LIVE: Afghanistan now emancipated, we seek no revenge, says Taliban

Afghanistan crisis LIVE updates: An IAF aircraft today left from Kabul to India carrying the Indian ambassador and other personnel as part of the emergency evacuation

9:29 AM

Afghanistan latest news: Indian Ambassador in Kabul will return to India immediately

9:06 AM

Biden right to close Afghan war, but there was no need to leave in chaos: NYT Editorial

The rapid reconquest of the capital, Kabul, by the Taliban after two decades of a staggeringly expensive, bloody effort to establish a secular government with functioning security forces in Afghanistan is, above all, unutterably tragic.

 

Tragic because the American dream of being the “indispensable nation” in shaping a world where the values of civil rights, women’s empowerment and religious tolerance rule proved to be just that: a dream.

 

This longest of American wars was code-named first Operation Enduring Freedom and then Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. Yet after more than $2 trillion and at least 2,448 American service members’ lives lost in Afghanistan, it is difficult to see what of lasting significance has been achieved.

 

It is all the more tragic because of the certainty that many of the Afghans who worked with the American forces and bought into the dream--and especially the girls and women who had embraced a measure of equality--have been left to the mercy of a ruthless enemy. Read on...

8:57 AM

Afghanistan’s Currency Drops to Record Low as Taliban Take Over

Afghanistan’s currency dropped to a record low as Taliban fighters took control of the capital and the central bank governor departed the country.

 

The Afghani fell 1.7% Tuesday to 83.5013 per dollar, the fourth day of decline, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The central bank was able to stabilize volatility in the currency until last Thursday, Governor Ajmal Ahmady wrote in a Twitter thread.

 

On Friday, it was told that there would be no more dollar shipments, and by Saturday the central bank had to supply less currency to the markets, which led to more panic, he wrote.

8:50 AM

U.S., Taliban in Talks to End Airport Chaos: Afghanistan Update

Desperate scenes played out at Kabul’s international airport on Monday as thousands rushed to exit Afghanistan after Taliban fighters took control of the capital, with the Associated Press reporting at least seven people were killed in the melee.

 

With land borders now under the control of the militant group, the airport is the last remaining exit point and there are fears that option may close soon. Videos circulating on social media showed hundreds of people swarming the tarmac as countries including the U.S. seek to evacuate their diplomats and other nationals.

 

The panic in Afghanistan’s largest city reflects the Taliban’s rapid territorial advance, returning the fundamentalist group to power two decades after the U.S. military invaded and kicked it out.

 

President Joe Biden addressed Americans from the White House as criticism mounted over his handling of the crisis. Biden said the U.S. mission in Afghanistan was never supposed to be “nation building,” only protecting America from a terrorist attack.

 

Biden is following through on his predecessor Donald Trump’s push to withdraw the remaining U.S. troops stationed there.

8:30 AM

Pakistan responsible for Taliban's return in Afghanistan, says expert

Afghanistan citizens are blaming Pakistan for the country's current situation as it gave shelter to the Taliban when its citizens were fighting the terrorist group, said Fabien Baussart, the President of Center of Political and Foreign Affairs.

 

Baussart in Times of Israel wrote that the areas in northwestern Pakistan were used by the Taliban to rearrange and resurrect following the assault by the United States and allied forces in 2001.

 

However, there have been angry reactions on social media blaming Pakistan and its spy agency Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) for the ongoing mess in Afghanistan.

 

"On Twitter, #sanctionPakistan trended soon after the Taliban announced victory. The hashtag was used 730,000 times and 37 per cent of the originated from Afghanistan," he said.

8:13 AM

Never a good time to withdraw US forces: Biden

President Joe Biden has said he stood "squarely behind" his decision to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan. "After 20 years I've learned the hard way that there was never a good time to withdraw US forces. That's why we're still there," he said in a televised speech at the White House. 

7:52 AM

Several Indians in Afghanistan wanting to be repatriated to India are in a secure area, reports ANI

Several Indians in Afghanistan wanting to be repatriated to India are in a secure area and will be brought back home safely in a day or two, reports ANI

7:21 AM

Kabul now safer than it was under the previous authorities:

Russia's ambassador to Afghanistan Dmitry Zhirnov said Taliban had made Kabul safer in the first 24 hours than it had been under the previous authorities: Reuters

7:21 AM

Kabul now safer than it was under the previous authorities:

Russia's ambassador to Afghanistan Dmitry Zhirnov said Taliban had made Kabul safer in the first 24 hours than it had been under the previous authorities: Reuters

7:21 AM

Kabul now safer than it was under the previous authorities:

Russia's ambassador to Afghanistan Dmitry Zhirnov said Taliban had made Kabul safer in the first 24 hours than it had been under the previous authorities: Reuters

2:26 AM

UNSC calls for 'immediate cessation' of hostilities, establishment of inclusive, united govt in Afghanistan

Expressing deep concerns over reported serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights abuses in Afghanistan, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has called for an immediate cessation of all hostilities and the establishment of a new government that is united, inclusive and representative. In a press statement, UNSC President TS Tirumurti said that the members of the Security Council called for an immediate end to the violence in Afghanistan, the restoration of security, civil and constitutional order.

 

UNSC members also called for urgent talks to resolve the current crisis of authority in the country and to arrive at a peaceful settlement through an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned process of national reconciliation.

 

The statement comes as UNSC held a meeting on Afghanistan on Monday morning under the Indian presidency. The meeting comes a day after Kabul fell to the Taliban and the terror group seizes control of the presidential palace.

2:04 AM

Joe Biden says he stands 'squarely behind' Afghanistan decision

US President Joe Biden said on Monday that he stands "squarely behind" his decision to withdraw US forces from Afghanistan and that the government's collapse was quicker than anticipated. Speaking about the chaotic situation in Afghanistan, Biden said he faced a choice between an agreement to withdraw US forces or send thousands more US troops back in for a "third decade" of war.

 

Biden said he will not repeat the mistakes of the past.

 

Biden spoke after the planned withdrawal of American forces turned deadly at Kabul's airport as thousands tried to flee following the Taliban's swift takeover of the government.

2:01 AM

My national security team and I have been closely monitoring situation in Afghanistan: Joe Biden

2:01 AM

Our mission should be narrowly focused on counter-terrorism, not counter insurgency or nation-building: Biden

I've argued for many years that our mission should be narrowly focused on counter-terrorism, not counter insurgency or nation-building: US President Joe Biden

2:00 AM

Only vital national interest in Afghanistan remains to prevent terrorist attack on American homeland: Biden

Our mission in Afghanistan was never supposed to be nation-building or to be creating a unified, centralised democracy. Our only vital national interest in Afghanistan remains today what it has always been preventing a terrorist attack on American homeland: US President Joe Biden