U.S. officials helped an American citizen and family members escape Afghanistan via an "overland route" to a nearby country, AP first reported Monday.
Why it matters: This is the first report of an evacuation of a U.S. citizen across a land border since the full U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan on Aug. 31.
Details: A Biden administration official told AP that the family were met by U.S. Embassy staff at the border after they "successfully departed Afghanistan using an overland route."
- Texas Republican Rep. Ronny Jackson tweeted that the family of four was from his home state.
- Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), who's been assisting a U.S. nonprofit group in helping Americans and Afghan allies evacuate the country, told CNN he'd spoken to the Texas woman "multiple times" before and after her escape — which involved passing over 20 Taliban checkpoints with her three children.
The big picture: White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain told CNN on Sunday that about 100 Americans were still in Afghanistan and that the Biden administration was working to help those who wanted to leave the country to evacuate.
- Afghanistan is bordered by Pakistan, Iran, China, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
- The Biden administration did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.