A spokesman for the Taliban's political bureau, Mohammad Naim, assured that no diplomatic establishment and no diplomatic corps had been targeted, and that the fundamentalist movement guaranteed the security of foreign and diplomatic missions.
Gany's escape
The Islamists are practically in the final stages of regaining power in the country, two decades after their overthrow by the US-led invasion of an international military coalition.
For Mohammad Naim, Mr. Ghani's escape was unexpected, "not even those closest to him expected it."
"We have achieved what we set out to do: freedom for our country and independence for our people," he said, sending a message to Washington.
The spokesman for the Taliban's political bureau, Mohammad Naim
"We will not allow anyone to use our territory to target anyone and we do not want to harm anyone."
Flag submission and Trump intervention
The US flag was hoisted and withdrawn today at the US embassy in Kabul, as "almost all" staff are at the airport awaiting his departure from the country, the State Department said.
Donald Trump ruled Sunday that Joe Biden should step down because of the Taliban victory in Afghanistan and because of mismanagement by his successor in the White House of other problems, such as the new coronavirus pandemic.
"It is time for Joe Biden to resign with disgrace because he allowed what happened in Afghanistan to happen, and because of the dizzying rise of the new coronavirus, the border disaster, the suppression of our energy independence and the paralysis of our economy." The former Republican president claimed in a press release.
Donald Trump (Reuters / Jonathan Drake archive photo)
The tycoon, who oversaw the negotiations with the Taliban in which the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan was agreed upon, apparently bears the brunt of the burden of responsibility for developments in the Asian country on his successor.
Declaration of more than 60 countries
The governments of more than 60 countries have issued a joint statement stressing that Afghans and foreigners wishing to leave Afghanistan must be allowed to leave safely and that airports and border crossings must continue to operate normally.
The joint declaration was made public by the State Department and signed by the governments of the United States and 60 other countries, including Greece, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Qatar and United Kingdom.
The Joint Declaration was made public by the State Department (AP / Luis M. Alvarez)
The text emphasizes that "those in power" in Afghanistan are "responsible" and will "speak out" for the "protection of human life and property" and call for an "immediate restoration of security and public order". .
The U.S. embassy in Kabul issued a security warning late Sunday night, noting that the situation in the Afghan capital is changing rapidly, including at the airport, where there have been reports of shootings as U.S. troops help evacuate U.S. diplomats and civilians.
"There are reports that the airport is on fire, so we are instructing American citizens to seek refuge where they are," the embassy said in a statement.
State Dept warning US citizens not to come to Kabul airport (presently taking fire), Acting US Amb has just fled the embassy. It's a debacle. pic.twitter.com/qux9etS3jO
- ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) August 15
However, social media posts reported that US troops were the ones who fired in an attempt to prevent Afghans from boarding the planes.
https://twitter.com/ajnewsclub/status/1427029133935132675
An hour later, a US official said most Western diplomats had left Kabul.
"I can safely say that the majority of Western diplomats have now left Kabul," the official said, adding that there was still some support staff.
He did not specify the number of staff remaining.
The MED-5 puts the situation in Afghanistan on the agenda of the Extraordinary Home Affairs Council, which will be held digitally on Wednesday, according to a press release.
The Minister of Immigration Policy and Asylum Notis Mitarakis (photo by Eurokinissi)
The five Mediterranean countries are asking in a letter sent by the Minister of Immigration and Asylum Notis Mitarakis to the President of the Council, the Slovenian Minister of Interior Ales Hoys, to discuss "the emergency situation in Afghanistan" and "the possible consequences for the immigration host countries "and" throughout the European Union ".
In a parallel development, the Prime Minister of Northern Macedonia, Zoran Zaef, answering the question on TV channel 5 if and how his government will react after the new developments in Afghanistan, answered that the country of Asia is facing a possible humanitarian catastrophe and its government Northern Macedonia informed its "strategic partners", the United States, that it was available to assist them in accordance with the civilian population's settlement plans and needs.
"We are ready to offer accommodation in hotels and resorts for which the operation and costs, until the provision of a permanent destination, will be fully covered by the United States," added the Prime Minister of Northern Macedonia.
The Prime Minister of Northern Macedonia Zoran Zaef (photo in the Reuters archive)
Together with the United States, we will plan the next steps for further action, he said.
An important statement, as described by the Independent Türkçe, was made by Mullah Mohammad Yakup, the son of former leader Muhammed Omar, and one of the most important figures in the Taliban, in which he pointed out that "Turkey is a country with which we want to establish close relationships ".
"We ask Erdogan to respect us. Turkey is a country that hosts many Afghans and we want to establish close relations with them. "We do not see Turkey as an enemy but as an ally," he said.
in.gr