A PREGNANT US citizen was reportedly kicked in the stomach by the Taliban and forced into hiding after “several hundred” Americans were left stuck in Afghanistan.
Republican Congressman Darrell Issa said the woman, identified as Nasria, had been trying to leave the country when she was attacked at a checkpoint.
California Rep Issa told Fox News on Tuesday: “We’ve agreed that she’s going to stay sheltered in place, hiding her identity and hoping that her friends will continue to bring her food and keep her secret until frankly we can come up with something new.”
Issa said Nasria had attempted the journey to the airport “multiple times.”
He later tweeted: “I represent two incredibly brave American citizens stranded in Afghanistan. They are both more than 80 years old.
“I can guarantee President Biden they did not wish to stay behind. They were left behind.”
That came after officials were forced to admit a number of US citizens were left behind after the final plane left the county just before midnight local time on Monday.
General Frank McKenzie had said the last planes took off from Kabul airport at 3.29pm ET, or one minute before midnight in Kabul.
He acknowledged that some Americans – likely between 100 and 200 – were still in Afghanistan.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken later put the number of Americans left behind at under 200, “likely closer to 100,” and said the State Department would keep working to get them out.
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Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told MSNBC: “As General McKenzie said yesterday, we’re heartbroken that we couldn’t get everybody out.”
He said those left behind “still have our commitment, and we’re going to do everything we can to continue to try to get them out of that country and out safely. “
President Joe Biden had said in a statement Monday: “I have asked the secretary of state to lead the continued coordination with our international partners to ensure safe passage for any Americans, Afghan partners, and foreign nationals who want to leave Afghanistan.
“The Taliban has made commitments on safe passage and the world will hold them to their commitments.”
He addressed the nation on Tuesday afternoon after America’s longest war came to an end late on Monday.
The chaotic withdrawal has left the Taliban with access to billions of dollars worth of equipment.
That includes identification devices that could alarmingly help them identify Afghans who helped coalition forces – many of whom remain stranded in Kabul.
