LIVE: 'More than 10,000 people at Kabul airport waiting to be evacuated'

Vladimir Putin has criticized the US and its allies for leaving Afghanistan in the chaos that raises potential security threats for Russia, its allies in Central Asia. Stay tuned for latest news

Reiterating the fact that the union government will have a bare minimum presence in the strategically important sectors, finance minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, on Wednesday said, banks, financial institutions, and insurance have been identified as strategic sectors, hence the government will not completely exit these sectors but will have a minimum presence.

The Taliban have appointed a new finance minister, an intelligence chief, and an acting interior minister in Afghanistan, according to media reports.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has criticized the United States and its allies for leaving Afghanistan in chaos that raises potential security threats for Russia and its allies in Central Asia.

Addressing Tuesday's meeting of the main Kremlin party, United Russia, Putin noted that militants could use the turmoil to destabilize the ex-Soviet Central Asian nations bordering Afghanistan.

Stay tuned for the latest news of the day.

To read updates from yesterday's blog, click here

11:13 PM

India expected to evacuate around 180 people from Kabul on Thursday

India is expected to bring back around 180 people from Kabul in a military aircraft on Thursday amid a scramble by various countries to evacuate their citizens before the August 31 deadline for the withdrawal of American troops from the war-ravaged country, people familiar with the developments said.

 

Those being evacuated include Indians and a number of Afghan Sikhs and Hindus, they said.

 

The aircraft carrying around 180 people is likely to reach Delhi on Thursday morning, said one of the people cited above.

 

Under its mission 'Operation Devi Shakti', India has already evacuated over 800 people in view of the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Kabul after it was captured by the Taliban on August 15.

9:41 PM

Afghans sans documents preventing those with visas from boarding evacuation flights

Afghans without documents are preventing those with valid visas or permission to board evacuation flights from entering the Kabul airport. Hundreds of Afghans continue to crowd the entrances to the Hamid Karzai International Airport and the adjacent military base in Kabul, many of whom have no official documents allowing them to board evacuation flights, Afghan media reported.

 

Reports said that a number of Afghans, who managed to get into the airport, were removed once it was determined that they did not have the necessary documents.

 

"We have documents, but they are not allowing us to enter the airport, which has made things difficult for us," said Samim, an Afghan national hoping to leave the country, Ariana News reported.

9:15 PM

China, Taliban hold their first dialogue in Kabul

China has established its first diplomatic contact with the Taliban in Kabul after the militant group took control of Afghanistan and the two sides now have "smooth and effective communication", a Chinese official said on Wednesday.

 

The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan on August 15, two weeks before the US was set to complete its troop withdrawal after a costly two-decade war.

 

"China and the Afghan Taliban have smooth and effective communication and consultation," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a media briefing here when asked about the talks between the deputy head of the Taliban's political office Abdul Salam Hanafi and Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan Wang Yu in Kabul.

 

"Kabul is naturally an important platform and channel for the two sides to discuss various important matters," Wang said, without disclosing the details.

9:00 PM

'More than 10,000 people at Kabul airport waiting to be evacuated'

The US military will continue its evacuation effort from Kabul airport until the Aug. 31 deadline if needed, but on the last couple of days it will prioritize the removal of U.S. troops and military equipment, the Pentagon said on Wednesday
 

Army Major General William Taylor, with the U.S. military's Joint Staff, told a news briefing more that 10,000 people were currently at Kabul airport waiting to be evacuated from Afghanistan.
 

He said that in the past 24 hours, 90 U.S. military and other international flights had evacuated 19,000 more people, bringing the total evacuation number so far to about 88,000. He said one plane had departed every 39 minutes.
 

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said there were currently U.S. 5,400 troops at Kabul airport.

 

8:53 PM

Afghans without documents preventing those with visas from boarding evacuation flights

Afghans without documents are preventing those with valid visas or permission to board evacuation flights from entering the Kabul airport, IANS reported.

Hundreds of Afghans continue to crowd the entrances to the Hamid Karzai International Airport and the adjacent military base in Kabul, many of whom have no official documents allowing them to board evacuation flights, Afghan media reported.

Reports said that a number of Afghans, who managed to get into the airport, were removed once it was determined that they did not have the necessary documents.

8:34 PM

Afghanistan's fall spells trouble for China's Belt and Road Initiative

The Talibans unpredictable takeover of Afghanistan has ushered in a tumultuous second innings for the country, as the world watches the developments closely, IANS reported.

 

Many countries have made key investments in Afghanistan, and China being a large stakeholder in the country is now actively evaluating its response as it seeks to protect its multi-billion dollar investments and infrastructure projects, including the Belt and Road initiative.

 

Despite facing global condemnation of the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, China was one of the first nations to quickly extend its support and acknowledgment of the new regime, which the Taliban has graciously welcomed.

8:15 PM

Western nations race to complete Afghan evacuation as deadline looms

Western nations rushed to evacuate people from Afghanistan on Wednesday as the Aug. 31 deadline for the withdrawal of foreign troops drew closer and fears grew that many could be left behind to an uncertain fate under the country's new Taliban rulers.

8:12 PM

World Bank pauses financial aid to Afghanistan, says spokesperson

The World Bank is halting all financial assistance for projects to Afghanistan in the aftermath of the Taliban assuming power in the country, a World Bank spokesperson said Wednesday, ANI reported.

"We have paused disbursements in our operations in Afghanistan and we are closely monitoring and assessing the situation in line with our internal policies and procedures. As we do so, we will continue to consult closely with the international community and development partners," the spokesperson of World Bank told CNBC broadcaster.

 

7:53 PM

Russian Defense Ministry to evacuate 500 people from Afghanistan

Russia is set to evacuate more than 500 people from Afghanistan on the direction of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian Defense Ministry informed on Wednesday, ANI reported.

The four military transport aircraft will airlift over 500 Russian citizens as well as citizens of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (Belarus Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan) and Ukraine, TASS news agency reported.

As many as four plans have formed a group and are awaiting further instructions in Ulyanovsk, the ministry said.

7:26 PM

Taliban appoint senior veterans to key ministerial posts

Afghanistan's Taliban have appointed senior veterans to the posts of finance minister and defence minister, two members of the group said, as it switches focus from a stunning military conquest to how to run a country in crisis, Reuters reported.

7:23 PM

Jaishankar, UK counterpart discuss Afghanistan

6:56 PM

Germany to help Afghans seeking to leave beyond Aug. 31 deadline -Merkel

Germany will try to help Afghans who worked with its soldiers and aid organisations and wish to leave Afghanistan after an Aug. 31 deadline for the withdrawal of foreign troops expires, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday, Reuters reported.

6:42 PM

Bulgaria says granting 70 Afghans asylum

Bulgaria says it will grant asylum to some 70 Afghan citizens and their families, AP reported.

The country's caretaker Prime Minister Stefan Yanev told reporters on Wednesday that the Afghan nationals have previously worked at the Bulgarian Embassy in Kabul or within the Bulgarian military missions in Afghanistan.

He did not elaborate about the timing and the route of the evacuation.

6:15 PM

UK warns Taliban against sealing Afghanistan off from the world

Britain on Wednesday warned the Taliban against attempts to coercively seal off Afghanistan from the rest of the world and urged the militant group to keep its borders open, PTI reported.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said attempts by the Taliban to shut down the country could trigger a "refugee crisis" once Western forces withdrew from Kabul airport on August 31, as migrants make their way to neighbouring countries.

He noted that the Afghan border was "rugged and wide-ranging" and that efforts to isolate the country from the rest of the world would fail.

6:14 PM

First Afghan evacuees arrive in Uganda

Uganda on Wednesday received 51 people evacuated from Afghanistan after the Taliban swept back into power, but officials said they would stay temporarily until resettled by the United States and other nations, Reuters reported.