A Taliban* spokesman has claimed victory, saying it "belongs to us all" after the last US plane left the Kabul Airport, marking the end of America's longest war. Taliban leaders were also reported to have symbolically walked across a Kabul International Airport runway after the US exit.
As of 31 August, the Taliban is in complete control of the capital's airport.
The organisation's spokesman also noted that the Taliban wants to have good diplomatic relations with the US.
"We want to have good relations with the US and the world. We welcome good diplomatic relations with them all", Zabihullah Mujahid was cited as saying by AFP.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken earlier announced that Washington will be moving its diplomatic base of operations for Afghanistan to Doha, Qatar, after completing its withdrawal of military forces from Kabul.
On 30 August, US Centcom chief Kenneth McKenzie announced that all remaining American service members had been removed from Afghanistan ahead of the 31 August deadline. The last US C-17 military aircraft left Kabul Airport at 3:29 p.m. EST with Ambassador to Afghanistan Ross Wilson aboard.
*The Taliban is a terrorist organisation banned in Russia and many other countries.