Now that the U.S. airlift is being shut down — by bombings and deadlines — some 100,000 to 300,000 Afghans are being left behind. These range from people who worked directly with the U.S. and NATO partner nations to members of the former Afghan government, teachers of girls and outspoken anti-Taliban reporters.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that the Taliban have pledged to let people leave, although that promise seems suspect. Over the past 10 days, non-Americans have been blocked from Kabul International Airport.
What can the U.S. do to help the several hundred thousand stranded Afghans? Perhaps we should think about creating a new "underground railroad” to provide an escape path.