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KABUL: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani mentioned Saturday the remobilisation of the nation’s armed forces was a “high precedence”, as Taliban inched nearer to the capital after routing the nation’s defences over the previous week.
The president gave no trace he would resign or take accountability for the present state of affairs, however mentioned “consultations” had been happening to attempt to assist finish the conflict.
“The remobilisation of our safety and defence forces is our high precedence, and critical steps are being taken on this regard,” he mentioned showing sombre and sitting earlier than an Afghan flag in a televised speech.
ALSO READ | Taliban reaches Char Asyab district, simply 7 miles from Afghan capital
However Ghani provided few specifics on what his administration was planning as the federal government’s management over Afghanistan has all however collapsed in current days.
The announcement got here as US Marines returned to supervise emergency evacuations from Afghanistan and international embassies scrambled to drag out their employees as safety deteriorated.
With the nation’s second and third-largest cities having fallen into Taliban fingers, Kabul has successfully turn out to be the besieged final stand for presidency forces who’ve provided little or no resistance elsewhere.
Taliban advance
Heavy preventing was additionally reported round Mazar-i-Sharif, an remoted holdout within the north the place warlord and former vice chairman Abdul Rashid Dostum had gathered his virulently anti-Taliban militia.
The one different cities of any significance to not be taken but had been Jalalabad, Gardez, and Khost — Pashtun-dominated and unlikely to supply a lot resistance now.
In Kabul, US embassy employees had been ordered to start shredding and burning delicate materials, as the primary American troops from a deliberate 3,000-strong re-deployment began arriving to safe the airport and oversee evacuations.
A bunch of European nations — together with Britain, Germany, Denmark and Spain — all introduced the withdrawal of personnel from their respective embassies on Friday.
ALSO READ | US ramps up evacuations in Afghanistan
For Kabul residents and the tens of 1000’s who’ve sought refuge there in current weeks, the overwhelming temper was one in every of confusion and concern.
Muzhda, 35, a single girl who arrived within the capital along with her two sisters after fleeing close by Parwan, mentioned she was terrified for the longer term.
“I’m crying day and evening,” she informed AFP
“I’ve turned down marriage proposals up to now… If the Taliban come and pressure me to marry, I’ll commit suicide.”
UN Secretary-Normal Antonio Guterres mentioned he was “deeply disturbed” by accounts of poor remedy of girls in areas seized by the Taliban, who imposed an ultra-austere model of Islam on Afghanistan throughout their 1996-2001 rule.
The size and velocity of the Taliban advance have shocked Afghans and the US-led alliance that poured billions into the nation after toppling the insurgents within the wake of the September 11 assaults practically 20 years in the past.
Days earlier than a remaining US withdrawal ordered by President Joe Biden, particular person Afghan troopers, items and even complete divisions have surrendered — handing the Taliban much more autos and navy {hardware} to gas their lightning advance.
‘1000’s per day’
Pul-e-Alam, capital of Logar province, was the newest metropolis to fall on Friday, placing the Taliban inside placing distance of Kabul.
Helicopters flitted backwards and forwards between Kabul’s airport and the sprawling US diplomatic compound within the closely fortified Inexperienced Zone — 46 years after choppers evacuated Individuals from Saigon, signalling the top of the Vietnam Conflict.
The US-led evacuation is targeted on 1000’s of individuals, together with embassy staff, and Afghans and their households who concern retribution for working as interpreters or in different help roles for the US.
Pentagon spokesman Kirby mentioned that many of the troops shepherding the evacuation can be in place by Sunday and “will have the ability to transfer 1000’s per day” out of Afghanistan.
In his speech Saturday, Ghani mentioned he needed to finish the preventing.
“I’ve began in depth consultations inside the federal government with the elders, political leaders, representatives of individuals, and worldwide companions on reaching an inexpensive and sure political resolution during which the peace and stability of the folks of Afghanistan are envisaged,” he mentioned.
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