Afghanistan
Pak hopes Afghan stakeholders work to resolve political crisis
Pakistan is closely following the unfolding situation in Afghanistan, the statement issued on Sunday said, adding that the Embassy of Pakistan in Kabul is extending necessary assistance to Pakistanis, Afghan nationals and diplomats and the international community for consular work, reports Xinhua news agency. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that the situation is quickly evolving in Afghanistan.
Uzbekistan temporarily accepts 84 Afghan servicemen who crossed border
Currently, Uzbekistan is in talks with the Afghan side on the return of Afghan citizens to their homeland, Xinhua news agency quoted the Ministry as saying on Sunday. The Ministry added that the overnight amassing of Afghan government servicemen on the Termez-Hayraton bridge on the border over the Amudarya river was now defused.
Taliban confirms no danger to embassies, foreign nationals in Kabul
"We assure all embassies, diplomatic missions, institutions and residences of foreign nationals in Kabul that there is no danger to them," Xinhua news agency quoted Muhammad Naeem, a spokesman for the Taliban's political office in Doha, as saying on Sunday evening. He stressed that the forces of the Taliban movement are tasked with maintaining security in Kabul and other cities in the country.
Taliban say they have taken over the Presidential Palace in Kabul
President Ashraf Ghani left the country earlier on Sunday - but the exact situation at the palace is still unclear. According to local journalist Bilal Sarwary who spoke to two Afghans involved in direct negotiations, part of the agreement was that Ghani would join the transition of power ceremony inside the palace - but instead he and his senior aides left the country.
Afghan President Ghani had reason to fear for his life
"President Ghani has a real reason to fear that his life was under threat," Asfandyar Mir, an expert at United States institute of peace, told Al Jazeera. "... many Afghans will be disappointed, the contradiction in his messages until yesterday. The fact that he could not hold the country together politically or put up any kind of a military resistance will disappoint his supporters," he said.
Images of women being painted over in Kabul
Young women in the city have been asking for help in recent days as the Taliban advanced towards Kabul, the BBC reported. Prior to 2002 when the Taliban controlled Afghanistan, the militants practiced a version of Sharia law which included stoning for adultery, amputation of limbs for theft, and preventing girls from going to school beyond the age of 12.
Ghani flees to Tajikistan with NSA, Afghan Parliament Speaker to Islamabad
Some lawmakers have also fled to Islamabad. Earlier, speaker of Afghan parliament Mir Rahman Rahmani, Younus Qanuni, Muhammad Muhaqeq, Karim Khalili, Ahmad Wali Masoud, and Ahmad Zia Masoud fled to Islamabad, Afghan media reported. Head of High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah in a video clip said that the former Afghan president Ashraf Ghani left Afghanistan.
Deeply worried about women, minorities in Afghanistan: Malala
"We watch in complete shock as Taliban takes control of Afghanistan," Malala wrote on Twitter. "I am deeply worried about women, minorities, and human rights advocates." Malala stressed that global, regional and local powers "must call for an immediate ceasefire and provide "urgent humanitarian aid and protect refugees and civilians" in the war-torn country.
Taliban to declare 'Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan'
The declaration is expected to be made from the presidential palace in Kabul following the departure of Afghanistan President, Ashraf Ghani, earlier, who apparently fled, initially to Tajikistan. His current location is unconfirmed, the Guardian reported. The Taliban are claiming to have taken over the presidential palace in Kabul. President Ghani left the country earlier on Sunday, but the exact situation at the palace is still unclear.
'Damn the rich man and his gang': Defence Minister says Ghani sold his homeland
Senior Afghan leader and Head of High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah, in a video clip, said that Ghani left Afghanistan. He said that he left the people of Afghanistan in mess and misery and he will be judged in futurity. Vice President Amrullah Saleh, who is said to have accompanied Ghani and the others who left, in a tweet vowed not to bow to the Taliban, but he did not respond in the message to reports of him leaving the country.
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