Updates | Footage shows Taliban fighters in Afghan presidential palace

The most recent developments on Afghanistan, the place a Taliban blitz has taken giant swathes of territory simply weeks earlier than the ultimate pullout of American and NATO troops:

US sending one other 1,000 troops to Afghanistan

 

The US is sending one other 1,000 troops to Afghanistan, elevating the US deployment to roughly 6,000.

A protection official tells The Related Press on Sunday that 1,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne are going on to Kabul as an alternative of going to Kuwait as a standby power.

The protection official spoke on situation of anonymity to debate a deployment determination not but introduced by the Pentagon.

On Saturday, President Joe Biden authorised the US troop deployment to rise to roughly 5,000 by including about 1,000.

– AP

Taliban search ”open, inclusive” Islamic authorities

 

A Taliban spokesman and negotiator stated informed The Related Press on Sunday that the militant group is holding talks geared toward forming an “open, inclusive Islamic authorities” in Afghanistan.

Suhail Shaheen spoke to the AP after the Taliban overran many of the nation in a matter of days and pushed into the capital, Kabul, as the USA scrambled to withdraw diplomats and different civilians.

Earlier, a Taliban official stated the group would announce a brand new authorities from the presidential palace, however these plans look like on maintain.

– AP

Britain says troops have arrived in Kabul

 

Britain’s Defence Ministry says UK troops have arrived in Kabul to assist evacuate remaining Britons there.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated after chairing a Cupboard emergency committee assembly Sunday that the precedence is to get out British nationals, in addition to Afghans who helped UK forces in Afghanistan over the previous 20 years, “as quick as we will.” “The ambassador is working around the clock, has been there within the airport to assist course of the purposes,” he informed Sky Information.

“We actually have the means in the intervening time to get them out … It is only a query of constructing certain that they are in a position to do it over the following few days.” The “huge bulk” of embassy workers and officers have already left Afghanistan, Mr Johnson added.

– AP

UN to carry emergency assembly on Afghanistan

 

The UN Safety Council will maintain an emergency assembly on Afghanistan on Monday morning on the request of Estonia and Norway.

Council diplomats stated Sunday that UN Secretary-Basic Antonio Guterres will transient council members on the most recent state of affairs following the Taliban takeover of the capital, Kabul.

The UN chief on Friday had urged the Taliban to instantly halt their offensive in Afghanistan and negotiate “in good religion” to avert a chronic civil warfare.

He additionally stated he’s “deeply disturbed by early indications that the Taliban are imposing extreme restrictions within the areas beneath their management, significantly focusing on girls and journalists.

– AP

Footage reveals Taliban fighters in Afghan presidential palace

 

The Al-Jazeera information community is airing footage of a big group of Taliban fighters contained in the presidential palace within the Afghan capital.

The Taliban are anticipated to announce their takeover from the palace, renaming the nation because the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

The militants have taken over most of Afghanistan in a matter of days because the US scrambles to withdraw after 20 years of warfare.

– AP

Suspension cuts off one of many final avenues to flee the nation

 

Senior U.S. navy officers say Kabul’s worldwide airport has been closed to business flights as navy evacuations proceed.

The suspension of economic flights cuts off one of many final avenues to flee the nation for Afghans frightened of Taliban rule. The officers spoke on situation of anonymity to debate ongoing operations.

 

Sources say Taliban have taken over Presidential palace

 

The Taliban have stated that their militants have entered a number of districts within the Afghan capital Kabul, whereas sources stated that they had additionally taken over the presidential palace, hours after chief Ashraf Ghani fled the nation.

“Navy items of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan have entered Kabul metropolis to make sure safety,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid tweeted, including that “their advance is constant usually”.

Three senior Taliban sources additionally informed AFP that the insurgents had taken management of the presidential palace.

“Taliban (fighters) have entered the presidential palace,” one senior Taliban commander informed AFP.

“The mujahideen have entered the presidential palace and have taken management of it,” a second commander stated, including {that a} assembly on safety within the capital was going down there.

 

Taliban to revive ‘Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’

 

A Taliban official says the group will quickly declare the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan from the presidential palace within the capital, Kabul.

That was the title of the nation beneath the Taliban authorities ousted by U.S.-led forces after the Sept. 11, 2001, assaults. The official spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of he was not approved to transient media.

 

U.S. Embassy in Kabul advises ‘shelter in place’

 

The U.S. Embassy in Kabul has suspended all operations and informed Individuals to shelter in place, saying it has acquired experiences of gunfire on the worldwide airport.

The U.S. is racing to airlift diplomats and residents out of Afghanistan after the Taliban overran many of the nation and entered the capital.

“The safety state of affairs in Kabul is altering rapidly and the state of affairs on the airport is deteriorating quickly,” the embassy stated in an announcement.

“There are experiences of the airport taking fireplace and we’re instructing U.S. residents to shelter in place. The U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan has suspended consular operations efficient instantly. Don’t come to the Embassy or airport right now.”

France relocating embassy

France is relocating its embassy in Kabul to the airport to evacuate all residents nonetheless in Afghanistan, initially transferring them to Abu Dhabi.

Overseas Minister Jean-Yves Le Drain stated in an announcement that navy reinforcements and plane would deploy within the hours forward to the United Arab Emirates, “in order that the primary evacuations towards Abu Dhabi can begin.”

Evacuations have been in progress for weeks and a constitution flight put in place by France in mid-July. Since Could, France has taken in Afghan staff at French constructions beneath potential risk, with 600 folks relocated to France.

France steadily pulled out troops from Afghanistan between 2013 and 2015, and since then former personnel who labored for the French Military and their households, some 1,350 Afghans, had been delivered to France, the assertion stated.

 

Taliban orders fighters to enter Kabul to forestall looting: spokesman

The Taliban has ordered its fighters to enter the Afghan capital Kabul to forestall looting after native police abandoned their posts, a spokesman for the militant group stated on Sunday.

The assertion by Zabihullah Mujahid got here shortly after a number one Afghan peace envoy stated President Ashraf Ghani had left the nation

Blinken says Kabul embassy workers being moved to airport

US embassy workers in Kabul had been being moved Sunday to the airport as Taliban forces advance on the Afghan capital, Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated.

“It is why we had forces readily available to verify we might do that in a secure and orderly vogue. The compound itself, people are leaving there and going to the airport,” Mr. Blinken informed ABC.

 

State Dept says violence in Afghanistan not in step with U.S.-Taliban peace deal

The US says ranges of violence in Afghanistan are unacceptably excessive and never in step with the U.S.-Taliban peace settlement, U.S. State Division spokesperson Ned Value stated.

“Actually the degrees of violence, don’t seem in step with what the Taliban pledged in that settlement,” Value informed reporters in reference to the Settlement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan signed in 2020.

Political answer in Afghanistan ‘extra pressing than ever’: NATO

NATO stated on Sunday that discovering a political answer to Afghanistan battle was extra urgent “than ever” because the Taliban stood poised to take energy on the outskirts of Kabul.

“We assist Afghan efforts to discover a political answer to the battle, which is now extra pressing than ever,” an official on the 30-nation alliance informed AFP.

The official stated “NATO is continually assessing developments in Afghanistan” following a lightning sweep by the insurgents to the sting of the capital.

“We’re serving to to keep up operations at Kabul airport to maintain Afghanistan linked with the world,” the official stated.

“We additionally keep our diplomatic presence in Kabul. The safety of our personnel is paramount, and we proceed to regulate as essential.”

Afghan delegation to fulfill Taliban in Qatar on Sunday, says govt negotiator

An Afghanistan authorities delegation, together with senior official Abdullah Abdullah, will journey to Qatar on Sunday to fulfill with representatives of the Taliban, an Afghanistan negotiator stated.

Fawzi Koofi, a member of the Kabul negotiating group, confirmed to Reuters the delegation would meet with the Taliban within the Gulf state after the militant group earlier entered Kabul.

A supply conversant in the matter informed Reuters the Afghan delegation and Taliban representatives would focus on a transition of energy, including that U.S. officers would even be concerned.

Afghan President Ghani urges authorities forces to keep up Kabul regulation and order

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani urged authorities forces on Sunday to keep up safety in Kabul, after the Taliban paused their sweeping advance on the outskirts of the capital, inflicting widespread panic.

“It’s our duty and we’ll do it in the very best method. Anybody who thinks about chaos, plunder or looting can be tackled with power,” he stated in a video launched to media. – AFP

 

Evacuation of Indian workers

India has put in place contingency plans to evacuate lots of of its officers and residents from Kabul that has been gripped by concern and panic following experiences of Taliban fighters coming into the outskirts of the Afghan capital metropolis on Sunday.

Folks conversant in the event stated the federal government is not going to put the lives of its staffers on the Indian embassy and Indian residents in Kabul at any danger and plans have already been finalised in case they require emergency evacuation.

“The federal government is intently monitoring the fast-paced developments in Afghanistan. We is not going to put the lives of our workers on the Indian embassy in Kabul at any danger,” stated one of many individuals cited above. – PTI

 

Pope requires ‘options,’ peace in Afghanistan

Pope Francis stated Sunday that he shares “the unanimous concern for the state of affairs in Afghanistan” as Taliban fighters sweep throughout the war-torn nation.

He spoke because the Taliban entered the outskirts of Kabul, the Afghan capital, and stated they had been awaiting a “peaceable switch” of town.

From a window overlooking St. Peter’s Sq., the pope requested for prayers “in order that the clamor of weapons could stop and options could also be discovered on the negotiating desk.” He added that “solely on this means, could the battered inhabitants of the nation — women and men, aged and kids — return to their properties and reside in peace and security, with full mutual respect.”

UK parliament to be recalled subsequent week to debate Afghanistan

The British parliament can be recalled from its summer season recess subsequent week to debate the state of affairs in Afghanistan, a supply at Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Downing Avenue workplace stated on Sunday, as Taliban insurgents entered Kabul.

The entry into the capital caps a lightning advance by the Islamist militants, who had been ousted 20 years in the past by the USA after the Sept. 11 assaults.

Britain’s inside ministry stated earlier that it was working to guard its residents and assist different eligible former UK workers to depart Afghanistan. – Reuters

Afghan forces give up Bagram air base to Taliban

An Afghan official says forces at Bagram air base, residence to a jail housing 5,000 inmates, have surrendered to the Taliban.

Bagram district chief Darwaish Raufi stated Sunday that the give up handed the one-time American base over to the insurgents.

The jail housed each Taliban and Islamic State group fighters.

It got here because the Taliban entered the outskirts of Kabul. – AP

Russia says emergency UN assembly on Afghanistan is deliberate

Russia is working with different international locations to carry an emergency UN Safety Council assembly on Afghanistan because the Taliban completes its navy takeover of the nation, overseas ministry official Zamir Kabulov informed Russian information businesses. 

“We’re engaged on this,” Kabulov stated, including that the assembly will happen. 

Russia is one in every of 5 everlasting members of the UN Safety Council, together with the USA, Britain, France, and China. 

Kabulov additionally stated Moscow doesn’t plan to evacuate its embassy in Kabul, saying the Taliban had provided Russia and different international locations — which he didn’t title — safety assurances for his or her missions in Afghanistan. – AFP

Taliban negotiators head to presidential palace

An Afghan official tells The Related Press that Taliban negotiators are heading to the presidential palace to organize for a “switch” of energy.

The official, who spoke on situation of anonymity due to concern of reprisals, stated Sunday that the aim was a peaceable handing over of the federal government to the Taliban.

Additionally learn | Timeline: The Taliban’s fast advance throughout Afghanistan

Kabul

The Taliban fighters on Sunday, August 15, 2021, entered the outskirts of Kabul whereas panicked employees fled authorities workplaces and helicopters landed on the U.S. Embassy within the Afghan capital because the militants’ additional tightened their grip on the nation.

In the meantime, Taliban fighters had been ordered to attend on the gates of Kabul and never enter town, an rebel spokesman stated, after the entire collapse of the nation’s safety forces.

“The Islamic Emirate instructs all its forces to face on the gates of Kabul, to not attempt to enter town,” a spokesman for the Taliban tweeted, though some residents reported insurgents had peacefully entered some outer suburbs.

Three Afghan officers informed The Related Press that the Taliban had been within the districts of Kalakan, Qarabagh and Paghman within the capital. The militants later pledged to not take the capital “by power” as sporadic gunfire might be heard within the capital.

 

Jalalabad

The Taliban seized town of Jalalabad early August 15, reducing off Afghanistan’s more and more remoted capital Kabul to the east.

The collapse of Jalalabad, which had been the final main metropolis standing apart from Kabul, leaves Afghanistan’s central authorities answerable for simply the capital and 7 different provincial capitals. In a nationwide offensive that has taken simply over per week, the Taliban has defeated, co-opted or despatched Afghan safety forces fleeing from vast swathes of the nation, even with some air assist by the U.S. navy.

Additionally learn: The Hindu Explains | Are the Taliban getting ready to victory?

Khost

An Afghan official and the Taliban say the militants have seized the provincial capital of Khost.

That leaves Afghanistan’s central authorities answerable for simply Kabul and 5 different provincial capitals overseas’s 34.

Albania to shelter Afghans headed for US

Albania’s prime minister says his nation will briefly shelter lots of of Afghans who labored with the Western peacekeeping navy forces and are actually threatened by the Taliban.

On his Fb web page, Edi Rama stated the U.S. authorities had requested Albania to function a “transit place for a sure variety of Afghan political emigrants who’ve the USA as their last vacation spot.”

“Little doubt we will not say no,” he stated.

He added that the Albanian authorities has additionally responded positively to requests from two U.S. NGOs to shelter lots of of Afghan intellectuals and girls activists who’ve been threatened with execution by the Taliban.

U.Okay.’s ambassador to Afghanistan to be airlifted

British media are reporting that the U.Okay.’s ambassador to Afghanistan is to be airlifted overseas by Monday night amid fears that the Taliban might seize the airport imminently.

The Overseas Workplace had supposed for Laurie Bristow and a small group of officers to stay on the airport with different worldwide diplomats. However the Sunday Telegraph reported that their departure had been introduced ahead. The Overseas Workplace declined remark.

Final week the protection ministry stated 600 British troops had been being deployed to Kabul to assist evacuate some 3,000 British nationals and about 2,000 Afghans who labored with British forces.

 

Mazar-e-Sharif

On August 14, 2021, the Taliban captured a big, closely defended metropolis in northern Afghanistan in a significant setback for the federal government.

The autumn of Mazar-e-Sharif, the nation’s fourth largest metropolis, which Afghan forces and two highly effective former warlords had pledged to defend, handed the insurgents management over all of northern Afghanistan.

Afghan President vows to ‘remobilise’ forces

 

Afghanistan’s beleaguered President vowed on Saturday to forestall additional bloodshed, as Taliban fighters closed in on Kabul after routing his armed forces over the previous 10 days.

In a recorded tackle to the nation — his first for the reason that Taliban launched their sweeping offensive — Ashraf Ghani stated he wished to cease the violence “as a historic mission”.

“I can’t let the imposed warfare on folks trigger extra deaths,” he stated.

 

U.S. troops arrive in Afghan capital to help evacuations

American troops have flown into Kabul to assist evacuate embassy personnel and different civilians within the Afghan capital, a U.S. official stated on Saturday, a day after Taliban insurgents seized the nation’s second- and third-biggest cities.

The Pentagon has stated two battalions of Marines and one infantry battalion will arrive in Kabul by Sunday night, involving about 3,000 troops.

“They’ve arrived, their arrival will proceed ‘until tomorrow,” the U.S. official informed Reuters on situation of anonymity.