* Six planes chartered to evacuate hundreds of people from Afghanistan have been unable to leave for days, a top Republican has said
* An Afghan official at the airport in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif said the passengers were Afghans who did not have passports or visas
* But Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, the top Republican on the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, said that the group included Americans
* He said the passengers were on the planed but the Taliban were not letting them take off, effectively 'holding them hostage'
The Taliban is blocking the take off of at least six planes chartered to evacuate hundreds of people seeking to flee Afghanistan, a top Republican revealed on Sunday.
'We have six airplanes at Mazar Sharif Airport, six airplanes with American citizens on them as I speak, also with these interpreters, and the Taliban is holding them hostage for demands right now,' Representative Michael McCaul of Texas told Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace.
'The state has cleared these flights and the Taliban will not let them leave the airport,' he detailed.
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WNU Editor: If true. The Taliban want hostages.
Update: Disturbing reports now coming out that the Taliban are hunting for Americans .... 'Taliban are going door-to-door checking for blue passports': Pregnant US woman trapped in Afghanistan says militants are hunting Americans (Daily Mail). More here .... Taliban is ‘hunting Americans,’ says California mom-to-be left behind in Afghanistan (FOX News).
More News On Reports That The Taliban Have Stopped Six Planes Carrying American Citizens And Afghan Allies From Leaving Afghanistan Airport
Planes stranded at Mazar-i-Sharif airport waiting to leave -- BBC
Rep. McCaul says Taliban blocking Americans on 6 planes from leaving Afghanistan -- FOX News
Taliban keeping Americans ‘hostage’ by not allowing flights to depart: Rep. McCaul -- NYPost
Taliban stop planes of evacuees from leaving but unclear why -- Politico
GOP Rep. McCaul says 6 planes with Americans onboard are stuck at Afghanistan airport in 'hostage situation' with Taliban -- Business Insider