Afghan citizens have been blocked from boarding evacuation flights by the Taliban

The Taliban have blocked Afghan nationals from fleeing the country as the latest rescue flight from Afghanistan has touched down in Adelaide this morning.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid declared that the road leading to the Kabul airport has been shut off, with only foreigners allowed to travel through and board evacuation flights.

The announcement was made during a press conference yesterday, with Mr Mujahid urging crowds at the airport to go home as their security would be guaranteed.

“Let’s live together. The war for us has finished,” he said. “They can evacuate all people, but we will not allow Afghans to leave.”

Meanwhile, an Afghan evacuation flight carrying 100 refugees has safely arrived at the Adelaide airport several hours ago.

The passengers, all of whom fled Kabul following the city’s fall to the Taliban on August 15, are understood to be holders of humanitarian visas.

They have been escorted by Australian Defence Force personnel to hotel quarantine.

During the conference, the Taliban insisted that they would not allow the US to extend next week’s August 31 deadline for a complete withdrawal.

“They have planes, they have the airport, they should get their citizens and contractors out of here,” Mr Mujahid said.

The comments came despite a reportedly secret face-to-face meeting between Washington CIA chief William Burns and the Taliban leader on Monday.

The Washington Post cited US Government sources in confirming the talks — the highest-ranking meeting so far between officials of US President Joe Biden and the Taliban since the Islamists took power in Afghanistan just over a week ago.

The CIA declined to confirm the meeting with Mr Baradar, who is regarded as a possible future head of Government.

Mr Mujahid said said he was not aware of any such meeting but did not deny that it took place.

US Defence Department spokesman John Kirby said on Monday that they were communicating “several times a day” with the Taliban.

The Taliban have insisted that Washington keeps this promise and have referred to the August 31 deadline a “red line” that should not be crossed.

Mr Biden said troops were on track to leave Afghanistan by the deadline, warning of growing security risks and describing a tenuous situation on the ground.

“The sooner we can finish, the better,” he said. “Each day of operations brings added risk to our troops.”