LIVE: Afghanistan now emancipated, we seek no revenge, says Taliban

Afghanistan crisis LIVE updates: An IAF aircraft today left from Kabul to India carrying the Indian ambassador and other personnel as part of the emergency evacuation

1:01 AM

Italy's premier vows to protect Afghans' rights

Italy's prime minister is vowing that Italy will remain committed to promoting and protecting fundamental rights in Afghanistan, especially of women, following the Taliban takeover and the evacuation of Western diplomats and military forces.

 

Italy, which holds the rotating presidency of the Group of 20 industrialized countries this year, is the natural forum to launch a process of collaboration among countries including China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, in addition to Europe, Premier Mario Draghi said.

 

In an interview with state-run RAI television, Draghi paid tribute to the 53 Italian soldiers killed and 700 injured during Italy's 20-year participation in the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan and said Italy was looking to the future, not to the past.

12:05 AM

EU suspends development payments to Afghan govt

The European Union is suspending payments of development assistance to Afghanistan now that it has fallen to the Taliban but is weighing whether to boost humanitarian aid to the conflict-ravaged country.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell says there can be no payments of development assistance until we clarify the situation with Taliban leaders.

Speaking after chairing a meeting of EU foreign ministers Tuesday, Borrell said the Taliban must respect UN Security Council resolutions and human rights to earn access to the funds. Borrell says that humanitarian help will continue, and maybe we will have an increase, given the number of displaced Afghans, the ongoing drought, and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

11:03 PM

Pak PM Khan meets political delegation of Afghan leaders; says committed to support inclusive govt

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday told an Afghan delegation, led by former vice president Muhammad Younas Qanooni, that Pakistan was committed to support an inclusive government in Afghanistan. The delegation of political leaders from Afghanistan arrived here on Sunday for talks amidst a whirlwind takeover of the country by the Taliban insurgents.

 

Khan's Office said in a statement that he underlined that no other country is more desirous of peace and stability in Afghanistan than Pakistan. He highlighted the importance of all sides working to secure an inclusive political solution, it said.

 

Khan assured of Pakistan's steadfast support for efforts to bring peace in Afghanistan but also added that in the current situation, great responsibility rested on the Afghan leaders to work constructively together to lead Afghanistan on the path of sustainable peace, stability and development, his office said.

10:21 PM

EU ministers weigh Afghan security, migrant challenges

European Union foreign ministers held emergency talks Tuesday to weigh the security implications of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan amid concerns that a widespread fear of hardline Islamist rule will provoke an exodus from the conflict-ravaged country.

 

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the meeting would focus on how to support each other to get EU citizens and local Afghan staffers out of the country, how to deal with the Taliban in the future and how to keep the region stable if people leave Afghanistan in big numbers.

 

We will watch the developments very closely, and those who are now executing power in Afghanistan will be judged by their action, Maas told reporters in Berlin. We will especially focus on the stability of the region. The neighboring countries will certainly be confronted with further refugee movements.

9:47 PM

PM Modi chairs high-level meet on Afghan situation; directs refuge to Sikh, Hindus wanting to come to India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday directed officials to ensure safe evacuation of all Indian citizens from Afghanistan and to provide refuge to Sikhs and Hindus wanting to come to India from there, as he chaired a crucial high-level meeting in the backdrop of the Taliban takeover of the war-torn country, sources said.

Chairing a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security, Modi also said India must provide all possible help to its Afghan brothers and sisters who are looking towards India for assistance, official sources said.

Modi directed officials concerned to undertake all necessary measures to ensure safe evacuation of Indian nationals from Afghanistan in the coming days. The Cabinet Committee on Security is the apex government body that deals with the issues of national security.

9:17 PM

Afghan students in India worried about families back home, seek help for stranded compatriots due to Covid

It has been sleepless nights and desperate efforts to contact their families back home for the thousands of Afghan students in educational institutions in various parts of India as they worry about the fate of their kin and country under the Taliban. Many have also appealed to the Indian government to help their compatriots, who had gone back home due to the COVID-19-induced closure of educational institutions, to return to India and to extend their visas.

 

Shukrullah Ahamadi (25), who is pursuing an MBA from a private university in Pune, said he has not spoken to his family in Afghanistan for the last three days, a period which saw the fall of Kabul.

 

"The situation back home is terrifying and scary. We never imagined such kind of a situation. In my hometown in Logar province, which is hardly 50 km from Kabul, the Internet and telephone services are completely shut and I am not able to connect with my family," he said.

8:50 PM

Spokesman: Taliban to honor women's right within Islamic law

A Taliban spokesman has pledged to honor women's rights, but within the norms of Islamic law. Zabihullah Mujahid made the comment Tuesday at his first news conference. For years, he had been a shadowy figure issuing statements on behalf of the militants. His assertion that the Taliban would protect women's rights comes after the Taliban's earlier rule saw women's lives and rights severely restricted. (AP)

8:45 PM

LIVE: Afghanistan now emancipated, we seek no revenge, says Taliban

LIVE: Afghanistan now emancipated, we seek no revenge, says Taliban

8:21 PM

Govt says committed to safe return of all Indian nationals from Afghanistan

The main challenge for travel to and from Afghanistan is the operational status of Kabul airport, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said on Tuesday. "This has been discussed at high levels with our partners, including by our External Affairs Minister with the US Secretary of State. The government of India is committed to the safe return of all Indian nationals from Afghanistan and will institute flight arrangements once Kabul airport opens for commercial operations," it said. (PTI)

7:51 PM

Taliban checks at Kabul airport hindering evacuation of Afghans: German foreign minister

Taliban checks at Kabul airport hindering evacuation of Afghans: German foreign minister

7:50 PM

Taliban takeover in Afghanistan worries dry fruit traders in India

The Taliban takeover in Afghanistan has adversely impacted the import-export trade in India -- the largest beneficiary of Afghanistan's exports -- a development that has left traders, especially those importing dry fruits, worried. Afghan exports to India include dried raisins, walnut, almond, fig, pine nut, pistachios, dried apricot, and fresh fruits such as apricot, cherry, watermelon, and medicinal herbs. India's exports to Afghanistan include tea, coffee, pepper and cotton, toys, footwear, and various other consumable items, traders said. (IANS)

7:30 PM

PM Modi chairs meeting in backdrop of Afghanistan situation: Sources

6:56 PM

NATO chief blames Taliban takeover on 'failure of Afghan leadership'

NATO chief blames Taliban takeover on 'failure of Afghan leadership'

6:45 PM

Jaishankar says embassy staff evacuation from Kabul was a difficult exercise

6:44 PM

View: As the Taliban rise in Afghanistan, the liberal West crumbles

These are surreal times In Afghanistan. In a matter of hours, the old order had folded like nine pins and all that was left were the ruins of the last two decades.The new order is yet to emerge fully but the contours of that order can be discerned based on the past experience of the Afghan nation and the region. Read more

6:35 PM

Indian embassy staff evacuation from Kabul completed in two phases: MEA

6:34 PM

India exploring options to hire charter planes to evacuate more Indians from Afghanistan

India is also exploring options to hire charter planes to evacuate more Indians from Afghanistan, says report

6:20 PM

India to wait and watch Taliban's conduct

India to wait and watch that how inclusive will be the government formation and how will the Taliban conduct, news agency ANI report

5:52 PM

41 Keralites stranded in Kabul; state govt seeks Centre's intervention

The Kerala government on Tuesday said at least 41 Malayalis including women and children have been stranded in Taliban-controlled Kabul and requested the Centre to make necessary arrangements for their safe evacuation to the home country. In the wake of panic calls from the stranded people received at the Department of NORKA, the state-run welfare agency of non-resident Keralites, the government sent letters to the External Affairs Ministry seeking immediate steps for their repatriation. (PTI)

5:16 PM

Taliban's initial assurances since Afghan takeover 'a positive signal': Russian foreign minister

Taliban's initial assurances since Afghan takeover 'a positive signal': Russian foreign minister

4:23 PM

Germany halts development aid for Afghanistan: minister

Germany halts development aid for Afghanistan: minister

4:02 PM

Situation in Kabul under Taliban 'better' than it was under Ghani govt: Russian envoy

Russia has said that the situation in Kabul under the Taliban is "better" than it was under the Ashraf Ghani-led Afghanistan government, according to a media report, signalling Moscow's apparent endorsement of the insurgent group and an attempt to establish ties with the outfit, still officially designated a terrorist organisation in the country. (PTI)

3:46 PM

Afghan students studying in Punjab worried about families back home

Afghan students studying in educational institutions in Punjab are worried about their families back home after the fall of Kabul to the Taliban. "We have been having sleepless nights for the last several days. Our families, although safe so far, are shaken and afraid of the turn of events taking place in the country," Noor Ali Noori, an Afghan student studying at Punjab Agricultural University in Ludhiana, said on Tuesday. (PTI)

3:11 PM

Situation grim in Afghanistan, says Indian envoy after returning from Kabul

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) successfully carried out a three-day evacuation mission to bring back 192 Indians stranded in what is now the Taliban controlled Afghanistan. Providing a sigh of relief to those stranded in Afghanistan, the Indian Air Force (IAF) plane C-17, Globemaster, carried more than 150 Indian nationals from the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul to Jamnagar on Tuesday. The aircraft evacuated several Indian Embassy officials working in Afghanistan. Read more

3:05 PM

Australia will not be able to evacuate as many Afghans as it wants: PM

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison says his government will not be able to evacuate as many Afghans from Kabul as he wanted. Australia is sending three transport and air-to-air refueling jets with 250 military personnel to repatriate more than 130 Australians and their families from Afghanistan. Australia also wants to evacuate hundreds of Afghans who had worked for Australian troops and diplomats in roles such as interpreters. (PTI)

2:45 PM

Evacuation flights resume at Kabul airport

Military flights evacuating diplomats and civilians from Afghanistan resumed early on Tuesday after the runway at Kabul airport was cleared of thousands of people desperate to flee after the Taliban seized the capital. Read here

2:35 PM

UK's Johnson wants to discuss Afghanistan with G7 as soon as possible

Prime Minister Boris Johnson intends to hold a virtual meeting of Group of Seven leaders at the earliest opportunity to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, his office said after the British leader spoke with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday. "Both leaders resolved to use their bilateral and multilateral influence to encourage international partners to adopt a joined-up approach to the challenges ahead," Downing Street said in a statement after the two leaders spoke by phone.

"The Prime Minister also stressed the need to agree shared international standards on human rights that any future Taliban government in Afghanistan will be held to by the international community. (Reuters)

2:35 PM

Facebook bans Taliban supporting content: report

Social media giant Facebook has said that it has banned the Taliban and all content supporting it from its platforms as it considers the group to be a terrorist organisation, according to a media report. The company says it has a dedicated team of Afghan experts to monitor and remove content linked to the insurgent group. (PTI)

2:14 PM

Turkey says welcome 'positive messages' from Taliban in Afghanistan: Foreign minister

Turkey says welcome 'positive messages' from Taliban in Afghanistan: Foreign minister

2:00 PM

IAF plane carrying 120 Indians from Afghanistan lands at Jamnagar airbase

An Indian Air Force plane with 120 people onboard landed on Tuesday at Jamnagar in Gujarat from Kabul in Afghanistan, an official said. The C-17 aircraft touched down at the IAF airbase at Jamnagar at 11.15 am, the official said. Read here