Major Newspapers Push to Get Workers Out of Afghanistan

Top news organizations are continuing efforts to get their journalists out of Afghanistan following the Taliban’s rapid takeover of the country, which put their employees and their families in potential peril.

The Washington Post, New York Times and Wall Street Journal issued a joint statement to the Biden administration on Monday requesting safe passage for their journalists, including “facilitated air movement” out of the country.

The Biden administration said today that Kabul’s airport was open for military and commercial flights and that the Taliban had pledged to permit civilians to reach the airfield. But thousands of people trying to exit Afghanistan can’t get to the airport in the capital of Kabul and Taliban fighters are searching the homes and offices of Afghans affiliated with Western governments and organizations.

The Journal was able to get three full-time expat correspondents out of Kabul over the last week. It is continuing efforts to help dozens of Afghan citizens who have worked with the company over the last 20 years, and their family members, to leave the country, according to a person close to the company’s efforts.

“Certainly traveling through Kabul and gaining access to the airport is challenging for any Afghanistan citizen right now and particularly worrisome for any Afghans who have worked for U.S. journalism organizations,” the person said.