airport in 'hostage situation' with Taliban

Grove City OH

Description

A GOP lawmaker said Sunday six planes with Americans on board were being held "hostage" by the Taliban in Afghanistan. Rep. Michael McCaul said the planes had been held for days at the Mazar-i-Sharif airport in northern Afghanistan. "We know the reason why is because the Taliban want something in exchange. "In fact we have six airplanes at Mazar-i-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," McCaul, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told Fox News' Chris Wallace. "State has cleared these flights and the Taliban will not let them leave the airport," he added. Representatives for the White House and the US State Department did not immediately return Insider's request for clarification on McCaul's claim Sunday.