India on Tuesday safely evacuated over 150 citizens, including diplomats from Afghanistan amid chaos following Taliban takeover. The aircraft C-17 Globemaster took off at 7 a.m. this morning.

India evacuates its diplomats from Afghanistan amid chaos

As Taliban takes control of Afghanistan, here's a look at who's who of Taliban’s top leadership.

Who all comprise Taliban's top leadership?

Prince Harry, who was deployed in Afghanistan twice during his 10 year stint with the British Army is speaking out amid the looming crisis in the country.&nbsp; 
 
Harry issued a joint statement with Dominic Reid, the CEO of Harry's Invictus Games and asked military veterans to seek support of each other as the situation continues to unfold.&nbsp; 
 
"What's happening in Afghanistan resonates across the international Invictus community," read their statement, which was shared on the Invictus Games Foundation's Twitter account.&nbsp; 
 
"Many of the participating nations and competitors in the Invictus Games family are bound by a shared experience of serving in Afghanistan over the past two decades, and for several years, we have competed alongside Invictus Games Team Afghanistan." 
 
"We encourage everybody across the Invictus network — and the wider military community — to reach out to each other and offer support for one another," the statement concluded. 
 
Harry served in the British Army for 10 years and was deployed in Afghanistan twice during his tenure. 
 
He founded the Invictus Games in 2014 to "harness the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect for those who serve their country."

The Afghan government collapsed on August 15 as the Taliban entered Kabul virtually unopposed leading to massive chaos and utter disruption of law and order. With fear and mass displacement of people from their homes courtesy the unforeseen circumstances, Afghanistan is now facing a&nbsp;humanitarian crisis

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-kabul-chaos-shocking-videos-and-photos-from-afghanistan-after-taliban-takeover-406056">WATCH - Kabul chaos: Shocking videos and photos from Afghanistan after Taliban takeover</a>

Prince Harry, who was deployed in Afghanistan twice during his 10 year stint with the British Army is speaking out amid the looming crisis in the country. Harry issued a joint statement with Dominic Reid, the CEO of Harry's Invictus Games and asked military veterans to seek support of each other as the situation continues to unfold.

Prince Harry, who was deployed in Afghanistan twice during his 10 year stint with the British Army is speaking out amid the looming crisis in the country. Harry issued a joint statement with Dominic Reid, the CEO of Harry's Invictus Games and asked military veterans to seek support of each other as the situation continues to unfold. "What's happening in Afghanistan resonates across the international Invictus community," read their statement, which was shared on the Invictus Games Foundation's Twitter account. "Many of the participating nations and competitors in the Invictus Games family are bound by a shared experience of serving in Afghanistan over the past two decades, and for several years, we have competed alongside Invictus Games Team Afghanistan." "We encourage everybody across the Invictus network — and the wider military community — to reach out to each other and offer support for one another," the statement concluded. Harry served in the British Army for 10 years and was deployed in Afghanistan twice during his tenure. He founded the Invictus Games in 2014 to "harness the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect for those who serve their country." The Afghan government collapsed on August 15 as the Taliban entered Kabul virtually unopposed leading to massive chaos and utter disruption of law and order. With fear and mass displacement of people from their homes courtesy the unforeseen circumstances, Afghanistan is now facing a humanitarian crisis WATCH - Kabul chaos: Shocking videos and photos from Afghanistan after Taliban takeover

Prince Harry's message to military veterans amid Afghanistan crisis: Reach out to each other

As the Taliban took control of capital Kabul on Sunday and are on their way to take control of the government, WION speaks to Amar Sinha, Former envoy to Afghanistan over the security situation in the country and the future of Afghan women.

Hopeful of a peaceful transfer of power says Amar Sinha, former envoy to Afghan

Taliban are set to declare Afghanistan&nbsp;as an Islamic Emirate soon, as per senior members of the insurgent group. The flag of the country will also be changed&nbsp;as a symbol of the Taliban takeover.

The group took control of the presidential palace, soon after president Ashraf Ghani fled the country for Tajikistan.

As the day started, Taliban members were spotted entering the outskirts of Kabul on cars and motorbikes.

<h2><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/live-taliban-take-control-of-afghanistan-presidential-palace-as-ghani-exits-country-405579" hreflang="en">LIVE:Taliban take control of Afghan presidential palace as Ghani exits country</a></h2>

After conquering Mazar-e-sharif and Jalalabad overnight, the Taliban turned towards capital Kabul. However, the group declared that it had no intention of taking over the city by force or violence and will wait for a 'peaceful transition of power' from the Afghan government.

As the Taliban proceeded to push its members in the capital city, Afghan president Ashraf Ghani commenced&nbsp;emergency talks with US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad and other top NATO officials.

While Ghani was in talks with the NATO representatives, the US Embassy started rescuing its employees from Kabul through helicopters. Smoke could also be seen coming from the roof of the Embassy as it was believed that the American employees were burning all papers containing sensitive information.

<img alt="Image" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E80Ty0tXoAMNkD4?format=jpg&amp;name=large" />

As the Taliban reached the&nbsp;Torkham Gate, which is the main border crossing between the Pakistan city of Torkham and Afghanistan, reports of the possibility of Ghani's resignation started doing rounds in the media.

However, while the news was unsubstantiated at that moment, a few hours later the Interior Minister of Afghanistan reported that the President had left the country.

"The former president of Afghanistan left Afghanistan and left the country and the nation in a state of agreement, and may God be with him," said Abdullah Abdullah a little later.&nbsp;

As soon as Ghani fled the country, the Taliban ordered its members to enter Kabul and take hold of all checkpoints abandoned by the Afghan forces.&nbsp;

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2021/08/15/206792-an-afghan-soldier.jpg" />

However, the Taliban claim they have issued the order solely to protect the city from looting and chaos, and the locals should not be afraid of them.

The spokesperson has also urged locals to stay back in the country rather than fleeing as they plan to utilise the talents of the country. "No one should leave the country...we need all the talents and capacity, we need all of us to stay in the country and participate," the spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, US&nbsp;Secretary of State Antony Blinken&nbsp;addressed criticism against the US, with respect to Saigon and blasted the critics by saying, "This is not Saigon. The US has succeeded in its mission to stop attacks on US."

"It's simply not in our interests to remain in Afghanistan," he added.

A little after his statement, it was reported that the US Ambassador has left Kabul, along with the American flag from the Embassy.

Many countries have spoken against the Taliban take over and are now sending military flights to rescue nationals from Afghanistan.

While Ghani claims he left the country to avoid bloodshed and to prevent a "disaster", what is the future of this South Asian country under the rule of the Taliban is yet to be seen.

Taliban are set to declare Afghanistan as an Islamic Emirate soon, as per senior members of the insurgent group. The flag of the country will also be changed as a symbol of the Taliban takeover.

Taliban are set to declare Afghanistan as an Islamic Emirate soon, as per senior members of the insurgent group. The flag of the country will also be changed as a symbol of the Taliban takeover. The group took control of the presidential palace, soon after president Ashraf Ghani fled the country for Tajikistan. As the day started, Taliban members were spotted entering the outskirts of Kabul on cars and motorbikes. LIVE:Taliban take control of Afghan presidential palace as Ghani exits country After conquering Mazar-e-sharif and Jalalabad overnight, the Taliban turned towards capital Kabul. However, the group declared that it had no intention of taking over the city by force or violence and will wait for a 'peaceful transition of power' from the Afghan government. As the Taliban proceeded to push its members in the capital city, Afghan president Ashraf Ghani commenced emergency talks with US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad and other top NATO officials. While Ghani was in talks with the NATO representatives, the US Embassy started rescuing its employees from Kabul through helicopters. Smoke could also be seen coming from the roof of the Embassy as it was believed that the American employees were burning all papers containing sensitive information. As the Taliban reached the Torkham Gate, which is the main border crossing between the Pakistan city of Torkham and Afghanistan, reports of the possibility of Ghani's resignation started doing rounds in the media. However, while the news was unsubstantiated at that moment, a few hours later the Interior Minister of Afghanistan reported that the President had left the country. "The former president of Afghanistan left Afghanistan and left the country and the nation in a state of agreement, and may God be with him," said Abdullah Abdullah a little later. As soon as Ghani fled the country, the Taliban ordered its members to enter Kabul and take hold of all checkpoints abandoned by the Afghan forces. However, the Taliban claim they have issued the order solely to protect the city from looting and chaos, and the locals should not be afraid of them. The spokesperson has also urged locals to stay back in the country rather than fleeing as they plan to utilise the talents of the country. "No one should leave the country...we need all the talents and capacity, we need all of us to stay in the country and participate," the spokesperson said. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed criticism against the US, with respect to Saigon and blasted the critics by saying, "This is not Saigon. The US has succeeded in its mission to stop attacks on US." "It's simply not in our interests to remain in Afghanistan," he added. A little after his statement, it was reported that the US Ambassador has left Kabul, along with the American flag from the Embassy. Many countries have spoken against the Taliban take over and are now sending military flights to rescue nationals from Afghanistan. While Ghani claims he left the country to avoid bloodshed and to prevent a "disaster", what is the future of this South Asian country under the rule of the Taliban is yet to be seen.

Taliban to declare Afghanistan an Islamic Emirate as President Ghani exits country

How Taliban emerged & seized Afghanistan despite US involvement

Taliban is quickly taking over Afghanistan as they captured the capital city of Kabul on Sunday. Now, former England skipper Kevin Pietersen has revealed that Afghanistan's star spinner Rashid Khan is worried about the situation of the country and is unable to get his family out.&nbsp;

IN PICS|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/taliban-have-won-rise-and-fall-of-afghan-president-ashraf-ghani-405867" hreflang="en">'Taliban have won': Rise and fall of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani</a>

"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.

Rashid Khan, who is currently in England playing for Trent Rockets in the inaugural edition of the Hundred, had earlier put out a Tweet urging global leaders to step in and not leave the country in chaos.&nbsp;

He tweeted: "Dear World Leaders! My country is in chaos,thousand of innocent people, including children &amp; women, get martyred everyday, houses &amp; properties being destructed.Thousand families displaced..Don’t leave us in chaos. Stop killing Afghans &amp; destroying of Afghanistan. We want peace."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Dear World Leaders! My country is in chaos,thousand of innocent people, including children &amp; women, get martyred everyday, houses &amp; properties being destructed.Thousand families displaced.. 
Don’t leave us in chaos. Stop killing Afghans &amp; destroying Afghaniatan🇦🇫. 
We want peace.🙏
— Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19) <a href="https://twitter.com/rashidkhan_19/status/1425057234300641317?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 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>

"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.

Sports."For him to turn up and put on a performance like this under the pressure that he is currently under... for him to be able to forget that stuff and navigate his story and continue the momentum that he has - I think that`s probably one of the most heart-warming stories of this Hundred so far," he added.

Taliban is quickly taking over Afghanistan as they captured the capital city of Kabul on Sunday. Now, former England skipper Kevin Pietersen has revealed that Afghanistan's star spinner Rashid Khan is worried about the situation of the country and is unable to get his family out.

Taliban is quickly taking over Afghanistan as they captured the capital city of Kabul on Sunday. Now, former England skipper Kevin Pietersen has revealed that Afghanistan's star spinner Rashid Khan is worried about the situation of the country and is unable to get his family out. IN PICS| 'Taliban have won': Rise and fall of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani "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. Rashid Khan, who is currently in England playing for Trent Rockets in the inaugural edition of the Hundred, had earlier put out a Tweet urging global leaders to step in and not leave the country in chaos. He tweeted: "Dear World Leaders! My country is in chaos,thousand of innocent people, including children & women, get martyred everyday, houses & properties being destructed.Thousand families displaced..Don’t leave us in chaos. Stop killing Afghans & destroying of Afghanistan. We want peace." Dear World Leaders! My country is in chaos,thousand of innocent people, including children & women, get martyred everyday, houses & properties being destructed.Thousand families displaced.. Don’t leave us in chaos. Stop killing Afghans & destroying Afghaniatan🇦🇫. We want peace.🙏 — Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19) August 10, 2021 × "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. Sports."For him to turn up and put on a performance like this under the pressure that he is currently under... for him to be able to forget that stuff and navigate his story and continue the momentum that he has - I think that`s probably one of the most heart-warming stories of this Hundred so far," he added.

Rashid Khan is worried, can't get his family out of Afghanistan, says Kevin Pietersen

Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai urged people to stay in their homes, stating that he is working to resolve issues with the militant group through dialogue. Karzai has formed a committee with Abdullah Abdullah and Gulbuddin Hekmatyar for the smooth transition of power to the Taliban.

Taliban in Kabul: Hamid Karzai forms transition council with Abdullah and Hekmatyar

Taliban has captured Kabul and entered inside the presidential palace in the region. The President and the VP fled the country owing to Taliban's siege. Ex Afghanistan Government Adviser Torek Farhadi talks to WION about the matter.

Ex Afghanistan Government Adviser Torek Farhadi talks to WION on Taliban's siege

According to reports, Taliban insurgents, who entered Kabul on Sunday have now taken control over the Presidential Palace, hours after President Ashraf Ghani fled the war-torn nation.

Reports: Taliban claims taking control over Presidential palace as Ashraf Ghani flees

The Taliban have taken control over majority of areas in Afghanistan including Kabul. Afghan President and VP have fled the country after Taliban's siege in Afghanistan. In his statement, Ashraf Ghani said that he left the country to avoid bloodshed.

Taliban take control over majority of areas in Afghanistan including Kabul

Iran's new President Ebrahim Raisi said on Monday that "defeat" of US in Afghanistan was a chance for peace in the war-wrecked country

"The military defeat and the US withdrawal from Afghanistan should offer an opportunity to restore life, security and lasting peace in that country," Raisi said, quoted by his office.

The statement was issued after the Taliban took control of Kabul. The statement didn't mention Taliban or fall of Kabul.

Raisi, during an exchange with Iran's outgoing foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, said Iran wanted good relations with neighbouring Afghanistan and was "closely monitoring the evolution of events" there.

The foreign ministry later said Zarif had met China's special envoy to Afghanistan, Yue Xiaoyong, and discussed "the issue of persons displaced during the latest events in Afghanistan and their arrival en masse in neighbouring countries".

Iran shares a 900-kilometre (560-mile) border with Afghanistan. It already hosts nearly 3.5 million Afghans, according to the UN's refugee agency.

The interior ministry's border affairs chief, Hossein Ghassemi, said on Sunday that efforts were underway in three provinces bordering Afghanistan to set up temporary accommodation for a potential influx of Afghan refugees.

They would, "once conditions improve, be repatriated", he told the official IRNA news agency.

Analysts say Tehran is taking a pragmatic stance on the Taliban's resurgence, but many Iranians have painful memories of the hardline Sunni group's rule in the late 1990s.

(With inputs from agencies)

Iran's new President Ebrahim Raisi said on Monday that "defeat" of US in Afghanistan was a chance for peace in the war-wrecked country "The military defeat and the US withdrawal from Afghanistan should offer an opportunity to restore life, security and lasting peace in that country," Raisi said, quoted by his office.

Iran's new President Ebrahim Raisi said on Monday that "defeat" of US in Afghanistan was a chance for peace in the war-wrecked country "The military defeat and the US withdrawal from Afghanistan should offer an opportunity to restore life, security and lasting peace in that country," Raisi said, quoted by his office. The statement was issued after the Taliban took control of Kabul. The statement didn't mention Taliban or fall of Kabul. Raisi, during an exchange with Iran's outgoing foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, said Iran wanted good relations with neighbouring Afghanistan and was "closely monitoring the evolution of events" there. The foreign ministry later said Zarif had met China's special envoy to Afghanistan, Yue Xiaoyong, and discussed "the issue of persons displaced during the latest events in Afghanistan and their arrival en masse in neighbouring countries". Iran shares a 900-kilometre (560-mile) border with Afghanistan. It already hosts nearly 3.5 million Afghans, according to the UN's refugee agency. The interior ministry's border affairs chief, Hossein Ghassemi, said on Sunday that efforts were underway in three provinces bordering Afghanistan to set up temporary accommodation for a potential influx of Afghan refugees. They would, "once conditions improve, be repatriated", he told the official IRNA news agency. Analysts say Tehran is taking a pragmatic stance on the Taliban's resurgence, but many Iranians have painful memories of the hardline Sunni group's rule in the late 1990s. (With inputs from agencies)

US 'defeat' in Afghanistan is a chance for lasting peace: Iran

In its first reaction to the unfolding developments in Afghanistan, India said that it is constantly monitoring the situation and will take all steps to ensure the safety and security of Indian nationals as well as its interests in that country.

India: Will take all steps to ensure safety of Indian nationals and interests

The bridge has an eerily Orwellian name — the Friendship Bridge — and a storied history in Afghanistan’s wars.

And again last week, the bridge, which spans the Amu Darya River between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, provided a backdrop for a watershed moment in the fighting. In a chaotic retreat from the city of Mazar-e-Sharif, pro-government soldiers streamed onto the crossing, seeking safety on the opposite bank.

The scene Thursday mirrored an iconic moment 32 years ago at the end of the failed Soviet war in Afghanistan, when the bridge provided the final exit route out of the country for the defeated Soviet army.

Then, red flags fixed to the armored vehicles flapped in a winter wind as the departing Soviet troops drove and marched across the bridge on Feb. 15, 1989. That was meant to signal an organized, dignified exit for the superpower’s army after a decade of occupation and defeats.

The Soviet commander, Gen. Boris V. Gromov, walked alone behind the last armored column as it rumbled across and out of the country. He then declared that Russia was done with Afghanistan.

“That’s it,” Gromov told a television crew. “Not one Soviet soldier or officer is behind my back.”

The Red Army withdrew ceremonially.

The armored vehicles rolled across over the roiling, glacier-fed river slowly and precisely, as if in a parade. On the Uzbek side, women met the soldiers with the traditional greeting of bread and salt. Soldiers were given wristwatches for their service. Television cameras filmed.

The Biden administration had made a point of avoiding a similar scene of ceremonial closure for the U.S. Army in Afghanistan, hardly imaginable now in any case given the unexpectedly rapid collapse of the U.S.-backed government Sunday.

The U.S. commander, Gen. Austin Miller, quietly left the country July 12. And the United States evacuated its headquarters at Bagram Airfield — a site originally built by the Soviets — without a formal handover to the Afghan army.

The Soviet pomp in departure did nothing, of course, to prevent a grinding civil war in the wake of withdrawal, or soul searching at home about the war. And given what followed, Gromov’s march became emblematic of the ignoble end to the Soviet war.

The leader the Russians left behind, Mohammad Najibullah, remained for three years after the parade on the Friendship Bridge, a good deal longer than President Ashraf Ghani, who fled the country even before all of his American backers got out.

The Soviet Union had, in some ways, put down deeper roots than the United States despite the fact that the U.S. occupation lasted longer, said Yuri V. Krupnov, a Russian expert on Afghanistan and director at the Institute of Demography and Migration in Moscow.

The Soviet Union educated about 200,000 Afghan engineers, military officers and administrators, providing the Najibullah government a base of support.

“You can criticize the Soviet Union as much as you want, but the goal was to build a contemporary, modern state” and to stabilize the empire’s southern borders, he said. The Soviet Union built hydroelectric dams, tunnels, roads and bridges, including the Friendship Bridge.

The government the Soviets left behind also limped along for a longer time, he said, because Moscow entrusted its client army with heavier weapons like tanks and artillery, in contrast to the mostly light arms the U.S. handed out. The Soviets also brutally cracked down on the narcotics trade, preventing the emergence of a corrupt class of police and officials.

It failed nonetheless. The Najibullah government collapsed in 1992 and in 1996, the Soviet-installed leader was captured and executed by an emerging new force in Afghanistan, the Taliban. His body was hung from a utility pole in Kabul.

After leaving, Russians spoke of having an Afghan syndrome, like the Vietnam syndrome in the United States. They wanted nothing to do with the country.

The retreat over the Friendship Bridge of soldiers loyal to the U.S.-backed Afghan government, which collapsed just three days later, was a more chaotic scene than the Soviet departure decades earlier.

The Taliban seized Mazar-e-Sharif swiftly after breaking through the Afghan army's front lines. The government security forces and the militias of two warlords — Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum and Atta Muhammad Noor — fled toward the bridge about 45 miles to the north seeking safety.

By evening, the Friendship Bridge became a stalled traffic jam of cars and pickup trucks laden with soldiers, social media posts showed.

There was no dignified exit.

Uzbek authorities allowed in one group of 84 pro-government soldiers but arrested them for illegal border crossing, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. They blocked others from crossing.

Russian officials have been ambivalent in their public statements about the collapse of the U.S.-backed government in Afghanistan, three decades after their own withdrawal.

They have not been above scoring propaganda points by noting the abandonment of allies and failure of a long-running U.S. foreign policy. But Russia could now also be forced to defend Central Asian client states against Islamist extremism in Afghanistan. The U.S. military had been doing that job.

“It came as a surprise,” Zamir Kabulov, a former Russian ambassador to Afghanistan, said Monday in an interview with the Echo of Moscow radio station, speaking of the quick collapse of the U.S.-backed government. “We thought the Afghan army, whatever its state, would resist for some time. But apparently we were too optimistic in evaluating the quality of training of the American and NATO armed forces.”

The White House has said that the Afghan army was trained and equipped but lacked the will to fight.

“They have what they need,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said last week.

And Afghan and U.S. officials have said that starting in 2018, Moscow had been clandestinely arming a Taliban group operating around the city of Kunduz, a dusty regional trade hub east of the Friendship Bridge. It was, in a sense, payback for the U.S. support of the anti-Soviet insurgency years ago.

But as the Taliban swept through northern Afghanistan this summer, eventually taking Kunduz and other major cities, the Russian military deployed tanks for a military exercise near the border in Tajikistan.

The bridge’s name always had a sinister hue, as the Soviet Union built the Friendship Bridge in 1982 to ease resupply of its army fighting in Afghanistan. The full name is the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan Friendship Bridge.

The road and railroad bridge crosses the silty water of the Amu Darya River, which is fed by glacial melt in the Hindu Kush mountains and prone to seasonal flooding. The U.S. military, much like the Red Army before it, sent tanker trucks of helicopter and jet fuel over the crossing for years.

It had also been the focus of U.S. plans to deepen trade and infrastructure ties between Afghanistan and the former Soviet Central Asia, to spur economic development and wean the U.S.-backed government in Kabul off U.S. aid.

A decade ago, the World Bank and International Monetary Fund financed improvements to the railroad.

Uzbekistan had planned to extend the railroad, which now reaches only Mazar-e-Sharif, about 45 miles to the south, to Kabul and into neighboring Pakistan. Work was scheduled to begin in September. It is now on indefinite hold.

The bridge, said Alexander Cooley, director of the Harriman Institute at Columbia University and author of “Great Games, Local Rules,” about the geopolitics of Central Asia, has come to “symbolize great power engagement and great power withdrawal.”

The bridge has an eerily Orwellian name — the Friendship Bridge — and a storied history in Afghanistan’s wars. And again last week, the bridge, which spans the Amu Darya River between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, provided a backdrop for a watershed moment in the fighting.

The bridge has an eerily Orwellian name — the Friendship Bridge — and a storied history in Afghanistan’s wars. And again last week, the bridge, which spans the Amu Darya River between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, provided a backdrop for a watershed moment in the fighting. In a chaotic retreat from the city of Mazar-e-Sharif, pro-government soldiers streamed onto the crossing, seeking safety on the opposite bank. The scene Thursday mirrored an iconic moment 32 years ago at the end of the failed Soviet war in Afghanistan, when the bridge provided the final exit route out of the country for the defeated Soviet army. Then, red flags fixed to the armored vehicles flapped in a winter wind as the departing Soviet troops drove and marched across the bridge on Feb. 15, 1989. That was meant to signal an organized, dignified exit for the superpower’s army after a decade of occupation and defeats. The Soviet commander, Gen. Boris V. Gromov, walked alone behind the last armored column as it rumbled across and out of the country. He then declared that Russia was done with Afghanistan. “That’s it,” Gromov told a television crew. “Not one Soviet soldier or officer is behind my back.” The Red Army withdrew ceremonially. The armored vehicles rolled across over the roiling, glacier-fed river slowly and precisely, as if in a parade. On the Uzbek side, women met the soldiers with the traditional greeting of bread and salt. Soldiers were given wristwatches for their service. Television cameras filmed. The Biden administration had made a point of avoiding a similar scene of ceremonial closure for the U.S. Army in Afghanistan, hardly imaginable now in any case given the unexpectedly rapid collapse of the U.S.-backed government Sunday. The U.S. commander, Gen. Austin Miller, quietly left the country July 12. And the United States evacuated its headquarters at Bagram Airfield — a site originally built by the Soviets — without a formal handover to the Afghan army. The Soviet pomp in departure did nothing, of course, to prevent a grinding civil war in the wake of withdrawal, or soul searching at home about the war. And given what followed, Gromov’s march became emblematic of the ignoble end to the Soviet war. The leader the Russians left behind, Mohammad Najibullah, remained for three years after the parade on the Friendship Bridge, a good deal longer than President Ashraf Ghani, who fled the country even before all of his American backers got out. The Soviet Union had, in some ways, put down deeper roots than the United States despite the fact that the U.S. occupation lasted longer, said Yuri V. Krupnov, a Russian expert on Afghanistan and director at the Institute of Demography and Migration in Moscow. The Soviet Union educated about 200,000 Afghan engineers, military officers and administrators, providing the Najibullah government a base of support. “You can criticize the Soviet Union as much as you want, but the goal was to build a contemporary, modern state” and to stabilize the empire’s southern borders, he said. The Soviet Union built hydroelectric dams, tunnels, roads and bridges, including the Friendship Bridge. The government the Soviets left behind also limped along for a longer time, he said, because Moscow entrusted its client army with heavier weapons like tanks and artillery, in contrast to the mostly light arms the U.S. handed out. The Soviets also brutally cracked down on the narcotics trade, preventing the emergence of a corrupt class of police and officials. It failed nonetheless. The Najibullah government collapsed in 1992 and in 1996, the Soviet-installed leader was captured and executed by an emerging new force in Afghanistan, the Taliban. His body was hung from a utility pole in Kabul. After leaving, Russians spoke of having an Afghan syndrome, like the Vietnam syndrome in the United States. They wanted nothing to do with the country. The retreat over the Friendship Bridge of soldiers loyal to the U.S.-backed Afghan government, which collapsed just three days later, was a more chaotic scene than the Soviet departure decades earlier. The Taliban seized Mazar-e-Sharif swiftly after breaking through the Afghan army's front lines. The government security forces and the militias of two warlords — Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum and Atta Muhammad Noor — fled toward the bridge about 45 miles to the north seeking safety. By evening, the Friendship Bridge became a stalled traffic jam of cars and pickup trucks laden with soldiers, social media posts showed. There was no dignified exit. Uzbek authorities allowed in one group of 84 pro-government soldiers but arrested them for illegal border crossing, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. They blocked others from crossing. Russian officials have been ambivalent in their public statements about the collapse of the U.S.-backed government in Afghanistan, three decades after their own withdrawal. They have not been above scoring propaganda points by noting the abandonment of allies and failure of a long-running U.S. foreign policy. But Russia could now also be forced to defend Central Asian client states against Islamist extremism in Afghanistan. The U.S. military had been doing that job. “It came as a surprise,” Zamir Kabulov, a former Russian ambassador to Afghanistan, said Monday in an interview with the Echo of Moscow radio station, speaking of the quick collapse of the U.S.-backed government. “We thought the Afghan army, whatever its state, would resist for some time. But apparently we were too optimistic in evaluating the quality of training of the American and NATO armed forces.” The White House has said that the Afghan army was trained and equipped but lacked the will to fight. “They have what they need,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said last week. And Afghan and U.S. officials have said that starting in 2018, Moscow had been clandestinely arming a Taliban group operating around the city of Kunduz, a dusty regional trade hub east of the Friendship Bridge. It was, in a sense, payback for the U.S. support of the anti-Soviet insurgency years ago. But as the Taliban swept through northern Afghanistan this summer, eventually taking Kunduz and other major cities, the Russian military deployed tanks for a military exercise near the border in Tajikistan. The bridge’s name always had a sinister hue, as the Soviet Union built the Friendship Bridge in 1982 to ease resupply of its army fighting in Afghanistan. The full name is the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan Friendship Bridge. The road and railroad bridge crosses the silty water of the Amu Darya River, which is fed by glacial melt in the Hindu Kush mountains and prone to seasonal flooding. The U.S. military, much like the Red Army before it, sent tanker trucks of helicopter and jet fuel over the crossing for years. It had also been the focus of U.S. plans to deepen trade and infrastructure ties between Afghanistan and the former Soviet Central Asia, to spur economic development and wean the U.S.-backed government in Kabul off U.S. aid. A decade ago, the World Bank and International Monetary Fund financed improvements to the railroad. Uzbekistan had planned to extend the railroad, which now reaches only Mazar-e-Sharif, about 45 miles to the south, to Kabul and into neighboring Pakistan. Work was scheduled to begin in September. It is now on indefinite hold. The bridge, said Alexander Cooley, director of the Harriman Institute at Columbia University and author of “Great Games, Local Rules,” about the geopolitics of Central Asia, has come to “symbolize great power engagement and great power withdrawal.”

An iconic bridge sees US allies flee Afghanistan as Soviets did

The United Nations Security Council held a meeting under India's presidency in New York over the ongoing political and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

UN Security Council holds emergency meeting on Afghanistan under India's presidency

Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan appears to be endorsing the Taliban as they take control of Afghanistan. According to Imran Khan, Afghans have "broken the chains of slavery in the country".

'Chains of slavery broken' after Taliban takeover says Pakistan PM Imran Khan

As the Taliban have taken control over Kabul Afghans have already started fleeing the country. India is also gearing up to evacuate its citizens. A fleet of C-17 Globemaster military aircraft has been kept on standby.

India prepares to evacuate its citizens after Taliban capture Kabul

The day after the Taliban installed themselves in the presidential palace in Kabul, seizing control over Afghanistan two decades after being toppled from power by the U.S. military, fears intensified Monday about a return to the Taliban’s brutal rule and the threat of reprisal killings.

Kabul’s international airport was under the protection of foreign forces, including thousands of U.S. soldiers sent to the country to assist in a hasty evacuation. The Pentagon said Monday evening in Kabul that all flights had been suspended, military or civilian, into Hamid Karzai International Airport.

It was a scene of desperation, sadness and panic.

Thousands of Afghans flooded the tarmac Monday morning, at one point swarming around a departing U.S. military plane as it taxied down the runway.

Images of people clinging to the hulking aircraft even as it left the ground quickly circulated around the world. It seemed to capture the moment more vividly than words: a symbol of U.S. military might, flying out of the country even as Afghans hung on against all hope.

U.S. forces on site used helicopters to help clear the runway in the military section of the airport. U.S. troops fatally shot at least two armed men who approached the Americans at the airport security perimeter and brandished their weapons, according to a U.S. military official.

President Joe Biden will speak about the situation at 3:45 p.m. in Washington, after cutting short a stay at Camp David to return to the White House.

Worries pervaded Kabul, the capital, about the potential for violence as the Taliban filled the city and the Afghan government crumbled. President Ashraf Ghani fled the country as the insurgents entered the city Sunday.

In remarkable scenes broadcast on Al-Jazeera, Taliban leaders ensconced themselves in the palace only hours after Ghani fled — taking control over what was once one of the most secure locations in the country and a symbol of the nation that the United States spent so much money and sacrificed so much blood to uphold.

Though not a formal surrender, it might as well have been.

In the video, the head of the Afghan presidential security guard shook hands with a Taliban commander in one of the palace buildings and said he had accompanied the Taliban commander at the request of the senior Afghan government negotiator.

“I say welcome to them, and I congratulate them,” the official said.

Afghan officials in other cities were filmed handing over power to insurgent leaders. Former President Hamid Karzai said he had formed a council with other political leaders to coordinate a peaceful transition to a new Taliban government. Karzai also asked the head of the Presidential Protection Service to remain at his post and ensure that the palace was not looted.

Early Taliban actions in other cities under their control offered a glimpse of what the future might hold. In Kunduz, which fell Aug. 8, they set up checkpoints and went door to door in search of absentee civil servants, warning that any who did not return to work would be punished.

The change in atmosphere in Kabul was as swift as it was frightening for many who thought that they could build a life under the protection of their U.S. allies.

Some in the city said the Taliban had already visited government officials’ homes. They entered the home of one former official in western Kabul and removed his cars and took over the home of a former governor in another part of town.

In other parts of the country, there were reports that fighters were searching for people they consider collaborators of the United States and the fallen government.

Residents of Kabul began tearing down advertisements that showed women without headscarves for fear of upsetting the Taliban, whose ideology excludes women from much of public life.

Some police officers were taken into custody by Taliban fighters, while others were seen changing into civilian clothes and trying to flee.

The Taliban said their forces had entered Kabul to ensure order and public safety.

A member of the Taliban’s negotiating team in Qatar told the BBC that “there will be no revenge” on civilians.

“We assure the people in Afghanistan, particularly in the city of Kabul, that their properties, their lives are safe,” Suhail Shaheen said Sunday night. “There will be no revenge on anyone.”

The day after the Taliban installed themselves in the presidential palace in Kabul, seizing control over Afghanistan two decades after being toppled from power by the U.

The day after the Taliban installed themselves in the presidential palace in Kabul, seizing control over Afghanistan two decades after being toppled from power by the U.S. military, fears intensified Monday about a return to the Taliban’s brutal rule and the threat of reprisal killings. Kabul’s international airport was under the protection of foreign forces, including thousands of U.S. soldiers sent to the country to assist in a hasty evacuation. The Pentagon said Monday evening in Kabul that all flights had been suspended, military or civilian, into Hamid Karzai International Airport. It was a scene of desperation, sadness and panic. Thousands of Afghans flooded the tarmac Monday morning, at one point swarming around a departing U.S. military plane as it taxied down the runway. Images of people clinging to the hulking aircraft even as it left the ground quickly circulated around the world. It seemed to capture the moment more vividly than words: a symbol of U.S. military might, flying out of the country even as Afghans hung on against all hope. U.S. forces on site used helicopters to help clear the runway in the military section of the airport. U.S. troops fatally shot at least two armed men who approached the Americans at the airport security perimeter and brandished their weapons, according to a U.S. military official. President Joe Biden will speak about the situation at 3:45 p.m. in Washington, after cutting short a stay at Camp David to return to the White House. Worries pervaded Kabul, the capital, about the potential for violence as the Taliban filled the city and the Afghan government crumbled. President Ashraf Ghani fled the country as the insurgents entered the city Sunday. In remarkable scenes broadcast on Al-Jazeera, Taliban leaders ensconced themselves in the palace only hours after Ghani fled — taking control over what was once one of the most secure locations in the country and a symbol of the nation that the United States spent so much money and sacrificed so much blood to uphold. Though not a formal surrender, it might as well have been. In the video, the head of the Afghan presidential security guard shook hands with a Taliban commander in one of the palace buildings and said he had accompanied the Taliban commander at the request of the senior Afghan government negotiator. “I say welcome to them, and I congratulate them,” the official said. Afghan officials in other cities were filmed handing over power to insurgent leaders. Former President Hamid Karzai said he had formed a council with other political leaders to coordinate a peaceful transition to a new Taliban government. Karzai also asked the head of the Presidential Protection Service to remain at his post and ensure that the palace was not looted. Early Taliban actions in other cities under their control offered a glimpse of what the future might hold. In Kunduz, which fell Aug. 8, they set up checkpoints and went door to door in search of absentee civil servants, warning that any who did not return to work would be punished. The change in atmosphere in Kabul was as swift as it was frightening for many who thought that they could build a life under the protection of their U.S. allies. Some in the city said the Taliban had already visited government officials’ homes. They entered the home of one former official in western Kabul and removed his cars and took over the home of a former governor in another part of town. In other parts of the country, there were reports that fighters were searching for people they consider collaborators of the United States and the fallen government. Residents of Kabul began tearing down advertisements that showed women without headscarves for fear of upsetting the Taliban, whose ideology excludes women from much of public life. Some police officers were taken into custody by Taliban fighters, while others were seen changing into civilian clothes and trying to flee. The Taliban said their forces had entered Kabul to ensure order and public safety. A member of the Taliban’s negotiating team in Qatar told the BBC that “there will be no revenge” on civilians. “We assure the people in Afghanistan, particularly in the city of Kabul, that their properties, their lives are safe,” Suhail Shaheen said Sunday night. “There will be no revenge on anyone.”

With the Taliban in control, uncertainty and fear grip Afghanistan

On Sunday as<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/live-us-lowers-flag-at-kabul-embassy-hundreds-gather-at-airport-amid-international-evacuation-405858"> Kabul </a>was witnessing chaos with Taliban reaching the gates of the city, Estonia and Norway reached out to India for an urgent meeting on Afghanistan.

At the request of "penholders," it is reported that India was immediately ready to organise the meetings on Sunday afternoon itself at the Security Council.

Estonian mission to the United Nations had tweeted&nbsp;that they have requested for&nbsp;"Council meeting on Afghanistan as soon as possible" and the "call for the violence to stop and&nbsp;parties to negotiate peacefully."

After consultations, a broad consensus at UNSC was achieved to have the&nbsp;meeting at 10 am EST (7.30 am IST) on Monday.

India is the president of UNSC for the month of August and as the president takes crucial decisions on key meetings and agenda at the high table. For any meeting to take place, India has to receive a request and a consensus need to be formed.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
UNSC meet on Afghanistan tomm at 7.30 PM IST. 2nd meet on Afghanistan under India's presidency of the high table. Estonia, Norway are the penholders. <a href="https://t.co/3Ghr46zr8O">https://t.co/3Ghr46zr8O</a>
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) <a href="https://twitter.com/sidhant/status/1426973267886178305?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 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>

Monday's meeting will be the second on Afghanistan to take place under India's presidency of UNSC this month.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres&nbsp;is expected to participate in the&nbsp;meeting.

The meeting on August 6 was chaired by the Indian envoy to the United Nations TS Tirumurti. The development came after the then Afghan foreign minister Hanif Atmar called India's external affairs minister Dr&nbsp;Jaishankar for the meeting.

On Sunday as Kabul was witnessing chaos with Taliban reaching the gates of the city, Estonia and Norway reached out to India for an urgent meeting on Afghanistan.

On Sunday as Kabul was witnessing chaos with Taliban reaching the gates of the city, Estonia and Norway reached out to India for an urgent meeting on Afghanistan. At the request of "penholders," it is reported that India was immediately ready to organise the meetings on Sunday afternoon itself at the Security Council. Estonian mission to the United Nations had tweeted that they have requested for "Council meeting on Afghanistan as soon as possible" and the "call for the violence to stop and parties to negotiate peacefully." After consultations, a broad consensus at UNSC was achieved to have the meeting at 10 am EST (7.30 am IST) on Monday. India is the president of UNSC for the month of August and as the president takes crucial decisions on key meetings and agenda at the high table. For any meeting to take place, India has to receive a request and a consensus need to be formed. UNSC meet on Afghanistan tomm at 7.30 PM IST. 2nd meet on Afghanistan under India's presidency of the high table. Estonia, Norway are the penholders. https://t.co/3Ghr46zr8O — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) August 15, 2021 × Monday's meeting will be the second on Afghanistan to take place under India's presidency of UNSC this month. UN Secretary-General António Guterres is expected to participate in the meeting. The meeting on August 6 was chaired by the Indian envoy to the United Nations TS Tirumurti. The development came after the then Afghan foreign minister Hanif Atmar called India's external affairs minister Dr Jaishankar for the meeting.

As Kabul descended in chaos, India was ready for UNSC meet on Afghanistan on Sunday

The 15-member United Nations Security Council met on Monday to discuss Afghanistan under India's presidency as the Taliban has taken control over the country and the capital city Kabul is under its grips.

15-member UN Security Council holds emergency meet on Afghanistan

The Taliban is sweeping across Afghanistan seizing more than a dozen provincial capitals in the past week, and is poised to seize more. Afghan defense forces, finding themselves mostly cut off from US&nbsp;air support, haven’t been able to stop them, and the Afghan government may not survive for much longer. The United States has all but abandoned the country.

A disastrous Taliban takeover wasn’t inevitable. President Biden said his hands were tied to a withdrawal given the awful peace deal negotiated between the Trump administration and the Taliban. But there was still a way to pull out American troops while giving our Afghan partners a better chance to hold the gains we made with them over the last two decades.

Mr. Biden chose otherwise. The way he announced the drawdown and eventual departure of American troops — at the start of the fighting season, on a rapid timeline and sans adequate coordination with the Afghan government — has in part gotten us into the current situation.

Reasonable people can disagree about the wisdom of keeping American military forces in Afghanistan indefinitely, even at very low numbers. I and others have argued that the investment, including the risk to American personnel, is worth it to prevent militant groups from once again overrunning the country.

Mr. Biden believes that further expending U.S. resources in Afghanistan is “a recipe for being there indefinitely.” He rightly notes that President Trump had left him few good options by making a terrible deal with the Taliban. That’s a fine argument, but it explains neither the hastiness nor the consequences we are now observing: the Taliban overrunning swaths of the country, closing in on Kabul, pushing the Afghan security forces and government to the brink of collapse and prompting the Pentagon to prepare for a possible evacuation of the U.S. embassy.

A responsible withdrawal needed more time and better preparation. History will record Mr. Biden, a supposed master of foreign policy for decades, as having failed in this most critical assignment.

As U.S. military planners well know, the Afghan war has a seasonal pattern. The Taliban leadership retreats to bases, largely in Pakistan, every winter and then launches the group’s fighting season campaign in the spring, moving into high gear in the summer after the poppy harvest. At the very least, the United States should have continued to support the Afghans through this period to help them blunt the Taliban’s latest offensive and buy time to plan for a future devoid of American military assistance.

American diplomats could have used this time to negotiate access to regional bases from which to continue counterterrorism operations. Simultaneously, the American military should have prepared contingencies in case those negotiations failed. And even that plan would have meant contending with an increasingly brazen Taliban. (A report by the special inspector general for Afghanistan Reconstruction said the Taliban launched its latest offensive after U.S. and coalition forces officially began drawing down in May.)

Adopting a more judicious approach would have required Mr. Biden to accept two things in addition to a longer timeline: the temporary deployment of additional U.S. forces and the slightly increased risk of American casualties.

Sending additional troops into Afghanistan could have allowed the United States to carry out the withdrawal safely without severely disrupting military support. When the president ordered the pullout, there were some 3,500 U.S. troops in Afghanistan. One thousand or 2,000 additional troops deployed for less than a year could have made a significant difference. They would have allowed Gen. Austin S. Miller, the former U.S. commander in Afghanistan, to continue supporting the Afghan security forces while simultaneously prepping the withdrawal.

Obviously, Mr. Biden did not proceed in this manner. Instead, he ordered a hasty withdrawal of the military just as the Taliban offensive was moving into its major phase.

Several weeks after the president’s announcement, there was no clear plan for responding to terrorist threats emanating from Afghanistan post-withdrawal. It was still unclear if the United States would continue to provide air support to Afghan forces, whether it would have bases in neighboring countries, or how Kabul’s international airport would be secured — an element essential to the maintenance of a U.S. diplomatic presence in the country.

Since then, the U.S. military has provided some support to Afghan forces as the Taliban continues to advance. Unfortunately, this support has been too limited and late to save major cities under attack. In addition, several details of the withdrawal appear to remain unresolved, including how to keep the Afghan military operational without the presence of U.S. contractors for technical support, and how to expedite the immigration of Afghan interpreters who risked their lives for U.S. troops. Protecting these people is an ethical responsibility and strategic imperative, but the administration’s current Special Immigrant Visa Program is plagued by delays.

To be clear, Mr. Trump did put the Biden administration in a bind with a peace deal that specified U.S. troops had to leave by May 1. Still, Mr. Biden blew past that deadline, so pushing for a slightly longer timeline with some extra troops, even if in theory that goes against the peace deal, shouldn’t have been difficult for the administration to accept to permit an orderly, safer withdrawal. The additional financial cost of waiting until early 2022 to complete the retreat would have been bearable with a slightly different budgetary prioritization. (The Senate just approved a trillion dollar infrastructure bill and passed a $3.5 trillion budget plan.)

And then there are the optics of an American retreat. Mr. Biden has repeatedly emphasized the importance of getting U.S. forces out the door, because he was tied to the peace deal and lest U.S. soldiers come under Taliban attack. Is this really the type of fearful, defeatist message a global leader should be sending out to the world?

Both the U.S. and Afghan governments are now scrambling to mitigate the effects of Mr. Biden’s specific decisions. Amid the chaos, there is an important lesson to be learned: Whether announced by tweet or speech, decisions made without concrete plans or robust implementation strategies are wrong — regardless of which president or party spearheads them.

Afghans are paying the price of Mr. Biden’s decision today as the Taliban seizes cities, assassinates officials and begins reimposing its oppressive ideology on a people who have long fought to be free of it.

The United States will likely also continue to pay for its actions in Afghanistan. There’s a real danger that militant groups will reconstitute themselves and once again pose a significant threat to the American homeland. With America’s allies left in the lurch, prospective partners will think twice before offering up their support in future conflicts.

They know that this is not how a global leader acts. And most important, so do we.

The Taliban is sweeping across Afghanistan seizing more than a dozen provincial capitals in the past week, and is poised to seize more. Afghan defense forces, finding themselves mostly cut off from US air support, haven’t been able to stop them, and the Afghan government may not survive for much longer.

The Taliban is sweeping across Afghanistan seizing more than a dozen provincial capitals in the past week, and is poised to seize more. Afghan defense forces, finding themselves mostly cut off from US air support, haven’t been able to stop them, and the Afghan government may not survive for much longer. The United States has all but abandoned the country. A disastrous Taliban takeover wasn’t inevitable. President Biden said his hands were tied to a withdrawal given the awful peace deal negotiated between the Trump administration and the Taliban. But there was still a way to pull out American troops while giving our Afghan partners a better chance to hold the gains we made with them over the last two decades. Mr. Biden chose otherwise. The way he announced the drawdown and eventual departure of American troops — at the start of the fighting season, on a rapid timeline and sans adequate coordination with the Afghan government — has in part gotten us into the current situation. Reasonable people can disagree about the wisdom of keeping American military forces in Afghanistan indefinitely, even at very low numbers. I and others have argued that the investment, including the risk to American personnel, is worth it to prevent militant groups from once again overrunning the country. Mr. Biden believes that further expending U.S. resources in Afghanistan is “a recipe for being there indefinitely.” He rightly notes that President Trump had left him few good options by making a terrible deal with the Taliban. That’s a fine argument, but it explains neither the hastiness nor the consequences we are now observing: the Taliban overrunning swaths of the country, closing in on Kabul, pushing the Afghan security forces and government to the brink of collapse and prompting the Pentagon to prepare for a possible evacuation of the U.S. embassy. A responsible withdrawal needed more time and better preparation. History will record Mr. Biden, a supposed master of foreign policy for decades, as having failed in this most critical assignment. As U.S. military planners well know, the Afghan war has a seasonal pattern. The Taliban leadership retreats to bases, largely in Pakistan, every winter and then launches the group’s fighting season campaign in the spring, moving into high gear in the summer after the poppy harvest. At the very least, the United States should have continued to support the Afghans through this period to help them blunt the Taliban’s latest offensive and buy time to plan for a future devoid of American military assistance. American diplomats could have used this time to negotiate access to regional bases from which to continue counterterrorism operations. Simultaneously, the American military should have prepared contingencies in case those negotiations failed. And even that plan would have meant contending with an increasingly brazen Taliban. (A report by the special inspector general for Afghanistan Reconstruction said the Taliban launched its latest offensive after U.S. and coalition forces officially began drawing down in May.) Adopting a more judicious approach would have required Mr. Biden to accept two things in addition to a longer timeline: the temporary deployment of additional U.S. forces and the slightly increased risk of American casualties. Sending additional troops into Afghanistan could have allowed the United States to carry out the withdrawal safely without severely disrupting military support. When the president ordered the pullout, there were some 3,500 U.S. troops in Afghanistan. One thousand or 2,000 additional troops deployed for less than a year could have made a significant difference. They would have allowed Gen. Austin S. Miller, the former U.S. commander in Afghanistan, to continue supporting the Afghan security forces while simultaneously prepping the withdrawal. Obviously, Mr. Biden did not proceed in this manner. Instead, he ordered a hasty withdrawal of the military just as the Taliban offensive was moving into its major phase. Several weeks after the president’s announcement, there was no clear plan for responding to terrorist threats emanating from Afghanistan post-withdrawal. It was still unclear if the United States would continue to provide air support to Afghan forces, whether it would have bases in neighboring countries, or how Kabul’s international airport would be secured — an element essential to the maintenance of a U.S. diplomatic presence in the country. Since then, the U.S. military has provided some support to Afghan forces as the Taliban continues to advance. Unfortunately, this support has been too limited and late to save major cities under attack. In addition, several details of the withdrawal appear to remain unresolved, including how to keep the Afghan military operational without the presence of U.S. contractors for technical support, and how to expedite the immigration of Afghan interpreters who risked their lives for U.S. troops. Protecting these people is an ethical responsibility and strategic imperative, but the administration’s current Special Immigrant Visa Program is plagued by delays. To be clear, Mr. Trump did put the Biden administration in a bind with a peace deal that specified U.S. troops had to leave by May 1. Still, Mr. Biden blew past that deadline, so pushing for a slightly longer timeline with some extra troops, even if in theory that goes against the peace deal, shouldn’t have been difficult for the administration to accept to permit an orderly, safer withdrawal. The additional financial cost of waiting until early 2022 to complete the retreat would have been bearable with a slightly different budgetary prioritization. (The Senate just approved a trillion dollar infrastructure bill and passed a $3.5 trillion budget plan.) And then there are the optics of an American retreat. Mr. Biden has repeatedly emphasized the importance of getting U.S. forces out the door, because he was tied to the peace deal and lest U.S. soldiers come under Taliban attack. Is this really the type of fearful, defeatist message a global leader should be sending out to the world? Both the U.S. and Afghan governments are now scrambling to mitigate the effects of Mr. Biden’s specific decisions. Amid the chaos, there is an important lesson to be learned: Whether announced by tweet or speech, decisions made without concrete plans or robust implementation strategies are wrong — regardless of which president or party spearheads them. Afghans are paying the price of Mr. Biden’s decision today as the Taliban seizes cities, assassinates officials and begins reimposing its oppressive ideology on a people who have long fought to be free of it. The United States will likely also continue to pay for its actions in Afghanistan. There’s a real danger that militant groups will reconstitute themselves and once again pose a significant threat to the American homeland. With America’s allies left in the lurch, prospective partners will think twice before offering up their support in future conflicts. They know that this is not how a global leader acts. And most important, so do we.

Biden could have stopped the Taliban. He chose not to

As the Taliban claims victory over the country, thousands of terrified residents have been desperately attempting a final bid to flee. In a video, two unidentifiable objects can be seen falling from the body of a plane as it flies overhead.

Terrifying video of Afghans falling off a US military plane

As Taliban took control over Afghanistan, millions of Afghans evacuated from the country. Hundreds of US embassy personnel also relocated to airport facility.

Kabul airport overwhelmed amid evacuations of Afghans after Taliban's siege in country

Opposition parties in Pakistan have urged the Imran Khan government to brief the parliament on the current situation in Afghanistan. They want the Prime Minister to come up with a policy statement and develop a national consensus to deal with the possible consequences the nation can face after the establishment of Taliban rule in the war-torn country.

Pakistan opposition asks Imran Khan govt to brief parliament on Afghan crisis

The Taliban have taken control over Kabul and the President and Vice President of Afghanistan have fled the country. Millions of Afghans have evacuated after Taliban's siege in Afghanistan. Listen in to Retired US Intelligence Officer Lt. Steven Rogers talk about the crisis in Afghanistan.

Millions evacuate Afghanistan as Taliban take over Kabul

The collapse of Afghanistan government and Taliban's return to power has sent shockwaves throughout the world. But the forcible change in government means a lot of things for Afghan people. There is a lot of apprehension about what will happen next within the country.

The Taliban are hardline Islamists who have extreme ideas about number of social matters like gender equality. During their previous reign in late 90s, Taliban had imposed harsh, oppressive restrictions on women and brutally punished, even killed those who appeared to 'violate' their diktat by slightest of margins.

Women journalists now fear retribution by the Taliban. They already have been receiving death threats from Taliban and those against gender equality. Now these women journalists are trying to destroy their online footprint as well as keep a low profile.

“In the last 24 hours, our lives have changed and we have been confined to our homes, and death threatens us at every moment...We see silence filled with fear of the Taliban around us,” The Guardian quoted a woman journalist as saying.

There are reports of Taliban already establishing harsh rule against women. There are also reports of women and girls forcibly being taken as wives or sexually exploited by Taliban fighters.

The collapse of Afghanistan government and Taliban's return to power has sent shockwaves throughout the world. But the forcible change in government means a lot of things for Afghan people.

The collapse of Afghanistan government and Taliban's return to power has sent shockwaves throughout the world. But the forcible change in government means a lot of things for Afghan people. There is a lot of apprehension about what will happen next within the country. The Taliban are hardline Islamists who have extreme ideas about number of social matters like gender equality. During their previous reign in late 90s, Taliban had imposed harsh, oppressive restrictions on women and brutally punished, even killed those who appeared to 'violate' their diktat by slightest of margins. Women journalists now fear retribution by the Taliban. They already have been receiving death threats from Taliban and those against gender equality. Now these women journalists are trying to destroy their online footprint as well as keep a low profile. “In the last 24 hours, our lives have changed and we have been confined to our homes, and death threatens us at every moment...We see silence filled with fear of the Taliban around us,” The Guardian quoted a woman journalist as saying. There are reports of Taliban already establishing harsh rule against women. There are also reports of women and girls forcibly being taken as wives or sexually exploited by Taliban fighters.

Women journalists fear for life in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan

On the first morning under the Taliban rule, hundreds of civilians tried to escape Kabul city flooding the international airport. The Taliban patrolled the streets of Kabul trying to project calm. The national flag of Afghanistan was seen lower in the capital city.

WION Ground Report: Kabul's first morning under Taliban rule, Afghan's national flag lowered

The war was over in Afghanistan, said a spokesman for the Taliban's political office on Sunday&nbsp;in an interview with Al Jazeera TV. &nbsp;

The spokesman also called for peaceful relations with the international community. Mohammad Naeem, spokesman for the group, said the Taliban did not want to live in isolation and the type of rule and the form of regime would be clear soon. &nbsp;

Naeem added, the group has respected women's and minorities' rights and freedom of expression within Sharia law. The group is also ready to have a dialogue with all Afghan figures and will guarantee them necessary protection. &nbsp;

After Taliban insurgents entered Kabul on Sunday, President Ashraf Ghani left the country saying he wanted to avoid bloodshed. It brought the group close to taking over the country two decades after they were overthrown by a US-led invasion. &nbsp;

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden and other top officials were left stunned by the pace of the Taliban's nearly complete takeover of Afghanistan. The planned withdrawal of US forces has now become a mission to ensure a safe evacuation. &nbsp;

The Afghan government's rapid collapse and the ensuing chaos raised several questions. While referring to the Afghan military, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CNN, "We've seen that that force has been unable to defend the country, and that has happened more quickly than we anticipated." &nbsp;

Several netizens also said the images of US helicopters circling the Kabul embassy evoked the humiliating departure of its personnel from Vietnam many years ago. &nbsp;

A US State Department official also said the country’s flag is no longer flying at embassy amid evacuations from the capital. Nearly all embassy personnel have been relocated to the city's international airport. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The war was over in Afghanistan, said a spokesman for the Taliban's political office on Sunday in an interview with Al Jazeera TV. The spokesman also called for peaceful relations with the international community.

The war was over in Afghanistan, said a spokesman for the Taliban's political office on Sunday in an interview with Al Jazeera TV. The spokesman also called for peaceful relations with the international community. Mohammad Naeem, spokesman for the group, said the Taliban did not want to live in isolation and the type of rule and the form of regime would be clear soon. Naeem added, the group has respected women's and minorities' rights and freedom of expression within Sharia law. The group is also ready to have a dialogue with all Afghan figures and will guarantee them necessary protection. After Taliban insurgents entered Kabul on Sunday, President Ashraf Ghani left the country saying he wanted to avoid bloodshed. It brought the group close to taking over the country two decades after they were overthrown by a US-led invasion. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden and other top officials were left stunned by the pace of the Taliban's nearly complete takeover of Afghanistan. The planned withdrawal of US forces has now become a mission to ensure a safe evacuation. The Afghan government's rapid collapse and the ensuing chaos raised several questions. While referring to the Afghan military, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CNN, "We've seen that that force has been unable to defend the country, and that has happened more quickly than we anticipated." Several netizens also said the images of US helicopters circling the Kabul embassy evoked the humiliating departure of its personnel from Vietnam many years ago. A US State Department official also said the country’s flag is no longer flying at embassy amid evacuations from the capital. Nearly all embassy personnel have been relocated to the city's international airport. (With inputs from agencies)

'War is over in Afghanistan', says Taliban as US is stunned by Ghani govt’s collapse

Over 60 countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, and Canada urged “all parties” to safeguard the departure of foreign nationals and Afghans who wish to leave the war-torn country, and said that roads, airports, and border crossing must remain open.

Over 60 countries urge Taliban to let foreign nationals, Afghans leave

India will repatriate Afghan Hindus and Sikhs amid the Taliban's takeover and bring them to India, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has said.

"There are several Afghans who've been our partners in [promoting] mutual developmental, educational and people-to-people endeavours. We'll stand by them," said MEA spokesperson.

"Commercial operations from Kabul airport have been suspended today. This has forced a pause in our repatriation efforts. We are awaiting the resumption of flights to restart the process," he said.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that "We'll facilitate repatriation to India of those who wishes to leave Afghanistan. There are also several Afghans who've been our partners in the promotion of our mutual developmental, educational &amp; people to people endeavours. We will stand by them."

"We had circulated emergency contact numbers &amp; had also been extending assistance to community members. We're aware that there are still some Indian nationals in Afghanistan who wish to return &amp; we're in touch with them," he added. 
 
Indians living or working in Afghanistan had been receiving periodic advice from New Delhi.

As the Taliban marched towards Kabul, they were encouraged to flee the country.

Although many Indians have gone, there are still others who are stranded in Afghanistan and want to return.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

India will repatriate Afghan Hindus and Sikhs amid the Taliban's takeover and bring them to India, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has said. "There are several Afghans who've been our partners in [promoting] mutual developmental, educational and people-to-people endeavours.

India will repatriate Afghan Hindus and Sikhs amid the Taliban's takeover and bring them to India, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has said. "There are several Afghans who've been our partners in [promoting] mutual developmental, educational and people-to-people endeavours. We'll stand by them," said MEA spokesperson. "Commercial operations from Kabul airport have been suspended today. This has forced a pause in our repatriation efforts. We are awaiting the resumption of flights to restart the process," he said. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that "We'll facilitate repatriation to India of those who wishes to leave Afghanistan. There are also several Afghans who've been our partners in the promotion of our mutual developmental, educational & people to people endeavours. We will stand by them." "We had circulated emergency contact numbers & had also been extending assistance to community members. We're aware that there are still some Indian nationals in Afghanistan who wish to return & we're in touch with them," he added. Indians living or working in Afghanistan had been receiving periodic advice from New Delhi. As the Taliban marched towards Kabul, they were encouraged to flee the country. Although many Indians have gone, there are still others who are stranded in Afghanistan and want to return. (With inputs from agencies)

We'll help Afghan partners, Hindus and Sikhs come to India: New Delhi

Critics are asking if the war in Afghanistan for UK troops was a complete failure? WION's London Bureau Chief Mandy Clark highlights the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's stance on not recognising the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan.

Critics ask if war in Afghanistan for UK troops was a complete failure?

afghanistan-0

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

afghanistan 0