Afghanistan News Highlights: Safe passage out of Afghanistan is priority, say G7 leaders

The Taliban in a press conference said that the US must leave before August 31 and that they were not in favour of Western countries taking skilled Afghans away from the country. They also said that Afghans will not be allowed near the airport and that female civil servants must stay at home till the security situation is conducive and rules are laid out for their return to work. Stay tuned for live updates.

Safe passage out of Afghanistan is priority, say G7 leaders

The safe evacuation of foreigners and Afghan partners by ensuring a continuing safe passage out of Afghanistan remains the immediate priority, the leaders of the G7 said in a joint statement after an emergency virtual meeting on Tuesday.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who chaired the meeting in the UK’s role as current president of the Group of Seven, told reporters after the talks that the leaders had agreed a "roadmap" for future engagement with the Taliban.

Putin criticises US departure from Afghanistan

Russian President Vladimir Putin has criticized the United States and its allies for leaving Afghanistan in chaos that raises potential security threats for Russia and its allies in Central Asia.

Addressing Tuesday’s meeting of the main Kremlin party, United Russia, Putin noted that militants could use the turmoil to destabilize the ex-Soviet Central Asian nations bordering Afghanistan.

Can India and the world trust the US after its Afghan debacle?

The credibility of Washington's foreign policies has come under a cloud with the unfolding of events in Afghanistan following the pull-out of US troops from the country. After the humilating Afghan debacle, can the US be trusted with their other initiatives such as the QUAD or the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue on the global stage?

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President Joe Biden has agreed with Pentagon recommendation to stick with August 31 withdrawal deadline, senior administration official says

We will not accept aid with conditions that would undermine our independence, said Taliban spokesman Mujahid.

Taliban deputy leader Mohammad Yaqub said most Afghans leaving the country to Western countries are doing so out of their own interest, not that they feel any kind of danger.

UK urges Taliban for safety of foreigners at UN Human Rights Council session

Britain on Tuesday urged the Taliban to allow the safe and orderly departure of foreign nationals from Afghanistan at an emergency United Nations Human Rights Council session.

Lord Tariq Ahmad, UK Minister for Human Rights, South Asia and the Commonwealth, addressed the session virtually to underscore the UK’s commitment to protecting the human rights of the Afghan people amid the Taliban takeover of the country.

Taliban asks US to stop evacuating skilled Afghans

A Taliban spokesman on Tuesday said the United States should stop evacuating skilled Afghans, and warned Western forces against extending the August 31 deadline for airlifts out of the country.

The hardline Islamist group said Americans were taking "Afghan experts" such as engineers out of Afghanistan.

We want good diplomatic relations with India, says Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid.

We want good relations with Turkey, Turkish government. Not in need of Turkish forces in Afghans, after evacuation is complete, will secure airport by ourselves, say Taliban

Female civil servants can return to work after rules are in place for them, say Taliban.

The army is an important foundation of the country and we are trying to build a better army than before, says Mujahid.

Working to reduce congestion at Kabul airport, say Taliban

Congestion at Kabul airport is disturbing. We are working hard and trying our best to reduce this. The road to Kabul airport is closed for locals and open to foreigners. Urge media to keep safe distance from airport, says Mujahid when asked about threat of ISIS at airport.

I convey my gratitude to all the international organisations and diplomats who have stayed in Kabul and have not stopped their work. Our forces will keep them secure. We thank them for providing services to the people, says Mujahid.

Actual issue now is security. We don't want our sisters to face trouble, we will bring about conditions for safe return to work, says Mujahid on women not being allowed to work.

No one is being monitored by the 'Islamic Emirate'. There is no such thing as a list of people and searching of the houses is not happening, says Mujahid.

We will not allow anyone to use our soil against other countries, no Pakistan Taliban in Afghanistan, says Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid

Cannot confirm Mullah Baradar met with CIA director, political office has been meeting with foreign officials to maintain diplomatic relations, says Zabiullah Mujahid.

Afghan nationals are not allowed anymore to go to Kabul airport. Crowds can be stop gathering there and security issues avoided. He says now only foreigners are allowed to go to Kabul airport.

God willing, our leader Sheikh Haibatullah Akhundzada will come to the fore soon.

They (US) have the airfield, planes, the capabilities, they should evacuate by August 31.

Not in favour of allowing Afghans to leave, US in violation of agreement, say Taliban

Representative of Taliban's political office is in Kabul, will meet ambassadors of other countries.

He also said that efforts are ongoing to resolve Panjshir issue through talks.

Mujahid also said that banks in the country will reopen from tomorrow.

Mujahid says the US should not encourage the Afghan elite to leave the country.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid says he is 80 per cent sure that there will be no fighting in Panjshir province.

Indian pharma exporters stare at Afghan uncertainty

As uncertainty looms large in Afghanistan, Indian pharma exporters are apprehensive to send goods to the war-torn country and the target of exporting $126 million worth of pharmaceutical goods to the Taliban-ruling nation now depends on the future outcome.

CIA Director William Burns held secret meeting in Kabul with Taliban leader Abdul Ghani Baradar

Biden dispatched the head of the CIA amid a frantic effort to evacuate people from Kabul, according to a report by Washington Post.

Taliban's treatment of women will mark 'red line': UN rights chief

The UN rights chief voiced grave concern Tuesday at the situation in Afghanistan after the Taliban swept into power, saying their treatment of women would mark a "fundamental red line".

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Press conference by the Taliban to take place at 5 pm today

Germany says US, allies can't evacuate all Afghans by Aug 31

Western allies will not be able to fly every Afghan who needs protection out of Kabul before the United States' planned August 31 withdrawal deadline, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Tuesday.

"Even if (the evacuation) goes on until August 31 or even a few days longer, it will not be enough to allow those who we, or the United States, want to fly out," Maas told Bild TV.

Sikh Community receive swaroop of Shri Guru Granth Sahib Maharaj brought from Afghanistan, along with Afghani Sikh members at IGI Terminal 3 Airport in New Delhi, Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. Credit: PTI Photo

France detains Afghan evacuee in Taliban probe: Government

France has detained an Afghan it helped evacuate from the country as part of an investigation into links with the Taliban, the government spokesman said on Tuesday. The man is believed to be close to another Afghan evacuee who is suspected of working for the Taliban, Gabriel Attal told BFM-TV.

Taliban appoint finance minister, intelligence chief in Afghanistan

The Taliban have appointed a new finance minister, an intelligence chief, and an acting interior minister in Afghanistan, the Pajhwok news agency reported on Tuesday. It said Gul Agha would be the finance minister and Sadr Ibrahim would be the acting interior minister. Najibullah would be intelligence chief, while Mullah Shirin would be Kabul governor and Hamdullah Nomani the mayor of the capital. No other details were immediately available. (Reuters)

Conflicting reports emerge on Ukrainian plane 'hijack' in Afghanistan

The Tehran Times reported the Ukraine FM spokesperson denying reports of any hijacking. Read more

“Last Sunday, our plane was hijacked by other people. On Tuesday, the plane was practically stolen from us, it flew into Iran with an unidentified group of passengers onboard instead of airlifting Ukrainians. Our next three evacuation attempts were also not successful because our people could not get into the airport,” Ukraine defence ministersaid.

Ukrainian plane evacuating nationals from Afghanistan hijacked

At-risk Afghans fearing Taliban hunker down, wait to leave

A knock at the door could spell doom. Every passing hour seems endless. That's the new reality for many Afghans who feel they have most to fear from the Taliban and have gone into hiding or are staying off the streets since the fighters swept to power this month. Those hunkering down include employees of the collapsed government, civil society activists and women. They are desperate for news that they might be granted asylum somewhere else. (AP)

India brings back 78 people from Afghanistan

India on Tuesday brought back 78 people, including 25 of its nationals and a number of Afghan Sikhs and Hindus from Dushanbe, a day after they were evacuated from Taliban-besieged Kabul to the Tajik city.

The group along with three copies of the Sikh scripture, Guru Granth Sahib, was airlifted from Kabul to Dushanbe by a military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force on Monday. (PTI)

UK says evacuation window at Kabul airport unlikely to be extended

Western governments are unlikely to extend the evacuation window to allow their citizens and Afghans more time to fly out of Kabul airport, Britain's defence minister Ben Wallace said. USPresident Joe Biden will face pressure to extend an Aug. 31 deadline to evacuate thousands seeking to flee the Taliban in Afghanistan when he meets Group of Seven leaders at a virtual meeting on Tuesday. (Reuters)

Taliban rule presents aid agencies with moral dilemma

As foreign governments, aid institutions and companies scramble to evacuate staff from Afghanistan, a crucial question is emerging: should they engage with the ruling Taliban or abandon years of investment in the country and 38 million Afghans? Read more

Afghanistan's media enters the unknown under Taliban rule

There was no Afghan media to speak of when the Islamists ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. They banned television, movies and most other forms of entertainment for being immoral. Some electronic products were outlawed as un-Islamic too.Read more

Taliban will be judged by deeds, not words, says Boris Johnson ahead of G7 meet

The Taliban will be judged by its deeds rather than words, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said ahead of chairing an emergency G7 virtual meet to coordinate international response to the Afghan crisis. Downing Street said that during the meeting Tuesday, the UK PM will call on the Group of Seven leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States to continue to stand by the Afghan people and step up support for refugees and humanitarian aid. (PTI)

Considering Afghanistan players' mental health, series against Pakistan postponed

Afghanistan's three-match ODI series against Pakistan has been postponed indefinitely due to logistical issues and keeping in mind the mental health of the players following Taliban's takeover of the strife-torn nation. Afghanistan was supposed to host Pakistan in Sri Lanka from September 3 but on Monday both the ACB and PCB mutually agreed to host the series in Pakistan. (PTI)

US ramps up Kabul evacuation efforts as August 31 deadline looms

The US military shuttled thousands more people through the Kabul airport over the past 12 hours, a White House official said Monday, as Washington attempts to complete a daring airlift by an August 31 deadline for troops to leave Afghanistan. Over 10,000 people were evacuated from Hamid Karzai International Airport in the 12 hours up until 3:00 pm Monday (1900 GMT), the official said, updating figures given earlier in the day at the Pentagon. (AFP)

G7 leaders plan to pledge unity on Taliban recognition, sanctions

Leaders of the G7 advanced economies are expected to pledge unity on whether or not to officially recognise or sanction the Taliban when they meet virtually to discuss Afghanistan on Tuesday, according to two diplomatic sources. Read more

Dozens of Taliban fighters killed by Panjshir resistance

The Panjshir based anti-Taliban movement in Afghanistan has made gains in the northern Baghlan province as talks to form a new government continue. Fighters of the self-styled "Resistance-2" against the Taliban in Panjshir said that they have managed to retake Salah and Banu districts in Baghlan after killing "dozens" of Taliban fighters. Read more

In this image courtesy of the US Central Command Public Affairs, paratroopers assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, based out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, facilitate the safe evacuation of US citizens, Special Immigrant Visa applicants, and other at-risk Afghans out of Afghanistan from Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, on August 22, 2021. Credit: AFP Photo

US says it is focused on completing evacuation from Afghanistan by August 31

The Biden Administration Monday said it is now focused on completing its evacuation mission from Afghanistan by August 31, the deadline for removing all American troops from the country.

However, a final decision to extend the evacuation mission from the Kabul airport would be taken by President Joe Biden, according to officials from the White House, the State Department and the Pentagon. (PTI)

USofficials told Reuters that because it would take several days to remove the nearly 6,000 troops at the airport, Biden would have to make a decision soon on the Aug. 31 deadline, potentially in the next 24 hours.

Forced to leave home, former president Karzai remains in Kabul despite risks

Last week, former President Hamid Karzai stood outside his home in Kabul to record a video message, surrounded by his daughters, and said that he would stay in the Afghan capital with his family to try to coordinate with the Taliban for a peaceful transition.

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Biden fights to regain control of Afghanistan narrative

Asked about plummeting poll numbers, Joe Biden flashed his megawatt smile and laughed. The Afghanistan exit may look like a disaster but the US president exudes confidence that he will be proved right in the end.

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US has discussed future control of Kabul airport with Taliban

Future control of Kabul airport has been a topic of discussion with the Taliban, US State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters on Monday.

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