Don’t panic! Kabul is safe!
— Matin Bek (@MatinBek) August 15, 2021
A Taliban official told Reuters "we don't want a single innocent Afghan civilian to be injured or killed as we take charge, but we have not declared a ceasefire".
The statement added that the Taliban "does not intend to take revenge on anyone, all those who have served in the military and civilian sectors in the Kabul administration are forgiven and safe, no one will be retaliated against. All should stay in their own country, in their own place and home, and not try to leave the country".
Video: FALL OF KABUL, As Bagram the First district of Kabul has fallen to Taliban without Any Resistance from Afghan Forces!#Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/uvda62ULNu
— 𝕬𝖉𝖔𝖑𝖕𝖍 (@kashmirAdolph) August 15, 2021
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said early on Monday that the country would deploy personnel and a military plane to help with evacuation of its 53 citizens and about 37 Afghan nationals, who worked alongside the New Zealand Defense Force.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The international airport of Kabul has resumed commercial flights suspended over the seizure of the city by the Taliban Islamist movement (banned in Russia), Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby told Sputnik.
"U.S. Forces have now assumed responsibilities for air traffic control at the airport, supported by Afghan counterparts. Commercial traffic continues, though it has experienced some sporadic stoppages and delay," Kirby said on late Sunday.
The evacuation of German citizens from Afghanistan has begun, with some staffers from the German Embassy in Kabul arriving at the Qatari capital city of Doha on a US aircraft in early Monday, DPA reported.
US State Department announced on late Sunday that all staffers from the US embassy in Kabul have been evacuated to the airport.
“We can confirm that the safe evacuation of all Embassy personnel is now complete. All Embassy personnel are located on the premises of Hamid Karzai International Airport, whose perimeter is secured by the US Military", State Department's spokesman Ned Price said.
United Airlines said on late Sunday that it will be re-routing some of its flights to avoid Afghanistan airspace.
"Due to the dynamic nature of the situation we have begun routing affected flights around Afghanistan airspace," the company's spokeswoman said, cited by Reuters.
The majority of the Western diplomats have left the Afghan capital, Reuters reported Sunday, citing a US official.
"I can safely say the majority of Western diplomatic staff is out of Kabul now," the official told Reuters, noting that some support staff remained.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Senior officials of the Taliban Islamist movement (banned in Russia) told The Times that the organization wanted absolute power in Afghanistan.
The officials dismissed media reports about the Taliban's plans to create a transitional government that would oversee the transfer of power in the country.
“We did not fight to share power with anyone,” one of the officials said.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that he had discussed the "dramatic situation" in Kabul with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
On Sunday, the Taliban entered Kabul, after which President Ashraf Ghani announced resignation and left the country. Ghani said his decision was dictated by the desire to prevent violence as the militants were ready to carry out an attack on the capital.
"Today in the evening, I phoned my counterpart, Secretary of State Blinken to discuss the dramatic situation in Kabul. We are comprehensively mobilized to ensure safe and quick evacuation of our citizens and representative of the Afghan civil society, who are facing a threat over their activities," Le Drian wrote on his Twitter page on late Sunday.
US President Joe Biden is expected to address the nation in "the next few days" about the situation in Afghanistan, CNN reported Sunday, citing an administration official.
CAIRO (Sputnik) -The personal bodyguard of ex-Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who stepped down to prevent further violence, confirmed to Al Jazeera that Ghani flew to the Uzbek capital of Tashkent.
"Ghani, his wife, the director of his office and the national security adviser flew to Tashkent," the bodyguard said.
In addition, a senior source in Oman refuted Afghan media reports claiming that Ghani had arrived in Oman.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - European Council President Charles Michel emphasized that safety of EU citizens in Afghanistan is a priority and also expressed the belief lessons should be drawn from the current developments.
"In close contact with [EU foreign policy chief] @JosepBorrellF and following developments in #Afghanistan. Security of EU citizens, staff and their families is priority in short term. Equally clear that many lessons will need to be drawn," Michel wrote on Twitter on Sunday.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is calling on the Taliban (terrorist group, banned in Russia) and all the other parties in Afghanistan to respect human rights and freedoms, and exercise restrain to save lives and facilitate humanitarian assistance, Guterres' office said on Sunday.
"The Secretary-General is following with deep concern the rapidly evolving situation in Afghanistan. He urges the Taliban and all other parties to exercise utmost restraint in order to protect lives and ensure that humanitarian needs can be addressed ...He calls on the Taliban and all other parties to ensure that international humanitarian law and the rights and freedoms of all people are respected and protected," the UN chief's office said in a statement.
Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani arrived in the Uzbek capital city of Tashkent on Sunday, according to an Al Jazeera report.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Taliban (terrorist group, banned in Russia) seized control over the state television in Kabul, Аl Arabiya reported on Sunday.
In their televised address, the Taliban called on Afghans to remain calm.
ZURICH (Sputnik) - Switzerland has started to prepare for the evacuation of its diplomatic personnel from Afghanistan amid a deteriorating security situation in the capital, Kabul, spokesperson of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), Elisa Raggi, told Sputnik.
On Sunday, the Taliban (a terrorist group, banned in Russia) entered Kabul to negotiate the transfer of power with the government of President Ashraf Ghani, who then stepped down and left the country. Ghani said his decision was dictated by the desire to prevent violence as the militants were ready to carry out an attack on the capital.
Raggi told Sputnik that the Swiss Cooperation Office in Kabul has been temporarily closed amid the deteriorating security situation in the Afghan capital.
"Preparatory evacuation work is underway for the safety of Swiss and local staff," the FDFA spokesperson said.
An unverified photo showing the Taliban flag raised over the presidential palace in the Afghan capital went viral on social media on Sunday.
Some users, however, alleged that the picture was fake.
the Taliban flag flying Afghanistan president Palace #Afghanistan #Taliban #talibanflag pic.twitter.com/ILRqjjb4XH
— Hossain Tareq (@HossainTareq6) August 15, 2021
The US Department of Defense authorized an additional 1,000 troops to assist with the evacuation of US personnel from Afghanistan, bringing the total number of American troops expected to be in the country to 6,000, Reuters reported on Sunday, citing a US official.
A tweet by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs reads: "Kingdom evacuates members of its diplomatic mission in Kabul."
المملكة تجلي أعضاء بعثتها الدبلوماسية في كابل pic.twitter.com/q9M70X3dyp
— وزارة الخارجية 🇸🇦 (@KSAMOFA) August 15, 2021
Taliban removes Afghanistan's national flag hositing over Presidential Palace pic.twitter.com/9giOJgBOqF
— Irfan ul Haque (@IrfanHaqueS) August 15, 2021
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Taliban (terrorist group, banned in Russia) control all the districts of the Afghan capital of Kabul, Ariana News broadcaster reported on Sunday, citing Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid.
Mujahid said that overnight patrolling of the city will be launched soon.
UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - The overall situation in the Afghan capital remains calm after the Taliban reached Kabul, even though there is sporadic shooting, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Ramiz Alakbarov told Sputnik.
On Sunday, the Taliban (a terrorist group, banned in Russia) entered Kabul to negotiate the transfer of power with the government of President Ashraf Ghani, who then stepped down and left the country. Ghani said his decision was dictated by the desire to prevent violence as the militants were ready to carry out an attack on the capital.
"Right now I do not hear any signs of active hostilities in the part of Kabul where I am currently located, no active shooting. Sporadic shooting can be heard, but overall, it’s relatively calm," Alakbarov told Sputnik over the phone from the Afghan capital.
Video of Taliban fighters inside the presidential palace, via @AJArabic pic.twitter.com/nsFoUOocSC
— Evan Hill (@evanhill) August 15, 2021
CAIRO (Sputnik) - The United Arab Emirates airline Flydubai has told Sputnik on Sunday that the flights to Kabul will be suspended from now on after the Taliban entered the Afghan capital.
"Flydubai temporarily suspends flights to Kabul. We will keep monitoring the situation and will review the plans in accordance with the directives of the authorities", the press office stated.
The Dutch KLM airline will halt flights over Afghanistan due to the current situation, the national NOS broadcaster reported on Sunday.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The US is concerned about the reports of the Taliban's (a terrorist organisation, banned in Russia) brutal treatment of the Afghan population, especially women and children, and urges the international community to protect their rights, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Sunday.
"We are concerned about reports regarding the Taliban’s brutal treatment of all Afghans, especially women and girls. The U.S., the international community and the Afghan government must do everything we can to protect women and girls from inhumane treatment by the Taliban", she said.
Pelosi also warned the Taliban that "the world is watching its actions".
Acting Defence Minister Gen. Bismillah Mohammadi tweeted out a brief statement after President Ashraf Ghani and top officials had fledAfghanistan.
“They tied our hands behind our backs and sold the homeland, damn the rich man and his gang”.
دست ما را از پشت بستند و وطن را فروختند لعنت به غنی و دار دسته اش.
— General Bismillah Mohammadi (@Muham_madi1) August 15, 2021
Taliban Humvees now patroling the Kabul city. #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/OafpsEWVpH
— FJ (@Natsecjeff) August 15, 2021
Boris Johnson has said that London is trying to get the rest of like-minded nations around the world to not prematurely recognise the new government in Kabul.
The British prime minister has stated that he has "means" to get UK citizens out of Afghanistan over the next few days.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Afghan Vice President Amrullah Saleh said on Sunday he would never have respect for the Taliban (a terrorist organisation, banned in Russia).
I will never, ever & under no circumstances bow to d Talib terrorists. I will never betray d soul & legacy of my hero Ahmad Shah Masoud, the commander, the legend & the guide. I won't dis-appoint millions who listened to me. I will never be under one ceiling with Taliban. NEVER.
— Amrullah Saleh (@AmrullahSaleh2) August 15, 2021
On Sunday, the Taliban entered Kabul to negotiate the transfer of power with the government of President Ashraf Ghani, who ostensibly stepped down and left the country. In the past weeks, the situation in Afghanistan drastically deteriorated as the movement overran major cities and provinces.
According to the CNN, citing a defence official and US official familiar with the ongoing discussions, the US is considering deploying additional troops to Afghanistan in order to set up an air traffic control system at Kabul Airport and increase the number of evacuation flights from the airfield.
“We are going to ramp up flights”, the defence official said.
A Sputnik source confirmed that the Taliban had entered the presidential palace, as guards showed no resistance to the terrorist group.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Canada decided on Sunday to temporarily close its diplomatic mission in Kabul amid the critical situation in Afghanistan, the government said.
"The situation in Afghanistan is rapidly evolving and poses serious challenges to our ability to ensure the safety and security of our mission. After consulting with Canada’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, the decision was made to temporarily suspend our diplomatic operations in Kabul", the government said in a statement.
It added that the embassy staffers were now on their way to Canada.
"The Canadian embassy will resume its operations as soon as the security situation in Afghanistan allows us to guarantee appropriate service and adequate security for our staff. Our ongoing work to bring Afghans to safety in Canada under the Special Immigration Measures will continue and will remain a top priority", the statement read.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has left the country, the TOLOnews broadcaster reported on Sunday, citing sources.
Earlier in the day, the Taliban (a terrorist group banned in Russia) took control of all key Afghan provinces, border crossings and surrounded the capital city of Kabul.
The militants are said to be holding negotiations with the government on the peaceful transition of power. During the talks, Ghani reportedly agreed to step down.
"Dear brothers and sisters, I join in the unanimous concern for the situation in Afghanistan. I ask all of you to pray with me to the God of peace so that the clamour of weapons might cease and solutions can be found at the table of dialogue. Only thus can the battered population of that country – men, women, elderly and children – return to their own homes, and live in peace and security, in total mutual respect", Pope Francis told believers at the weekly Angelus prayer.
"The security situation has deteriorated drastically. The German embassy Kabul is closed as of Aug. 15", the foreign office in Berlin said on its website, calling on German citizens to leave Afghanistan.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Several senior Afghan officials, including advisers to President Ashraf Ghani, have arrived at the Kabul airport to leave the country after the Taliban surrounded the capital, CNN reported, citing a source at the airport.
The officials are awaiting their departure in the VIP lounge. The destinations remain unknown.
The base, which hosts up to 5,000 inmates (Taliban or Daesh militants*) has surrendered to Taliban forces, Bagram District Chief Darwaish Raufi told the press.
*Daesh (also known as ISIS/ISIL/IS) is a terrorist organisation outlawed in Russia and many other countries
Confirmed: Taliban broke Bagram prison and released inmates. I'm guessing these don't include ISKP prisoners since Taliban won't be giving them amnesty. Pro-TB sources earlier claimed that Bagram prison break took more time because ISKP inmates were being separated from others. pic.twitter.com/8HWqltA8F1
— FJ (@Natsecjeff) August 15, 2021
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Taliban vowed to ensure not only the Russian Embassy's security, but of all foreign diplomatic missions, Russian Special Presidential Representative for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov told Sputnik on Sunday.
"We received such assurances long ago. But not only for Russia. They guarantee the safety of everyone," Kabulov said.
The diplomat added that Moscow was not going to evacuate the diplomatic personnel from Kabul.
"I am in contact with our ambassador, they are working and closely watching the development of events", he added.
American CH-47s over Kabul now, doing shuttle runs between US embassy and airport. pic.twitter.com/jMOcchjT2Y
— Kern Hendricks (@kernhendricks) August 15, 2021
If there is one thing that the situation in Afghanistan and the actions of Belarus have shown, it is that the clock has run out on how long we can wait to adopt the complete overhaul of Europe’s migration and asylum rules we need.
— Margaritis Schinas (@MargSchinas) August 15, 2021
Τoday @LaStampa https://t.co/1U3WV9jD7i
BREAKING: Afghan acting interior minister says power will be transferred to a transitional government. pic.twitter.com/eXv25TzVui
— 1TVNewsAF (@1TVNewsAF) August 15, 2021
Acting Interior Minister Abdul Sattar Mirzakwal said Kabul will not be attacked and that the transition will happen peacefully.
— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) August 15, 2021
He assures Kabul residents that security forces will ensure the security of the city. pic.twitter.com/uim9LVqn9q
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is holding emergency talks with Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad and senior NATO officials, media reported on Sunday.
Details are not provided.
