Taliban seizes Afghanistan after taking control over Kabul, President Ghani leaves the country
According to a broadcast on Al Jazeera, a Taliban spokesman has declared the end of the war, adding that the type of rule the Taliban will pursue, and the set up of the new regime, will soon be made clear.
“We assure everyone that we will provide safety for citizens and diplomatic missions. We are ready to have a dialogue with all Afghan figures and will guarantee them the necessary protection,” Taliban political office spokesman Mohammad Naeem told Al Jazeera.
Suhail Shaheen, another spokesman for the militant group, told the AP news agency that the Taliban would hold talks in the coming days toward forming an “open, inclusive Islamic government in Afghanistan.”
In live footage aired earlier by Al Jazeera, Taliban commanders and fighters could be seen sitting inside the presidential palace in Kabul and declaring victory in their campaign against Afghan forces.
Taliban members were shown entering the presidential office and taking down Afghan flags.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled the country as Taliban militants entered the Afghan capital. Afghan leaders are reportedly forming a council to arrange a transfer of power.
In a statement released on Facebook following his departure, Ghani said he made the decision to leave in order to “prevent a flood of bloodshed.”
“The Taliban have won with the judgement of their swords and guns, and are now responsible for the honor, property and self-preservation of their countrymen,” he said.
President Joe Biden’s administration is reportedly limiting its current number of flights for Afghans to the US, as a chaotic evacuation continues from Kabul airport, according to CNN.
The administration has said it is instead trying to focus on evacuating American personnel from the country.
The US is sending another 1,000 troops to support evacuations from Kabul airport amid reports of scattered gunfire, officials said.
According to a US defense official cited by the AP news agency, the soldiers were heading directly to Kabul instead of going to Kuwait as a standby force.
Saudi Arabia has evacuated all members of its diplomatic mission in Kabul, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said.
“All members of the Kingdom’s embassy in the Afghan capital, Kabul, have been evacuated, and they have arrived home,” the ministry said in a statement.
Britain’s Defense Ministry said UK troops have landed in Kabul to help the evacuation mission.
Johnson said British nationals were the priority, as well as Afghans who helped British forces in Afghanistan over the past 20 years.
“The ambassador is working round the clock, has been there in the airport to help process the applications,” Johnson said after chairing an emergency Cabinet meeting.
The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency session on the worsening situation in Afghanistan on Monday at 10 a.m. (1400 UTC).
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will brief council members on the latest developments, according to diplomats cited by the AP news agency.
Source- DW news
