Highlights:
- Taliban militants seize control of the Afghan presidential palace in Kabul, on Sunday, August 15, 2021, after Afghan President fled the country.
- President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan has reportedly escaped to Uzbekistan.
- Several countries are constantly trying to get diplomatic and other officials out of Afghanistan.
On Monday, the Taliban took control of Afghanistan when President Ashraf Ghani escaped the nation and conceded the 20-year battle to the terrorist group.
Fear and dread gripped the capital after the government fell apart so quickly, with the terror group seizing the presidential palace on Sunday night.
Thousands of Afghans tried to flee Kabul and the Taliban’s feared harsh brand of Islamic governance on Monday, creating havoc as crowds gathered at the airport.
Ghani left on Sunday as the Taliban encircled Kabul, completing a countrywide military victory in which they took control of all cities in just ten days.
Also Read: Taliban Captures Key Afghan City Of Ghazni, 150 Kms Away From Kabul
“With the judgement of their swords and guns, the Taliban have triumphed, and they are now responsible for the honour, property, and self-preservation of their countrymen,” Ghani wrote in a Facebook statement, his first since escaping.
Abdul Ghani Baradar, a co-founder of the Taliban, also declared victory in a video uploaded on social media.
“Now it’s time to put our country to the test,” he said. “Now we have to show that we can serve our country and assure security and comfort of life.”
Without the help of the US military, the government forces crumbled which toppled the Taliban for supporting Al Qaeda and invaded in 2001 following the September 11 attacks.
Despite spending billions of dollars and providing two decades of military support, the United States was unable to construct a democratic government that could stand up to the Taliban.
President Joe Biden was adamant on withdrawing all American soldiers by the end of the month, claiming that there was no other option and that he would not “hand this war on to another president.”
The rapid fall of the Afghan government, on the other hand, surprised the US administration.
Despite assurances that there would be no hasty evacuations from Kabul like those seen in Saigon, American officials, Afghan friends, and other civilians fearful of the Taliban attempted to flee on Monday.
6,000 US troops had been ordered to the airport to transfer out embassy officials as well as Afghans who had supported the US as translators or other support staff.
On the other side, the US government stated that it had no authority over the airport.
The Pentagon and the State Department issued a joint statement about the situation, “We are completing a series of procedures to secure the Hamid Karzai International Airport to permit the safe departure of US and coalition personnel.”
The US then issued a joint statement with more than 65 other countries encouraging the Taliban to allow Afghans to leave the country and threatening punishment for any violations.
Also Read: Taliban Are Not Military Outfit But Normal People, Says Pakistan PM Imran Khan
On Twitter, Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed his thoughts, “The United States joins the international community in affirming that Afghans and international people who desire to evacuate must be permitted to do so.”
“Those in positions of power and control throughout Afghanistan bear responsibility — and accountability — for human life safety.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres advised the Taliban and other parties to “exercise restraint,” stressing the importance of protecting the rights of women and girls who suffered under the former Taliban regime.
The UN Security Council will convene on Monday to discuss Afghanistan, according to the UN.
The extremist organisation overran the anti-Taliban northern bastion of Mazar-i-Sharif and the eastern city of Jalalabad on Sunday, leaving Ghani’s government entirely isolated.
As in most of the other conquered cities, the seizure of power occurred after government forces surrendered or retreated.
They then formed a ring around the capital.
On Sunday night, tens of thousands of police officers and other government security personnel unexpectedly abandoned their posts, uniforms, and even weapons.
After originally instructing its cadre not to enter the city, a Taliban spokesman revealed on Sunday night that they had entered Kabul to “ensure security.”
Taliban militants have taken control of the presidential palace, according to three top Taliban sources, and are holding a security meeting in the capital.
The dominant attitude among the tens of thousands who have sought safety in Kabul in recent weeks has been one of anxiety and fear.
