in the efforts.

The CRAF was first used during the Gulf War from 1990 to 1991. The second time the CRAF was used was during the build-up to the war in Iraq and the invasion from 2002 to 2003. The evacuees are being flown to several countries outside Afghanistan, including Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia.

Officials have also expressed frustration regarding the processing of visas by the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security. There is also increasing concern regarding the stability in Kabul, where 5,800 US troops are securing the airport.

Meanwhile, GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger this week, criticized US President Joe Biden for the current situation in the war-torn country but noted that people from both political parties are to blame for the current chaos. Kinzinger, who is among the Republicans who has often broken with his fellow GOP colleagues, also singled out former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and disgraced former President Donald Trump. Kinzinger accused Pompeo and Trump of getting “rolled” by the insurgent group.

Kinzinger questioned the slow processing of SIV visas under the previous administrations including the Biden administration. The Illinois Republican also cited the meeting between Pompeo and the Taliban.