On Sunday, the Afghan government fell apart when the Taliban stormed Kabul, seizing control of the Afghan capital and seizing the presidential palace. Several reports claimed that President Ashraf Ghani had fled the country and that the Taliban would soon declare the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan re-established.
Several countries are scrambling to evacuate diplomatic and other personnel from Afghanistan, even as hundreds of people flocked to the Kabul airport to flee the country after the Taliban seized control of the Afghan capital.
Here are the latest developments after the Taliban took over Kabul:
1. The United States, along with 65 nations, has urged the resurgent Taliban to let Afghans leave the country, warning of accountability for any abuses. “The United States joins the international community in affirming that Afghans and international citizens who wish to depart must be allowed to do so,” secretary of state Antony Blinken tweeted as the state department released the joint statement. “Those in positions of power and authority across Afghanistan bear responsibility — and accountability — for the protection of human life,” the joint statement said.
2.Afghan leaders have formed a coordination council to meet with Taliban leaders and oversee the power transition. Former President Hamid Karzai said in a statement that the body will be led by Abdullah Abdullah, the head of the High Council for National Reconciliation, as well as Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the leader of Hizb-e-Islami, and himself.
3. The spokesman for the Taliban’s political office on Sunday declared the war was over in Afghanistan and called for peaceful relations with the international community. Mohammad Naeem said in interviews with Al Jazeera TV the Taliban did not want to live in isolation and the type of rule and the form of theregime would be clear soon. The group respected women’s and minorities’ rights and freedom of expression within Sharia law, Naeem added.
4. US officials said they are working to secure Kabul’s international airport so that thousands of American and allied personnel can safely depart Afghanistan on civilian and military flights.
5. The US security presence will be increased to nearly 6,000 troops over the next two days, according to a joint statement issued by the State Department and the Pentagon on Sunday night. These forces will be in charge of air traffic control and will concentrate on civilian and military departures.
6. A Taliban spokesperson and negotiator told The Associated Press that the Islamist group is holding talks aimed at forming an “open, inclusive Islamic government” in Afghanistan.
7. Following Estonia and Norway’s request, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will hold an emergency meeting on Afghanistan on Monday morning (10 a.m. EDT). Following the Taliban takeover of Kabul, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres will brief members of the Security Council on the current situation.
8. Kabul’s international airport has been closed to commercial flights, officials told AP on condition of anonymity, despite military evacuations continuing.
9. Hundreds of Afghans demonstrated outside the White House, accusing US President Joe Biden of betraying the country’s people. They also demanded that Pakistan be sanctioned.
10. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, more than 550,000 Afghans have fled their homes as a result of the conflict since the beginning of this year. According to a situational update published on Sunday, about 126,000 people were displaced in the previous month to August 9.
