The US and NATO military invaded Afghanistan exactly 20 years. The mightiest force on the planet aimed to expel both the Taliban and al-Qaeda from the country turns out it was just a daydream. 20 years on, the humiliating departure of the US forces has come as a massive morale boost to terrorists all over the world. Several online jihadist chat forums are jubilant at what al-Qaeda supporters see as "A historic victory" by the Taliban. The potential hiding places for these terror groups have now opened up. In a country, where ungoverned spaces can serve as a fresh breeding ground for fundamentalists especially for Islamic State group looking to find a new base.

Will Afghanistan become a safe haven for terror?

Thousands rallied in central London on Saturday to protest the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban and show solidarity with Afghans opposed to the new regime in Kabul.

Several thousand people descended on the centre of the British capital from lunchtime, massing in Hyde Park and marching down Whitehall past Downing Street, the residence and office of Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The UK leader has faced stinging criticism this week over his government's handling of the crisis in Afghanistan, as Britain, the United States and other Western allies struggle to evacuate their citizens and others from Kabul.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-plus-who-created-the-taliban-407485">WATCH</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-plus-who-created-the-taliban-407485/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Protesters at the London event marched behind a banner reading "Talib has not changed", while others held signs bearing slogans like "stop killing Afghans" and "stop the oppression of Afghan women".

Many attendees also waved the black, red and green national flag of Afghanistan and chanted slogans opposing the Taliban takeover.

The Taliban has insisted it will treat women fairly and not seek retribution against Afghans who cooperated with Western forces during their two-decade involvement in the country, as thousands try to flee from Kabul amid chaotic scenes.

Many Afghans and others, including those demonstrating in London, are highly sceptical about their reassurances amid reports that militants have already begun violent reprisals against people on so-called blacklists.

Thousands rallied in central London on Saturday to protest the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban and show solidarity with Afghans opposed to the new regime in Kabul.

Thousands rallied in central London on Saturday to protest the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban and show solidarity with Afghans opposed to the new regime in Kabul. Several thousand people descended on the centre of the British capital from lunchtime, massing in Hyde Park and marching down Whitehall past Downing Street, the residence and office of Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The UK leader has faced stinging criticism this week over his government's handling of the crisis in Afghanistan, as Britain, the United States and other Western allies struggle to evacuate their citizens and others from Kabul. WATCH Protesters at the London event marched behind a banner reading "Talib has not changed", while others held signs bearing slogans like "stop killing Afghans" and "stop the oppression of Afghan women". Many attendees also waved the black, red and green national flag of Afghanistan and chanted slogans opposing the Taliban takeover. The Taliban has insisted it will treat women fairly and not seek retribution against Afghans who cooperated with Western forces during their two-decade involvement in the country, as thousands try to flee from Kabul amid chaotic scenes. Many Afghans and others, including those demonstrating in London, are highly sceptical about their reassurances amid reports that militants have already begun violent reprisals against people on so-called blacklists.

Thousands rally in London decrying Taliban takeover

Canada would consider taking in additional Afghan refugees on behalf of the United States or other allies if asked to do so, Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino said on Friday.

"We should keep the door open to all possibilities," Mendicino said in an interview.

"If there were Afghans who had assisted coalition partners during the mission that also met the criteria for our humanitarian resettlement program, I think we should be prepared to consider such an arrangement," the minister said.

Canada is part of a coalition of countries frantically trying to evacuate Afghan citizens who supported Western missions in Afghanistan over the years, amidst a Taliban takeover of the country that occurred in days, rather than months as expected.

Canada withdrew the bulk of its troops from Afghanistan in 2011, but participated in a NATO mission to train the Afghan military until 2014.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/experts-look-at-toxic-algae-after-california-family-is-found-dead-on-hiking-trail-407267">Also read |&nbsp;Experts look at toxic algae after California family is found dead on hiking trail</a>

Helping out Afghans who supported Canada's past missions has become a hot political topic ahead of the Sept. 20 election, called by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Sunday.

The Canadian Armed Forces flew 175 vulnerable Afghans and 13 foreign nationals out of Kabul late on Thursday, and evacuations "are scheduled to continue on a regular basis so long as the security situation permits," according to a statement.

Canada has evacuated nearly 1,000 vulnerable Afghan nationals to date, the statement said.

Evacuation flights could include families of refugees already living in Canada 18 whose resettlement has so far been held up by bureaucracy, Mendicino said.

The independent tribunal that assesses asylum claims in Canada has agreed to expedite Afghan refugee applications, a crucial step for asylum claimants to reunite with their families, the minister said.

Separately, last week Canada committed to resettling 20,000 Afghan refugees who have already fled the country, and on Friday Mendicino said the government was keeping "an open mind" about potentially increasing that number.

Canada would consider taking in additional Afghan refugees on behalf of the United States or other allies if asked to do so, Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino said on Friday.

Canada would consider taking in additional Afghan refugees on behalf of the United States or other allies if asked to do so, Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino said on Friday. "We should keep the door open to all possibilities," Mendicino said in an interview. "If there were Afghans who had assisted coalition partners during the mission that also met the criteria for our humanitarian resettlement program, I think we should be prepared to consider such an arrangement," the minister said. Canada is part of a coalition of countries frantically trying to evacuate Afghan citizens who supported Western missions in Afghanistan over the years, amidst a Taliban takeover of the country that occurred in days, rather than months as expected. Canada withdrew the bulk of its troops from Afghanistan in 2011, but participated in a NATO mission to train the Afghan military until 2014. Also read | Experts look at toxic algae after California family is found dead on hiking trail Helping out Afghans who supported Canada's past missions has become a hot political topic ahead of the Sept. 20 election, called by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Sunday. The Canadian Armed Forces flew 175 vulnerable Afghans and 13 foreign nationals out of Kabul late on Thursday, and evacuations "are scheduled to continue on a regular basis so long as the security situation permits," according to a statement. Canada has evacuated nearly 1,000 vulnerable Afghan nationals to date, the statement said. Evacuation flights could include families of refugees already living in Canada 18 whose resettlement has so far been held up by bureaucracy, Mendicino said. The independent tribunal that assesses asylum claims in Canada has agreed to expedite Afghan refugee applications, a crucial step for asylum claimants to reunite with their families, the minister said. Separately, last week Canada committed to resettling 20,000 Afghan refugees who have already fled the country, and on Friday Mendicino said the government was keeping "an open mind" about potentially increasing that number.

Canada would consider accepting Afghan refugees on behalf of US allies - Minister

US President Joe Biden revealed that Washington has a deal with the Taliban. Biden says the US has an agreement that the Taliban will allow Americans to leave Afghanistan. In yet another attempt to defend America's withdrawal from Afghanistan, US president Joe Biden also rejected criticism of his handling of the chaotic pullout.

Afghanistan Crisis: Cannot guarantee 'final outcome' - Joe Biden

Amid the chaotic scenes, our correspondent Anas Mallick reached the Kabul airport to bring us a ground report. He talked to number of people stationed inside and outside the Kabul airport today. Some have been waiting since hours and some since days.

Kabul Airport On The Edge: Desperate Afghans waiting to flee

After women being sent back home from their workplace, turns out the Taliban is sending back Afghanistan’s government employees too.<o:p></o:p>

"I went to the office this morning, but the Taliban who were at the gate told us they have not received any orders to reopen government offices," said Hamdullah, a government employee was quoted by news agency AFP. "They told us to watch TV or listen to the radio for an announcement about when to resume work."<o:p></o:p>

Since the terrorist group, Taliban, took control of Afghanistan the women and minorities have been reporting incidents of inhumane treatment. However, turns out the Taliban have also been sending back government employees back home rather than letting them go to their workplaces.

Also read :&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-alternative-to-taliban-any-kind-of-resistance-will-fail-russian-envoy-to-afghanistan-407450" hreflang="en">No alternative to Taliban: Russian envoy to Afghanistan</a>

<o:p></o:p>

As per local reports, all government officers, banks, passport offices, schools and universities have been closed, especially in Kabul, since the Taliban took over the capital city on Sunday.<o:p></o:p>

While the Taliban is yet to form and announce their new government in Afghanistan, the insurgents have started going around the cities on jeeps and motorbikes to patrol and stop all anti-Taliban activities.<o:p></o:p>

Dubbed as the 'Taliban patrol', members of the Taliban have been going around in the cities in groups and threatening and beating anyone who is found protesting against the new regimen or hoisting old Afghanistan flag.

<o:p>Also read :&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/talibans-websites-go-offline-as-social-media-giants-crackdown-on-group-407446">Taliban's websites go offline as social media giants crackdown on group</a></o:p>

Majority of the roads have also been closed with several checkpoints installed at different points. In addition to all government offices, foreign exchange offices have also been shut since the Taliban took control.<o:p></o:p>

However, some members of the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation in Kabul have been allowed to enter their officers after showing their official ID card, and a few private telecommunication companies have also been allowed to operate.<o:p></o:p>

After women being sent back home from their workplace, turns out the Taliban is sending back Afghanistan’s government employees too. "I went to the office this morning, but the Taliban who were at the gate told us they have not received any orders to reopen government offices," said Hamdullah, a government employee was quoted by news agency AFP.

After women being sent back home from their workplace, turns out the Taliban is sending back Afghanistan’s government employees too. "I went to the office this morning, but the Taliban who were at the gate told us they have not received any orders to reopen government offices," said Hamdullah, a government employee was quoted by news agency AFP. "They told us to watch TV or listen to the radio for an announcement about when to resume work." Since the terrorist group, Taliban, took control of Afghanistan the women and minorities have been reporting incidents of inhumane treatment. However, turns out the Taliban have also been sending back government employees back home rather than letting them go to their workplaces. Also read : No alternative to Taliban: Russian envoy to Afghanistan As per local reports, all government officers, banks, passport offices, schools and universities have been closed, especially in Kabul, since the Taliban took over the capital city on Sunday. While the Taliban is yet to form and announce their new government in Afghanistan, the insurgents have started going around the cities on jeeps and motorbikes to patrol and stop all anti-Taliban activities. Dubbed as the 'Taliban patrol', members of the Taliban have been going around in the cities in groups and threatening and beating anyone who is found protesting against the new regimen or hoisting old Afghanistan flag. Also read : Taliban's websites go offline as social media giants crackdown on group Majority of the roads have also been closed with several checkpoints installed at different points. In addition to all government offices, foreign exchange offices have also been shut since the Taliban took control. However, some members of the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation in Kabul have been allowed to enter their officers after showing their official ID card, and a few private telecommunication companies have also been allowed to operate.

After women, Taliban send back Afghan's government employees

In the wake of worsening security situation at Kabul airport, Switzerland has decided to postpone a charter flight to Uzbekistan aimed at helping the evacuation effort from Afghanistan.

On Friday, Switzerland said it had organised a charter flight to Uzbekistan to expedite the evacuation of people from Afghanistan.

“The security situation around Kabul airport has worsened significantly in the last hours. A large number of people in front of the airport and sometimes violent confrontations are hindering access to the airport in Kabul,” Reuters quoted the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) as saying.

“Only a small number of people can currently be flown from Kabul to Tashkent. Since there is no need for evacuations from Tashkent at the moment, the FDFA has postponed the charter flight to the capital of Uzbekistan that was scheduled for today," it further said.

The US government has also issued an advisory asking its citizens in Afghanistan to refrain from travelling to Kabul airport citing “personal security threats.”

“Because of potential security threats outside the gates at the Kabul airport, we are advising US citizens to avoid travelling to the airport and to avoid airport gates at this time unless you receive individual instructions from a US government representative to do so,” the advisory said.

Meanwhile, France said it has evacuated over 570 people, including 407 Afghan citizens, from Kabul on its military aircraft since Monday.

US President Joe Biden said on Friday that about 13,000 people have been evacuated on US military aircraft since August 14.

In the wake of worsening security situation at Kabul airport, Switzerland has decided to postpone a charter flight to Uzbekistan aimed at helping the evacuation effort from Afghanistan.

In the wake of worsening security situation at Kabul airport, Switzerland has decided to postpone a charter flight to Uzbekistan aimed at helping the evacuation effort from Afghanistan. On Friday, Switzerland said it had organised a charter flight to Uzbekistan to expedite the evacuation of people from Afghanistan. “The security situation around Kabul airport has worsened significantly in the last hours. A large number of people in front of the airport and sometimes violent confrontations are hindering access to the airport in Kabul,” Reuters quoted the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) as saying. “Only a small number of people can currently be flown from Kabul to Tashkent. Since there is no need for evacuations from Tashkent at the moment, the FDFA has postponed the charter flight to the capital of Uzbekistan that was scheduled for today," it further said. The US government has also issued an advisory asking its citizens in Afghanistan to refrain from travelling to Kabul airport citing “personal security threats.” “Because of potential security threats outside the gates at the Kabul airport, we are advising US citizens to avoid travelling to the airport and to avoid airport gates at this time unless you receive individual instructions from a US government representative to do so,” the advisory said. Meanwhile, France said it has evacuated over 570 people, including 407 Afghan citizens, from Kabul on its military aircraft since Monday. US President Joe Biden said on Friday that about 13,000 people have been evacuated on US military aircraft since August 14.

Switzerland postpones evacuation plans as security at Kabul airport worsens

The Taliban took over Kabul almost a week ago on the 15th of August and since then thousands have gathered at the airport in the hope to leave Afghanistan.

Afghanistan: The desperate scramble to escape; Afghanistan's day 6 under Taliban

As the United Kingdom deals with the formidable challenge of evacuating people from Afghanistan, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has now said, his administration would be working with the Taliban if necessary. Johnson says the situation has comparatively improved at the Kabul airport.

Boris Johnson: Will work with the Taliban if Necessary

Despite buying no revenge against its opponents, the Taliban has now intensified its search for people who were to the United States and NATO forces. Watch this report to know more.

UN Report: Taliban 'intensifying' search for Afghans who helped US

As a part of the ongoing efforts to ensure peace in Afghanistan, India's Foreign Minister S Jaishankar held talks with his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdul Rahman Al-Thani.

S Jaishankar holds talks with Qatari FM in Doha on Afghanistan

Taliban websites that delivered all important pieces of information to the rest of the world in different languages have gone offline abruptly.<o:p></o:p>

Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, it has been painting a picture of change infront of the rest of the world. The Taliban have been trying to prove to the world that Afghanistan this time will be different under their rule, when compared to their previous regimen.<o:p></o:p>

However, locals have been narrating different sides of the reality and are coming ahead to prove that the situation is not that different from what it was before 2001.

<o:p>Also read : <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/with-new-afghan-govt-on-cards-talibans-co-founder-baradar-reaches-kabul-407410">With new Afghan govt on cards, Taliban's co-founder Baradar reaches Kabul</a></o:p>

In one such contradictory claim, the Taliban has tried to prove that they will be more open and fairer this time. However, on Friday as the Taliban websites went offline, the world started thinking if the Taliban have managed to take control over internet activities too.<o:p></o:p>

The Taliban deliver their victorious messages in five different language — Pashto, Arabic, Urdu, English and Dari — through a host of websites. However, all those websites were taken down abruptly on Friday, without giving any reason behind this move.<o:p></o:p>

These websites have been shielded by Cloudflare, which is a San Francisco-based content delivery network and denial of service protection provider. Cloudflare protects the websites by preventing the public from knowing who hosts the sites.<o:p></o:p>

This action has raised eyebrows as the Taliban today is highly tech-savvy and has heavily relied upon the internet to communicate all of its victorious messages and warnings.

<o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/afghanistan-in-constant-contact-with-the-taliban-leadership-says-us-president-joe-biden-407415">WATCH&nbsp;</a></o:p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/afghanistan-in-constant-contact-with-the-taliban-leadership-says-us-president-joe-biden-407415/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

It is a possibility that the removal of these websites is just temporary as the Taliban decide new hosting arrangements.<o:p></o:p>

Meanwhile, social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp and Google have started removing all Taliban-related accounts and content from their platform to make sure no misinformation is passed on and their platforms are not used to spread more hatred or violence.<o:p></o:p>

WhatsApp is "obligated to adhere to US sanctions laws. This includes banning accounts that appear to represent themselves as official accounts of the Taliban," its spokesperson Danielle Meister told the AP.<o:p></o:p>

However, Twitter is one rare platform that has allowed the Taliban to operate on the social media platform. Taliban’s spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid still has more than 300,000 followers on Twitter. The social media platform says that the accounts will not be banned unless these people or groups misuse the platform to incite or glorify violence and hatred.<o:p></o:p>

Taliban websites that delivered all important pieces of information to the rest of the world in different languages have gone offline abruptly. Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, it has been painting a picture of change infront of the rest of the world.

Taliban websites that delivered all important pieces of information to the rest of the world in different languages have gone offline abruptly. Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, it has been painting a picture of change infront of the rest of the world. The Taliban have been trying to prove to the world that Afghanistan this time will be different under their rule, when compared to their previous regimen. However, locals have been narrating different sides of the reality and are coming ahead to prove that the situation is not that different from what it was before 2001. Also read : With new Afghan govt on cards, Taliban's co-founder Baradar reaches Kabul In one such contradictory claim, the Taliban has tried to prove that they will be more open and fairer this time. However, on Friday as the Taliban websites went offline, the world started thinking if the Taliban have managed to take control over internet activities too. The Taliban deliver their victorious messages in five different language — Pashto, Arabic, Urdu, English and Dari — through a host of websites. However, all those websites were taken down abruptly on Friday, without giving any reason behind this move. These websites have been shielded by Cloudflare, which is a San Francisco-based content delivery network and denial of service protection provider. Cloudflare protects the websites by preventing the public from knowing who hosts the sites. This action has raised eyebrows as the Taliban today is highly tech-savvy and has heavily relied upon the internet to communicate all of its victorious messages and warnings. WATCH It is a possibility that the removal of these websites is just temporary as the Taliban decide new hosting arrangements. Meanwhile, social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp and Google have started removing all Taliban-related accounts and content from their platform to make sure no misinformation is passed on and their platforms are not used to spread more hatred or violence. WhatsApp is "obligated to adhere to US sanctions laws. This includes banning accounts that appear to represent themselves as official accounts of the Taliban," its spokesperson Danielle Meister told the AP. However, Twitter is one rare platform that has allowed the Taliban to operate on the social media platform. Taliban’s spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid still has more than 300,000 followers on Twitter. The social media platform says that the accounts will not be banned unless these people or groups misuse the platform to incite or glorify violence and hatred.

Taliban's websites go offline as social media giants crackdown on group

US President Joe Biden revealed that Washington has a deal with the Taliban. Biden says the US has an agreement that the Taliban will allow Americans to leave Afghanistan.

Afghanistan: In constant contact with the Taliban leadership, says US President Joe Biden

US President Joe Biden on Friday addresses the US evacuation from Afghanistan, as he tried to navigate the biggest crisis of his administration. Biden said that the US will continue anti-terror operations.

US President Joe Biden addresses crisis in Afghanistan and evacuation efforts

Afghanistan cricketer Rashid Khan was spotted with the country's flag painted on his face during a match of the inaugural edition of The Hundred. The spinner, who is currently in England, recently expressed his concerns over the safety of his family back home amid political chaos in Afghanistan.&nbsp;

Rashid Khan featured for Trent Rockets during the eliminator against Southern Brave as he showed his support for Afghanistan by painting the country's flag on his face and images of the same have gone viral.&nbsp;

Recently, England skipper Kevin Pietersen revealed that Rashid Khan was worried about the situation of the country and is unable to get his family out.&nbsp;

"There's a lot of things that are happening at home. We had a long chat here on the boundary talking about it and he's worried: he can't get his family out of Afghanistan and there's a lot of things happening for him," Pietersen said on Sky Sports.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-ms-dhoni-announces-return-of-ipl-2021-in-a-never-before-seen-avatar-407355">MS Dhoni announces return of IPL 2021 in a never-before-seen avatar - &nbsp;watch</a>

See some of the viral pictures here:&nbsp;

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په نن لوبه کې د <a href="https://twitter.com/rashidkhan_19?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rashidkhan_19</a> پر مخ تور، سور او زرغون بیرغ، اتل او هیوادنۍ مینه 🇦🇫 <a href="https://t.co/8ZHpQHooKj">pic.twitter.com/8ZHpQHooKj</a>
— Afghan Cricket Association - ACA (@Afghan_cricketA) <a href="https://twitter.com/Afghan_cricketA/status/1428799381499785224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Rashid Khan has the Afghanistan flag painted on his cheeks tonight. Goes without saying, but it's remarkable that he's out there competing considering the situation back home. 🇦🇫💛<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheHundred?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheHundred</a> <a href="https://t.co/z6YNlEhFaK">pic.twitter.com/z6YNlEhFaK</a>
— Louis Sealey (@LouisSealey) <a href="https://twitter.com/LouisSealey/status/1428802872712499200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Rashid Khan with the Afghanistan flag on his cheek - good way to support the country. <a href="https://t.co/tW2zPfQsl7">pic.twitter.com/tW2zPfQsl7</a>
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) <a href="https://twitter.com/CricCrazyJohns/status/1428797928563376134?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Rashid Khan painted colours of Afghanistan Flag onto his face in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheHundred?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheHundred</a> Game <a href="https://t.co/BRJdiLIV1s">pic.twitter.com/BRJdiLIV1s</a>
— ȺղցҽӀ Ƒìɾժօʂ ❥ PrayforAFG🇦🇫 (@Srk_Rooshi) <a href="https://twitter.com/Srk_Rooshi/status/1428970090729406468?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Speculations over the future of sports in Afghanistan have been made since the Taliban took over Kabul after routing government forces. Amid the political turmoil, several athletes have opened up about the ordeals, advocating for&nbsp;a stable political environment in the country.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sachin-tendulkar-had-a-small-weakness-against-off-spin-reveals-muttiah-muralitharan-407282">Sachin Tendulkar had a 'small weakness' against off-spin, reveals Muttiah Muralitharan</a>

Recently, the Afghanistan Cricket Board head of media operations Hikmat Hassan addressed the issue and said that the Taliban "don't have any issue or problem with cricket".&nbsp;

"The Taliban don't have any issue or problem with cricket, and they have told us that we can continue our work as planned," said Hassan as quoted by Reuters.&nbsp;

The official also said that the team should be able to play in the Twenty20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in October-November.&nbsp;

"We are confident we will be able to take part and will be preparing for it over the coming weeks. I don't think there will be a problem," Hassan said.&nbsp;

Afghanistan cricketer Rashid Khan was spotted with the country's flag painted on his face during a match of the inaugural edition of The Hundred. The spinner, who is currently in England, recently expressed his concerns over the safety of his family back home amid political chaos in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan cricketer Rashid Khan was spotted with the country's flag painted on his face during a match of the inaugural edition of The Hundred. The spinner, who is currently in England, recently expressed his concerns over the safety of his family back home amid political chaos in Afghanistan. Rashid Khan featured for Trent Rockets during the eliminator against Southern Brave as he showed his support for Afghanistan by painting the country's flag on his face and images of the same have gone viral. Recently, England skipper Kevin Pietersen revealed that Rashid Khan was worried about the situation of the country and is unable to get his family out. "There's a lot of things that are happening at home. We had a long chat here on the boundary talking about it and he's worried: he can't get his family out of Afghanistan and there's a lot of things happening for him," Pietersen said on Sky Sports. ALSO READ | MS Dhoni announces return of IPL 2021 in a never-before-seen avatar - watch See some of the viral pictures here: په نن لوبه کې د @rashidkhan_19 پر مخ تور، سور او زرغون بیرغ، اتل او هیوادنۍ مینه 🇦🇫 pic.twitter.com/8ZHpQHooKj — Afghan Cricket Association - ACA (@Afghan_cricketA) August 20, 2021 × Rashid Khan has the Afghanistan flag painted on his cheeks tonight. Goes without saying, but it's remarkable that he's out there competing considering the situation back home. 🇦🇫💛#TheHundred pic.twitter.com/z6YNlEhFaK — Louis Sealey (@LouisSealey) August 20, 2021 × Rashid Khan with the Afghanistan flag on his cheek - good way to support the country. pic.twitter.com/tW2zPfQsl7 — Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 20, 2021 × Rashid Khan painted colours of Afghanistan Flag onto his face in #TheHundred Game pic.twitter.com/BRJdiLIV1s — ȺղցҽӀ Ƒìɾժօʂ ❥ PrayforAFG🇦🇫 (@Srk_Rooshi) August 21, 2021 × Speculations over the future of sports in Afghanistan have been made since the Taliban took over Kabul after routing government forces. Amid the political turmoil, several athletes have opened up about the ordeals, advocating for a stable political environment in the country. ALSO READ | Sachin Tendulkar had a 'small weakness' against off-spin, reveals Muttiah Muralitharan Recently, the Afghanistan Cricket Board head of media operations Hikmat Hassan addressed the issue and said that the Taliban "don't have any issue or problem with cricket". "The Taliban don't have any issue or problem with cricket, and they have told us that we can continue our work as planned," said Hassan as quoted by Reuters. The official also said that the team should be able to play in the Twenty20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in October-November. "We are confident we will be able to take part and will be preparing for it over the coming weeks. I don't think there will be a problem," Hassan said.

The Hundred: Rashid Khan's pictures with Afghanistan's flag painted on his face go viral

A terror regrouping is underway in Kabul. Terrorists of all hues are trying to make the fallen capital their base. Orchestrating this regrouping is Pakistan's deep state led by the ISI. Palki Sharma tells you how.

Gravitas: Pakistan orchestrates terror regrouping in Kabul

Amid the chaos, gridlocked streets, gunshots and panic WION's Anas Mallick get you a ground report from Kabul airport where some have been waiting for hours and some for days to flee Afghanistan.

WION Ground Report: Chaos, gridlocked streets & panic in Kabul as desperate Afghans try to flee

The Taliban is intensifying a search for people who worked with the US and NATO forces, a confidential United Nations document says, despite the militants vowing no revenge against opponents.

The report, provided by the UN's threat-assessment consultants and seen by AFP - says the group has "priority lists" of individuals it wants to arrest.

<h2><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/live-afghanistan-crisis-facebook-twitter-and-linkedin-secure-users-accounts-amid-taliban-takeover-407020">Live: Afghanistan crisis-Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn secure users' accounts amid Taliban takeover</a></h2>

Most at risk are people who had central roles in the Afghan military, police and intelligence units, according to the document.

The Taliban have been conducting "targeted&nbsp;door-to-door&nbsp;visits" of individuals they want to apprehend and their family members, the report says.

It adds that militants are also screening individuals on the way to Kabul airport and have set up checkpoints in major cities, including the capital and Jalalabad.

The document, dated Wednesday, was written by the Norwegian Center for Global Analyses, an organisation that provides intelligence to UN agencies.

"They are targeting the families of those who refuse to give themselves up, and prosecuting and punishing their families 'according to Sharia law,'" Christian Nellemann, the group's executive director, told AFP.

"We expect both individuals previously working with NATO/US forces and their allies, alongside with their family members to be exposed to torture and executions.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/heartbreaking-desperate-afghan-mothers-throw-children-over-kabul-airport-fence-in-bid-to-escape-taliban-407089">Heartbreaking: Desperate Afghan mothers throw children over Kabul airport fence in bid to escape Taliban</a>

"This will further jeopardize western intelligence services, their networks, methods and ability to counter both the Taliban, ISIS and other terrorist threats ahead," he added.

'Recruiting' informers&nbsp;

The report says the militants are "rapidly recruiting" new informers to collaborate with the Taliban regime and are expanding their lists of targets by contacting mosques and money brokers.

It reprints a letter, dated August 16, from the Taliban to an individual who worked in counterterrorism in the Afghan government.

The letter asks the person to report to Taliban officials to "provide information about the nature of your work and relationship with the British and Americans."

"If you do not report to the commission, your family members will be arrested instead, and you are responsible for this. You and your family members will be treated based on Sharia law," it says.

The Norwegian Center for Global Analyses also warned the Taliban may target or arrest remaining Westerners or other foreign personnel, including medical workers if they criticise the militants.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-call-on-afghanistans-imams-to-urge-unity-as-protests-spread-to-kabul-407074" hreflang="en">Taliban call on Afghanistan's imams to urge unity as protests spread to Kabul</a>

A UN spokesman did not respond to a request for comment on the document.

The Taliban have launched a public relations blitz since sweeping back into power on Sunday, completing a stunning rout of government forces as the United States and other foreign troops withdrew following a 20-year occupation.

Among promises such as rights for women and an inclusive government, the militants have also pledged full amnesty for all who worked with the Western-backed elected Afghan government.

But Afghans have not forgotten the Taliban's ultra-conservative Islamic regime of 1996-2001, when brutal punishments, such as stoning to death for adultery, were imposed.

Tens of thousands of people have tried to flee the country since the Taliban takeover, sparking chaos at Kabul airport.

The Taliban is intensifying a search for people who worked with the US and NATO forces, a confidential United Nations document says, despite the militants vowing no revenge against opponents.

The Taliban is intensifying a search for people who worked with the US and NATO forces, a confidential United Nations document says, despite the militants vowing no revenge against opponents. The report, provided by the UN's threat-assessment consultants and seen by AFP - says the group has "priority lists" of individuals it wants to arrest. Live: Afghanistan crisis-Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn secure users' accounts amid Taliban takeover Most at risk are people who had central roles in the Afghan military, police and intelligence units, according to the document. The Taliban have been conducting "targeted door-to-door visits" of individuals they want to apprehend and their family members, the report says. It adds that militants are also screening individuals on the way to Kabul airport and have set up checkpoints in major cities, including the capital and Jalalabad. The document, dated Wednesday, was written by the Norwegian Center for Global Analyses, an organisation that provides intelligence to UN agencies. "They are targeting the families of those who refuse to give themselves up, and prosecuting and punishing their families 'according to Sharia law,'" Christian Nellemann, the group's executive director, told AFP. "We expect both individuals previously working with NATO/US forces and their allies, alongside with their family members to be exposed to torture and executions. Also read | Heartbreaking: Desperate Afghan mothers throw children over Kabul airport fence in bid to escape Taliban "This will further jeopardize western intelligence services, their networks, methods and ability to counter both the Taliban, ISIS and other terrorist threats ahead," he added. 'Recruiting' informers The report says the militants are "rapidly recruiting" new informers to collaborate with the Taliban regime and are expanding their lists of targets by contacting mosques and money brokers. It reprints a letter, dated August 16, from the Taliban to an individual who worked in counterterrorism in the Afghan government. The letter asks the person to report to Taliban officials to "provide information about the nature of your work and relationship with the British and Americans." "If you do not report to the commission, your family members will be arrested instead, and you are responsible for this. You and your family members will be treated based on Sharia law," it says. The Norwegian Center for Global Analyses also warned the Taliban may target or arrest remaining Westerners or other foreign personnel, including medical workers if they criticise the militants. Also read | Taliban call on Afghanistan's imams to urge unity as protests spread to Kabul A UN spokesman did not respond to a request for comment on the document. The Taliban have launched a public relations blitz since sweeping back into power on Sunday, completing a stunning rout of government forces as the United States and other foreign troops withdrew following a 20-year occupation. Among promises such as rights for women and an inclusive government, the militants have also pledged full amnesty for all who worked with the Western-backed elected Afghan government. But Afghans have not forgotten the Taliban's ultra-conservative Islamic regime of 1996-2001, when brutal punishments, such as stoning to death for adultery, were imposed. Tens of thousands of people have tried to flee the country since the Taliban takeover, sparking chaos at Kabul airport.

Taliban 'intensifying' door-to-door search for Afghans who helped US, claims UN document

Armed, but holy! Afghanistan observes first Friday prayers under Taliban rule

A total of 7,000 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan since the start of evacuation operations on August 14 and over 5,200 US troops are in Kabul, the Pentagon said on Thursday.

Cumulatively, the number of people moved out of Afghanistan is somewhere near 12,000.

The Taliban took control of Afghanistan on Sunday. Their sudden victory, which comes as the US withdraws from the country following a 20-year-war, has sparked chaos at Kabul's airport, from where America and allied nations are trying to safely evacuate thousands of citizens and allies.

"The US military footprint and Kabul now has more than 5,200 total troops on the ground. Kabul airport remains secure and open for flight operations. There are now multiple gates that have access for entry into the airfield, which will help expedite processing in a safe and orderly manner," said Major General Hank Taylor, Commanding General of the Army Operational Test Command.

Major General Taylor, who has been given the responsibility to airlift US citizens from Afghanistan amid the Taliban crisis, said in the past 24 hours, 13 C-17s arrived with additional troops and equipment, and 12 C-17 military planes departed. These flights, containing more than 2,000 passengers, left Kabul and arrived at designated safe havens and staging areas in the CENTCOM area of operation, he said.

"Since the start of evacuation operations on August 14, we have airlifted approximately 7,000 total evacuees. This increase is reflective of both a ramp up of aircraft and airlift capability, faster processing of evacuees, and greater information and fidelity in reporting, Taylor told reporters at a Pentagon news conference.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/live-afghanistan-crisis-facebook-twitter-and-linkedin-secure-users-accounts-amid-taliban-takeover-407020">Also read |&nbsp;Live: Afghanistan crisis-Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn secure users' accounts amid Taliban takeover</a>

The US, he said, is ready to increase throughput and have scheduled aircraft departures accordingly.

"We intend to maximise each plane's capacity. We're prioritising people above all else. And we're focused on doing this as safely as possible with absolute urgency, he said.

At a separate news conference, State Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters that there are 6,000 people at the airport right now who've been fully processed by a consular team and will soon board planes.

"Overnight, we significantly expanded how many American citizens locally employed staff, SIV applicants, and other vulnerable Afghans who are eligible for departure, and we offered to consider transit to the airport.

We're aware of congestion around the airport. We are working closely with the Department of Defense to facilitate safe and orderly access for consular processing on the airport compound, he said.

Secretary of State Tony Blinken spoke with the G7 foreign ministers and the high representative of the European Union to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, he said.

"All leaders underscored the imperative of safe passage for those who wish to leave Afghanistan and the need for an inclusive political resolution that protects the fundamental human rights of all Afghans, Price said.

He said the leaders agreed that the international community's relationship with the Taliban will depend on their actions and not their words.

"Blinken and the G7 foreign ministers also exchanged views on counterterrorism, humanitarian efforts, refugee migration, and they agreed to remain in close contact on all fronts going forward. Secretary Blinken thanked his foreign counterparts for their steadfast commitment to supporting the Afghan people," Price said.

A total of 7,000 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan since the start of evacuation operations on August 14 and over 5,200 US troops are in Kabul, the Pentagon said on Thursday.

A total of 7,000 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan since the start of evacuation operations on August 14 and over 5,200 US troops are in Kabul, the Pentagon said on Thursday. Cumulatively, the number of people moved out of Afghanistan is somewhere near 12,000. The Taliban took control of Afghanistan on Sunday. Their sudden victory, which comes as the US withdraws from the country following a 20-year-war, has sparked chaos at Kabul's airport, from where America and allied nations are trying to safely evacuate thousands of citizens and allies. "The US military footprint and Kabul now has more than 5,200 total troops on the ground. Kabul airport remains secure and open for flight operations. There are now multiple gates that have access for entry into the airfield, which will help expedite processing in a safe and orderly manner," said Major General Hank Taylor, Commanding General of the Army Operational Test Command. Major General Taylor, who has been given the responsibility to airlift US citizens from Afghanistan amid the Taliban crisis, said in the past 24 hours, 13 C-17s arrived with additional troops and equipment, and 12 C-17 military planes departed. These flights, containing more than 2,000 passengers, left Kabul and arrived at designated safe havens and staging areas in the CENTCOM area of operation, he said. "Since the start of evacuation operations on August 14, we have airlifted approximately 7,000 total evacuees. This increase is reflective of both a ramp up of aircraft and airlift capability, faster processing of evacuees, and greater information and fidelity in reporting, Taylor told reporters at a Pentagon news conference. Also read | Live: Afghanistan crisis-Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn secure users' accounts amid Taliban takeover The US, he said, is ready to increase throughput and have scheduled aircraft departures accordingly. "We intend to maximise each plane's capacity. We're prioritising people above all else. And we're focused on doing this as safely as possible with absolute urgency, he said. At a separate news conference, State Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters that there are 6,000 people at the airport right now who've been fully processed by a consular team and will soon board planes. "Overnight, we significantly expanded how many American citizens locally employed staff, SIV applicants, and other vulnerable Afghans who are eligible for departure, and we offered to consider transit to the airport. We're aware of congestion around the airport. We are working closely with the Department of Defense to facilitate safe and orderly access for consular processing on the airport compound, he said. Secretary of State Tony Blinken spoke with the G7 foreign ministers and the high representative of the European Union to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, he said. "All leaders underscored the imperative of safe passage for those who wish to leave Afghanistan and the need for an inclusive political resolution that protects the fundamental human rights of all Afghans, Price said. He said the leaders agreed that the international community's relationship with the Taliban will depend on their actions and not their words. "Blinken and the G7 foreign ministers also exchanged views on counterterrorism, humanitarian efforts, refugee migration, and they agreed to remain in close contact on all fronts going forward. Secretary Blinken thanked his foreign counterparts for their steadfast commitment to supporting the Afghan people," Price said.

7,000 people evacuated from Afghanistan since August 14: Pentagon

The US and NATO military invaded Afghanistan 20 years ago. The most mighty force on the planet aimed to expel both the Taliban and Al-Qaeda from the country. It turns out that it was just a daydream. 20 years on the humiliating departure of the US forces has come as a massive morale boost to terrorists all over the world.

The Taliban reportedly raided the shuttered Indian Consulates in Kandahar and Herat two days ago, seizing documents from both missions.

The militants allegedly stormed into the Consulate premises and took away parked vehicles, according to reports.

After the Taliban took control of Kabul on August 15, four Indian consulates in Kandahar, Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, and Jalalabad were shuttered.

The Indian Embassy staffs were evacuated by an Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft on Tuesday, carrying back 120 Indians, including ITBP personnel, from the Kabul airport, despite the dangerous situation in Afghanistan.&nbsp;

The evacuation of surviving Indian employees was also reviewed during a Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi instructed that all necessary efforts be taken to return them.&nbsp;

The Taliban leadership claimed earlier this week that the fighters have been instructed not to enter vacant diplomatic buildings of foreign countries or to manhandle their vehicles.

The newest allegations of raids against Indian missions, on the other hand, contradict the Taliban commanders' statements.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The Taliban reportedly raided the shuttered Indian Consulates in Kandahar and Herat two days ago, seizing documents from both missions. The militants allegedly stormed into the Consulate premises and took away parked vehicles, according to reports.

The Taliban reportedly raided the shuttered Indian Consulates in Kandahar and Herat two days ago, seizing documents from both missions. The militants allegedly stormed into the Consulate premises and took away parked vehicles, according to reports. After the Taliban took control of Kabul on August 15, four Indian consulates in Kandahar, Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, and Jalalabad were shuttered. The Indian Embassy staffs were evacuated by an Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft on Tuesday, carrying back 120 Indians, including ITBP personnel, from the Kabul airport, despite the dangerous situation in Afghanistan. The evacuation of surviving Indian employees was also reviewed during a Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi instructed that all necessary efforts be taken to return them. The Taliban leadership claimed earlier this week that the fighters have been instructed not to enter vacant diplomatic buildings of foreign countries or to manhandle their vehicles. The newest allegations of raids against Indian missions, on the other hand, contradict the Taliban commanders' statements. (With inputs from agencies)

Taliban broke into Indian consulates, took away documents and parked vehicles

The Taliban called on Afghanistan's imams to urge unity when they hold their first Friday prayers since the Islamist group seized control of the country. WION brings you five pictures from Afghanistan which will tell you what does the Taliban rule looks like for the citizens of the country.

First Friday prayers held in Kabul since the Taliban takeover

West Asia is closely monitoring the developments in Afghanistan, questioning the reliability of the US as a partner. On this week's The West Asia Post, Ghadi Francis tells you what a Taliban takeover means for the region.

The West Asia Post: What does a Taliban takeover mean for West Asia?

Public flogging to stoning: Countries that have adopted Sharia Law

What looked difficult some years ago, just probable after the beginning of the withdrawal of the NATO forces from Afghanistan and inevitable in the last few months has finally happened: The Taliban, so far notorious as an ultra-conservative and fundamentalist Islamic terrorist organisation with medieval mindset and scant respect for universal values, has finally taken control of Afghanistan (15th August 2021) after a lapse of 20 years, putting an end to democracy and rule of law in that country.&nbsp;

The only element of surprise is the swift manner in which the Taliban walked into Kabul without having to face any meaningful resistance from the President Ashraf Ghani’s Afghan Government and Afghan Army; the flip side of the story is that Kabul was spared of the bloodshed witnessed in some other parts of Afghanistan for which President Ghani who was allowed to leave the country is claiming credit.

It is also intriguing that the global players and international community remained a silent spectator and literally did nothing substantial to prevent the takeover of Afghanistan by Taliban.&nbsp;

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&nbsp;

The key objectives of the continued presence and involvement of the US in Afghanistan beyond May 2011 when their arch enemy Osama Bin Laden was captured and killed, were manifold : On the one hand the Western powers were keen to strengthen the institutions of democracy and rule of law and build the required infrastructure. On the other hand the US presence was needed to counter the resistance from the Taliban and in this context considerable investments were being made in training and equipping the Afghan armed forces to make them capable of countering the Taliban offensive. .&nbsp;

They have failed for sure in their objective to neutralise Taliban and other terror outfits operating from Afghan soil and Afghan-Pakistan border areas; also the gains made in democratic governance and infusion of liberal thoughts in the Afghan society now face serious threat at the hands of Taliban.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/will-such-images-of-happy-women-in-afghanistan-be-a-thing-of-the-past-406291">Will such images of happy women in Afghanistan be a thing of the past?</a>

So who is responsible for the latest Afghan debacle? The US or the Afghan government/ army or both or perhaps the entire international community?

Arguably, the US and its allies could not have stayed on in Afghanistan forever. The US is reported to have spent USD 2.6 trillion on military operations and development assistance in Afghanistan. However, the US cannot escape the criticism over the manner in which they abandoned the Afghan ship midstream in the midst of a devastating storm.

The US intention to ultimately withdraw its forces from Afghanistan was made known even during the tenure of the then US President Barack Obama. His successor, President Trump sealed the decision by entering into a formal agreement with the Taliban on 29th February 2020 and setting 31st May 2021 as the day for the final US withdrawal from Afghanistan in return for the assurances that the Taliban would not target the US interests in Afghanistan.&nbsp;

The agreement was signed without the involvement of elected government of Afghanistan but provided for an intra-Afghan negotiations to agree upon the future political roadmap for the country.

Two messages emerged loud and clear from the US-Taliban agreement: One, the US had come to the conclusion that it could not fight a sustained war forever against Taliban and it was in America’s interests to exit Afghanistan after negotiating a deal with Taliban. Two, the US did not care anymore as to what would or could be the outcome of the “intra-Afghan” talks, which were imposed on the duly elected government in Afghanistan.&nbsp;

The Americans also did not consider it necessary to link their withdrawal with progress in peace talks leading to an amicable political resolution.

President Biden who reversed several of the decisions taken by his predecessor Donald Trump, however, chose to adhere to the idea of draw-down from Afghanistan except that he extended the deadline to 11th September, 2021.

He stood indifferent when the Taliban created hurdles in peace talks, did not abandon violence and kept capturing districts after districts and provinces after provinces through violent means. Biden was reportedly vacationing when the Taliban was knocking at the doors of Kabul. He later defended his decision to withdraw from Afghanistan and even held the Afghan leadership for the debacle. He went to the extent of making an erroneous statement that the nation-building in Afghanistan was never a part of the US plans.

Current Scenario

Aware of its poor reputation, the Taliban, in control of most of Afghan territory, is engaged in an exercise of image building to escape international isolation and economic sanctions. On the previous occasion only three countries; Saudi Arabia, UAE and Pakistan; had recognised the Taliban regime. Its spokesperson has made several benign statements to calm the nerves both at home and abroad. All these statements have to be taken with a pinch of salt, considering particularly that the Taliban has made it amply clear that they are in the process of establishing an Islamic State and all human rights will be available within the framework of Sharia. If Taliban’s interpretation of Sharia remains what it was in 1990s, the people of Afghanistan, particularly women and child girls are in for difficult times.

What Next?

The international community failed to prevent the take- over of Afghanistan by the Taliban through the route of bullets rather ballots. The least it can do now is to collectively ensure that the sufferings of the common Afghan people are minimised through humanitarian assistance. In fact the international community must use humanitarian assistance as a leverage to ensure that the Taliban grants human rights to its people in letter and spirit.&nbsp;

Another important issue on the table is the international acceptance or rejection of the Taliban as legitimate government in Afghanistan. Looking at the trend so far, some of the countries such as Pakistan, China and Russia followed by others may selectively accord diplomatic recognition in near future.

Takeaway for India

From India’s Perspective, the Taliban victory is a definite setback to its political, economic and strategic interests in Afghanistan where India invested around $3bn to develop much-required infrastructure, besides capacity building. As a result, India enjoyed close relations with the elected government and enormous goodwill of the Afghan people. Unfortunately, at no point of time, India was in a position to influence the evolving political roadmap of Afghanistan.&nbsp;

The position is worse now.&nbsp;

India is now required to carve some space for itself on a territory that has largely fallen under the influence of its adversaries namely Pakistan and China. Pakistan and Taliban were always in hand-in-glove.&nbsp;

The latter has been reached out by Taliban on more than one occasion, and has several strategic and economic interests including the use of Taliban to counter radical Uighur Muslims, enormous natural resources of Afghanistan which await to be exploited and finally extension of Belt and Road Initiative project. One of the biggest foreign policy challenge for India is to choose between ideology and pragmatism. Needless to add that it is premature to expect any articulation of its position in black and white in immediate future from the Indian government which has rightly adopted a wait-and–watch policy though sooner or later India will have to take a tough call.

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) 
&nbsp;

What looked difficult some years ago, just probable after the beginning of the withdrawal of the NATO forces from Afghanistan and inevitable in the last few months has finally happened: The Taliban, so far notorious as an ultra-conservative and fundamentalist Islamic terrorist organisation with medieval mindset and scant respect for universal values, has finally taken control of Afghanistan (15th August 2021) after a lapse of 20 years, putting an end to democracy and rule of law in that country.

What looked difficult some years ago, just probable after the beginning of the withdrawal of the NATO forces from Afghanistan and inevitable in the last few months has finally happened: The Taliban, so far notorious as an ultra-conservative and fundamentalist Islamic terrorist organisation with medieval mindset and scant respect for universal values, has finally taken control of Afghanistan (15th August 2021) after a lapse of 20 years, putting an end to democracy and rule of law in that country. The only element of surprise is the swift manner in which the Taliban walked into Kabul without having to face any meaningful resistance from the President Ashraf Ghani’s Afghan Government and Afghan Army; the flip side of the story is that Kabul was spared of the bloodshed witnessed in some other parts of Afghanistan for which President Ghani who was allowed to leave the country is claiming credit. It is also intriguing that the global players and international community remained a silent spectator and literally did nothing substantial to prevent the takeover of Afghanistan by Taliban. × The key objectives of the continued presence and involvement of the US in Afghanistan beyond May 2011 when their arch enemy Osama Bin Laden was captured and killed, were manifold : On the one hand the Western powers were keen to strengthen the institutions of democracy and rule of law and build the required infrastructure. On the other hand the US presence was needed to counter the resistance from the Taliban and in this context considerable investments were being made in training and equipping the Afghan armed forces to make them capable of countering the Taliban offensive. . They have failed for sure in their objective to neutralise Taliban and other terror outfits operating from Afghan soil and Afghan-Pakistan border areas; also the gains made in democratic governance and infusion of liberal thoughts in the Afghan society now face serious threat at the hands of Taliban. Also Read | Will such images of happy women in Afghanistan be a thing of the past? So who is responsible for the latest Afghan debacle? The US or the Afghan government/ army or both or perhaps the entire international community? Arguably, the US and its allies could not have stayed on in Afghanistan forever. The US is reported to have spent USD 2.6 trillion on military operations and development assistance in Afghanistan. However, the US cannot escape the criticism over the manner in which they abandoned the Afghan ship midstream in the midst of a devastating storm. The US intention to ultimately withdraw its forces from Afghanistan was made known even during the tenure of the then US President Barack Obama. His successor, President Trump sealed the decision by entering into a formal agreement with the Taliban on 29th February 2020 and setting 31st May 2021 as the day for the final US withdrawal from Afghanistan in return for the assurances that the Taliban would not target the US interests in Afghanistan. The agreement was signed without the involvement of elected government of Afghanistan but provided for an intra-Afghan negotiations to agree upon the future political roadmap for the country. Two messages emerged loud and clear from the US-Taliban agreement: One, the US had come to the conclusion that it could not fight a sustained war forever against Taliban and it was in America’s interests to exit Afghanistan after negotiating a deal with Taliban. Two, the US did not care anymore as to what would or could be the outcome of the “intra-Afghan” talks, which were imposed on the duly elected government in Afghanistan. The Americans also did not consider it necessary to link their withdrawal with progress in peace talks leading to an amicable political resolution. President Biden who reversed several of the decisions taken by his predecessor Donald Trump, however, chose to adhere to the idea of draw-down from Afghanistan except that he extended the deadline to 11th September, 2021. He stood indifferent when the Taliban created hurdles in peace talks, did not abandon violence and kept capturing districts after districts and provinces after provinces through violent means. Biden was reportedly vacationing when the Taliban was knocking at the doors of Kabul. He later defended his decision to withdraw from Afghanistan and even held the Afghan leadership for the debacle. He went to the extent of making an erroneous statement that the nation-building in Afghanistan was never a part of the US plans. Current Scenario Aware of its poor reputation, the Taliban, in control of most of Afghan territory, is engaged in an exercise of image building to escape international isolation and economic sanctions. On the previous occasion only three countries; Saudi Arabia, UAE and Pakistan; had recognised the Taliban regime. Its spokesperson has made several benign statements to calm the nerves both at home and abroad. All these statements have to be taken with a pinch of salt, considering particularly that the Taliban has made it amply clear that they are in the process of establishing an Islamic State and all human rights will be available within the framework of Sharia. If Taliban’s interpretation of Sharia remains what it was in 1990s, the people of Afghanistan, particularly women and child girls are in for difficult times. What Next? The international community failed to prevent the take- over of Afghanistan by the Taliban through the route of bullets rather ballots. The least it can do now is to collectively ensure that the sufferings of the common Afghan people are minimised through humanitarian assistance. In fact the international community must use humanitarian assistance as a leverage to ensure that the Taliban grants human rights to its people in letter and spirit. Another important issue on the table is the international acceptance or rejection of the Taliban as legitimate government in Afghanistan. Looking at the trend so far, some of the countries such as Pakistan, China and Russia followed by others may selectively accord diplomatic recognition in near future. Takeaway for India From India’s Perspective, the Taliban victory is a definite setback to its political, economic and strategic interests in Afghanistan where India invested around $3bn to develop much-required infrastructure, besides capacity building. As a result, India enjoyed close relations with the elected government and enormous goodwill of the Afghan people. Unfortunately, at no point of time, India was in a position to influence the evolving political roadmap of Afghanistan. The position is worse now. India is now required to carve some space for itself on a territory that has largely fallen under the influence of its adversaries namely Pakistan and China. Pakistan and Taliban were always in hand-in-glove. The latter has been reached out by Taliban on more than one occasion, and has several strategic and economic interests including the use of Taliban to counter radical Uighur Muslims, enormous natural resources of Afghanistan which await to be exploited and finally extension of Belt and Road Initiative project. One of the biggest foreign policy challenge for India is to choose between ideology and pragmatism. Needless to add that it is premature to expect any articulation of its position in black and white in immediate future from the Indian government which has rightly adopted a wait-and–watch policy though sooner or later India will have to take a tough call. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Opinion | Return of Taliban: What does it mean for India and the world?

The race to evacuate tens of thousands of Americans and Afghans from Afghanistan is intensifying as prospects are uncertain for removing any Afghan allies before the deadline of August 31.

Unimaginable chaos erupts at Kabul airport as US ends its 'forever war' | WION-VOA Co-production

Sahraa Karimi, one of Afghanistan's prominent filmmakers has managed to flee after Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan. She has sought asylum in Ukraine

Prominent filmmaker, Sahraa Karimi manages to flee after Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan

The terrorist group Islamic State has claimed that the Taliban in Afghanistan are fake jihadists and that the group is collaborating with the US. 
 
IS has mocked the Taliban's success in Afghanistan in its official weekly publication Al-Naba, alleging that the country was simply handed over to the Islamist rival by the withdrawal of American soldiers.&nbsp; 
 
Watch | Will India recognise the Taliban in Afghanistan?

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The article shows a long-standing and bitter rivalry between the Islamic State and the Taliban. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/muscles-sliced-off-strangled-with-scarf-nine-men-of-the-hazara-minority-killed-by-taliban-407237">Also read | Muscles sliced off, strangled with scarf: Nine men of the Hazara minority killed by Taliban</a>

In its first statement since the Taliban took control of Kabul, the terrorist group claimed that the Afghan movement had not engaged in genuine "jihad" — or holy war — and raised doubts about its ability to impose true sharia rule in the country. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/watch-taliban-burn-down-amusement-park-in-afghanistan-406897">Watch: Taliban burn down amusement park in Afghanistan</a>

Due to ideological differences, IS has a foothold in Afghanistan's Khorasan province and is a sworn adversary of the Taliban.&nbsp;

According to one extract of the editorial, "during the Taliban's march into Kabul, we saw how the American troops and the Taliban coordinated directly, and how the evacuation procedures for thousands of Crusaders and spies continued amid strong trust between the two sides."

IS supporters are likely to begin a coordinated hashtag campaign online to promote the latest IS statement, as they have been doing for days. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/live-afghanistan-crisis-facebook-twitter-and-linkedin-secure-users-accounts-amid-taliban-takeover-407020">Live: Afghanistan crisis</a>:

IS has described the Taliban as a "Mullah Bradley" project, a reference to jihadists recruited by the US to destabilise the movement from inside.&nbsp;

It also mocked the new Taliban as a tool in the guise of Islam, which would be used by the US to mislead Muslims and combat the Islamic State's foothold in the region.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The terrorist group Islamic State has claimed that the Taliban in Afghanistan are fake jihadists and that the group is collaborating with the US. IS has mocked the Taliban's success in Afghanistan in its official weekly publication Al-Naba, alleging that the country was simply handed over to the Islamist rival by the withdrawal of American soldiers.

The terrorist group Islamic State has claimed that the Taliban in Afghanistan are fake jihadists and that the group is collaborating with the US. IS has mocked the Taliban's success in Afghanistan in its official weekly publication Al-Naba, alleging that the country was simply handed over to the Islamist rival by the withdrawal of American soldiers. Watch | Will India recognise the Taliban in Afghanistan? The article shows a long-standing and bitter rivalry between the Islamic State and the Taliban. Also read | Muscles sliced off, strangled with scarf: Nine men of the Hazara minority killed by Taliban In its first statement since the Taliban took control of Kabul, the terrorist group claimed that the Afghan movement had not engaged in genuine "jihad" — or holy war — and raised doubts about its ability to impose true sharia rule in the country. Watch: Taliban burn down amusement park in Afghanistan Due to ideological differences, IS has a foothold in Afghanistan's Khorasan province and is a sworn adversary of the Taliban. According to one extract of the editorial, "during the Taliban's march into Kabul, we saw how the American troops and the Taliban coordinated directly, and how the evacuation procedures for thousands of Crusaders and spies continued amid strong trust between the two sides." IS supporters are likely to begin a coordinated hashtag campaign online to promote the latest IS statement, as they have been doing for days. Live: Afghanistan crisis: IS has described the Taliban as a "Mullah Bradley" project, a reference to jihadists recruited by the US to destabilise the movement from inside. It also mocked the new Taliban as a tool in the guise of Islam, which would be used by the US to mislead Muslims and combat the Islamic State's foothold in the region. (With inputs from agencies)

Taliban takeover of Afghanistan a 'US-backed conspiracy': Islamic State

The Taliban has seized billions of dollars’ worth of U.S.-supplied military equipment in Afghanistan following the rapid defeat of Afghan government forces. Images of Taliban fighters posing with these U.S.-made supplies are circulating on social media.

Taliban seize billions of dollars’ worth U.S.-supplied military equipment

With the Taliban taking over Afghanistan, the future of women in the country has become a concerning topic. Taliban are expected to run the state under Sharia Laws which is expected to negatively impact women's rights in the country.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/after-taliban-takeover-can-afghan-cricket-board-lose-iccs-full-membership-406916" hreflang="en">After Taliban takeover, can Afghan Cricket Board lose ICC's full membership?</a>

Now, a former Afghanistan women's football team captain has urged the players to burn their kits, delete social media, and erase public identities as the country has returned under the rule of the Taliban and they have killed, raped and stoned women in the past.&nbsp;

Khalida Popal, who is also the co-founder of the Afghan women's football league, said she had always used her voice to encourage young women "to stand strong, to be bold, to be visible" but now she had a different message.

"Today I'm calling them and telling them, take down their names, remove their identities, take down their photos for their safety. Even I'm telling them to burn down or get rid of your national team uniform," she said in an interview to Reuters.

"And that is painful for me, for someone as an activist who stood up and did everything possible to achieve and earn that identity as a women's national team player.

"To earn that badge on the chest, to have the right to play and represent our country, how much we were proud."

According to Popal, football played a crucial role in empowering the women in her country and enabled them to take a strong stand for their rights and to defy those who would have them silenced.

"They are so afraid. They are worried, they are scared, not only the players, but also the activists... they have nobody to go to, to seek protection, to ask for help if they are in danger," she said of the situation now.

"They are afraid that any time the door will be knocked.

"What we are seeing is a country collapsing," she added. "All the pride, happiness to be there to empower women and men of the country is like it was just wasted."

(Inputs from Agency)

With the Taliban taking over Afghanistan, the future of women in the country has become a concerning topic. Taliban are expected to run the state under Sharia Laws which is expected to negatively impact women's rights in the country.

With the Taliban taking over Afghanistan, the future of women in the country has become a concerning topic. Taliban are expected to run the state under Sharia Laws which is expected to negatively impact women's rights in the country. ALSO READ: After Taliban takeover, can Afghan Cricket Board lose ICC's full membership? Now, a former Afghanistan women's football team captain has urged the players to burn their kits, delete social media, and erase public identities as the country has returned under the rule of the Taliban and they have killed, raped and stoned women in the past. Khalida Popal, who is also the co-founder of the Afghan women's football league, said she had always used her voice to encourage young women "to stand strong, to be bold, to be visible" but now she had a different message. "Today I'm calling them and telling them, take down their names, remove their identities, take down their photos for their safety. Even I'm telling them to burn down or get rid of your national team uniform," she said in an interview to Reuters. "And that is painful for me, for someone as an activist who stood up and did everything possible to achieve and earn that identity as a women's national team player. "To earn that badge on the chest, to have the right to play and represent our country, how much we were proud." According to Popal, football played a crucial role in empowering the women in her country and enabled them to take a strong stand for their rights and to defy those who would have them silenced. "They are so afraid. They are worried, they are scared, not only the players, but also the activists... they have nobody to go to, to seek protection, to ask for help if they are in danger," she said of the situation now. "They are afraid that any time the door will be knocked. "What we are seeing is a country collapsing," she added. "All the pride, happiness to be there to empower women and men of the country is like it was just wasted." (Inputs from Agency)

After Taliban's takeover, former Afghan women's football captain urges players to burn kits

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