The scenes in Kabul are horrific. After Thursday’s attacks near the airport, the city has fallen into greater chaos than before. In the midst of this drama, Paul Farthing, founder of an animal shelter in Kabul, tries to get his staff and animals to safety.
The ex-soldier had previously launched a Twitter campaign to be able to drive more than 150 cats and dogs from the shelter. British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace initially refused. He said that people have priority. In the end he succumbed to public pressure.
The Americans are responsible
However, Farthing’s attempt to get to a plane at the airport with about 70 employees and animals on board failed on Thursday. The British lacked the documents that would guarantee him passage to the plane.
Farthing blames the Americans. He says they blocked his mission BBC. Biden changed exit guidelines two hours before the planned departure. That’s why he didn’t have the lost documents in his possession.
Chaos in Kabul
In an interview with the TV presenter, Farthing describes the situation in Kabul. Everyone around us was the Taliban. They shot in the air. Someone fired a full load of rounds from his AK-47 next to the window of our bus, where we had women and children.”
When Farthing wanted to escape with the bus passengers, they were met with tear gas. It was terrible.
Departure unlikely
Defense Secretary Wallace said the British rescue mission should end on Friday. It now seems more than doubtful whether animal rights activist Farthing, his staff and his animals will still be able to leave the country before the end of the US military operation on August 31. “I can’t do anything. The staff told me it was time for me to leave. They don’t think a foreigner is welcome here,” he said.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is showing little sympathy. He refused any involvement on his part. Johnson told reporters on Thursday he had absolutely no influence on individual cases. Farthing, an animal rights activist, also sympathized with British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace. Wallace said he spent a lot of time discussing the evacuation of pets from Afghanistan. The conservative politician said on Friday in an interview with Radio Times. (SDA/what)
“Typical entrepreneur. Lifelong beer expert. Hipster-friendly internet buff. Analyst. Social media enthusiast.”