The Australian government has reversed its advice for citizens and visa holders trying to evacuate Afghanistan amid concerns around potential terror attacks at the Kabul airport.
Smartraveller advice was updated overnight with a new warning saying “do not travel to Kabul International Airport”.
Foreign Minister Marise Payne said on Thursday morning the situation at the airport was becoming increasingly dangerous.
“Our clear travel advice is now do not travel to Hamid Karzai International Airport, and if you are in the area of the airport, move to a safe location and await further advice,” she told reporters.
“Afghanistan remains highly volatile and dangerous. Be aware of the potential for violence and security threats with large crowds.
“There is an ongoing and very high threat of a terrorist attack.”
Until now, the advice for Australians and Afghans with visas was to travel to the airport and wait for an evacuation flight.
The federal government has been working with the United States to airlift thousands of people out of the country since the return of the Taliban.
Around 1,200 more people were evacuated from Kabul overnight on six Australian flights and one New Zealand operation.
It takes the number of people evacuated to around 4,000 as part of Australia’s rescue efforts.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australian authorities were moving with haste to help those still awaiting evacuations.
“The danger and those risks have been increasing each and every day as we always knew they would,” he said.
Another 221 people have also flown into Brisbane, taking the total number of evacuees brought to Australia to 639.
It comes after reports of beatings by Taliban forces surfaced overnight.
In one distressing video, an Australian citizen is bleeding from his head, while in the background the sound of gunfire can be heard.
Afghan civilians who have Australian visas and have been trying to reach planes at the airport are now swapping information suggesting they are being blocked by the Taliban.
One of those messages, seen by SBS News, warns that only foreigners are being allowed to get through.
The UK government has also issued a warning on its travel website saying “there is an ongoing and high threat of a terrorist attack”.
“Do not travel to Kabul Hamid Karzai International Airport,” it reads. “Commercial flights are not currently operating. If you can leave Afghanistan safely by other means, you should do so immediately.”
Scenes of desperation from Kabul airport have been beamed across the world since the Taliban's return.
Video captured last week showed as it rolled down the runway, with some clinging to the side of it.
There have also been reports of stampedes, while advocates for former guards at Australia's embassy in Kabul say they have been left while awaiting evacuation.
US President Joe Biden has set a 31 August deadline for its military withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Mr Morrison said he would not comment on the timeframe for Australia's operation to wind down ahead of this because of security concerns.
"We will do everything we possibly can to get as many people out as safely as we can," he said.
