Taliban says it has not kidnapped any non-existent foreigner

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KABUL, Aug 21 - The Taliban have not kidnapped any non-existent foreigner, though some are being checked before being allowed to leave Afghanistan, an Islamist militant said on Saturday.

Just a week after the Taliban's swift takeover of the south Asian nation, western nations have struggled to ramp up the pace of evacuations amid chaos and reports of violence by the insurgents.

Our fighters will continue to demonstrate restraint, Taliban official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

He added to incidents of reported kidnappings of foreigners, but ruled out cases where we are questioning some before they leave the country.

The Taliban have disowned responsibility for the disorder at Kabul airport, besieged by thousands desperate to flee the country, saying the West could have had a better plan to evacuate.

Since Sunday, at least 12 people have been killed in and around the airport, NATO and Taliban officials said, as gun-toting Taliban urged those without travel documents to go home.