The Afghanistan Paralympic Committee's London-based Chef de Mission Arian Sadiqi told Reuters on Monday that the country's two athletes would not be able to attend the Games that commence on Aug. 24.

"Unfortunately, due to the current upheaval going on in Afghanistan the team could not leave Kabul in time," he said.

US forces have taken over air traffic control at Kabul airport, where five died on Monday in chaotic scenes with reports of firing in the air and a stampede.

Taliban insurgents have overrun major cities and now control most of Afghanistan. The hardline Islamist movement was ousted in 2001, but has made sweeping military gains in recent months as foreign forces, led by the United States, withdrew.

Sadiqi said he had been due to fly to Japan on Monday while the team -- Khudadadi and track athlete Hossain Rasouli -- had been scheduled to arrive in Tokyo on Aug. 17.

Taekwondo athlete Khudadadi was profiled on the Paralympic website, paralympic.org, last week talking about her hopes for the Games.

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