The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will adopt a resolution on Afghanistan later today, the first such resolution on the country this month as crisis deepens. The resolution will be adopted at 12.30 am IST, and will be put to vote. Any member country wanting to give explanation can make a statement. This&nbsp;is the 4th document by the Council this month on Afghanistan as America leaves the country after 20 years and Taliban becomes the dominant force.&nbsp;

The wording of the resolution will be carefully noted. Mention of Taliban has gradually been removed from previous 3 press statements. The month of August saw 3 press statements on Afghanistan -- &nbsp;first on August 3 (after attack on UN compound in Herat), then on August 16 (after fall of Kabul to Taliban) and August 27 (after terror attack at Kabul airport)

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/talibans-return-powered-by-tech-409401/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

August 3 statement made the mention of Taliban twice, expressing "deep concern about the high levels of violence in Afghanistan following the Taliban’s military offensive,". The statement called for an "immediate reduction of violence" &amp; calling for Afghan republic and Taliban to engage "meaningfully in an inclusive, Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process". The 16th August press statement mentioned Taliban once saying, "neither the Taliban nor any other Afghan group or individual should support terrorists operating on the territory of any other country. There was no mention of Taliban in August 27 statement.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/should-have-informed-us-taliban-condemn-arbitrary-us-drone-strike-claim-civilians-killed-409410">‘Should have informed us’: Taliban condemn ‘arbitrary’ US drone strike, claim civilians killed</a> 
 
Any press statement or resolution or any UNSC document requires consensus among all 15 members of the council. India is president of the council for the month of August, and takes call on key issues that need to be taken for consideration. While it had 3 signature events -- maritime security, counter-terror and UN peacekeeping, Afghanistan remained its top priority.&nbsp;

In fact, on 15th August (Sunday), when Kabul fell to Taliban, India was ready to hold an emergency meet in matter of hours.

The council saw 2 debates on Afghanistan in August, first on 6th August and then on 16th August.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will adopt a resolution on Afghanistan later today, the first such resolution on the country this month as crisis deepens.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will adopt a resolution on Afghanistan later today, the first such resolution on the country this month as crisis deepens. The resolution will be adopted at 12.30 am IST, and will be put to vote. Any member country wanting to give explanation can make a statement. This is the 4th document by the Council this month on Afghanistan as America leaves the country after 20 years and Taliban becomes the dominant force. The wording of the resolution will be carefully noted. Mention of Taliban has gradually been removed from previous 3 press statements. The month of August saw 3 press statements on Afghanistan -- first on August 3 (after attack on UN compound in Herat), then on August 16 (after fall of Kabul to Taliban) and August 27 (after terror attack at Kabul airport) × August 3 statement made the mention of Taliban twice, expressing "deep concern about the high levels of violence in Afghanistan following the Taliban’s military offensive,". The statement called for an "immediate reduction of violence" & calling for Afghan republic and Taliban to engage "meaningfully in an inclusive, Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process". The 16th August press statement mentioned Taliban once saying, "neither the Taliban nor any other Afghan group or individual should support terrorists operating on the territory of any other country. There was no mention of Taliban in August 27 statement. Also Read | ‘Should have informed us’: Taliban condemn ‘arbitrary’ US drone strike, claim civilians killed Any press statement or resolution or any UNSC document requires consensus among all 15 members of the council. India is president of the council for the month of August, and takes call on key issues that need to be taken for consideration. While it had 3 signature events -- maritime security, counter-terror and UN peacekeeping, Afghanistan remained its top priority. In fact, on 15th August (Sunday), when Kabul fell to Taliban, India was ready to hold an emergency meet in matter of hours. The council saw 2 debates on Afghanistan in August, first on 6th August and then on 16th August.

United Nations Security Council to adopt resolution on Afghanistan tonight

Sri Lanka has sought the safety of foreign travellers from Afghanistan saying that all those who possess travel authorization must be allowed to proceed.

Sri Lanka seeks safety of travellers from Afghanistan

The US is all set to host a Foreign Minister's virtual meeting on Afghanistan future policy. The foreign minister Anthony Blinken will host the conference with America's key partners.

United States to host a virtual Foreign Minister's meet

A day after promising to protect women's rights in Afghanistan, the Taliban has issued a ban on co-education. Shaikh Abdulbaqi Haqqani, acting minister of higher education in Afghanistan, stated that all educational activities will be conducted in accordance with Sharia Law.

Taliban issues ban on co-education in Afghanistan

The Taliban control 5 out of 6 gates at the Kabul International airport. US military stationed at abbey gate ahead of exit deadline.

Afghanistan: The Taliban control 5 out of 6 gates at the airport

The UN Security Council is set to hold a meeting on the ongoing Afghanistan crisis. Today the meet will be attended by the invoice of the permanent members of the council.

UNSC meet to be attended by permanent members and NATO allies

A drone strike hits ISIS bombers in Afghanistan. United States drone strike blew up vehicle carrying 'Multiple Suicide Bombers'. Watch the report to know more.

US drone strike blew up vehicle carrying 'Multiple Suicide Bombers'

In a brutal slaying, the Taliban have shot dead a renowned Afghan folk singer in the country's north eastern Baghlan Province. Fawad Andrabi was allegedly dragged out of his home and killed by the Taliban.

Renowned Afghan folk singer killed in Afghanistan's Baghlan Province

After raising doubts over country's electronic voting system, the Brazilian President Bolsonaro says that he sees only three options materialising for him in the 2022 presidential election.

Brazil: President Bolsonaro questions country's electronic voting system

The White House has reacted to the Kabul airport rocket attack. The United States has confirmed the attack and has said that evacuation operations continue uninterrupted.

United States: White House confirms Kabul rocket attack

Afghanistan is in the throes of multiple crises. The war-torn country with millions of displaced people now faces health care crisis. Watch this report to know more.

Afghanistan: War-torn country with millions of displaced people faces healthcare crisis

Chinese foreign ministry said on Monday that China's foreign minister Wang Yi told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on call on Sunday that international community should engage and "positively guide" the Taliban.

According to a statement, Wang Yi said that Washington should work with the international community to provide economic and humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, help the new regime run governmental functions normally, maintain social stability, and stop the currency from depreciating and the cost of living from rising,

"While respecting the sovereignty of Afghanistan, the US should take concrete action to help Afghanistan fight terrorism and stop violence, rather than playing double standards or fighting terrorism selectively," Wang said, warning that the "hasty withdrawal" could allow terrorist groups to "regroup and come back stronger."

China's state television said that the call was made at the invitation of Washington.

US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement that both Blinken and Wang spoke about "the importance of the international community holding the Taliban accountable for the public commitments they have made regarding the safe passage and freedom to travel for Afghans and foreign nationals."

US officials had argued before the chaos of past two weeks that troop withdrawal from Afghanistan would free up time of senior US political and military leaders and help them focus their attention on the Indo-Pacific and challenge posed by China.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/russia-appeals-usa-to-release-afghan-central-bank-reserves-409426">Russia appeals USA to release Afghan central bank reserves</a>

But China's state-controlled media have seized on the often chaotic pullout, portraying US support for allies as fickle.

China has not officially recognized the Taliban as Afghanistan's new rulers, but Wang Yi last month hosted Mullah Baradar, chief of the group's political office, and has said the world should guide and support the country as it transitions to a new government instead of putting more pressure on it.

Wang earlier told Blinken in a call on Aug. 16 that the hasty pullout of U.S. troops from Afghanistan had a "serious negative impact," but pledged to work with Washington to promote stability in the country.

But Wang said Washington could not expect China's cooperation if it was also trying to "contain and suppress China and harm China's legitimate rights and interests," Chinese state media reported at the time of the earlier call.

(With inputs from agencies)

Chinese foreign ministry said on Monday that China's foreign minister Wang Yi told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on call on Sunday that international community should engage and "positively guide" the Taliban.

Chinese foreign ministry said on Monday that China's foreign minister Wang Yi told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on call on Sunday that international community should engage and "positively guide" the Taliban. According to a statement, Wang Yi said that Washington should work with the international community to provide economic and humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, help the new regime run governmental functions normally, maintain social stability, and stop the currency from depreciating and the cost of living from rising, "While respecting the sovereignty of Afghanistan, the US should take concrete action to help Afghanistan fight terrorism and stop violence, rather than playing double standards or fighting terrorism selectively," Wang said, warning that the "hasty withdrawal" could allow terrorist groups to "regroup and come back stronger." China's state television said that the call was made at the invitation of Washington. US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement that both Blinken and Wang spoke about "the importance of the international community holding the Taliban accountable for the public commitments they have made regarding the safe passage and freedom to travel for Afghans and foreign nationals." US officials had argued before the chaos of past two weeks that troop withdrawal from Afghanistan would free up time of senior US political and military leaders and help them focus their attention on the Indo-Pacific and challenge posed by China. Also Read | Russia appeals USA to release Afghan central bank reserves But China's state-controlled media have seized on the often chaotic pullout, portraying US support for allies as fickle. China has not officially recognized the Taliban as Afghanistan's new rulers, but Wang Yi last month hosted Mullah Baradar, chief of the group's political office, and has said the world should guide and support the country as it transitions to a new government instead of putting more pressure on it. Wang earlier told Blinken in a call on Aug. 16 that the hasty pullout of U.S. troops from Afghanistan had a "serious negative impact," but pledged to work with Washington to promote stability in the country. But Wang said Washington could not expect China's cooperation if it was also trying to "contain and suppress China and harm China's legitimate rights and interests," Chinese state media reported at the time of the earlier call. (With inputs from agencies)

International community should 'guide' Taliban in Afghanistan, says China

French President Emmanuel Macron will propose a safe zone in Kabul to try and protect people trying to leave Afghanistan. Watch this report to know more.

Emmanuel Macron: Safe zone will allow UN to act in an emergency

Russia on Monday appealed USA to release Afghan central bank reserves. The money and assets have been blocked after the Taliban took over power in Kabul earlier this month.

"If our Western colleagues are actually worried about the fate of the Afghan people, then we must not create additional problems for them by freezing gold and foreign exchange reserves," said the Kremlin's envoy to Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov.

He said that the United States must urgently unfreeze these events. He was speaking on the state-run Rossiya 24 network. He said that the assets must be unfrozen &nbsp;"to bolster the rate of the collapsing national currency".

Kabulov said that if this was not done, the new authorities will turn to "the trafficking of illegal opiates" and "sell on the black market the weapons" abandoned by the Afghan army and the United States.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/should-have-informed-us-taliban-condemn-arbitrary-us-drone-strike-claim-civilians-killed-409410">‘Should have informed us’: Taliban condemn ‘arbitrary’ US drone strike, claim civilians killed</a>

The Afghan central bank's gross reserves totalled $9.4 billion at the end of April, according to the IMF. The majority of these funds are held outside of Afghanistan.&nbsp;

Washington has indicated that the Taliban will not have access to assets held in the United States, without specifying the total amount there.&nbsp;

Afghanistan has long been the world's largest producer of opium and heroin, with profits from the illicit trade helping fund the Taliban.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russia on Monday appealed USA to release Afghan central bank reserves. The money and assets have been blocked after the Taliban took over power in Kabul earlier this month.

Russia on Monday appealed USA to release Afghan central bank reserves. The money and assets have been blocked after the Taliban took over power in Kabul earlier this month. "If our Western colleagues are actually worried about the fate of the Afghan people, then we must not create additional problems for them by freezing gold and foreign exchange reserves," said the Kremlin's envoy to Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov. He said that the United States must urgently unfreeze these events. He was speaking on the state-run Rossiya 24 network. He said that the assets must be unfrozen "to bolster the rate of the collapsing national currency". Kabulov said that if this was not done, the new authorities will turn to "the trafficking of illegal opiates" and "sell on the black market the weapons" abandoned by the Afghan army and the United States. Also Read | ‘Should have informed us’: Taliban condemn ‘arbitrary’ US drone strike, claim civilians killed The Afghan central bank's gross reserves totalled $9.4 billion at the end of April, according to the IMF. The majority of these funds are held outside of Afghanistan. Washington has indicated that the Taliban will not have access to assets held in the United States, without specifying the total amount there. Afghanistan has long been the world's largest producer of opium and heroin, with profits from the illicit trade helping fund the Taliban. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia appeals USA to release Afghan central bank reserves

Watch the video to know how the digital media and other communication technologies played a huge role in the resurgence of Taliban.

Taliban's return: Powered by tech?

As the Taliban begins its control over Afghanistan, reports say up to 1000 Afghans have been entering Iran from Dogharoun border crossing.

Dogharoun is located close to Afghanistan's Herat city which had fallen to the Taliban earlier this month. According to Iranian media, at least 2,000 Afghan nationals have been requesting entry into the country.

UN refugee agency UNHCR had said earlier that half a million Afghans could leave the country amid the Taliban's takeover. The UNCR had appealed to Afghanistan's neighbours&nbsp;to keep their borders open.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-carries-out-second-strike-against-suspected-members-of-isis-k-409325/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Turkey which shares its border with Afghanistan has reportedly reinforced the fence&nbsp;and detained Afghan migrants who have entered the country in recent weeks.

President Erodgan's government had declared last week that it was pulling troops out of Afghanistan. At least 500 non-combat Turkish troops were in Afghanistan as part of the NATO mission.

Turkey's defence ministry said: "The Turkish Armed forces are returning to our homeland with the pride of successfully fulfilling the tasks entrusted to it."

Watch: Taliban militants surround TV anchor during news show as video goes viral

"It is important for Afghanistan to stabilise," Erdogan said even as the president had earlier declared his intention to secure Kabul airport before the Taliban's surge into the capital. Erdogan later dropped his plan to allow Turkish guards to provide security to&nbsp;Kabul's strategic airport.

Erdogan asserted that Turkey cannot take the "new wave" of migrants&nbsp;arriving from Afghanistan while stating that the country already hosts five million refugees and cannot take the "additional burden of migrants".

Also Read:&nbsp;Hibatullah Akhundzada: Taliban's reclusive leader set to play key role in Afghanistan

The European Commission had said earlier that at least 550,000 people have been internally displaced since the beginning of 2021.

The EU had said it would "intensify" cooperation with Pakistan, Iran and Tajikistan to ensure Afghan migrants are allowed in the neighbouring countries.

(With inputs from Agencies)

As the Taliban begins its control over Afghanistan, reports say up to 1000 Afghans have been entering Iran from Dogharoun border crossing. Dogharoun is located close to Afghanistan's Herat city which had fallen to the Taliban earlier this month.

As the Taliban begins its control over Afghanistan, reports say up to 1000 Afghans have been entering Iran from Dogharoun border crossing. Dogharoun is located close to Afghanistan's Herat city which had fallen to the Taliban earlier this month. According to Iranian media, at least 2,000 Afghan nationals have been requesting entry into the country. UN refugee agency UNHCR had said earlier that half a million Afghans could leave the country amid the Taliban's takeover. The UNCR had appealed to Afghanistan's neighbours to keep their borders open. Watch: Turkey which shares its border with Afghanistan has reportedly reinforced the fence and detained Afghan migrants who have entered the country in recent weeks. President Erodgan's government had declared last week that it was pulling troops out of Afghanistan. At least 500 non-combat Turkish troops were in Afghanistan as part of the NATO mission. Turkey's defence ministry said: "The Turkish Armed forces are returning to our homeland with the pride of successfully fulfilling the tasks entrusted to it." Watch: Taliban militants surround TV anchor during news show as video goes viral "It is important for Afghanistan to stabilise," Erdogan said even as the president had earlier declared his intention to secure Kabul airport before the Taliban's surge into the capital. Erdogan later dropped his plan to allow Turkish guards to provide security to Kabul's strategic airport. Erdogan asserted that Turkey cannot take the "new wave" of migrants arriving from Afghanistan while stating that the country already hosts five million refugees and cannot take the "additional burden of migrants". Also Read: Hibatullah Akhundzada: Taliban's reclusive leader set to play key role in Afghanistan The European Commission had said earlier that at least 550,000 people have been internally displaced since the beginning of 2021. The EU had said it would "intensify" cooperation with Pakistan, Iran and Tajikistan to ensure Afghan migrants are allowed in the neighbouring countries. (With inputs from Agencies)

Afghans pour into Iran border as Taliban take control

French President Emmanuel Macron said that France and Britain will submit a resolution to an emergency United Nations meeting due Monday on Afghanistan proposing a safe zone in Kabul to try and protect people trying to leave the country.

Macron says France, Britain to propose 'safe zone' in Kabul

A band of veteran Afghan leaders, including two regional strongmen, are angling for talks with the Taliban and plan to meet within weeks to form a new front for holding negotiations on the country`s next government, a member of a group said.

Khalid Noor, son of Atta Mohammad Noor, the once-powerful governor of northern Afghanistan`s Balkh province, said the group comprised of veteran ethnic Uzbek leader Abdul Rashid Dostum and others opposed to the Taliban`s takeover.

"We prefer to negotiate collectively, because it is not that the problem of Afghanistan will be solved just by one of us," Noor, 27, told Reuters in an interview from an undisclosed location.

"So, it is important for the entire political community of the country to be involved, especially the traditional leaders, those with power, with public support," Noor said.

Atta Noor and Dostum, veterans of four decades of conflict in Afghanistan, both fled the country when the northern city of Mazar-i Sharif fell to the Taliban, the hardline Islamist group, without a fight.

The US-backed government and military folded elsewhere as the Taliban swept into Kabul on Aug. 15.

However, the backroom discussions are a sign of the country`s traditional strongmen coming back to life after the Taliban`s stunning military campaign.

It will be a challenge for any entity to rule Afghanistan for long without consensus between the country`s patchwork of ethnicities, most analysts say.

Unlike their previous period in power before 2001, the predominantly Pashtun Taliban did seek support from Tajiks, Uzbeks and other minorities as they prepared their offensive last month.

"The Taliban at this point are very, very arrogant, because they just won militarily. But what we assume (is) that they know the risk of ruling the way they did before," Noor said, referring to the previous Taliban regime`s exclusion of minority ethnic groups.

'SURRENDER OUT OF QUESTION'

Despite a commitment to negotiations, Noor said there was a "huge risk" that the talks could fail, leading the group to already prepare for an armed resistance against the Taliban. 
"Surrender is out of the question for us," said Noor, the youngest member of the erstwhile Afghan government`s team that held talks with the Taliban in Qatar.

Ahmad Massoud, leader of Afghanistan`s last major outpost of anti-Taliban resistance, last week also said he hoped talks with the Taliban would lead to an inclusive government, failing which his forces were ready to fight.

It remains uncertain how much popular support is actually enjoyed by leaders like Atta Noor, widely accused of corruption, and Dostum, accused of multiple acts of torture and brutality, and described in a US&nbsp;State Department report as a "quintessential warlord". Both leaders deny the accusations.

The Taliban, already a formidable military force, are now in possession of an estimated 2,000 armoured vehicles and up to 40 aircraft, among other arms left behind by fleeing Afghan forces, potentially bolstering their firepower.

Still, Noor said the Taliban would not be able to hold out against a popular resistance.

"History has shown that no one in Afghanistan can rule by force, it is impossible," the Western-educated politician said, "No matter how much support they have from international community, it will fail."

A band of veteran Afghan leaders, including two regional strongmen, are angling for talks with the Taliban and plan to meet within weeks to form a new front for holding negotiations on the country`s next government, a member of a group said.

A band of veteran Afghan leaders, including two regional strongmen, are angling for talks with the Taliban and plan to meet within weeks to form a new front for holding negotiations on the country`s next government, a member of a group said. Khalid Noor, son of Atta Mohammad Noor, the once-powerful governor of northern Afghanistan`s Balkh province, said the group comprised of veteran ethnic Uzbek leader Abdul Rashid Dostum and others opposed to the Taliban`s takeover. "We prefer to negotiate collectively, because it is not that the problem of Afghanistan will be solved just by one of us," Noor, 27, told Reuters in an interview from an undisclosed location. "So, it is important for the entire political community of the country to be involved, especially the traditional leaders, those with power, with public support," Noor said. Atta Noor and Dostum, veterans of four decades of conflict in Afghanistan, both fled the country when the northern city of Mazar-i Sharif fell to the Taliban, the hardline Islamist group, without a fight. The US-backed government and military folded elsewhere as the Taliban swept into Kabul on Aug. 15. However, the backroom discussions are a sign of the country`s traditional strongmen coming back to life after the Taliban`s stunning military campaign. It will be a challenge for any entity to rule Afghanistan for long without consensus between the country`s patchwork of ethnicities, most analysts say. Unlike their previous period in power before 2001, the predominantly Pashtun Taliban did seek support from Tajiks, Uzbeks and other minorities as they prepared their offensive last month. "The Taliban at this point are very, very arrogant, because they just won militarily. But what we assume (is) that they know the risk of ruling the way they did before," Noor said, referring to the previous Taliban regime`s exclusion of minority ethnic groups. 'SURRENDER OUT OF QUESTION' Despite a commitment to negotiations, Noor said there was a "huge risk" that the talks could fail, leading the group to already prepare for an armed resistance against the Taliban. "Surrender is out of the question for us," said Noor, the youngest member of the erstwhile Afghan government`s team that held talks with the Taliban in Qatar. Ahmad Massoud, leader of Afghanistan`s last major outpost of anti-Taliban resistance, last week also said he hoped talks with the Taliban would lead to an inclusive government, failing which his forces were ready to fight. It remains uncertain how much popular support is actually enjoyed by leaders like Atta Noor, widely accused of corruption, and Dostum, accused of multiple acts of torture and brutality, and described in a US State Department report as a "quintessential warlord". Both leaders deny the accusations. The Taliban, already a formidable military force, are now in possession of an estimated 2,000 armoured vehicles and up to 40 aircraft, among other arms left behind by fleeing Afghan forces, potentially bolstering their firepower. Still, Noor said the Taliban would not be able to hold out against a popular resistance. "History has shown that no one in Afghanistan can rule by force, it is impossible," the Western-educated politician said, "No matter how much support they have from international community, it will fail."

Veteran Afghan strongmen to form new front for negotiating with Taliban

At least two people, including a kid, were killed after a rocket hit a residential building in Kabul on Sunday. The blast took place in the Khawaja Bughra area. Meanwhile, a US airstrike targeted a suicide bomber in a vehicle who wanted to strike Kabul international airport amid the American evacuation.

United States military airstrike targets suicide bomber

In Afghanistan, a loud explosion has occurred near Kabul airport. The blast took place in the Khawaja Bughra area. Photos and videos on social media show large plumes of smoke rising from the site. Investigative Journalist & Former Army Major Peter Quinn has spoken with WION about the ongoing situation in Afghanistan.

Former Army Major Peter Quinn speaks with WION on Afghanistan's situation

As the US and other European troops pull out of Afghanistan, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that he is not entirely sure Turkey wants to control the Kabul airport.<o:p></o:p>

Turkey had been planning to help secure and run the Kabul airport, which has become a target area for the ISIS in the past few days. However, the Turkish leader seems to have trashed the idea now as the country started withdrawing its 500 non-combat forces from Afghanistan.

<o:p>Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/best-dad-pregnant-wife-of-us-marine-killed-in-kabul-pays-emotional-tribute-409184">&nbsp;'Best dad': Pregnant wife of US Marine killed in Kabul pays emotional tribute</a></o:p>

The chances of Turkey securing and running the most popular and only safe way out of Afghanistan are very less now, as per the statements issued by Erdogan.<o:p></o:p>

Erdogan took this decision after holding first talks with the Taliban in Kabul. "What does the Taliban say with regard to the airport issue? They say 'give us the security but you operate it'," Erdogan said in comments published by the official Anadolu news agency and other media outlets. "Let's say you took over the security but how would we explain to the world if another bloodbath takes place there? It's not an easy job." <o:p></o:p>

He also announced that the Turkish embassy in Kabul is now moving back to the designated building in the capital city of Afghanistan. For more than a week, the Turkish officials had been operating out of the Kabul airport as the Taliban took control of the country.

"They returned to our embassy building in the city centre the other day and they are continuing their activities from here," Erdogan was quoted saying by a local broadcaster NTV. "Our plan now is to maintain our diplomatic presence in this way. We are continuously updating our plans according to developments regarding the security situation."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/afghanistan-the-taliban-to-announce-new-cabinet-in-2-weeks-409207">WATCH |</a>

<o:p></o:p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/afghanistan-the-taliban-to-announce-new-cabinet-in-2-weeks-409207/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Meanwhile, Turkey's&nbsp;Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said the country cannot welcome take the burden of a new refugee wave incoming from Afghanistan.&nbsp;

"As Turkey, we have sufficiently carried out our moral and humanitarian responsibilities regarding migration,"&nbsp;Cavusoglu said at a joint press conference with&nbsp;German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas.&nbsp;"It is out of the question for us to take an additional refugee burden."

This news has come as the US carried out an airstrike claiming that it successfully hit active suicide bombers of ISIS-K who were planning to attack the Kabul airport.

The airstrike came a few days after the ISIS-K carried out bomb attacks near the Kabul airport which took more than 160 lives of civilians, 13 US troops and injured several others. The US, however, claims it has managed to kill the planner of the attack and another ISIS member through drone strikes.<o:p></o:p>

As the US and other European troops pull out of Afghanistan, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that he is not entirely sure Turkey wants to control the Kabul airport.

As the US and other European troops pull out of Afghanistan, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that he is not entirely sure Turkey wants to control the Kabul airport. Turkey had been planning to help secure and run the Kabul airport, which has become a target area for the ISIS in the past few days. However, the Turkish leader seems to have trashed the idea now as the country started withdrawing its 500 non-combat forces from Afghanistan. Also read | 'Best dad': Pregnant wife of US Marine killed in Kabul pays emotional tribute The chances of Turkey securing and running the most popular and only safe way out of Afghanistan are very less now, as per the statements issued by Erdogan. Erdogan took this decision after holding first talks with the Taliban in Kabul. "What does the Taliban say with regard to the airport issue? They say 'give us the security but you operate it'," Erdogan said in comments published by the official Anadolu news agency and other media outlets. "Let's say you took over the security but how would we explain to the world if another bloodbath takes place there? It's not an easy job." He also announced that the Turkish embassy in Kabul is now moving back to the designated building in the capital city of Afghanistan. For more than a week, the Turkish officials had been operating out of the Kabul airport as the Taliban took control of the country. "They returned to our embassy building in the city centre the other day and they are continuing their activities from here," Erdogan was quoted saying by a local broadcaster NTV. "Our plan now is to maintain our diplomatic presence in this way. We are continuously updating our plans according to developments regarding the security situation." WATCH | Meanwhile, Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said the country cannot welcome take the burden of a new refugee wave incoming from Afghanistan. "As Turkey, we have sufficiently carried out our moral and humanitarian responsibilities regarding migration," Cavusoglu said at a joint press conference with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas. "It is out of the question for us to take an additional refugee burden." This news has come as the US carried out an airstrike claiming that it successfully hit active suicide bombers of ISIS-K who were planning to attack the Kabul airport. The airstrike came a few days after the ISIS-K carried out bomb attacks near the Kabul airport which took more than 160 lives of civilians, 13 US troops and injured several others. The US, however, claims it has managed to kill the planner of the attack and another ISIS member through drone strikes.

Turkey's Erdogan pulls back from plans of running Kabul airport

Militant fire from across the border in Afghanistan killed two Pakistani soldiers on Sunday, the army said, in the first such attack since the Taliban took over Kabul ten days ago.

The army said it retaliated and killed two or three attackers, a claim not verifiable because the tribal districts along the Afghan border are off limits to journalists and human rights organisations.

The incident in Pakistan`s Bajaur district is the first of its kind reported since the Taliban took over Kabul on August 15.

Bajaur is one of several lawless tribal regions along the Afghan border which have long sheltered militants, including an Islamist militant umbrella organisation called Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The TTP, which renewed an allegiance to the Afghan Taliban after the fall of Kabul, has recently stepped up its campaign against the Pakistani army.

The army did not say which group it thought was responsible for Sunday`s attack, but has long held that TTP leaders and fighters are sheltering in Afghanistan after fleeing the tribal districts during military operations targeting militants.

"As per intelligence reports, due to fire of Pakistan army troops, 2-3 terrorists got killed and 3-4 terrorists got injured," the military said in a statement.

The statement condemned the "the use of Afghan soil by terrorists for activities against Pakistan and expects that existing and future set-up in Afghanistan will not allow such activities against Pakistan."

Pakistani Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad has said that Islamabad expected the Afghan Taliban to ensure that the anti-Pakistan Taliban did not use Afghan soil as a launch pad for attacks inside Pakistan.

Islamabad accuses the TTP of having used Afghanistan as a base from where to carry a suicide attack in northern Pakistan in July that killed nine Chinese workers and four Pakistanis.

"We expected that the way things were unfolding in Afghanistan, the violence can spill over in Pakistan," Pakistan army spokesman Major General Babar Iftikhar told a news conference on Friday.

The Afghan Taliban`s spokesman Zabihullah Muhaid said in his maiden news conference that the Islamist militants wouldn`t allow any group to use Afghan soil against anyone.

Militant fire from across the border in Afghanistan killed two Pakistani soldiers on Sunday, the army said, in the first such attack since the Taliban took over Kabul ten days ago.

Militant fire from across the border in Afghanistan killed two Pakistani soldiers on Sunday, the army said, in the first such attack since the Taliban took over Kabul ten days ago. The army said it retaliated and killed two or three attackers, a claim not verifiable because the tribal districts along the Afghan border are off limits to journalists and human rights organisations. The incident in Pakistan`s Bajaur district is the first of its kind reported since the Taliban took over Kabul on August 15. Bajaur is one of several lawless tribal regions along the Afghan border which have long sheltered militants, including an Islamist militant umbrella organisation called Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The TTP, which renewed an allegiance to the Afghan Taliban after the fall of Kabul, has recently stepped up its campaign against the Pakistani army. The army did not say which group it thought was responsible for Sunday`s attack, but has long held that TTP leaders and fighters are sheltering in Afghanistan after fleeing the tribal districts during military operations targeting militants. "As per intelligence reports, due to fire of Pakistan army troops, 2-3 terrorists got killed and 3-4 terrorists got injured," the military said in a statement. The statement condemned the "the use of Afghan soil by terrorists for activities against Pakistan and expects that existing and future set-up in Afghanistan will not allow such activities against Pakistan." Pakistani Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad has said that Islamabad expected the Afghan Taliban to ensure that the anti-Pakistan Taliban did not use Afghan soil as a launch pad for attacks inside Pakistan. Islamabad accuses the TTP of having used Afghanistan as a base from where to carry a suicide attack in northern Pakistan in July that killed nine Chinese workers and four Pakistanis. "We expected that the way things were unfolding in Afghanistan, the violence can spill over in Pakistan," Pakistan army spokesman Major General Babar Iftikhar told a news conference on Friday. The Afghan Taliban`s spokesman Zabihullah Muhaid said in his maiden news conference that the Islamist militants wouldn`t allow any group to use Afghan soil against anyone.

Militant fire across Afghan border kills two Pakistani soldiers, says army

The Taliban's supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada -- who has never made a public appearance and whose whereabouts have largely remained unknown -- is in Afghanistan, the hardline Islamist group confirmed on Sunday.&nbsp;

"He is present in Kandahar. He has been living there from the very beginning," said&nbsp;Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid.

"He will soon appear in public," added deputy spokesman Bilal Karimi.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-loud-explosion-heard-in-kabul-as-us-official-admits-military-strike-carried-out-in-same-area-409224" hreflang="en">Loud explosion heard in Kabul as US targets active ISIS-K suicide bombers</a>

The so-called commander of the faithful, Akhundzada has shepherded the Taliban as its chief since 2016 when snatched from relative obscurity to oversee a movement in crisis.

Little is still known about Akhundzada's day-to-day role, with his public profile largely limited to the release of annual messages during Islamic holidays.

He has yet to issue any kind of statement since the Taliban swept to power and took control of Afghanistan in mid-August.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-plus-afghanistan-5-faces-to-watch-out-for-409241">WATCH |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-plus-afghanistan-5-faces-to-watch-out-for-409241/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The Taliban have a long history of keeping their top leader in the shadows.

The group's enigmatic founder Mullah Mohammad Omar was notorious for his hermit ways and rarely travelled to Kabul when the group was in power in the 1990s.

Instead, Omar stayed largely out of sight in his compound in Kandahar, reluctant even to meet visiting delegations.

Kandahar was the birthplace of the militant movement and the epicentre of the Taliban's iron-fisted Islamist government in the 1990s.

The Taliban's supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada -- who has never made a public appearance and whose whereabouts have largely remained unknown -- is in Afghanistan, the hardline Islamist group confirmed on Sunday.

The Taliban's supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada -- who has never made a public appearance and whose whereabouts have largely remained unknown -- is in Afghanistan, the hardline Islamist group confirmed on Sunday. "He is present in Kandahar. He has been living there from the very beginning," said Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. "He will soon appear in public," added deputy spokesman Bilal Karimi. Also read | Loud explosion heard in Kabul as US targets active ISIS-K suicide bombers The so-called commander of the faithful, Akhundzada has shepherded the Taliban as its chief since 2016 when snatched from relative obscurity to oversee a movement in crisis. Little is still known about Akhundzada's day-to-day role, with his public profile largely limited to the release of annual messages during Islamic holidays. He has yet to issue any kind of statement since the Taliban swept to power and took control of Afghanistan in mid-August. WATCH | The Taliban have a long history of keeping their top leader in the shadows. The group's enigmatic founder Mullah Mohammad Omar was notorious for his hermit ways and rarely travelled to Kabul when the group was in power in the 1990s. Instead, Omar stayed largely out of sight in his compound in Kandahar, reluctant even to meet visiting delegations. Kandahar was the birthplace of the militant movement and the epicentre of the Taliban's iron-fisted Islamist government in the 1990s.

Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada in Afghanistan: Spokesman

The Taliban’s acting higher education minister on Sunday imposed a ban on co-education classes in Afghanistan, saying that “the women will be allowed to study in university, but they won’t be sitting in the same classroom with the men.”

Abdul Baqi Haqqani said the Taliban group will respect progress made in women’s rights, but only according to their strict interpretation of Islamic law.

“The... people of Afghanistan will continue their higher education in the light of Sharia law in safety without being in a mixed male and female environment,” AFP quoted Abdul Baqi Haqqani while speaking at a meeting with elders, known as a loya jirga.

He further said their government will ensure that girls and boys are segregated at primary and secondary schools.

“The Taliban wants to create a reasonable and Islamic curriculum that is in line with our Islamic, national and historical values and, on the other hand, be able to compete with other countries,” Haqqani said.

Also read |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-kill-afghan-folk-singer-days-after-having-tea-with-him-409240">Taliban kill Afghan folk singer days after having tea with him</a>

Ever since the Taliban stormed to power in mid-August usurping the western-backed government, the radical Islamist group have repeatedly stressed to rule differently than their 1990s stint when girls and women were banned from education.

However, recent reports of the Taliban killing popular local folk singer Fawad Andarabi and comedian Nazar Mohammad have reinstated fears of the earlier days of the oppressive regime where entertainment was considered a sin as per their understanding of Islamic law.

The Taliban have yet to announce their government, saying they would wait until after the departure of US and foreign forces.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Taliban’s acting higher education minister on Sunday imposed a ban on co-education classes in Afghanistan, saying that “the women will be allowed to study in university, but they won’t be sitting in the same classroom with the men.

The Taliban’s acting higher education minister on Sunday imposed a ban on co-education classes in Afghanistan, saying that “the women will be allowed to study in university, but they won’t be sitting in the same classroom with the men.” Abdul Baqi Haqqani said the Taliban group will respect progress made in women’s rights, but only according to their strict interpretation of Islamic law. “The... people of Afghanistan will continue their higher education in the light of Sharia law in safety without being in a mixed male and female environment,” AFP quoted Abdul Baqi Haqqani while speaking at a meeting with elders, known as a loya jirga. He further said their government will ensure that girls and boys are segregated at primary and secondary schools. “The Taliban wants to create a reasonable and Islamic curriculum that is in line with our Islamic, national and historical values and, on the other hand, be able to compete with other countries,” Haqqani said. Also read | Taliban kill Afghan folk singer days after having tea with him Ever since the Taliban stormed to power in mid-August usurping the western-backed government, the radical Islamist group have repeatedly stressed to rule differently than their 1990s stint when girls and women were banned from education. However, recent reports of the Taliban killing popular local folk singer Fawad Andarabi and comedian Nazar Mohammad have reinstated fears of the earlier days of the oppressive regime where entertainment was considered a sin as per their understanding of Islamic law. The Taliban have yet to announce their government, saying they would wait until after the departure of US and foreign forces. (With inputs from agencies)

Taliban 2.0: Women allowed to study, but ban on co-education classes in Afghanistan

The Department of Defense on Saturday identified the 13 members of the U.S. military who were killed in the attack on the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Thursday as they worked to evacuate people to safety. They hailed from across the country — from California to Wyoming to Tennessee — and had an average age of just over 22. Eleven were Marines, one was a Navy medic and another was a member of the Army.

Here is what we know about them.

Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, 31, of Salt Lake City.

Hoover was a born leader, his father Darin Hoover said, who loved the United States and was on his third tour in Afghanistan. “He led his men into that, and they followed him, but I know — I know in my heart of hearts, he was out front,” Darin Hoover said. “And they would’ve followed him through the gates of hell if that’s what it took, and, ultimately, that’s pretty much what he did.”

Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, 25, of Lawrence, Massachusetts.

Rosario should be “recognized as the hero that she was,” her family told the mayor of Lawrence. Her former junior ROTC instructor recalled her as an “absolute warrior” in high school, and Marine 1st Lt. John Coppola said in a statement that she had been “crucial to evacuating thousands of women and children.” The Dominican Republic’s embassy in the U.S. said that she was Dominican American.

Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23, of Sacramento, California.

In Gee’s most recent post on Instagram, less than a week ago, she stands next to a long line of people waiting to file into a military plane at the Kabul airport. “Escorting evacuees onto the bird,” she wrote. In another post, in which she is holding a child in Kabul, she wrote, “I love my job.” A fellow sergeant wrote on Facebook that Gee’s car was still in the lot at a Marine Corps base in North Carolina: “I drove it around the parking lot every once in a while to make sure it would be good for when she came home.”

Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, of Indio, California.

Lopez’s mother told a reporter in Southern California that her son had recently carried an Afghan toddler several miles to safety, and asked people to light a candle in his honor. Lopez’s parents both work for the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in California, his father as a captain and his mother as a deputy. “Like his parents who serve our community, being a Marine to Hunter wasn’t a job; it was a calling,” the Riverside Sheriffs’ Association wrote in a statement.

Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan W. Page, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska.

Page grew up in Red Oak, Iowa, and in the area around Omaha, and joined the Marines after high school, his family said in a statement. He had four siblings and was a member of the Boy Scouts, played club hockey, hunted with his father and had a “soft spot in his heart for dogs,” they said. “To his younger siblings, he was their favorite jungle gym and to his friends, he was a genuinely happy guy that you could always count on,” the family said, adding that he was being mourned by his parents, stepparents, siblings, grandparents and his girlfriend.

Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, 22, of Logansport, Indiana.

Sanchez lived in a small city about 1 1/2 hours north of Indianapolis and had graduated from Logansport High School. The mayor of Logansport said that Sanchez “still had his entire life ahead of him” and that the young man had sacrificed himself by “putting himself into harm’s way” as part of the mission in Kabul. Gov. Eric Holcomb of Indiana vowed “to honor him in every way” possible. “Few among us answer a call of duty so dangerous as Cpl. Sanchez volunteered to do,” he said.

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, 20, of Rio Bravo, Texas.

Espinoza’s mother told a local television station that she had received a call at 2:30 a.m. informing her of her young son’s death. “I am proud of him because of what he did but as a mother, you know, it’s hard,” his mother, Elizabeth Holguin, told the station, KGNS-TV, as she teared up. The station reported that Espinoza’s sister had just turned 13. Espinoza was born in Laredo, Texas, his family said, and he had been stationed in Jordan for two years before being transferred to Kabul about a week ago. “He always knew” how much his parents loved him, Holguin said.

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, 20, of St. Charles, Missouri.

Schmitz, who lived in a suburb of St. Louis, had been stationed in Jordan on his first deployment before being transferred to Afghanistan for the evacuation mission about two weeks ago, his father, Mark Schmitz, told KMOX radio in St. Louis. “It’s something he always wanted to do and I’ve never seen a young man train as hard as he did to be the best soldier he could be,” Schmitz said, adding that the family was both devastated and furious. “Somebody just came along and took the easy way out and ended everything for him and for us — and for those others that were killed,” he said.

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, 20, of Jackson, Wyoming.

McCollum had dreamed of becoming a Marine ever since he was 3 years old, his father, Jim, said in an interview. He, too, was recently transferred from Jordan to Afghanistan, and McCollum began checking his phone for a little green dot on a messaging app that showed that his son was online — and OK. When news came that 13 Americans had died in the attack, he again checked for the dot and sent him a message with no response. “In my heart yesterday afternoon, I knew,” McCollum said, adding that his son was “a beautiful soul.”

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga, California.

Merola was “one of the best kids ever,” said Cheryl Merola, his mother. He was “kind, loving” and “would give anything for anybody,” she told KCBS-TV. His grandmother told the station that Merola would frequently say he wanted to come home to his family. He had been transferred to Afghanistan about a week and a half ago, and left a voicemail message with his mother saying he would not be able to talk to her for a while and that he loved her. Los Osos High School in Southern California, from which he recently graduated, held a moment of silence for him at a football game on Friday.

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, 20, of Norco, California.

Nikoui was a young martial arts champion whose father told Reuters that he had watched television nonstop for updates on the attack until he learned the devastating news from three Marines at his door. “He was born the same year it started, and ended his life with the end of this war,” Steve Nikoui said. He told The Daily Beast that his son loved his Marine family and wanted to “make a career out of this,” and added that he was frustrated that President Joe Biden had sent his and others’ children into harm’s way. “They sent my son over there as a paper pusher and then had the Taliban outside providing security,” he said.

Navy Hospitalman Maxton W. Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio.

Soviak grew up playing football in a small northern Ohio community where his death has left a “Maxton-sized hole” in his loved ones’ lives, his sister Marilyn wrote in an Instagram post. He was a Navy medic who had graduated from high school in 2017. “Everybody looked to Max in tough situations,” said Jim Hall, his high school football coach, who described Soviak as a deeply loyal friend. “He was energetic. He wore his emotions on his sleeve. He was a passionate kid. He didn’t hold anything back.”

Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, 23, of Corryton, Tennessee.

Knauss was “a motivated young man who loved his country,” his grandfather Wayne Knauss told WATE-TV in Knoxville, Tennessee. “He was a believer so we will see him again in heaven.” He had been in the military for five years, his grandfather said, and his stepmother told the station that he had planned to move to Washington when he returned to the United States. One of his former teachers said he had been “quiet but confident” in school and that he had written an essay that said his role models were people who stand up against power to help people. “He wrote that nine years ago as a 14-year-old boy, not knowing the man he was going to become,” Angela Hoffman, the teacher, told the station.

The Department of Defense on Saturday identified the 13 members of the U.S. military who were killed in the attack on the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Thursday as they worked to evacuate people to safety.

The Department of Defense on Saturday identified the 13 members of the U.S. military who were killed in the attack on the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Thursday as they worked to evacuate people to safety. They hailed from across the country — from California to Wyoming to Tennessee — and had an average age of just over 22. Eleven were Marines, one was a Navy medic and another was a member of the Army. Here is what we know about them. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, 31, of Salt Lake City. Hoover was a born leader, his father Darin Hoover said, who loved the United States and was on his third tour in Afghanistan. “He led his men into that, and they followed him, but I know — I know in my heart of hearts, he was out front,” Darin Hoover said. “And they would’ve followed him through the gates of hell if that’s what it took, and, ultimately, that’s pretty much what he did.” Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, 25, of Lawrence, Massachusetts. Rosario should be “recognized as the hero that she was,” her family told the mayor of Lawrence. Her former junior ROTC instructor recalled her as an “absolute warrior” in high school, and Marine 1st Lt. John Coppola said in a statement that she had been “crucial to evacuating thousands of women and children.” The Dominican Republic’s embassy in the U.S. said that she was Dominican American. Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23, of Sacramento, California. In Gee’s most recent post on Instagram, less than a week ago, she stands next to a long line of people waiting to file into a military plane at the Kabul airport. “Escorting evacuees onto the bird,” she wrote. In another post, in which she is holding a child in Kabul, she wrote, “I love my job.” A fellow sergeant wrote on Facebook that Gee’s car was still in the lot at a Marine Corps base in North Carolina: “I drove it around the parking lot every once in a while to make sure it would be good for when she came home.” Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, of Indio, California. Lopez’s mother told a reporter in Southern California that her son had recently carried an Afghan toddler several miles to safety, and asked people to light a candle in his honor. Lopez’s parents both work for the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in California, his father as a captain and his mother as a deputy. “Like his parents who serve our community, being a Marine to Hunter wasn’t a job; it was a calling,” the Riverside Sheriffs’ Association wrote in a statement. Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan W. Page, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska. Page grew up in Red Oak, Iowa, and in the area around Omaha, and joined the Marines after high school, his family said in a statement. He had four siblings and was a member of the Boy Scouts, played club hockey, hunted with his father and had a “soft spot in his heart for dogs,” they said. “To his younger siblings, he was their favorite jungle gym and to his friends, he was a genuinely happy guy that you could always count on,” the family said, adding that he was being mourned by his parents, stepparents, siblings, grandparents and his girlfriend. Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, 22, of Logansport, Indiana. Sanchez lived in a small city about 1 1/2 hours north of Indianapolis and had graduated from Logansport High School. The mayor of Logansport said that Sanchez “still had his entire life ahead of him” and that the young man had sacrificed himself by “putting himself into harm’s way” as part of the mission in Kabul. Gov. Eric Holcomb of Indiana vowed “to honor him in every way” possible. “Few among us answer a call of duty so dangerous as Cpl. Sanchez volunteered to do,” he said. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, 20, of Rio Bravo, Texas. Espinoza’s mother told a local television station that she had received a call at 2:30 a.m. informing her of her young son’s death. “I am proud of him because of what he did but as a mother, you know, it’s hard,” his mother, Elizabeth Holguin, told the station, KGNS-TV, as she teared up. The station reported that Espinoza’s sister had just turned 13. Espinoza was born in Laredo, Texas, his family said, and he had been stationed in Jordan for two years before being transferred to Kabul about a week ago. “He always knew” how much his parents loved him, Holguin said. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, 20, of St. Charles, Missouri. Schmitz, who lived in a suburb of St. Louis, had been stationed in Jordan on his first deployment before being transferred to Afghanistan for the evacuation mission about two weeks ago, his father, Mark Schmitz, told KMOX radio in St. Louis. “It’s something he always wanted to do and I’ve never seen a young man train as hard as he did to be the best soldier he could be,” Schmitz said, adding that the family was both devastated and furious. “Somebody just came along and took the easy way out and ended everything for him and for us — and for those others that were killed,” he said. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, 20, of Jackson, Wyoming. McCollum had dreamed of becoming a Marine ever since he was 3 years old, his father, Jim, said in an interview. He, too, was recently transferred from Jordan to Afghanistan, and McCollum began checking his phone for a little green dot on a messaging app that showed that his son was online — and OK. When news came that 13 Americans had died in the attack, he again checked for the dot and sent him a message with no response. “In my heart yesterday afternoon, I knew,” McCollum said, adding that his son was “a beautiful soul.” Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga, California. Merola was “one of the best kids ever,” said Cheryl Merola, his mother. He was “kind, loving” and “would give anything for anybody,” she told KCBS-TV. His grandmother told the station that Merola would frequently say he wanted to come home to his family. He had been transferred to Afghanistan about a week and a half ago, and left a voicemail message with his mother saying he would not be able to talk to her for a while and that he loved her. Los Osos High School in Southern California, from which he recently graduated, held a moment of silence for him at a football game on Friday. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, 20, of Norco, California. Nikoui was a young martial arts champion whose father told Reuters that he had watched television nonstop for updates on the attack until he learned the devastating news from three Marines at his door. “He was born the same year it started, and ended his life with the end of this war,” Steve Nikoui said. He told The Daily Beast that his son loved his Marine family and wanted to “make a career out of this,” and added that he was frustrated that President Joe Biden had sent his and others’ children into harm’s way. “They sent my son over there as a paper pusher and then had the Taliban outside providing security,” he said. Navy Hospitalman Maxton W. Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio. Soviak grew up playing football in a small northern Ohio community where his death has left a “Maxton-sized hole” in his loved ones’ lives, his sister Marilyn wrote in an Instagram post. He was a Navy medic who had graduated from high school in 2017. “Everybody looked to Max in tough situations,” said Jim Hall, his high school football coach, who described Soviak as a deeply loyal friend. “He was energetic. He wore his emotions on his sleeve. He was a passionate kid. He didn’t hold anything back.” Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, 23, of Corryton, Tennessee. Knauss was “a motivated young man who loved his country,” his grandfather Wayne Knauss told WATE-TV in Knoxville, Tennessee. “He was a believer so we will see him again in heaven.” He had been in the military for five years, his grandfather said, and his stepmother told the station that he had planned to move to Washington when he returned to the United States. One of his former teachers said he had been “quiet but confident” in school and that he had written an essay that said his role models were people who stand up against power to help people. “He wrote that nine years ago as a 14-year-old boy, not knowing the man he was going to become,” Angela Hoffman, the teacher, told the station.

What we know about the 13 US service members killed in Kabul attack

Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday spoke to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and discussed the latest developments in Afghanistan. This marks the third conversation held in August between the two leaders on Afghan crisis.

Indian FM Jaishankar discusses Afghan crisis with US State Secy Blinken

President Joe Biden has warned that another terrorist attack on the Kabul airport is “highly likely” in the next 24 to 36 hours, as the US rushed to evacuate the few remaining Americans and Afghan allies ahead of the August 31 deadline to withdraw from Afghanistan.

Biden: Another terrorist attack on Kabul airport 'highly likely' soon

A blast took place in the Afghanistan's Khawaja Bughra area. United States Military has striked in Kabul which has targeted the suicide bomber. Watch this report to know more.

Reports: US Military strike in Afghanistan's Kabul, targeted the suicide bomber

A blast took place in Afghanistan's Khawaja Bughra area. United States Military striked in Kabul which has targeted the suicide bomber. Watch this report to know more.

US Military Airstrike: Vehicle was to be used by ISIS-K car bomber

WION speaks with former Army Major Peter Quinn

UK troops left <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/attack-highly-likely-in-next-24-36-hours-says-biden-on-kabul-airport-409079">Afghanistan</a> late on Saturday after evacuating over 15,000 people in the last two weeks ending their operation in the country after nearly 20 years.

Britain's defence ministry said: "The final flight carrying UK armed forces personnel has left Kabul."&nbsp;

As the final British troops left the country defence minister Ben Wallace lauded the efforts of the troops while "welcoming to those coming for a better life and sad for those left behind."

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/taliban-vows-consequences-if-deadline-not-met-409087/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

UK had entered the war in Afghanistan alongside the United States in 2001 during former prime minister Tony Blair's tenure. At least 450 British troops died in the Afghanistan operation in the last two decades.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
At 21.25hrs tonight the last RAF plane left Kabul Airport ending the evacuation of military and Afghan personnel. In 14 days over 15,000 people have been airlifted on over 165 flights. We should be proud of our armed forces, welcoming to those coming for a better life, and …
— Rt. Hon Ben Wallace MP (@BWallaceMP) <a href="https://twitter.com/BWallaceMP/status/1431731905993625608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 28, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Defence minister Wallace had said earlier that it would not be possible to airlift 800 and 1,100 Afghans who worked for the British government, however, he added that they could leave by land route and the UK government would provide support.

PM Johnson had assured that his government would ensure full support for Afghans who want to leave Afghanistan.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-kabul-residents-protest-against-closure-of-banks-409061#afghans-protest-against-bank-closure-409056">In pics| Kabul residents protest against closure of banks</a>

"What I would say to them is that we will shift heaven and earth to help them get out, we will do whatever we can in the second phase," the British PM said, adding, "of course, as we come down to the final hours of the operation there will sadly be people who haven't got through, people who might qualify."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson also praised the efforts of the troops asserting that he was proud of them. The British prime minister had earlier discussed the Afghanistan situation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

During the meeting, Johnson told Merkel that "recognition and engagement" for the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-not-responsible-for-talibans-actions-in-afghanistan-pm-imran-khan-409085">Taliban </a>was tied to allowing safe passage for Afghans who want to leave the country including "respecting human rights".

British citizens were killed during Thursday's suicide attack in Kabul airport. According to foreign minister Dominic Raab, two British nationals and a child of another British citizen were killed.

(With inputs from Agencies)

UK troops left Afghanistan late on Saturday after evacuating over 15,000 people in the last two weeks ending their operation in the country after nearly 20 years.

UK troops left Afghanistan late on Saturday after evacuating over 15,000 people in the last two weeks ending their operation in the country after nearly 20 years. Britain's defence ministry said: "The final flight carrying UK armed forces personnel has left Kabul." As the final British troops left the country defence minister Ben Wallace lauded the efforts of the troops while "welcoming to those coming for a better life and sad for those left behind." Watch: UK had entered the war in Afghanistan alongside the United States in 2001 during former prime minister Tony Blair's tenure. At least 450 British troops died in the Afghanistan operation in the last two decades. At 21.25hrs tonight the last RAF plane left Kabul Airport ending the evacuation of military and Afghan personnel. In 14 days over 15,000 people have been airlifted on over 165 flights. We should be proud of our armed forces, welcoming to those coming for a better life, and … — Rt. Hon Ben Wallace MP (@BWallaceMP) August 28, 2021 × Defence minister Wallace had said earlier that it would not be possible to airlift 800 and 1,100 Afghans who worked for the British government, however, he added that they could leave by land route and the UK government would provide support. PM Johnson had assured that his government would ensure full support for Afghans who want to leave Afghanistan. In pics| Kabul residents protest against closure of banks "What I would say to them is that we will shift heaven and earth to help them get out, we will do whatever we can in the second phase," the British PM said, adding, "of course, as we come down to the final hours of the operation there will sadly be people who haven't got through, people who might qualify." Prime Minister Boris Johnson also praised the efforts of the troops asserting that he was proud of them. The British prime minister had earlier discussed the Afghanistan situation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. During the meeting, Johnson told Merkel that "recognition and engagement" for the Taliban was tied to allowing safe passage for Afghans who want to leave the country including "respecting human rights". British citizens were killed during Thursday's suicide attack in Kabul airport. According to foreign minister Dominic Raab, two British nationals and a child of another British citizen were killed. (With inputs from Agencies)

'Sad for those left behind': Last UK military flight leaves Afghanistan

afghanistan-0

Afghanistan, News on Afghanistan, stories on Afghanistan, articles on Afghanistan, Afghanistan stories at Wion, Afghanistan news, Afghanistan latest news

afghanistan 0