A group of female musicians, once a symbol of Afghanistan’s opening, were trying to flee Kabul when their bid was stymied by a sleeping Taliban commander
Members of an internationally renowned orchestra of Afghan women and girls remain stuck in Afghanistan after an attempt to get them out throughThe ensemble, a symbol of Afghanistan’s cultural opening under the now-deposed U.S.-backed regime, was supported in its escape attempt by leading politicians and U.S. military figures and a team of ex-security and intelligence officials.
For many Afghan evacuees who are able to board a flight out of Kabul, the long journey to their host countries is just beginning. WSJ’s Michelle Hackman explains the steps in the resettlement process and the challenges as they start new lives. Photo: Jesus Hellan/Zuma Pressseverely restricted women’s rights during their previous rule. During their 20 years out of power, the Taliban threatened the school’s performers and sent a suicide bomber to one of its concerts, killing a German spectator.
Scott Taylor, a former Navy SEAL and former Republican congressman from Virginia, and other supporters of the Afghan music school, got in touch with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer , House Speaker, Sen. Bill Cassidy , Rep. Liz Cheney and others, according to people involved in the effort. The musicians’ backers in the U.S. secured an agreement with the government of Portugal to fly them out. But that fell through when the country’s special forces fled Kabul after the Aug. 26, the group’s supporters said. The Portuguese foreign ministry didn’t respond to a request for comment.
He said that he was issuing instructions to let their bus in, while Sen. Cassidy contacted the U.S. Central Command, which runs U.S. military operations in the Middle East and was overseeing the evacuation effort, according to people involved in the effort. Meanwhile, Mr. Taylor and his team contacted the officers at the gates.
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