LIVE: Taliban ask US to stop evacuating skilled Afghans, says report

Afghanistan's 'acting' President Amrullah Saleh has highlighted the dire 'humanitarian situation' in Andarab valley. Stay tuned for Latest LIVE news

9:04 AM

US says it is focused on completing evacuation from Afghanistan by August 31

The Biden Administration Monday said it is now focused on completing its evacuation mission from Afghanistan by August 31, the deadline for removing all American troops from the country.

 

However, a final decision to extend the evacuation mission from the Kabul airport would be taken by President Joe Biden, according to officials from the White House, the State Department and the Pentagon.

 

Ultimately, it will be the President's decision how these proceeds, no one else's, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters at a White House news conference.

8:00 AM

Afghanistan-Pakistan ODI series postponed due to 'disruption of flight operations in Kabul'

Afghanistan's three-match ODI series against Pakistan has been postponed due to "disruption of flight operations in Kabul", the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed.

 

PCB said the apex body of cricket in Pakistan and Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) have mutually agreed to postpone next month's three-ODI series. The two boards have agreed that the series, which was planned from September 1-8, will be rescheduled for 2022.

 

"The ACB had contacted the board on Monday evening, requesting to postpone the series for 2022 citing disruption of flight operations in Kabul, increased COVID-19 cases in Sri Lanka, the mental health of their players, and non-availability of broadcast equipment," the PCB said in a statement.

 

"We have worked very closely with the Afghanistan Cricket Board to make this series happen and were keen to play them in the inaugural bilateral series, but we understand their challenges and have, therefore, agreed to reschedule the series for 2022," PCB director international Zakir Khan said.

7:52 AM

Evacuation from Afghanistan: Air India flight with 78 passengers en route to Delhi from Dushanbe

An Air India flight carrying 78 passengers, including 25 Indian citizens is en route to New Delhi from Tajikistan's Dushanbe in a safe evacuation from Afghanistan.

 

Taking to Twitter, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said evacuees were flown in from Kabul.

 

"Helping in the safe return from Afghanistan. AI 1956 en route to Delhi from Dushanbe carrying 78 passengers, including 25 Indian nationals. Evacuees were flown in from Kabul on an @IAF_MCC aircraft. @IndEmbDushanbe," tweeted Bagchi.

 

The passengers on board the flight shouted slogans like 'Wahe Guru ki Khalsa, Wahe Guru ki Fateh' for a safe return from Afghanistan.

7:42 AM

Taliban takeover prompts fears of a resurgent al-Qaida

The lightning-fast changes in Afghanistan are forcing the Biden administration to confront the prospect of a resurgent al-Qaida, the group that attacked America on September 11, 2001, at the same time the US is trying to stanch violent extremism at home and cyberattacks from Russia and China.

 

With the rapid withdrawal of US forces and rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan, "I think al-Qaida has an opportunity, and they're going to take advantage of that opportunity," says Chris Costa, who was senior director for counterterrorism in the Trump administration.

 

"This is a galvanizing event for jihadists everywhere."