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

7:55 PM

UN chief urges Security Council to protect human rights

7:48 PM

UN Secretary-General urges Taliban to exercise restraint to protect lives

7:42 PM

Rush on Kabul airport as Afghans flee Taliban takeover

Afghans rushed onto the tarmac of the capital's airport on Monday as thousands tried to flee the country after the Taliban seized power with stunning speed. Some clung to the side of a US military transport plane before takeoff, in a widely shared video that captured the sense of desperation as America's 20-year war comes to a chaotic end, AP reported.

The Taliban swept into Kabul on Sunday after President Ashraf Ghani fled the country, bringing an end to a two-decade campaign in which the US and its allies had tried to transform Afghanistan.

The country's Western-trained security forces collapsed or fled in the face of an insurgent offensive that tore through the country in just over a week, ahead of the planned withdrawal of the last American troops at the end of the month.

7:15 PM

Awaiting resumption of flights from Kabul to restart repatriation efforts: MEA

7:14 PM

Govt will ensure safety and security of Indian nationals in Afghanistan: MEA

6:49 PM

Periodic advisories being issued calling for immediate return of Indian nationals: MEA spokesperson

6:26 PM

US temporarily pauses Kabul evacuation flights to clear airfield

The United States has temporarily halted all evacuation flights from Kabul to clear people who had converged on the airfield, a U.S. defense official told Reuters on Monday. The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, did not say how long the pause would last.

5:57 PM

India wants peace all over world: Lekhi over developments in Afghanistan

India wants peace all over the world, Union Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi said on Monday over developments in neighbouring Afghanistan, PTI reported.

The newly-inducted minister of state was addressing mediapersons after taking part in 'Jan Ashirvad Yatra' in her constituency here.

 

5:36 PM

EU foreign ministers to hold emergency talks on Afghan situation

European Union foreign ministers will hold emergency talks on Tuesday to discuss the crisis in Afghanistan, after the president fled and the Taliban seized control of the capital, Kabul, over the weekend, AP reported.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a tweet on Monday that he decided to convene the extraordinary video-conference so the ministers can make a first assessment of developments.

5:07 PM

Need to review foreign policy regarding neighbouring nations: Pawar on Afghanistan crisis

With the Taliban taking over Afghanistan, NCP president and former Union minister Sharad Pawar on Monday underlined the need to review India's foreign policy concerning all the neighbouring countries, PTI reported.

"We should be alert and will have to take precautions in the long run. There was a time when except Pakistan and China, our relations with other neighbours were good," he told reporters when asked about the Afghanistan crisis.

4:15 PM

Must evacuate 10,000 people from Afghanistan, Merkel tells party

Germany may need to evacuate as many as 10,000 people from Afghanistan, Chancellor Angela Merkel told party colleagues on Monday, according to party sources, reported Reuters. 

 

That includes 2,500 Afghan support staff as well as human rights activists, lawyers and others whom the government sees being at risk if they remain in the country after the Taliban seized Kabul. 

 

She also said that Germany should cooperate with countries bordering Afghanistan to support those fleeing from the country now.

 

"This topic will keep us busy for a very long time," she said, according to the party sources.

4:00 PM

\Merkel says Germany must focus on its Afghan 'rescue mission'

Germany's focus must be on its evacuation operation in Afghanistan, German Chancellor Angela Merkel told leaders of her Christian Democrat party on Monday, meeting participants said.

 

"We are witnessing difficult times," she said. "Now we must focus on the rescue mission."

3:54 PM

9 Afghan students continuing online classes from there: IIT Bombay

3:03 PM

MEA will make all arrangements for evacuation of Sikhs and Hindus, says Puri

2:35 PM

China willing to develop 'friendly relations' with Taliban, says report