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Afghanistan crisis Latest Updates: Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in order to prevent looting and chaos in Kabul, their forces will enter some parts of the city and occupy outposts that have been evacuated by security forces. Two Afghan officials said President Ashraf Ghani has left the country. The officials, one from former President Hamid Karzai’s office and another an aide on the Afghan security council, told The Associated Press that Ghani left Sunday. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to brief journalists. Sources told CNN-News18 that Afghanistan president Ashraf Ghani has resigned on Sunday and a new interim government is set to take over soon. However, the Taliban has not taken formal control. Amid an unprecedented increase in the level of violence in the country, acting Defence Minister Gen Bismillah Mohammadi Sunday said that security forces are committed to defend Kabul from the Taliban. According to News18, the Taliban fighters on Sunday said a safe passage will be given to Afghanistan government officials, including Ashraf Ghani and Amrullah Saleh, the first vice president of Afghanistan. Former Afghan Interior Minister Ali Ahmad Jalali is poised to take over the transitional government in Afghanistan, Reuters has reported. Jalali was born in Kabul but was a US citizen since 1987 and resides in Maryland in the US Afghanistan president is expected to announce his resignation soon, sources closed to the president told News18. Earlier, the interim minister had said that according to their agreement with Taliban, the regime will be handed over to a transitional third-party government. Taliban negotiators are heading to the presidential palace to prepare for a “transfer” of power. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of fear of reprisals, said Sunday that the goal was a peaceful handing over of the government to the Taliban. A Taliban leader in Doha, which has been the site of years-long peace negotiations between the Afghan government and the group, said fighters on Sunday were ordered to refrain from violence and offer safe passage to those wishing to leave Kabul. A spokesman for the Taliban has confirmed that the militant group will not take the capital Kabul by force. Its fighters have been instructed to stay at the gates of Kabul until a peaceful transition takes place**.** The Taliban entered Kabul on Sunday morning and was set to seize power in a lightning offensive in Afghanistan, CNN-News18 reported, as residents in the war-torn country stared at a bleak future with the withdrawal of US and Nato troops. Kabul was the last stand of the democratic government of President Ashraf Ghani. All other major cities surrendering before the insurgents who ruled the country from 1996 to 2001 with an iron fist. Though Ghani said on Saturday consultations were on “inside the government with elders and political leaders, representatives of different levels of the community as well as our international allies”, experts feared that the Taliban would not go for any power-sharing agreement, especially in the backdrop of its military successes. Hours before the Taliban entered Kabul, the US Embassy began evacuating its staff even as President Joe Biden asked the insurgents not to threaten that mission. Helicopters began landing at the US Embassy and rapid shuttle-run flights near the site began. DIplomatic armoured SUVs could be seen leaving the area as officials destroyed sensitive documents. Thousands of civilians now live in parks and open spaces in Kabul itself. Some ATMs stopped distributing cash as hundreds gathered in front of private banks, trying to withdraw their life savings. Though the Taliban assured citizens that “it will, as always, protect their life, property and honor”, there was a rush to exit the country through the Kabul airport among those who could. There have been reports of targeted killings of civilians from areas captured by the Taliban, known to undermine civil liberties and human rights. In a military blitzkrieg over the past two weeks, the Taliban has captured all major cities from Mazar-i-Sharif in the north to Kandahar in the south and from Herat in the west to Ghazni in the east. Many Afghans fear a return to the Taliban’s oppressive rule. The group had previously governed Afghanistan under a harsh version of Islamic law in which women were forbidden to work or attend school, and could not leave their homes without a male relative accompanying them. The Taliban, pushed to a corner after the US entered Afghanistan as part of its campaign against terrorism in 2001, have regrouped over the past few years and launched a swift offensive with Washington setting in motion the final phase of its troops pullout on 1 May. The Taliban’s major territorial gains have come since the first week of August. The US, which once ended the Taliban reign (1996-2001) and singled out the group for harbouring al Qaeda terrorists following the 9/11 attacks, has stuck to its decision to withdraw from the country after two decades of war by 11 September. President Biden maintains that Afghan forces and government should be able to defend their country. As the country plunged into chaos, the unravelling of Afghan security forces, trained by the US for years, has been spectacular. The combined strength of the Afghan army, air force and police stood at over 300,000 on paper. But there have been reports that the forces have been plagued by corruption and desertion. The Taliban has defeated, co-opted or sent Afghan security forces — suffering from mismanagement and corruption — fleeing from wide swathes of the country, even with some air support by the US. According to some estimates, the Taliban have a core group of 60,000-75,000 soldiers, with the backing of another 100,000-150,000 militiamen and sympathisers. The group gets a large chunk of its funds from the drugs trade - and is also supported by external forces such as Pakistan. In the recent fighting, the Taliban have seized military assets, including Humvees and machine guns, from the retreating Afghan forces.
Afghanistan crisis Updates: Taliban enters Kabul as Ashraf Ghani leaves for Tajikistan, says report
Afghanistan crisis Updates: Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in order to prevent looting and chaos in Kabul, their forces will enter some parts of the city and occupy outposts that have been evacuated by security forces
 "Afghanistan crisis Updates: Taliban enters Kabul as Ashraf Ghani leaves for Tajikistan, says report")
Afghanistan crisis LATEST Updates
Taliban takes control of Afghan presidential palace, says report
After announcing that the Taliban won’t take over Afghan capital Kabul by force, Taliban negotiators on Sunday headed to the presidential palace for a ‘peaceful transition of power’, Reuters reported.
Afghanistan crisis LATEST Updates
Taliban spokesperson vows to keep security in Kabul under control
Taliban forces have been asked to enter the Kabul city, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told TOLO news. He further assured that the security situation in the city will be under control, the report added.
Afghanistan crisis LATEST Updates
UN refugee agency says humanitarian aid needed
The United Nations refugee agency said more than 550,000 people in Afghanistan have fled their homes due to the conflict since the start of this year. A situational update published Sunday by Geneva-based UNHCR shows about 126,000 people were displaced in the previous month to 9 August, the most recent date for which figures are available.
A spokeswoman for UNHCR said that while the situation inside Afghanistan is fluid, “for now the displacement is largely internal.”
Afghanistan crisis LATEST Updates
Taliban forces will enter some parts of Kabul to prevent loot, says report
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in order to prevent looting and chaos in Kabul, their forces will enter some parts of the city and occupy outposts that have been evacuated by security forces. He asks the people to not panic from their entrance into the city, reported TOLO news.
Afghanistan crisis LATEST Updates
Taliban to enter central Kabul as Ghani flees Afghanistan
Taliban fighters have been ordered to enter central Kabul after President Ashraf Ghani left the country, a Taliban spokesperson reportedy said on Sunday. Afghan officials confirmed that Ghani has fled the country as the Taliban moved further into Kabul.
Afghanistan crisis LATEST Updates
Air India’s flight out of Kabul lands in Delhi
Air India flight AI244 with 129 passengers from Kabul has landed in Delhi on Sunday. All other flights from Kabul airport have been suspended, according to sources.
Afghanistan crisis LATEST Update
Ghani left Afghanistan, confirms officials
Two Afghan officials said President Ashraf Ghani has left the country. The officials, one from former President Hamid Karzai’s office and another an aide on the Afghan security council, told The Associated Press that Ghani left Sunday. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to brief journalists.
Ghani left along with his National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib and a second close associate. It wasn’t immediately clear where they went.
Afghanistan crisis LATEST Updates
Air India flight takes off from Kabul
Air India’s last commercial flight with up to 126 passengers onboard has took off from Kabul and is expected to arrive in New Delhi on Sunday night, according to sources. All other flights from Kabul airport have been suspended, the sources added.
Afghanistan crisis LATEST Updates
US to send B-52s to Mazar-e-Sharif
US B-52s are on their way to Mazar-e-Sharif on a bombing mission to destroy a bunch of attack aircraft that have fallen into Taliban hands at the Afghan Air Force base.
Afghanistan crisis LATEST Updates
Antony Blinken says Kabul embassy evacuation ‘orderly’
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the evacuation of remaining staff at the US Embassy in Kabul as the Taliban enter the Afghan capital. But he played down America’s hasty exit, saying “this is manifestly not Saigon”.
Blinken also confirmed that US Embassy workers were destroying documents and other items ahead of fleeing the embassy, but insisted “this is being done in a very deliberate way, it’s being done in an orderly way, and it’s being done with American forces there to make sure we can do it in a safe way.”
Afghanistan crisis LATEST Updates
Ashraf Ghani leaves Afghanistan, says report
According to reports, Afghanistan president Ashraf Ghani and his core team has left the country.
Breaking - Sources said President Ghani has left the country. pic.twitter.com/4bOgsSlzRR
— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) August 15, 2021
Afghanistan crisis LATEST Updates
Ashraf Ghani resigns, interim govt to form soon, says report
Sources told CNN-News18 that Afghanistan president Ashraf Ghani has resigned on Sunday and a new interim government will come soon. However, the Taliban has not taken formal control.
Afghanistan crisis LATEST Updates
Afghan forces ‘committed’ to defending Kabul from Taliban, says defence minister
Amid an unprecedented increase in the level of violence in the country, acting Defence Minister Gen Bismillah Mohammadi Sunday said that security forces are committed to defend Kabul from the Taliban.
Afghanistan crisis LATEST Updates
Police units deployed in various Kabul districts
The Ministry of Interior Sunday said that given the Taliban statement on not entering Kabul, police special units have been deployed in various Kabul city districts to guard against “opportunists”. According to TOLOnews, the police have been given permission to fire.
Afghanistan crisis LATEST Updates
Air India’s flight out of Kabul expected in Delhi tonight
Air India’s flight out of Kabul, the capital of strife-hit Afghanistan, is expected to arrive in New Delhi on Sunday. The security and boarding processes are underway at Kabul airport, reported ANI.
Afghanistan crisis LATEST Updates
Taliban seeks ‘peaceful’ transfer of power: spokesman
The Taliban fighters want to take control of Afghanistan “in the next few days”, a spokesman for the group told the BBC on Sunday, as the militant group encircled the capital.
“In next few days, we want a peaceful transfer,” Suhail Shaheen, based in Qatar as part of the group’s negotiating team, told the BBC.
Afghanistan crisis LATEST Updates
Taliban not ready for power-sharing deal, says report
According to News18, the Taliban fighters rejected a power-sharing deal with Afghan government negotiators in return for an end to fighting in the country. The group said it has instructed its fighters to refrain from violence in Kabul.
Afghanistan crisis LATEST Updates
US diplomats being moved to Kabul airport
A US official said American diplomats in Afghanistan are being moved from the embassy in Kabul to the airport as the Taliban entered the capital.
The official said military helicopters are shuttling between the embassy compound and the airport, where a core presence will remain for as long as possible given security conditions.
– AP
Afghanistan crisis LATEST Updates
Taliban will allow safe passage to Ghani, Saleh: Report
The Taliban fighters on Sunday said a safe passage will be given to Afghanistan government officials, including Ashraf Ghani and Amrullah Saleh, the first vice president of Afghanistan.
Vietnam then, Afghanistan now: Tense Kabul evacuation rekindles memories of another US retreat
The Taliban’s inexorable advance on Kabul and US efforts to evacuate its embassy staff from the Afghanistan capital have revived memories of the fall of Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) and America’s hasty withdrawal from Vietnam in 1975.
A photo that immortalised America’s humiliation in Vietnam — it showed evacuees boarding a helicopter on the roof of a building — spread fast on social networks as the Taliban closed in on Kabul and the US bolstered its troop deployment there to oversee the evacuation of its personnel. Finally, on Sunday, the Taliban entered Kabul even as the US continued its rescue mission.
The Vietnam operation, dubbed Operation Frequent Wind, saw more than 7,000 Vietnamese civilians evacuated from Saigon on 29 and 30 April 1975 by helicopter.
_Read more here_Afghanistan crisis Latest Update
Former Afghan Interior Minister Ali Ahmad Jalali likely to head transitional govt: Report
Former Afghan Interior Minister Ali Ahmad Jalali is poised to take over the transitional government in Afghanistan, Reuters has reported. Jalali was born in Kabul but was a US citizen since 1987 and resides in Maryland in the US. Jalali was a former colonel in the army and was a top advisor at the Afghan Resistance Headquarters in Peshawar during the Soviet invasion.
Besides serving as an interior minister twice, he has also served as Afghanistan’s envoy to Germany
Pope calls for ‘solutions,’ peace in Afghanistan
Pope Francis called on Sunday for dialogue to end the conflict in Afghanistan so that its people can live in peace, security and reciprocal respect.
Ashraf Ghani to step down and transitional regime to take over, say reports
Afghanistan president is expected to announce his resignation soon, sources closed to the president told News18. Earlier, the interim minister had said that according to their agreement with Taliban, the regime will be handed over to a transitional third-party government.
Afghanistan crisis Latest Update
Ashraf Ghani speaks to security officials as Taliban’s overtake of Kabul becomes imminent
د کابل ښاریانو د امنیت په تړاو له امنیتي مسوولینو سره د افغانستان د اسلامي جمهوریت جمهوررئیس محمد اشرف غني ټلیفوني خبرې
— ارگ (@ARG_AFG) August 15, 2021
---
صحبت تیلفونی محمد اشرف غنی رئیس جمهوری اسلامی افغانستان با مسوولین امنیتی در مورد تامین امنیت شهروندان کابل pic.twitter.com/LZ1DJAWqBT
Afghanistan crisis Latest Update
‘We don’t seek revenge’: Taliban assures ex-military, govt officials of safety
“We reiterate that the Islamic Emirate does not intend to take revenge on anyone, all those who have served in the military and civilian sectors in the Kabul administration are forgiven and safe, no one will be retaliated against,” the Hindustan Times quoted a statement by Taliban. .
Afghanistan crisis Latest Update
Taliban will allow safe passage to those wishing to leave Kabul: military leader tells Al Jazeera
A Taliban leader in Doha, which has been the site of years-long peace negotiations between the Afghan government and the group, said fighters on Sunday were ordered to refrain from violence and offer safe passage to those wishing to leave Kabul. Another media house Al Arabiya reported that Taliban officials have said that foreigners in Kabul should leave through the airport or otherwise register their presence with Taliban administrators, once they are established.
Afghanistan crisis Latest Update
UK parliament to be recalled next week to discuss Afghanistan
The British parliament will be recalled from its summer recess next week to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, Sky News reported. UK was a key partner in the NATO alliance force in Afghanistan. UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace had defended Britain’s move to pull troops out of the country earlier this week, saying, that the UK could not “go it alone” after the US announced its plans to withdraw. “It would be arrogant to think we could solve Afghanistan unilaterally,” he said.
Afghanistan crisis Latest Update
84 Afghan servicemen cross into Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan’s Foreign Ministry reported Sunday that 84 Afghan servicemen crossed the border into Uzbekistan asked for assistance. Uzbek guards detained the group of Afghan military when they crossed the border. The group included three wounded soldiers that needed medical help, the ministry said. The men were offered food and temporary accommodation in Uzbekistan, and the ministry was in touch with Afghan officials regarding the return of Afghan soldiers to their home country.
Afghanistan crisis Latest Update
Afghan official says troops surrender Bagram air base to Taliban
An Afghan official says forces at Bagram air base, home to a prison housing 5,000 inmates, have surrendered to the Taliban. Bagram district chief Darwaish Raufi said Sunday that the surrender handed the one-time American base over to the insurgents. The prison housed both Taliban and Islamic State group fighters.
Afghanistan crisis Latest Update
Transfer of power to be peaceful in Kabul: Afghan interior minister
Afghanistan’s acting Interior Minister Abdul Satar Mirzakwal said that Kabul would not be attacked and the transition would take place peacefully. He said that the security in Kabul is the responsibility of the security forces
Afghan president Ashraf Ghani to relinquish power
#BREAKING As reported, #AFG interior minister just confirmed the President to resign and power will be transferred to a transitional government. Watch this space for the recorded video -any moment. https://t.co/CzUipqn8Ba
— Harun Najafizada 🇦🇫 (@HNajafizada) August 15, 2021
Afghanistan crisis Latest Update
Taliban negotiators head to presidential palace for negotiations
An Afghan official tells The Associated Press that Taliban negotiators are heading to the presidential palace to prepare for a “transfer” of power.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of fear of reprisals, said Sunday that the goal was a peaceful handing over of the government to the Taliban.
Afghanistan crisis Latest Update
Air India evacuation flight lands in Kabul
Afghanistan crisis Latest Update
‘All under control,’ says Ghani’s chief of staff as interior ministry says Taliban entering from all sides
Al Jazeera news website quoted Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani’s chief of staff as saying “Please don’t worry. There is no problem. The situation of Kabul is under control.”
Meanwhile, the country’s internal ministry and the armed group both confirmed that the Taliban have begun entering Kabul from all sides, although the fighters will wait away from main district centres till a peaceful handover is complete.
The Afghan government has not said whether it plans to resist the fall of its last bastion. The handover has been quite speedy and smooth in most other provincial capitals with governors and police officials abandoning charge with little to no resistance
Afghanistan crisis Latest Update
Negotiations underway for peaceful transition of power: Taliban via local reports
Taliban spokesman said, “We are awaiting a peaceful transfer of Kabul city” after insurgents enter capital’s outskirts. He said that the negotiations for a peaceful handover was already underway and Taliban fighters had been instructed to stay at the city gates till the transition is complete.
There has been no official word from the Afghanistan government on this.
Afghanistan crisis Latest Update
Taliban fighters instructed to wait at gates of Kabul, reports Afghan journalist
A spokesman for the Taliban says “ Taliban fighters instructed to stay at the gates of Kabul and not enter the city. Until the transition takes place , the Afghan government is responsible for the security of Kabul.” https://t.co/jYAsuL7beO
— BILAL SARWARY (@bsarwary) August 15, 2021
Afghanistan crisis Latest Update
Taliban confirms Kabul’s fall to News18, says will wait for peaceful handover without violence
Speaking to CNN-News18, a Taliban spokesperson said, “We have Kabul with us but we will wait for an announcement from the government and for them to handover the regime to the people’s government. We will not do violence.”
Afghanistan crisis Latest Update
Official sources yet to confirm Taliban presence in Kabul
The Taliban fighters were in the districts of Kalakan, Qarabagh and Paghman. The insurgents did not immediately acknowledge their presence in the capital. However, government offices suddenly began sending workers home early Sunday as military helicopters buzzed overhead. The Associated Press also reported this citing unnamed sources in the Afghan government.
Afghanistan crisis Latest Update:
Taliban enter Kabul, say reports
The Taliban entered Kabul on Sunday morning and was set to seize power in a lightning offensive in Afghanistan, CNN-News18 reported, as residents in the war-torn country stared at a bleak future with the withdrawal of US and Nato troops.
Kabul was the last stand of the democratic government of President Ashraf Ghani. All other major cities surrendering before the insurgents who ruled the country from 1996 to 2001 with an iron fist.
French MPs call for social media ban for under-15s, digital curfew for teenagers
A French committee suggests banning social media for kids under 15 and a nighttime digital curfew for teens 15-18. The report cites concerns about TikTok's effects on minors. President Macron backs the ban, akin to Australia's proposed law.
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