Kabul

A security alert on Saturday told US citizens to stay away due to possible "security threats outside the gates". Only those individually told to make the journey by a US government representative should do so, it said. US defence officials said they were monitoring developments and looking at alternative routes. No further details were given about the potential threat of an IS attack.

According to reports from the Afghan capital, nearly 6,000 cadre of the Haqqani Network have taken control of the capital city, led by Anas Haqqani, son of Jalaluddin Haqqani the founder of network and brother of Sirajuddin Haqqani, head of the terrorist group and one of three deputy leaders of the Taliban.

Soldiers have also fired into the air to disperse the crowd, according to a senior Western official. It was unclear as to whether the soldiers were American. Afghan, British, and other Western troops are also stationed at the airport. Soldiers are also emerging from the airport and coming out into the perimeter, which is surrounded by Taliban, to disperse crowds and clear the way for families struggling to get in.

They are not among those who have been either killed or seriously injured amid the chaos at the airport that began on Sunday. At least 40 casualties, both fatalities and serious injuries, from shootings, stampeding and falling from aircraft have been reported since Monday. "My son has been missing since Monday," said Habibullah, a father of a missing person.

The Foreign Ministers of G7 the UK Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the US as well as the high representative of the European Union, met online on Thursday and "spoke about the gravity of the situation and the significant loss of life and internal displacement in Afghanistan over recent days", according to a statement issued by British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab in his capacity as the chair of the meeting.

The few women who are on the streets could be seen wearing the traditional blue burqa, the Islamic garb, which, despite being customary in Afghanistan, was not used as widely in Kabul until now. All the women are accompanied by a male guardian -- a requirement that the Taliban have imposed on women across the country. Many of these women were out grocery shopping but weren't allowed to step out.

The Taliban say that they are making every effort to bring lasting peace and progress in Afghanistan. "They shouldn't be (hanging onto) airplanes of the foreigners, 30 to 40 people were killed and wounded in the airport yesterday (Monday), they should remain in their homes, there will be no problem for them," said Mohibullah Hekmat, the Taliban commander at the airport.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said that the US was in contact with the Taliban and was told that they are prepared to provide a safe passage of civilians to the airport. Earlier in the day, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said that US commanders on the ground had held discussions with the Taliban outside the airport, without providing further details.

A statement by Centcom reads that the US is now taking control of the airport to ensure the reinforcement of the US military and evacuation of its nationals and their Afghan colleagues. Earlier, US President Joe Biden had also warned the Taliban to be facing swift and forceful response in case they attack any US military personnel or nationals in Kabul.

"I, on behalf of Mujahidin of TTP, would like to congratulate Ameer-ul-Momineen Hibatullah Akhundzada on this blessed victory. Congratulations to Mullah Yaqub & Mullah Baradar," says, the TTP chief Noor Wali Mehsud, "This victory is the victory of the entire Muslim Ummah and the future of the entire Islamic Ummah depends on it." The TTP chief said that he has good ties with them. He further vowed to continue the struggle against Pakistan.