New Delhi: The Taliban took control of Afghanistan on Sunday after President Ashraf Ghani fled the country after entering Kabul.
With a surprisingly quick collapse of the government, the terrorist group took over the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday night, sparking fear and panic in the capital.
Thousands were trying to escape Kabul and the Taliban’s staunchly radical brand of Islamist rule, scenes of chaos appeared as crowds gathered at the airport on Monday.
Ghani fled on Sunday as the group laid siege to Kabul, the Taliban sealing a nationwide military victory, with all the cities falling to them in just 10 days.
“The Taliban have won by decision of their swords and guns, and are now responsible for the honour, property and self-preservation of their countrymen,” Ghani said in a statement posted on Facebook.
Taliban co-founder Abdul Ghani Baradar also declared victory in a video posted on social media.
“Now it’s time to test and prove, now we have to show that we can serve our country and ensure the safety and convenience of life,” he was quoted as saying by AFP.
Quoting sources, the AP said that the Taliban may soon announce a new president of Afghanistan.
The Taliban has also elected Mullah Sherin Akhund as the new governor of Kabul.
These are the top developments after the capture of Kabul by the Taliban:
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The US State Department said late Sunday that more than 60 countries issued a joint statement saying that Afghans and international citizens who wish to leave Afghanistan should be allowed to depart and that airports and border crossings should remain open.
The US government and countries including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Qatar and the UK said in a joint statement that “those in positions of power and authority in Afghanistan have responsibility and accountability for human life.” and for the protection of property, and the immediate restoration of security and civil order”.
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The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will hold an emergency meeting on Afghanistan on Monday morning at the request of Estonia and Norway.
Council diplomats said on Sunday that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres would brief council members on the latest situation following the Taliban’s capture of the capital, Kabul. The UN chief on Friday urged the Taliban to immediately halt their attack in Afghanistan and hold talks “in good faith” to avert a prolonged civil war.
- As President Ashraf Ghani fled the country, Afghanistan’s Vice President Amrullah Saleh said he was “with his land and people”; For a reason and purpose”. He said it was his legitimacy to oppose “Pakistan-backed repression and brutal dictatorship”.
- Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Britain was working with its allies through a NATO meeting on Friday to send a clear message that “no one should recognize the Taliban bilaterally”.
- The United States has said it will deploy 6,000 of its troops to Kabul airport, now suddenly taken over by the Taliban, to ensure the safe departure of its citizens and their friends and allies from Afghanistan. and the unprecedented collapse of the elected regime under President Ashraf Ghani.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken also called several times the counterparts of his key aides.
- India is gearing up to evacuate hundreds of its officers and citizens from Kabul. It is learned that a fleet of C-17 Globemaster military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force has been kept on standby to begin the evacuation mission, PTI reported.
Citing sources, the PTI report also said that India will not put the lives of its employees and its citizens in Kabul at any risk and plans have already been finalized in case they require emergency evacuation. has gone. “The government is closely monitoring the rapid developments in Afghanistan. We will not put the lives of our employees at the Indian Embassy in Kabul at any risk.”
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An Air India flight carrying 129 passengers from Kabul landed in Delhi on Sunday evening. The AI 244 took off from Kabul airport at 6.06 pm on Sunday, even as the Taliban had reached the Afghan capital and were on the verge of taking power.
An Air India spokesperson said, “We are monitoring the situation and are currently continuing our scheduled flights to Kabul.” IANS. Further, the official said that the next flight to Kabul is scheduled to take off at 8.50 am on Monday.
Expressing dismay over the situation in Afghanistan, a woman on board the flight told reporters in Delhi that the world has left Afghanistan “our friends are being killed,” she said. The passengers also included diplomats and security officials posted at the Indian Embassy in Kabul.
- American diplomats were taken by helicopter from their embassy to the airport as the local Afghan army, trained for years and equipped for billions of dollars by the United States and others, melted away.
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