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WASHINGTON, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Something unexpected is happening at U.S. military bases hosting Afghan evacuees: Many hundreds of them are simply leaving before receiving U.S. resettlement services, two sources familiar with the data told Reuters.

The number of "independent departures," which top 700 and could be higher, has not been previously reported. But the phenomenon is raising alarms among immigration advocates concerned about the risks to Afghans who give up on what is now an open-ended, complex and completely voluntary resettlement process.

The scale of the independent departures vary from base to base, according to the sources - more than 300 alone at Fort Bliss in Texas

“Pakistan air force has issued official warning to the Afghan Army and Air Force that any move to dislodge the Taliban from Spin Boldak area will be faced and repelled by the Pakistan Air Force. Pak air force is now providing close air support to Taliban in certain areas.”

Reuters photojournalist Danish Siddiqui was killed on Friday while covering a clash between Afghan security forces and Taliban fighters in the town of Spin Boldak in Kandahar, on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. He was 38.

An Afghan commander that spoke to Reuters said that Afghan special forces had been fighting to retake the main market area of the town when Siddiqui and a senior Afghan officer were killed by Taliban “crossfire”. Siddiqui had told Reuters earlier on Friday that he had received a shrapnel injury to his arm while covering combat in the town. According to the Afghan commander, Siddiqui had been talking to shopkeepers after being treated when the Taliban attacked again, following an earlier retreat.

Rafe wrote: ↑Thu Jun 10, 2021 7:20 pm

MadMonkey wrote: ↑Fri Jun 04, 2021 6:12 am If anyone is interested, I left Bagram today and am sitting in Kabul waiting for the plane to refuel. Lord willing I'll be having dinner in Dubai in a few hours.

Thanks to all who have prayed for our safe return. Since I last posted we didn't get attacked again in Bagram and most of my guys are on the way out.

On the interpreter issue.... they really do get treated like garbage. Fortunately, the linguist I've worked with the most is a Trump-loving Texan and he's safely home

EDIT: Made it to Dubai. Time for a steak

It's the 10th! Almost a week! We need a "Where in the World is MadMonkey" update.

03Lightningrocks wrote: ↑Sun May 09, 2021 5:49 pm

MadMonkey wrote: ↑Sun May 09, 2021 5:39 pm It's getting worse as we prepare to pull out (EDIT: attacks against the Afghan population and especially the ANA and ANP... I really wouldn't want to be those guys right now). Some of the attacks are being reported as "accidents" as well... don't believe the news.

Y'all please pray (if you're so inclined) that we get all of our people out of here safely. Fortunately it's been fairly quiet lately but that can change in a hurry.

Due to our jobs it's looking like myself and my coworkers will be some of the last contractors out of the country. Hopefully sooner, I want a hamburger something fierce

Holy Crap! For some reason I did not realize you were over there. Please take good care of yourself and get back safely!