Afghanistan
$88 bn spent on Afghan forces which surrendered without a fight to Taliban
The Taliban have 80,000 troops in comparison with a nominal 300,699 serving the Afghan government, yet the whole country has been effectively overrun in a matter of weeks as military commanders surrendered without a fight in a matter of hours. It is a tale of two armies, one poorly equipped but highly motivated ideologically, and the other nominally well-equipped, but dependent on NATO support, poorly led and riddled with corruption.
Global Afghan protests critical of devious Pak role
Protesters were strongly critical of the intrusive and devious role of Pakistan in Afghanistan. They demanded that the international community should take note of the Pak role and act positively to save Afghanistan. At some places protesters expressed their strong sentiments against the Pak 'deep state' and mentioned that the international community should realise that the Pakistanis were playing a dual role.
Abdullah confirms Ghani has left Afghanistan, likely for Tajikistan
Abdullah Abdullah has asked people to keep calm and for the Afghan security forces to cooperate in ensuring security. He asked the Taliban to allow some time for talks before entering the city of Kabul. Taliban forces have been seen within the city but most insurgents remain massed in the city's outskirts, the Guardian reported. Ghani has left Kabul for Tajikistan, a senior Afghan Interior Ministry official said.
Afghan government handing over power to Taliban
The head of High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah is said to be mediating the process, Afghan media reported. Sources have also said that Ali Ahamd Jalali will be appointed as head of the new interim government. Meanwhile, the acting Ministers of Interior, and Foreign Affairs, in separate video clips, assured Kabul's people would be secure as they are protecting the city along with international allies.
Our forces will not enter Kabul city, awaiting peaceful transition: Taliban
Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen said fighters were remaining on the capital's outskirts as negotiations took place. "Our forces have not entered Kabul city, and we just issued a statement saying that our forces will not enter Kabul city," Shaheen told Al Jazeera from Doha where peace talks are taking place. "We are talking and awaiting a peaceful transfer – a transition of the capital city."
Afghans intrigued at 'being sold out' as cities handed over to Taliban
"They literally sold us out, there was no government resistance," one female resident of Kandahar told Al Jazeera. "I never imagined that Kandahar would be taken so easily," she said echoing a sentiment made by Afghans across the country when the Taliban was blazing through the districts since it stepped up an offensive in May after the United States began the final withdrawal of its forces from the country.
Taliban enters Kabul
The development comes as Taliban have captured Jalalabad, the last major city in the north of the country, without a struggle, the BBC reported. With reports of the Taliban closing in, the tension in Kabul is rising.
A BBC producer based there said he was suddenly evacuated from a government office a short time ago.
Afghan Prez Ashraf Ghani under growing pressure to resign
With Kabul the only major city left standing, the President appears to face a stark choice between surrendering to the Taliban or a fight to hold the capital, the BBC reported. Overnight, US President Joe Biden said the Washington was urging him to pursue a political settlement to avoid further bloodshed. There had been speculation he would announce his resignation.
Three more key Afghan cities fall to Taliban
On Sunday, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed that the militants took control of most parts of Jalalabad, capital of Nangarhar province, some 120 km east of Kabul, reports Xinhua news agency. He said the militants were also trying to seize control of the governor's office and the provincial police headquarters in Jalalabad.
Burqas pulled out of dusty storerooms, cupboards by Afghan women
After the fall of the Taliban in 2001, even though many continued to choose to wear the burqa in adherence to religious and traditional beliefs, its rejection by millions of others across the country became a symbol of a new dawn for the Afghan women, who were able to dictate what they wore for themselves again, Zainab Pirzad and Atefa Alizada from Rukhshana Media wrote for the Guardian.
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