Taliban insurgents have seized the presidential palace in Kabul after taking control of nearly all of Afghanistan in just over a week. The Taliban swept into capital Kabul on Sunday and President Ashraf Ghani left Afghanistan, ending a 20-year war.
People in huge numbers were trying to flee from the country. Kabul’s international airport was in the paroxysm of chaos on Monday as desperate Afghans tried to flee on departing U.S. jets.
Taliban gunmen roamed the terminals, and U.S. troops killed at least two men, a sign of the disorder in the wake of the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan.
On Monday the US troops flew helicopters low overhead, launched smoke grenades, and fired into the air in an attempt to disperse crowds and gain control of the facility, where the U.S. is staging the evacuation of American personnel and thousands of Afghan interpreters and others who worked for the U.S. and now fear Taliban retribution.
At least eight Afghans were killed on Monday at the airport. In two incidents, armed men were shot and killed after approaching U.S. Marines. The U.S. troops weren’t injured and the armed men weren’t identified. Military officials said they couldn’t confirm whether the armed individuals were members of the Taliban.
A heart-wrenching video seen on social media showed hundreds of people running across the tarmac as U.S. troops fired warning shots in the air. One showed a crowd pushing and shoving its way up a staircase, trying to board a plane, with some people hanging off the railings.
Taliban Leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar will take over
As the government surrendered to the Taliban forces in Kabul on Sunday. Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani will tender his resignation. According to sources, Taliban negotiators have moved to the Afghan presidential palace to prepare for a ‘transfer’ of power.
Following talks between the Afghan government and Taliban negotiators, an interim government led by the Taliban has been announced. The new Afghanistan government will reportedly be led by top Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. As per sources, Mullah Baradar has the support of Qatar, which has been helping the Taliban and Afghan govt negotiate.
EU to hold an Emergency Meet
The European Union Foreign Council of ministers will hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday to discuss the crisis led by the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban.
The European Union is also working with member states to find quick solutions for the relocation of local Afghan staff and their families to a safe place.
Joe Biden Defended His Decision
On Monday US President Joe Biden defended his decision of withdrawing the American troops from Afghanistan. He blamed the unwillingness of the Afghan Army to fight the Taliban as a series of provincial capitals fell in rapid succession to the militant group.
His statement came after thousands of Afghans desperate to live their country were seen at Kabul airport, some even clung to US transport plane take over. Following the chaos, nearly five-person lost their lives.
Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai says Joe Biden must “take a bold step” to protect the Afghans, she shared a video requesting the US President on social media.
Indian Embassy Evacuated 140 Indians
The Indian government evacuated its embassy staff in Kabul in a special Air Force flight on Tuesday morning amid the crisis in Afghanistan. As many as 140 Indians, including the last of the Indian embassy staff, reportedly left the country.
However, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief and MP Asaduddin Owaisi said the Centre should have initiated dialogue with the Taliban as the “ungoverned spaces in Afghanistan” pose a worry for India.
“India should have had a dialogue. We should have opened some sort of informal or formal talks with the Taliban. We lost time. For last seven years Modi government failed to read what was happening,” he said.
UK parliament to be recalled on Wednesday
Britain’s parliament will be recalled from its summer recess on Wednesday to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, as Taliban insurgents entered the capital city Kabul.
“The Speaker has granted a request from the Government to recall the House at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday 18 August, concerning the situation in Afghanistan,” the House of Commons account tweeted.
