A U.S. Chinook helicopter flies over the city of Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021. Taliban fighters entered the outskirts of the Afghan capital on Sunday, further tightening their grip on the country as panicked workers fled government offices and helicopters landed at the U.S. Embassy.
The Taliban seized nearly all of Afghanistan in just over a week, despite the hundreds of billions of dollars spent by the U.S. and NATO over nearly two decades to build up Afghan security forces. Kabul is the only major city left standing. With Afghan President Ashraf Ghani being on the brink of losing control of the country, a resignation may be happening soon. As the talks were still on, the Khamma Press News Agency on Sunday reported that Ali Ahmad Jalali could be the head of the new interim government. Sources told India TV that India was closely monitoring the fast-changing situation in Afghanistan to decide on the evacuation of diplomatic personnel from Kabul.
Meanwhile, an Air India flight carrying 129 Indians onboard has left from Kabul. It is expected to reach home tonight.
DEVELOPMENTS SO FAR
- In a security alert, US Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan says, "The security situation in Kabul is changing quickly including at the airport. There are reports of the airport taking fire".
- US military evacuates acting US ambassador to Afghanistan from embassy to Kabul airport.
- Taliban commanders say they have taken control of Afghan presidential palace, reports Reuters.
- Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid says in order to prevent looting and chaos, their forces will enter some parts of Kabul, Afghanistan and occupy outposts that have been evacuated by security forces. He asks the people to not panic from their entrance into the city, reports TOLO News.
- TOLO News has quoted sources saying that President Ashraf Ghani has left the country as Taliban advances in Kabul.
- The Taliban fighters entered Kabul on Sunday and sought the unconditional surrender of the Afghan government. However, they apparently remained outside of the city's downtown.
- Meanwhile, Taliban negotiators have headed to the presidential palace to discuss the transfer, news agency AP quoted an Afghan official as saying. However, it was unclear when that transfer would take place.
- According to an official, the negotiators on the government side included former President Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah, the head of the Afghan National Reconciliation Council. Abdullah long has been a vocal critic of President Ashraf Ghani, who long refused giving up power to get a deal with the Taliban.
- While talks were still on, Acting Defense Minister Bismillah Khan sought to reassure the public that Kabul would remain “secure.” The Taliban also tried to calm residents of the capital, insisting their fighters wouldn’t enter people’s homes or interfere with businesses. They also said they’d offer an “amnesty” to those who worked with the Afghan government or foreign forces.
- “No one’s life, property and dignity will be harmed and the lives of the citizens of Kabul will not be at risk,” the Taliban said in a statement. But they also warned no one to enter the area around the capital.
- In the backdrop, several people rushed to leave the country through the Kabul airport, which is the last route out of the country as the Taliban by now have captured every border crossing.
Passengers walk to the departures terminal of Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021. As a Taliban offensive encircles the Afghan capital, there's increasingly only one way out for those fleeing the war, and only one way in for U.S. troops sent to protect American diplomats still on the ground: the airport.
- The militants also took Maidan Shar, the capital of Maidan Wardak, on Sunday, Afghan lawmaker Hamida Akbari and the Taliban said. Another provincial capital in Khost also fell to the insurgents, said a provincial council member who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. Afghan officials said the capitals of Kapisa and Parwan provinces also fell.
READ MORE: Afghan forces surrender Bagram air base to Taliban
- The militants also took the land border at Torkham, the last not in their control, on Sunday. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told local broadcaster Geo TV that Pakistan halted cross-border traffic there after the militants seized it.
- Later, Afghan forces at Bagram air base, home to a prison housing 5,000 inmates, surrendered to the Taliban, according to Bagram district chief Darwaish Raufi. The prison at the former U.S. base held both Taliban and Islamic State group fighters.
