Planes stranded at Mazar-i-Sharif airport waiting to leaveA US lawmaker has accused the Taliban of stopping Afghans and Americans from leaving Afghanistan via Mazar-i-Sharif International Airport.
Republican House member Michael McCaul said on Sunday that planes had been trying to leave the airport "for the last couple of days".
An NGO confirmed to the BBC that it had people waiting to board one of the flights.
The Taliban has denied the claims, labelling them as propaganda.
Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told the BBC: "This is not true. Our Mujahideen have nothing to do with ordinary Afghans. This is propaganda and we reject it."
Mr McCaul, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told Fox News there were six planes carrying American citizens and Afghan interpreters waiting at the airport.
"[The State Department] has cleared these flights and the Taliban will not let them leave the airport," he said.
The Texas representative added: "We know the reason why is because the Taliban want something in exchange."
In an email to members of Congress seen by CBS News, the State Department acknowledged there were charter flights at Mazar-i-Sharif that the Taliban will not allow to fly until they have approved the departure.
The BBC has contacted the State Department for comment. ............
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-58455959