Afghanistan | Don't Have Enmity Towards Anyone, Embassies Will be Safe: Taliban
Catch all the live updates of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan here.
Taliban fighters stand guard in front of the Hamid Karzai International Airport, in Kabul, Afghanistan.
(Photo: AP via PTI)
The security of foreign embassies is important to Taliban and they will be completely safe, the group's spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, told the media in Kabul on Tuesday, 17 August, two days after its takeover of Afghanistan.
He said the Taliban does not have enmity towards anyone and based on their leader's orders, they have pardoned everyone, TOLONews reported.
Earlier on Tuesday, it was reported that the Taliban had announced 'general amnesty' for government officials and urged them to return to work.
The Taliban is in control of Afghanistan after President Ashraf Ghani fled the country and conceded that the insurgents had won the 20-year war
On Monday night, US President Joe Biden addressed the nation on the Afghanistan crisis, and said that he 'stands squarely by his decision' to pull US troops from the war-torn country.
India has introduced a new category of electronic visa called “e-Emergency X-Misc Visa” to fast-track visa applications for entry into the country
China has said the US had left "an awful mess of unrest, division and broken families" in Afghanistan
Following the withdrawal of a majority of US troops on 1 May, Taliban advanced rapidly in the country, capturing city after city
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'Stand Squarely by My Decision': US President Biden
United States President Joe Biden addressed the nation on the Afghanistan crisis a little after 3:45 pm on Monday, 16 August (1:15 am IST, Tuesday), and said that "I stand squarely by my decision."
"American troops should not be fighting in a war and dying in a war that American troops are not willing to fight by themselves," Biden said.
"My national security team and I have been closely monitoring the situation on the ground in Afghanistan and moving quickly to execute the plans we had put in place to respond to every constituency and contingency including the rapid collapse we are seeing now," he said.
"Our mission in Afghanistan was never supposed to be nation-building or create a unified, centralised democracy. Our only vital national interest in Afghanistan remains today what it has always been - preventing terrorist attack on American homeland," Biden said.
Taliban Made Kabul Safer Than Before: Russian Ambassador
Russia's ambassador to Afghanistan Dmitry Zhirnov has said that the Taliban have made Kabul safer in the first 24 hours than it had been under the previous authorities, Reuters reported on Tuesday, 17 August.
Zhirnov will meet with the Taliban in Kabul on Tuesday, foreign ministry official Zamir Kabulov said on Monday, according to AFP. He added that Moscow will decide on recognising the new government based on its "conduct".
Kabul's Airport Reopens for Evacuation Operations
Kabul's airport was reopened early on Tuesday after being closed for hours by US forces following a breakdown in security on the tarmac that interrupted evacuation operations, a US general said.
The airport reopened at 1935 GMT Monday, said Major General Hank Taylor, a logistics specialist on the Pentagon's Joint Chiefs of Staff.
He said a C-17 transport aircraft had landed with US Marines aboard, and a second one loaded with an army unit was to land soon, to help establish security for the airport.
Taylor said the United States was "in charge of air traffic control" at Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA) for military and commercial flights.
Centre Introduces Category of Electronic Visa to Fast-track Applications for Entry into India
India's Ministry of Home Affairs has reviewed visa provisions in view of the current situation in Afghanistan and introduced a new category of electronic visa called “e-Emergency X-Misc Visa” to fast-track visa applications for entry into India.
India's Ambassador in Kabul, Indian Staff to Move to India Immediately
MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Tuesday said that in view of the prevailing circumstances, it has been decided that India's Ambassador in Kabul and his Indian staff will move to India immediately.
Taliban Announces 'General Amnesty' for Govt Officials
The Taliban has announced 'general amnesty' for government officials and urged them to return to work, a statement on Tuesday said, according to AFP.
"A general amnesty has been declared for all... so you should start your routine life with full confidence," said a statement from the Taliban.
Visuals Emerge of Taliban Taking Over Amusement Park
A day after taking over Kabul, Afghan fighters were seen enjoying rides in an amusement park in Afghanistan. The Taliban soldiers were seen riding electric bumper cars with weapons in their hands. In a separate video, they were also seen riding play horses in the park.
Video: Taliban Enters Kabul in Droves
Turkey Says It Views Messages of Taliban Positively
Turkey is in talks with all parties in Afghanistan including the Taliban and views the messages of the Islamist militants since taking control of the country positively, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday, according to Reuters.
Speaking at a news conference in Amman, Cavusoglu said Ankara would continue talks with the United States and other allies over the security of Kabul airport and the transition in Afghanistan.
Afghan Crisis | 'Surreal': Taliban Take Over Amusement Park, Gym in Kabul
US Left an Awful Mess in Afghanistan: China
China on Tuesday said that the US had left "an awful mess of unrest, division and broken families" in Afghanistan, with its foreign ministry spokesperson calling America's role one of "destruction, not construction", news agency AFP reported.
Don't Have Enmity Towards Anyone, Embassies Will be Safe: Taliban
The security of foreign embassies is important to Taliban and they will be completely safe, the group's spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, told the media in Kabul on Tuesday, two days after its takeover of Afghanistan.
He said the Taliban does not have enmity towards anyone and based on their leader's orders, they have pardoned everyone, TOLONews reported.
Mujahid further reportedly said that the Islamic Emirate is pledging to all the countries across the world that no threat will be posed to them from Afghanistan, adding that there will be an improvement in Afghanistan's economy and in the people's livelihoods.
Committed to Providing Women Their Rights Based on Islam: Taliban
Amid concerns about how life would be for women under Taliban rule, its spokespeson Zabihullah Mujahid said on Tuesday that they are committed to providing women their rights based on Islam, TOLONews reported.
Claiming that there will be no discrimination against women, he said women can work in the health sector and other sectors where they are needed.
The claim comes amid reports of women employees being forced to stay at home in the country.