<p>Zaki Anwari, a 19-year-old Afghan national junior team player, died in a fall from a US jet at Kabul airport on Monday, according to Afghan news agency Ariana.</p>

<p>Anwari died after falling from a US Air Force Boeing C-17 plane, according to Ariana, and his death was confirmed by the General Directorate for Sport.</p>

<p>According to previous accounts, two passengers died after falling from the plane.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-the-afghanistan-crisis-afghans-are-paying-for-americas-mistakes-406131/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Crowds of people seeking to flee Afghanistan have thronged the airport since Taliban insurgents swept to power on Sunday, many seen trying to board a moving plane.</p>

<p>Thousands of Afghans went to Hamid Karzai International Airport on Monday, the day after the Taliban took control of the Afghan capital, seeking to board a flight out of the country.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Zaki Anwari, a 19-year-old Afghan national junior team player, died in a fall from a US jet at Kabul airport on Monday, according to Afghan news agency Ariana. Anwari died after falling from a US Air Force Boeing C-17 plane, according to Ariana, and his death was confirmed by the General Directorate for Sport.

Zaki Anwari, a 19-year-old Afghan national junior team player, died in a fall from a US jet at Kabul airport on Monday, according to Afghan news agency Ariana. Anwari died after falling from a US Air Force Boeing C-17 plane, according to Ariana, and his death was confirmed by the General Directorate for Sport. According to previous accounts, two passengers died after falling from the plane. Watch: Crowds of people seeking to flee Afghanistan have thronged the airport since Taliban insurgents swept to power on Sunday, many seen trying to board a moving plane. Thousands of Afghans went to Hamid Karzai International Airport on Monday, the day after the Taliban took control of the Afghan capital, seeking to board a flight out of the country. (With inputs from agencies)

Afghan national team's footballer died in fall from US plane at Kabul airport: Report

<p>Afghanistan’s biggest pop star has fled the country on a US flight out of Kabul as the Taliban took control over the capital city of Kabul and the country’s government collapsed in totality.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With the Taliban’s rise in Afghanistan, democracy will crumble as the militant group announced to impose strict Sharia law. According to the new establishment in Afghanistan, women in general will have most of their rights quashed including having to cover themselves in burqa (head to toe covering), not leave their homes without a man as an escort or their right to education. The Taliban now also says that religious scholars will decide whether girls can go to school and if women can work.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Thus the pop star Aryana Sayeed, a singer and judge on the Afghan version of The Voice, fled the country on a US cargo jet. Sharing with her fans the news of her escape, she shared a picture from the plane. In another post, she can be seen sleeping with her mask on as the caption reads: “I am well and alive and after a couple of unforgettable nights, I have reached Doha, Qatar and am awaiting my eventual flight back home to Istanbul.”</p>

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<p>“After I get home and my mind and emotions return back to normal from a world of disbelief and shock, I have many stories to share with you.”</p>

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<p>Aryana has been a prominent supporter of the Afghan Army and spoke out many times in support of them before the Taliban took the country. She is married to Hasib Sayed, who is also her producer.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Afghani director Hassan Fazili has <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-afghan-director-hassan-fazili-on-taliban-filmmaking-is-on-the-verge-of-destruction-now-406886">expressed concerns</a> not just over the safety of his fellow Afghans back home, but also the overall state of art and culture under the impending Taliban regime. "Even if we just pray or hope that the common Afghanis won’t have to face any execution or arrest, there’s simply no denying that the culture, cultural aesthetics or movement will stop. Filmmaking or performing art seems to be on the verge of destruction now."</p>


Afghanistan’s biggest pop star has fled the country on a US flight out of Kabul as the Taliban took control over the capital city of Kabul and the country’s government collapsed in totality.

Afghanistan’s biggest pop star has fled the country on a US flight out of Kabul as the Taliban took control over the capital city of Kabul and the country’s government collapsed in totality. With the Taliban’s rise in Afghanistan, democracy will crumble as the militant group announced to impose strict Sharia law. According to the new establishment in Afghanistan, women in general will have most of their rights quashed including having to cover themselves in burqa (head to toe covering), not leave their homes without a man as an escort or their right to education. The Taliban now also says that religious scholars will decide whether girls can go to school and if women can work. Thus the pop star Aryana Sayeed, a singer and judge on the Afghan version of The Voice, fled the country on a US cargo jet. Sharing with her fans the news of her escape, she shared a picture from the plane. In another post, she can be seen sleeping with her mask on as the caption reads: “I am well and alive and after a couple of unforgettable nights, I have reached Doha, Qatar and am awaiting my eventual flight back home to Istanbul.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by 𝝠𝗥𝗬𝝠𝗡𝝠 𝗦𝝠𝗬𝗘𝗘𝗗 👑 آریانا سعید (@aryanasayeedofficial) × “After I get home and my mind and emotions return back to normal from a world of disbelief and shock, I have many stories to share with you.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by 𝝠𝗥𝗬𝝠𝗡𝝠 𝗦𝝠𝗬𝗘𝗘𝗗 👑 آریانا سعید (@aryanasayeedofficial) × Aryana has been a prominent supporter of the Afghan Army and spoke out many times in support of them before the Taliban took the country. She is married to Hasib Sayed, who is also her producer. Meanwhile, Afghani director Hassan Fazili has expressed concerns not just over the safety of his fellow Afghans back home, but also the overall state of art and culture under the impending Taliban regime. "Even if we just pray or hope that the common Afghanis won’t have to face any execution or arrest, there’s simply no denying that the culture, cultural aesthetics or movement will stop. Filmmaking or performing art seems to be on the verge of destruction now."

Afghan pop star Aryana flees from country amid fear of life under Taliban rule

<p><strong>World Humanitarian Day</strong> is celebrated annually on August 19 to pay tribute to humanitarian workers killed and injured in the course of their work, and to honour all aid and health workers who continue, despite the odds, to provide life-saving support and protection to people most in need.</p>

<p><strong>Background</strong></p>

<p>The UN General Assembly in 2008 declared August&nbsp;19 <strong>World Humanitarian Day</strong> as a way to mark the 22 UN&nbsp;and aid agency workers, including Special Representative of the Secretary-General to Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello, who died during a 2003 bombing of the organization’s Baghdad headquarters.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Every day, brave humanitarians around the world step up to help others &amp; save lives despite multiple challenges and threats.<br />
<br />
On Thursday's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldHumanitarianDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldHumanitarianDay</a>, we pay tribute to those real life heroes. <a href="https://t.co/sWSwTPP0gR">pic.twitter.com/sWSwTPP0gR</a></p>
— United Nations (@UN) <a href="https://twitter.com/UN/status/1428296934679224320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>This year's theme</strong></p>

<p>This year's <strong>World Humanitarian Day</strong> (19 August 2021) is devoted to dealing with the climate crisis, the single biggest health threat facing humanity. This day is a crucial milestone in the lead-up to the COP26 summit in November when leaders from 196 countries will meet to agree action to get <strong>climate change</strong> under control.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The most vulnerable communities are at the greatest risk from climate change, and they have done the least to cause it.<br />
<br />
This <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldHumanitarianDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldHumanitarianDay</a>, join the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheHumanRace?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheHumanRace</a>: a global challenge for climate action in solidarity with those who need it the most.<a href="https://twitter.com/UNOCHA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UNOCHA</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COP26?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COP26</a></p>
— COP26 (@COP26) <a href="https://twitter.com/COP26/status/1428235284152348672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>As the world witnesses record-breaking heatwaves, catastrophic storms, and changing weather patterns,&nbsp;it is fitting that the theme of World Humanitarian Day should be the climate crisis.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Climate change is a health emergency, impacting food systems, disease dispersion, health systems, and societies at large.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan</strong></p>

<p>Since the Taliban entered Kabul over the weekend, scenes of chaos have unfolded as thousands seek to leave, fearing a return to the austere interpretation of Islamic law imposed during the previous Taliban rule that ended 20 years ago.</p>

<p>Under the Taliban's 1996-2001 rule,&nbsp;women&nbsp;were prevented from working, girls were not allowed to go to school and&nbsp;women&nbsp;had to wear all-enveloping burqas to go out.</p>

<p>UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has said Afghanistan is experiencing&nbsp;a humanitarian crisis due to&nbsp;the escalating conflict brings increased human suffering and civilian displacement.</p>

<p>An estimated 270,000 Afghans have been newly displaced inside the country since January 2021, primarily due to insecurity and violence,&nbsp;bringing the total uprooted population to over 3.5 million.</p>

<p><strong>Global humanitarian overview</strong></p>

<p><strong>In 2021, 235 million people will need humanitarian assistance and protection.</strong></p>

<p>This number has risen to 1 in 33 people worldwide, a significant increase from 1 in 45 at the launch of the Global Humanitarian Overview 2020, which was already the highest figure in decades. The UN and partner organizations aim to assist 160 million people most in need across 56 countries and will require a total of $35 billion to do so.</p>

<p>Families forced to flee their homes in recent weeks cite the worsening security situation as the predominant reason for their flight.</p>

<p>In addition to ongoing fighting, displaced civilians have told UNHCR and partners of incidents of extortion by non-state armed groups and the presence of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on major roads. Many have reported interruptions to social services and a loss of income due to rising insecurity.</p>

<p>The number of civilian casualties has risen 29 per cent during the first quarter of this year compared to 2020, according to UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. An increasing proportion of women and children were among those targeted. &nbsp;</p>


World Humanitarian Day is celebrated annually on August 19 to pay tribute to humanitarian workers killed and injured in the course of their work, and to honour all aid and health workers who continue, despite the odds, to provide life-saving support and protection to people most in need.

World Humanitarian Day is celebrated annually on August 19 to pay tribute to humanitarian workers killed and injured in the course of their work, and to honour all aid and health workers who continue, despite the odds, to provide life-saving support and protection to people most in need. Background The UN General Assembly in 2008 declared August 19 World Humanitarian Day as a way to mark the 22 UN and aid agency workers, including Special Representative of the Secretary-General to Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello, who died during a 2003 bombing of the organization’s Baghdad headquarters. Every day, brave humanitarians around the world step up to help others & save lives despite multiple challenges and threats. On Thursday's #WorldHumanitarianDay, we pay tribute to those real life heroes. pic.twitter.com/sWSwTPP0gR — United Nations (@UN) August 19, 2021 × This year's theme This year's World Humanitarian Day (19 August 2021) is devoted to dealing with the climate crisis, the single biggest health threat facing humanity. This day is a crucial milestone in the lead-up to the COP26 summit in November when leaders from 196 countries will meet to agree action to get climate change under control. The most vulnerable communities are at the greatest risk from climate change, and they have done the least to cause it. This #WorldHumanitarianDay, join the #TheHumanRace: a global challenge for climate action in solidarity with those who need it the most.@UNOCHA | #COP26 — COP26 (@COP26) August 19, 2021 × As the world witnesses record-breaking heatwaves, catastrophic storms, and changing weather patterns, it is fitting that the theme of World Humanitarian Day should be the climate crisis. Climate change is a health emergency, impacting food systems, disease dispersion, health systems, and societies at large. The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan Since the Taliban entered Kabul over the weekend, scenes of chaos have unfolded as thousands seek to leave, fearing a return to the austere interpretation of Islamic law imposed during the previous Taliban rule that ended 20 years ago. Under the Taliban's 1996-2001 rule, women were prevented from working, girls were not allowed to go to school and women had to wear all-enveloping burqas to go out. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has said Afghanistan is experiencing a humanitarian crisis due to the escalating conflict brings increased human suffering and civilian displacement. An estimated 270,000 Afghans have been newly displaced inside the country since January 2021, primarily due to insecurity and violence, bringing the total uprooted population to over 3.5 million. Global humanitarian overview In 2021, 235 million people will need humanitarian assistance and protection. This number has risen to 1 in 33 people worldwide, a significant increase from 1 in 45 at the launch of the Global Humanitarian Overview 2020, which was already the highest figure in decades. The UN and partner organizations aim to assist 160 million people most in need across 56 countries and will require a total of $35 billion to do so. Families forced to flee their homes in recent weeks cite the worsening security situation as the predominant reason for their flight. In addition to ongoing fighting, displaced civilians have told UNHCR and partners of incidents of extortion by non-state armed groups and the presence of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on major roads. Many have reported interruptions to social services and a loss of income due to rising insecurity. The number of civilian casualties has risen 29 per cent during the first quarter of this year compared to 2020, according to UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. An increasing proportion of women and children were among those targeted.

World Humanitarian Day 2021: History, significance, challenges and all you need to know

<p>With the fall of Kabul on August 15 in the hands of the Taliban, India's biggest focus was to bring back its Diplomatic officials and several stranded nationals, which included journalists, ITBP officials.</p>

<p>Indian air force's two&nbsp;C17s were used to bring back them, the first of which arrived on Monday, and the second one on Tuesday. The message from the top was clear, that "security of our diplomatic staff and official is paramount"</p>

<p>While the first C17 had around 40-45 Indians, the second one had more than 100 Indians including the Indian's envoy to Afghanistan Rudrendra Tandon.</p>

<p>The complex process which was constantly being monitored by officials including External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar and NSA Ajit Doval had two key segments, the movement from the Indian embassy in Kabul to the airport and then from the airport to India.</p>

<p>Of the two&nbsp;movements, movements from Embassy to Airport was the risky one, and in that India used its contacts, including locals who maneuvered the convey through the 45-minute long distance.</p>

<p>The biggest worry were the 15 check posts. While most of these check posts were manned by the Taliban, some of them were infiltrated with rouge elements. Elements who could have been inimical to Indian personnel being brought back. In a city with no governance, the biggest risk was the uncertainty of what to come and who to deal with. Sources said, "India in a short time was able to bring out everyone and contrast this with any other countries. We had an all of the Govt approaches. We coordinated with the US govt in the evacuation".</p>

<p>Other than the US govt, India had its C17 parked in Tajikistan for a brief period since Kabul airport didn't have space to park the planes due to increased load. The C17s were time to time flown in from the Ayni airbase of Tajikistan as and when the operation began. Remember the Kabul airport is now under the control of the Americans.</p>

<p>With the evacuation process, while all of the Indian diplomatic staff has been brought back from Afghanistan, but the Indian embassy in Kabul continues to function with help of locals. India also continues to provide consular service, with India announcing an emergency e visa system for the Afghans who want to come to India.</p>

<p>India had already started evacuating its officials from its consulates from Kandahar and Mazar-E-Sharif when the Taliban was making its rapid advances. India had certain "red lines" which if crossed put in motion the process of evacuation, like in the case of Mazar-e-sharif, the fall of Phenergan. But India was still among the last to leave the northern city.</p>


With the fall of Kabul on August 15 in the hands of the Taliban, India's biggest focus was to bring back its Diplomatic officials and several stranded nationals, which included journalists, ITBP officials.

With the fall of Kabul on August 15 in the hands of the Taliban, India's biggest focus was to bring back its Diplomatic officials and several stranded nationals, which included journalists, ITBP officials. Indian air force's two C17s were used to bring back them, the first of which arrived on Monday, and the second one on Tuesday. The message from the top was clear, that "security of our diplomatic staff and official is paramount" While the first C17 had around 40-45 Indians, the second one had more than 100 Indians including the Indian's envoy to Afghanistan Rudrendra Tandon. The complex process which was constantly being monitored by officials including External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar and NSA Ajit Doval had two key segments, the movement from the Indian embassy in Kabul to the airport and then from the airport to India. Of the two movements, movements from Embassy to Airport was the risky one, and in that India used its contacts, including locals who maneuvered the convey through the 45-minute long distance. The biggest worry were the 15 check posts. While most of these check posts were manned by the Taliban, some of them were infiltrated with rouge elements. Elements who could have been inimical to Indian personnel being brought back. In a city with no governance, the biggest risk was the uncertainty of what to come and who to deal with. Sources said, "India in a short time was able to bring out everyone and contrast this with any other countries. We had an all of the Govt approaches. We coordinated with the US govt in the evacuation". Other than the US govt, India had its C17 parked in Tajikistan for a brief period since Kabul airport didn't have space to park the planes due to increased load. The C17s were time to time flown in from the Ayni airbase of Tajikistan as and when the operation began. Remember the Kabul airport is now under the control of the Americans. With the evacuation process, while all of the Indian diplomatic staff has been brought back from Afghanistan, but the Indian embassy in Kabul continues to function with help of locals. India also continues to provide consular service, with India announcing an emergency e visa system for the Afghans who want to come to India. India had already started evacuating its officials from its consulates from Kandahar and Mazar-E-Sharif when the Taliban was making its rapid advances. India had certain "red lines" which if crossed put in motion the process of evacuation, like in the case of Mazar-e-sharif, the fall of Phenergan. But India was still among the last to leave the northern city.

India's Kabul evacuation: US, Tajik support & a long drive crossing 15 Taliban check posts

<p>Afghanistan's former women's football captain Khalida Popal on Wednesday said worries about the safety of the country's female players have left her unable to sleep since the Taliban returned to power.</p>

<p>Popal, 34, was granted asylum in Denmark in 2016, and considers herself "privileged" not to have to now seek safe haven from the hardline Islamists.</p>

<p>The team which Popal helped create in 2007 is made up of foreign- and Afghanistan-based players, with the threat of reprisals against those still in the country high given their previous high-profile criticisms of the regime.</p>

<p>Gunmen are already being sent house to house searching for "enemies", she said, despite the group's attempt to ease concerns of a return to brutal oppression.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/please-hold-my-hand-and-help-me-afghan-athlete-wants-to-participate-in-tokyo-paralympics-issues-plea-for-help-406477">'Please hold my hand and help me': Afghan athlete wants to participate in Tokyo Paralympics, issues plea for help</a></strong></p>

<p>Her own family in the western city of Herat have already recounted a change, she said.</p>

<p>"Women family members of mine that have been out in the street have either been told to turn round and go home and not go to school or been beaten," she told AFP by phone from Copenhagen.</p>

<p><strong>No protection</strong></p>

<p>But Popal, who is now the women's team director, said the women footballers risk far worse.</p>

<p>"I was one of the main people in the Afghan association who founded the women's team with the purpose to stand together as women of Afghanistan and use football as an avenue of activism," she said.</p>

<p>"We wanted to give the message to the world and to the Taliban that we (women) are not weak, you may kill our sisters but we will show you we are with them.</p>

<p>"These are young girls who went on social media and publicly said the Taliban was the enemy.</p>

<p>"My players are now seeing that armed enemy outside their doors and windows and they are scared as to what will happen to them."</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/fall-of-kabul-striking-photos-point-to-uncertain-future-406352">Fall of Kabul: Striking photos point to uncertain future</a></strong></p>

<p>Popal described the situation as "heartbreaking" and said players were struggling to understand how they had been left by the pull-out of US-led international forces.</p>

<p>"When they call me or send voice messages to me they are saying, 'Why have they (the West) betrayed us? Why have politicians abandoned the women of Afghanistan? What have we done wrong?'" she said.</p>

<p>With access to Kabul airport blocked and also unlikely the players would be accepted for immediate evacuation, Popal said help for them within the country is not evident either.</p>

<p>"At the moment those players living in the country are moving from one spot to another," she said.</p>

<p>"The scary thing is nobody wants to give them protection because the Taliban are striking fear into them saying, 'If you do not give us information and identify who are against us then you and your family will be killed'."</p>

<p><strong>'The dreams are fading'</strong></p>

<p>Popal said she faced sexism when she was finance officer for the national football association: some men refused to accept their pay cheques from her due to her being a woman.</p>

<p>But she said that was nothing compared to life for women under the Taliban from 1996 until they were ousted after the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.</p>

<p>The Taliban said on Tuesday they would respect women's rights and permit them to be educated and work, albeit under Sharia law.</p>

<p>But Popal said those were "just empty, empty words".</p>

<p>"When they announce that it will be under Sharia law, well, we have seen what that means for women already in the past in Afghanistan and in other countries too," she added.</p>

<p>"If they are following Sharia law then that gives no rights to women whatsoever. All these achievements and dreams (for women) are fading away."</p>

<p>Popal said it was hard to believe that history is repeating itself two decades on, describing it as "traumatising to see my childhood repeating before my eyes".</p>

<p>"I was a child when the Taliban took over and I was told not to go outside and play in the street or go to school which was burned down by the Taliban eventually.</p>

<p>"When the Taliban started beating my father and threatening my family we left and for almost eight years we were in Pakistan refugee camps.</p>

<p>"Then we went back to Afghanistan as there was&nbsp;hope of a new Afghanistan.</p>

<p>"However, empty and fake promises were made and the country once again is left alone and back to square one, and women are without any protection."</p>


Afghanistan's former women's football captain Khalida Popal on Wednesday said worries about the safety of the country's female players have left her unable to sleep since the Taliban returned to power.

Afghanistan's former women's football captain Khalida Popal on Wednesday said worries about the safety of the country's female players have left her unable to sleep since the Taliban returned to power. Popal, 34, was granted asylum in Denmark in 2016, and considers herself "privileged" not to have to now seek safe haven from the hardline Islamists. The team which Popal helped create in 2007 is made up of foreign- and Afghanistan-based players, with the threat of reprisals against those still in the country high given their previous high-profile criticisms of the regime. Gunmen are already being sent house to house searching for "enemies", she said, despite the group's attempt to ease concerns of a return to brutal oppression. ALSO READ | 'Please hold my hand and help me': Afghan athlete wants to participate in Tokyo Paralympics, issues plea for help Her own family in the western city of Herat have already recounted a change, she said. "Women family members of mine that have been out in the street have either been told to turn round and go home and not go to school or been beaten," she told AFP by phone from Copenhagen. No protection But Popal, who is now the women's team director, said the women footballers risk far worse. "I was one of the main people in the Afghan association who founded the women's team with the purpose to stand together as women of Afghanistan and use football as an avenue of activism," she said. "We wanted to give the message to the world and to the Taliban that we (women) are not weak, you may kill our sisters but we will show you we are with them. "These are young girls who went on social media and publicly said the Taliban was the enemy. "My players are now seeing that armed enemy outside their doors and windows and they are scared as to what will happen to them." ALSO READ | Fall of Kabul: Striking photos point to uncertain future Popal described the situation as "heartbreaking" and said players were struggling to understand how they had been left by the pull-out of US-led international forces. "When they call me or send voice messages to me they are saying, 'Why have they (the West) betrayed us? Why have politicians abandoned the women of Afghanistan? What have we done wrong?'" she said. With access to Kabul airport blocked and also unlikely the players would be accepted for immediate evacuation, Popal said help for them within the country is not evident either. "At the moment those players living in the country are moving from one spot to another," she said. "The scary thing is nobody wants to give them protection because the Taliban are striking fear into them saying, 'If you do not give us information and identify who are against us then you and your family will be killed'." 'The dreams are fading' Popal said she faced sexism when she was finance officer for the national football association: some men refused to accept their pay cheques from her due to her being a woman. But she said that was nothing compared to life for women under the Taliban from 1996 until they were ousted after the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States. The Taliban said on Tuesday they would respect women's rights and permit them to be educated and work, albeit under Sharia law. But Popal said those were "just empty, empty words". "When they announce that it will be under Sharia law, well, we have seen what that means for women already in the past in Afghanistan and in other countries too," she added. "If they are following Sharia law then that gives no rights to women whatsoever. All these achievements and dreams (for women) are fading away." Popal said it was hard to believe that history is repeating itself two decades on, describing it as "traumatising to see my childhood repeating before my eyes". "I was a child when the Taliban took over and I was told not to go outside and play in the street or go to school which was burned down by the Taliban eventually. "When the Taliban started beating my father and threatening my family we left and for almost eight years we were in Pakistan refugee camps. "Then we went back to Afghanistan as there was hope of a new Afghanistan. "However, empty and fake promises were made and the country once again is left alone and back to square one, and women are without any protection."

'The dreams are fading': Taliban return causes anguish for Afghan female football pioneer

<p>Senior Taliban leader Amir Khan Muttaqi is said to be in the Afghan capital negotiating with Kabul's political leadership, including Abdullah Abdullah, who once headed the country's negotiating council and former President Hamid Karzai.</p>

<p>That is according to an official familiar with the talks and who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the media.</p>

<h2><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/live-afghanistan-crisis-un-says-world-will-scrutinise-taliban-actions-406158">LIVE Afghanistan crisis: UN says world will 'scrutinise' Taliban actions</a></strong></h2>

<p>Muttaqi was a higher education minister when the Taliban last ruled and he began making contacts with Afghan political leaders even before Afghan President Ashraf Ghani secretly slipped away from the Presidential Palace on the weekend, leaving a devastating vacuum that Taliban who were surrounding the city strode in to fill.</p>

<p>The official says the talks underway in the Afghan capital are aimed at bringing other non-Taliban leaders into the government that Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen has said will be an "inclusive Afghan government."</p>

<p>There is a little indication about the substance of the talks, but Shaheen earlier told The Associated Press that a government will be announced after negotiations with non-Taliban leaders are completed.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/doomed-from-start-us-invasion-of-afghanistan-was-a-bad-idea-says-last-soviet-leader-gorbachev-406256">Doomed from start: US invasion of Afghanistan was a 'bad idea', says last Soviet leader Gorbachev</a></strong></p>

<p>Afghans familiar with the talks say some rounds have gone late into the night and have been underway since soon after Ghani's departure.&nbsp;</p>


Senior Taliban leader Amir Khan Muttaqi is said to be in the Afghan capital negotiating with Kabul's political leadership, including Abdullah Abdullah, who once headed the country's negotiating council and former President Hamid Karzai.

Senior Taliban leader Amir Khan Muttaqi is said to be in the Afghan capital negotiating with Kabul's political leadership, including Abdullah Abdullah, who once headed the country's negotiating council and former President Hamid Karzai. That is according to an official familiar with the talks and who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the media. LIVE Afghanistan crisis: UN says world will 'scrutinise' Taliban actions Muttaqi was a higher education minister when the Taliban last ruled and he began making contacts with Afghan political leaders even before Afghan President Ashraf Ghani secretly slipped away from the Presidential Palace on the weekend, leaving a devastating vacuum that Taliban who were surrounding the city strode in to fill. The official says the talks underway in the Afghan capital are aimed at bringing other non-Taliban leaders into the government that Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen has said will be an "inclusive Afghan government." There is a little indication about the substance of the talks, but Shaheen earlier told The Associated Press that a government will be announced after negotiations with non-Taliban leaders are completed. Also read | Doomed from start: US invasion of Afghanistan was a 'bad idea', says last Soviet leader Gorbachev Afghans familiar with the talks say some rounds have gone late into the night and have been underway since soon after Ghani's departure.

Taliban leader reported to be in Kabul for talks

<p>The Taliban declared that the war in Afghanistan was over and that all of their opponents would be pardoned during their first press conference since seizing control of Kabul from the Western-backed government.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We don’t want any internal or external enemies,” the Taliban’s main spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.</p>

<p>The Taliban pledged a secure Afghanistan as part of a public relations campaign aimed at persuading world powers and a fearful population that they have reformed.<br />
<br />
Mujahid promised the Taliban would honour women's rights, but within the norms of Islamic law.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid says the group seeks no revenge from anyone.<br />
<br />
In its first press conference since the sweeping takeover of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Afghanistan</a>, Taliban's <a href="https://twitter.com/Zabehulah_M33?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Zabehulah_M33</a> says they have "emancipated" the nation from foreigners after 20 years of struggle. <a href="https://t.co/eXuzPbMfzM">pic.twitter.com/eXuzPbMfzM</a></p>
— WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1427674758359965699?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>The Taliban have attempted to present themselves as more moderate than when they established a harsh rule in the late 1990s, following a rapid advance throughout Afghanistan that saw major cities fall to the militants without a struggle.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The organisation had previously declared a "amnesty" across Afghanistan and asked women to join its administration, in an attempt to calm anxieties in a tense capital city where hundreds had flocked to the city's international airport in a desperate attempt to flee the day before.<br />
<br />
The capital of Kabul remained quiet for another day as the Taliban patrolled its streets and many residents stayed home, fearful after the insurgents' takeover saw prisons emptied and armories looted. Many women have expressed dread that the two-decade Western experiment to expand their rights and remake Afghanistan would not survive the resurgent Taliban.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The Taliban declared that the war in Afghanistan was over and that all of their opponents would be pardoned during their first press conference since seizing control of Kabul from the Western-backed government.

The Taliban declared that the war in Afghanistan was over and that all of their opponents would be pardoned during their first press conference since seizing control of Kabul from the Western-backed government. “We don’t want any internal or external enemies,” the Taliban’s main spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said. The Taliban pledged a secure Afghanistan as part of a public relations campaign aimed at persuading world powers and a fearful population that they have reformed. Mujahid promised the Taliban would honour women's rights, but within the norms of Islamic law. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid says the group seeks no revenge from anyone. In its first press conference since the sweeping takeover of #Afghanistan, Taliban's @Zabehulah_M33 says they have "emancipated" the nation from foreigners after 20 years of struggle. pic.twitter.com/eXuzPbMfzM — WION (@WIONews) August 17, 2021 × The Taliban have attempted to present themselves as more moderate than when they established a harsh rule in the late 1990s, following a rapid advance throughout Afghanistan that saw major cities fall to the militants without a struggle. The organisation had previously declared a "amnesty" across Afghanistan and asked women to join its administration, in an attempt to calm anxieties in a tense capital city where hundreds had flocked to the city's international airport in a desperate attempt to flee the day before. The capital of Kabul remained quiet for another day as the Taliban patrolled its streets and many residents stayed home, fearful after the insurgents' takeover saw prisons emptied and armories looted. Many women have expressed dread that the two-decade Western experiment to expand their rights and remake Afghanistan would not survive the resurgent Taliban. (With inputs from agencies)

In first press conference, Taliban say they seek no ‘revenge’, will respect women’s rights

<p>Three sniffer dogs along with 150 Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel&nbsp;deployed for security at the Indian embassy in Afghanistan, have landed at the Hindon IAF base in Ghaziabad.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Three sniffer dogs Maya, Ruby &amp; Bobby were deployed for security at Indian Embassy in Afghanistan's Kabul, along with 150 Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel. The 3 dogs, along with a contingent of 99 commandos of ITBP, landed at the Hindon IAF base in Ghaziabad yesterday <a href="https://t.co/YPAaO3Ejrh">pic.twitter.com/YPAaO3Ejrh</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1427896772987211789?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 18, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>An&nbsp;Indian Air Force plane evacuated over 170 people from Kabul on Tuesday, including&nbsp;India's ambassador to Afghanistan, a government official said, as diplomats and civilians scrambled to get out of the country after the Taliban seized the capital.</p>

<p>The flight landed in the western&nbsp;Indian city of Jamnagar for refuelling on the way to Delhi.</p>

<p>Indian embassy officials were escorted by the Taliban to Kabul&nbsp;airport, where a military aircraft was on standby to evacuate them after New Delhi decided to shut its mission.</p>

<p>The embassy's decision to ask the Taliban to shepherd the Indians out was made when the fighters closed access to the once heavily fortified neighbourhood after capturing Kabul the previous day.</p>

<p>Thousands of people desperate to flee Afghanistan thronged Kabul's airport on Monday, after the Taliban fighters streamed into the capital unopposed, prompting the United States to pause evacuations.</p>

<p>India, which has invested millions of dollars in development projects across Afghanistan, once operated four consulates in the country, besides the embassy in Kabul.</p>

<p>The last operating consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif was shut down a week ago, days before Taliban insurgents took control of the northern city, where the Afghan army quickly surrendered.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Three sniffer dogs along with 150 Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel deployed for security at the Indian embassy in Afghanistan, have landed at the Hindon IAF base in Ghaziabad.

Three sniffer dogs along with 150 Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel deployed for security at the Indian embassy in Afghanistan, have landed at the Hindon IAF base in Ghaziabad. Three sniffer dogs Maya, Ruby & Bobby were deployed for security at Indian Embassy in Afghanistan's Kabul, along with 150 Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel. The 3 dogs, along with a contingent of 99 commandos of ITBP, landed at the Hindon IAF base in Ghaziabad yesterday pic.twitter.com/YPAaO3Ejrh — ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2021 × An Indian Air Force plane evacuated over 170 people from Kabul on Tuesday, including India's ambassador to Afghanistan, a government official said, as diplomats and civilians scrambled to get out of the country after the Taliban seized the capital. The flight landed in the western Indian city of Jamnagar for refuelling on the way to Delhi. Indian embassy officials were escorted by the Taliban to Kabul airport, where a military aircraft was on standby to evacuate them after New Delhi decided to shut its mission. The embassy's decision to ask the Taliban to shepherd the Indians out was made when the fighters closed access to the once heavily fortified neighbourhood after capturing Kabul the previous day. Thousands of people desperate to flee Afghanistan thronged Kabul's airport on Monday, after the Taliban fighters streamed into the capital unopposed, prompting the United States to pause evacuations. India, which has invested millions of dollars in development projects across Afghanistan, once operated four consulates in the country, besides the embassy in Kabul. The last operating consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif was shut down a week ago, days before Taliban insurgents took control of the northern city, where the Afghan army quickly surrendered. (With inputs from agencies)

India evacuates three sniffer dogs, 150 ITBP personnel from embassy in Kabul

'Times have changed': Pictures of Afghan women before Taliban rule go viral

<p>The Taliban's rapid takeover of&nbsp;Afghanistan&nbsp;poses challenges for multiple major social media and messaging platforms on what and who should be allowed on their platforms.</p>

<p>The companies, which have come under fire from global lawmakers and regulators for their outsized political and economic influence, often depend on state designations or official international recognitions to determine who is allowed on their sites.</p>

<p>These also help determine who might be verified, allowed official state accounts or may receive special treatment for rule-breaking speech due to newsworthiness or public interest loopholes.</p>

<p>However, the differences among the tech companies' stances suggest the approach is not uniform.</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-7-videos-that-show-life-under-taliban-406402/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Here is what various social media giants are doing after the Taliban&nbsp;seized Kabul, confirming their takeover of power in Afghanistan after a stunningly swift end to the country's 20-year war.</p>

<p><strong>Facebook blocks WhatsApp accounts</strong></p>

<p>WhatsApp accounts linked to the&nbsp;Taliban&nbsp;have been banned after the radical Islamic group seized control of Afghanistan and sought to use the messaging service to help it govern.</p>

<p>"The&nbsp;Taliban&nbsp;is sanctioned as a terrorist organization under US law and we have banned them from our services under our Dangerous Organization policies," a Facebook spokesperson said.</p>

<p>The Facebook move shut down a WhatsApp hotline the&nbsp;Taliban&nbsp;had set up to receive complaints about violence and looting, according to the Financial Times.</p>

<p>Facebook had on Monday said it designates the Taliban a terrorist group and bans it and content supporting it from its platforms.</p>

<p><strong>Twitter</strong></p>

<p>On&nbsp;Twitter&nbsp;Inc, Taliban spokesmen with hundreds of thousands of followers have tweeted updates during the country's takeover.</p>

<p>However, the company has issued&nbsp;a statement saying that the network would review Taliban's content that may violate its rules, specifically against the glorification of violence or platform manipulation.</p>

<p><strong>Youtube</strong></p>

<p>Alphabet Inc’s YouTube said on Tuesday it has a long-held policy of not allowing accounts believed to be operated by the Taliban on its site, as social media companies faced questions about how they would handle the group that fast gained control of&nbsp;Afghanistan.</p>

<p>The video-sharing service relies on governments to define "Foreign Terrorist Organizations" (FTO) to guide the site's enforcement of its rules against violent criminal groups.</p>

<p>The US&nbsp;instead classifies the Taliban as a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist," which freezes the US&nbsp;assets of those blacklisted and bars Americans from working with them.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The Taliban's rapid takeover of Afghanistan poses challenges for multiple major social media and messaging platforms on what and who should be allowed on their platforms.

The Taliban's rapid takeover of Afghanistan poses challenges for multiple major social media and messaging platforms on what and who should be allowed on their platforms. The companies, which have come under fire from global lawmakers and regulators for their outsized political and economic influence, often depend on state designations or official international recognitions to determine who is allowed on their sites. These also help determine who might be verified, allowed official state accounts or may receive special treatment for rule-breaking speech due to newsworthiness or public interest loopholes. However, the differences among the tech companies' stances suggest the approach is not uniform. Here is what various social media giants are doing after the Taliban seized Kabul, confirming their takeover of power in Afghanistan after a stunningly swift end to the country's 20-year war. Facebook blocks WhatsApp accounts WhatsApp accounts linked to the Taliban have been banned after the radical Islamic group seized control of Afghanistan and sought to use the messaging service to help it govern. "The Taliban is sanctioned as a terrorist organization under US law and we have banned them from our services under our Dangerous Organization policies," a Facebook spokesperson said. The Facebook move shut down a WhatsApp hotline the Taliban had set up to receive complaints about violence and looting, according to the Financial Times. Facebook had on Monday said it designates the Taliban a terrorist group and bans it and content supporting it from its platforms. Twitter On Twitter Inc, Taliban spokesmen with hundreds of thousands of followers have tweeted updates during the country's takeover. However, the company has issued a statement saying that the network would review Taliban's content that may violate its rules, specifically against the glorification of violence or platform manipulation. Youtube Alphabet Inc’s YouTube said on Tuesday it has a long-held policy of not allowing accounts believed to be operated by the Taliban on its site, as social media companies faced questions about how they would handle the group that fast gained control of Afghanistan. The video-sharing service relies on governments to define "Foreign Terrorist Organizations" (FTO) to guide the site's enforcement of its rules against violent criminal groups. The US instead classifies the Taliban as a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist," which freezes the US assets of those blacklisted and bars Americans from working with them. (With inputs from agencies)

What are social media giants doing to curb Taliban amid Afghanistan crisis?

<p>Yasmin Nigar Khan, the great-granddaughter of late Afghan political leader Abdul Ghaffar Khan, often known as "Frontier Gandhi," has expressed concern over the country's ongoing violence and the fate of vulnerable populations such as women and children.</p>

<p>"During the previous Taliban rule, they kidnapped young widows to marry them off to their members. They don't want girls to study or go to school. What they describe as Islamic law is a travesty of the religion. Don't girls study in madrassas? Even in Islamic countries, women are encouraged to get a modern education and work alongside men. The Taliban want to take women back to the medieval age, " she said.<br />
<br />
<strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-say-they-seek-no-revenge-in-press-conference-will-respect-womens-rights-406379">Taliban say they seek no ‘revenge’ in press conference, will respect women’s rights</a></strong></p>

<p>Yasmin Nigar Khan, the president of the All India Pakhtoon Jirga-e-Hind, the community's highest body in the country, lives in central Kolkata.</p>

<p>The state's 1,000 or so Pakhtoons, as well as lakhs of others who have lived in other areas of the country for centuries, have no hope of going home, but practically everyone has family in Afghanistan or northwestern Pakistan, she said.<br />
<br />
<strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistans-vice-president-amrullah-saleh-declares-himself-as-caretaker-president-406357" hreflang="en">Afghanistan's Vice President Amrullah Saleh declares himself as caretaker President</a></strong></p>

<p>"The leaders left the country, but the common people, the poor, the women, the children are making sacrifices. They should be looked after, " she said.</p>

<p>She said the Taliban can not be trusted and appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help Afghanistan.</p>

<p>On Sunday, the Taliban stormed Kabul and took control of the presidential palace.</p>

<p>Fears of a return to the Taliban's violent rule, as well as the danger of retaliatory killings, have gripped the Afghan cities.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Yasmin Nigar Khan, the great-granddaughter of late Afghan political leader Abdul Ghaffar Khan, often known as "Frontier Gandhi," has expressed concern over the country's ongoing violence and the fate of vulnerable populations such as women and children.

Yasmin Nigar Khan, the great-granddaughter of late Afghan political leader Abdul Ghaffar Khan, often known as "Frontier Gandhi," has expressed concern over the country's ongoing violence and the fate of vulnerable populations such as women and children. "During the previous Taliban rule, they kidnapped young widows to marry them off to their members. They don't want girls to study or go to school. What they describe as Islamic law is a travesty of the religion. Don't girls study in madrassas? Even in Islamic countries, women are encouraged to get a modern education and work alongside men. The Taliban want to take women back to the medieval age, " she said. Also Read: Taliban say they seek no ‘revenge’ in press conference, will respect women’s rights Yasmin Nigar Khan, the president of the All India Pakhtoon Jirga-e-Hind, the community's highest body in the country, lives in central Kolkata. The state's 1,000 or so Pakhtoons, as well as lakhs of others who have lived in other areas of the country for centuries, have no hope of going home, but practically everyone has family in Afghanistan or northwestern Pakistan, she said. Also read | Afghanistan's Vice President Amrullah Saleh declares himself as caretaker President "The leaders left the country, but the common people, the poor, the women, the children are making sacrifices. They should be looked after, " she said. She said the Taliban can not be trusted and appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help Afghanistan. On Sunday, the Taliban stormed Kabul and took control of the presidential palace. Fears of a return to the Taliban's violent rule, as well as the danger of retaliatory killings, have gripped the Afghan cities. (With inputs from agencies)

Abdul Ghaffar Khan’s granddaughter says Taliban want to take women back to the medieval age

<p>The Taliban's rapid takeover of Afghanistan poses a new challenge for big US tech companies on handling content created by a group considered to be terrorists by some world governments.</p>

<p>Social media giant&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;confirmed on Monday that it designates the Taliban as a terrorist group and bans it and content supporting it from its platforms.</p>

<p>But Taliban members have reportedly continued to use&nbsp;Facebook's end-to-end encrypted messaging service WhatsApp to communicate directly with Afghanis despite the company prohibiting it under rules against dangerous organisations.</p>

<p>A&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;Inc spokesperson said the company was closely monitoring the situation in the country and that WhatsApp would take action on any accounts found to be linked with sanctioned organizations in Afghanistan, which could include account removal.</p>

<p>On Twitter Inc, Taliban spokesmen with hundreds of thousands of followers have tweeted updates during the country's takeover.</p>

<p>Asked about the Taliban's use of the platform, the company pointed to its policies against violent organizations and hateful conduct but did not answer Reuters questions about how it makes its classifications. Twitter's rules say it does not allow groups that promote terrorism or violence against civilians.</p>

<p>The Taliban's return has raised fears it will crackdown on freedom of speech and human rights, especially women's rights, and that the country could become a haven once again for global terrorism.</p>

<p>Taliban officials have issued statements saying they want peaceful international relations and have promised to protect Afghans.</p>

<p>Major social media firms this year made high-profile decisions on handling sitting world leaders and groups in power.</p>

<p>These include controversial blocks of former US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a> for inciting violence around the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and bans on Myanmar's military amid a coup in the country.</p>

<p>Facebook, which was long criticized for failing to combat hate speech in Myanmar, said the coup escalated risks of offline harm and its history of human rights violations contributed to the ban on the ruling military or Tatmadaw.</p>

<p>The companies, which have come under fire from global lawmakers and regulators for their outsized political and economic influence, often depend on state designations or official international recognitions to determine who is allowed on their sites.</p>

<p>These also help determine who might be verified, allowed official state accounts or may receive special treatment for rule-breaking speech due to newsworthiness or public interest loopholes.</p>

<p>However, the differences among the tech companies' stances suggest the approach is not uniform.</p>

<p>Alphabet Inc's YouTube asked whether it has a ban or restrictions on the Taliban, declined to comment but said the video-sharing service relies on governments to define "Foreign Terrorist Organizations" (FTO) to guide the site's enforcement of its rules against violent criminal groups.</p>

<p>YouTube pointed to the US State Department's list of FTO's of which the Taliban is not a member. The US instead classifies the Taliban as a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist," which freezes the US assets of those blacklisted and bars Americans from working with them.</p>

<p>Complicating matters further, though most countries show little sign they will recognize the group diplomatically, the Taliban's position on the world stage may yet shift as they cement control.</p>

<p>"The Taliban is somewhat an accepted player at an international relations level," said Mohammed Sinan Siyech, a researcher on security in South Asia and doctoral candidate at the University of Edinburgh, pointing to talks China and the United States have held with the group.</p>

<p>"If that recognition comes in, then for a company like <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/twitter">Twitter</a> or&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;to make a subjective decision that this group is bad and we will not host them poses complications."</p>


The Taliban's rapid takeover of Afghanistan poses a new challenge for big US tech companies on handling content created by a group considered to be terrorists by some world governments.

The Taliban's rapid takeover of Afghanistan poses a new challenge for big US tech companies on handling content created by a group considered to be terrorists by some world governments. Social media giant Facebook confirmed on Monday that it designates the Taliban as a terrorist group and bans it and content supporting it from its platforms. But Taliban members have reportedly continued to use Facebook's end-to-end encrypted messaging service WhatsApp to communicate directly with Afghanis despite the company prohibiting it under rules against dangerous organisations. A Facebook Inc spokesperson said the company was closely monitoring the situation in the country and that WhatsApp would take action on any accounts found to be linked with sanctioned organizations in Afghanistan, which could include account removal. On Twitter Inc, Taliban spokesmen with hundreds of thousands of followers have tweeted updates during the country's takeover. Asked about the Taliban's use of the platform, the company pointed to its policies against violent organizations and hateful conduct but did not answer Reuters questions about how it makes its classifications. Twitter's rules say it does not allow groups that promote terrorism or violence against civilians. The Taliban's return has raised fears it will crackdown on freedom of speech and human rights, especially women's rights, and that the country could become a haven once again for global terrorism. Taliban officials have issued statements saying they want peaceful international relations and have promised to protect Afghans. Major social media firms this year made high-profile decisions on handling sitting world leaders and groups in power. These include controversial blocks of former US President Donald Trump for inciting violence around the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and bans on Myanmar's military amid a coup in the country. Facebook, which was long criticized for failing to combat hate speech in Myanmar, said the coup escalated risks of offline harm and its history of human rights violations contributed to the ban on the ruling military or Tatmadaw. The companies, which have come under fire from global lawmakers and regulators for their outsized political and economic influence, often depend on state designations or official international recognitions to determine who is allowed on their sites. These also help determine who might be verified, allowed official state accounts or may receive special treatment for rule-breaking speech due to newsworthiness or public interest loopholes. However, the differences among the tech companies' stances suggest the approach is not uniform. Alphabet Inc's YouTube asked whether it has a ban or restrictions on the Taliban, declined to comment but said the video-sharing service relies on governments to define "Foreign Terrorist Organizations" (FTO) to guide the site's enforcement of its rules against violent criminal groups. YouTube pointed to the US State Department's list of FTO's of which the Taliban is not a member. The US instead classifies the Taliban as a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist," which freezes the US assets of those blacklisted and bars Americans from working with them. Complicating matters further, though most countries show little sign they will recognize the group diplomatically, the Taliban's position on the world stage may yet shift as they cement control. "The Taliban is somewhat an accepted player at an international relations level," said Mohammed Sinan Siyech, a researcher on security in South Asia and doctoral candidate at the University of Edinburgh, pointing to talks China and the United States have held with the group. "If that recognition comes in, then for a company like Twitter or Facebook to make a subjective decision that this group is bad and we will not host them poses complications."

Facebook bans Taliban and its supporting content, designates it as a terrorist group

<p>In just a month, the Taliban took over Afghanistan after it had been run by the West for 20 years.</p>

<p>Despite the many trillions of dollars the US spent and the significant time, they spent in Afghanistan - 20 years since 9/11 - everything has been nullified by the Taliban assault on the country.</p>

<h2><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/live-afghanistan-crisis-burqa-not-mandatory-for-women-hijab-is-says-taliban-406158"><strong>LIVE Afghanistan crisis — Burqa not mandatory for women, hijab is, says Taliban</strong></a></h2>

<p>The turnaround occurred as the United States began the process of withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan, its longest conflict to date.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The majority of the money spent on this two-decade war was borrowed, and now, generations of Americans will be saddled with the costs of paying it off.</p>

<p>According to estimates by the Costs of War Project at Brown University,&nbsp;approximately $2 trillion has been spent on the war in Afghanistan. As part of this total, $800 billion was directly funded&nbsp;while the Afghan army's&nbsp;training accounts for another&nbsp;$83 billion.</p>

<p>Based on the figures, the amount spent to keep the Taliban at bay is greater than the collective net worth of Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Bill Gates and the 30 wealthiest billionaires in America<b>.</b></p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/all-military-and-civilian-flights-halted-at-kabul-airport-pentagon-406126" hreflang="en">All military and civilian flights halted at Kabul airport: Pentagon</a></strong></p>

<p>By 2050, the United States will be paying interest of $6.5 trillion on the Afghan war debt, according to this report from Brown University. In other words, it will pinch the American average household since it translates to $20,000 for every single American.</p>

<p>As far as the number of lives lost is concerned, the price is even higher. 2,448 US soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan fighting the Taliban (as of April this year) and nearly 4,000 civilian contractors have lost their lives as well. Additionally, over 66,000 Afghan&nbsp;military and police personnel&nbsp;have died in the last 20 years.</p>

<p>In addition to the military cost, there is also the civilian cost of 47,245. The university study estimates that 51,191 Taliban and other opposition fighters have also been killed in the war.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistans-vice-president-amrullah-saleh-declares-himself-as-caretaker-president-406357" hreflang="en">Afghanistan's Vice President Amrullah Saleh declares himself as caretaker President</a></strong></p>

<p>For approximately 4 million Afghanistan and Iraq veterans, the US has also devoted substantial funds toward health care, disability, burials, and other costs.&nbsp;</p>


In just a month, the Taliban took over Afghanistan after it had been run by the West for 20 years. Despite the many trillions of dollars the US spent and the significant time, they spent in Afghanistan - 20 years since 9/11 - everything has been nullified by the Taliban assault on the country.

In just a month, the Taliban took over Afghanistan after it had been run by the West for 20 years. Despite the many trillions of dollars the US spent and the significant time, they spent in Afghanistan - 20 years since 9/11 - everything has been nullified by the Taliban assault on the country. LIVE Afghanistan crisis — Burqa not mandatory for women, hijab is, says Taliban The turnaround occurred as the United States began the process of withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan, its longest conflict to date. The majority of the money spent on this two-decade war was borrowed, and now, generations of Americans will be saddled with the costs of paying it off. According to estimates by the Costs of War Project at Brown University, approximately $2 trillion has been spent on the war in Afghanistan. As part of this total, $800 billion was directly funded while the Afghan army's training accounts for another $83 billion. Based on the figures, the amount spent to keep the Taliban at bay is greater than the collective net worth of Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Bill Gates and the 30 wealthiest billionaires in America. Also read | All military and civilian flights halted at Kabul airport: Pentagon By 2050, the United States will be paying interest of $6.5 trillion on the Afghan war debt, according to this report from Brown University. In other words, it will pinch the American average household since it translates to $20,000 for every single American. As far as the number of lives lost is concerned, the price is even higher. 2,448 US soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan fighting the Taliban (as of April this year) and nearly 4,000 civilian contractors have lost their lives as well. Additionally, over 66,000 Afghan military and police personnel have died in the last 20 years. In addition to the military cost, there is also the civilian cost of 47,245. The university study estimates that 51,191 Taliban and other opposition fighters have also been killed in the war. Also read | Afghanistan's Vice President Amrullah Saleh declares himself as caretaker President For approximately 4 million Afghanistan and Iraq veterans, the US has also devoted substantial funds toward health care, disability, burials, and other costs.

Afghanistan: Two-decade war that cost Americans $20,000 each

<p>British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the government is considering a "bespoke arrangement" for Afghan refugees that will be announced soon.</p>

<p>New resettlement schemes will focus on making the UK more accessible to those most in need, such as women and girls. While Raab did not confirm how many refugees would be admitted, he called the UK 'an open-hearted nation'.</p>

<h2><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/live-afghanistan-crisis-burqa-not-mandatory-for-women-hijab-is-says-taliban-406158"><strong>LIVE Afghanistan crisis — Burqa not mandatory for women, hijab is, says Taliban</strong></a></h2>

<p>Speaking to BBC, Raab stated that the UK has had always been a country in which people fleeing persecution could find refuge.&nbsp;He added that the prime minister and the home secretary would announce the details of the new resettlement program in due course.</p>

<p>On Wednesday, the British Parliament will return from its summer recess to debate the war in Afghanistan.</p>

<p>According to former Conservative minister for defence, Tobias Ellwood&nbsp;the fall of Afghanistan will spur a mass migration on a scale not seen since the end of World War II.</p>

<p>New resettlement programme is likely to follow a similar model to the one used for Syrian refugees,&nbsp;which since its launch&nbsp;in 2014, has&nbsp;resettled around 20,000 refugees from Syria in the UK.</p>

<p>Over 3,300 Afghan interpreters, staff and their families have already been accepted into the UK for resettlement, the Home Office reported on Monday. According to them, the decision on how many Afghan refugees to accept would be based on the capacity of local authorities.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/all-military-and-civilian-flights-halted-at-kabul-airport-pentagon-406126" hreflang="en">All military and civilian flights halted at Kabul airport: Pentagon</a></strong></p>

<p>The Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced Monday that an additional 200 British troops would deploy to Kabul to assist in evacuating British citizens and Afghan citizens eligible for resettlement in the UK.</p>

<p data-label="Package" data-qa-component="item-headline" data-rc-highlight="headline" dir="auto" title="Taliban's Afghanistan takeover presents fresh challenge for social media companies">In addition, MoD officials say more troops will be deployed to nations in the region and ready to go to Afghanistan if necessary, and additional troops will be kept on standby in the UK.</p>

<p>Most Afghans who qualify for relocation to the UK previously worked in frontline military roles for the British government.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In addition to interpreters and cultural advisers, embassy staff are also involved in this group. Ministry of Defence also considers those that are at high or imminent risk eligible.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistans-vice-president-amrullah-saleh-declares-himself-as-caretaker-president-406357" hreflang="en">Afghanistan's Vice President Amrullah Saleh declares himself as caretaker President</a></strong></p>

<p>As many as 350 more British nationals and Afghan employees are expected to leave the country in the next 24 hours - and if the situation settles, the number could increase "quite significantly."</p>


British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the government is considering a "bespoke arrangement" for Afghan refugees that will be announced soon. New resettlement schemes will focus on making the UK more accessible to those most in need, such as women and girls.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the government is considering a "bespoke arrangement" for Afghan refugees that will be announced soon. New resettlement schemes will focus on making the UK more accessible to those most in need, such as women and girls. While Raab did not confirm how many refugees would be admitted, he called the UK 'an open-hearted nation'. LIVE Afghanistan crisis — Burqa not mandatory for women, hijab is, says Taliban Speaking to BBC, Raab stated that the UK has had always been a country in which people fleeing persecution could find refuge. He added that the prime minister and the home secretary would announce the details of the new resettlement program in due course. On Wednesday, the British Parliament will return from its summer recess to debate the war in Afghanistan. According to former Conservative minister for defence, Tobias Ellwood the fall of Afghanistan will spur a mass migration on a scale not seen since the end of World War II. New resettlement programme is likely to follow a similar model to the one used for Syrian refugees, which since its launch in 2014, has resettled around 20,000 refugees from Syria in the UK. Over 3,300 Afghan interpreters, staff and their families have already been accepted into the UK for resettlement, the Home Office reported on Monday. According to them, the decision on how many Afghan refugees to accept would be based on the capacity of local authorities. Also read | All military and civilian flights halted at Kabul airport: Pentagon The Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced Monday that an additional 200 British troops would deploy to Kabul to assist in evacuating British citizens and Afghan citizens eligible for resettlement in the UK. In addition, MoD officials say more troops will be deployed to nations in the region and ready to go to Afghanistan if necessary, and additional troops will be kept on standby in the UK. Most Afghans who qualify for relocation to the UK previously worked in frontline military roles for the British government. In addition to interpreters and cultural advisers, embassy staff are also involved in this group. Ministry of Defence also considers those that are at high or imminent risk eligible. Also read | Afghanistan's Vice President Amrullah Saleh declares himself as caretaker President As many as 350 more British nationals and Afghan employees are expected to leave the country in the next 24 hours - and if the situation settles, the number could increase "quite significantly."

UK considering a resettlement programme for Afghans: Dominic Raab

Fall of Kabul: Striking photos point to uncertain future

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="3">The interim head of Afghanistan's central bank has left as the country's currency plummets to new lows following the Taliban's takeover.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="5">According to Bloomberg, the Afghani dropped 1.7 percent to 83.5 per dollar on Tuesday, marking the fourth consecutive day of decline.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="6">Ajmal Ahmady on Twitter said, "Currency spiked from a stable 81 to almost 100, then back to 86...That was one day before the fall of Kabul. "&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">7/Currency spiked from a stable 81 to almost 100 then back to 86. I held meetings on Saturday to reassure banks and money exchangers to calm them down. I can’t believe that was one day before Kabul fell</p>
— Ajmal Ahmady (@aahmady) <a href="https://twitter.com/aahmady/status/1427265082048667650?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>Ahmady boarded a military jet at Kabul airport, where hundreds of people were trying to flee the government's collapse due to the Taliban's fast territorial progress.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="8">According to Ahmady, there was no evacuation plan, and President Ashraf Ghani's leaving without forming a transitional administration added to the confusion.&nbsp;</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="9"><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The interim head of Afghanistan's central bank has left as the country's currency plummets to new lows following the Taliban's takeover. According to Bloomberg, the Afghani dropped 1.

The interim head of Afghanistan's central bank has left as the country's currency plummets to new lows following the Taliban's takeover. According to Bloomberg, the Afghani dropped 1.7 percent to 83.5 per dollar on Tuesday, marking the fourth consecutive day of decline. Ajmal Ahmady on Twitter said, "Currency spiked from a stable 81 to almost 100, then back to 86...That was one day before the fall of Kabul. " 7/Currency spiked from a stable 81 to almost 100 then back to 86. I held meetings on Saturday to reassure banks and money exchangers to calm them down. I can’t believe that was one day before Kabul fell — Ajmal Ahmady (@aahmady) August 16, 2021 × Ahmady boarded a military jet at Kabul airport, where hundreds of people were trying to flee the government's collapse due to the Taliban's fast territorial progress. According to Ahmady, there was no evacuation plan, and President Ashraf Ghani's leaving without forming a transitional administration added to the confusion. (With inputs from agencies)

Afghanistan's currency drops to a record low as Taliban take over

<p>As the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/women-journalists-fear-for-life-in-taliban-ruled-afghanistan-406103">Taliban </a>set up checkpoints at Kabul, people flooded the <strong>Hamid Karzai international airport </strong>as reports claimed people clung to the top of aircraft to get out of Afganistan.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Three Kabul residents who were trying to leave the country by hiding next to the tire or wing of an American plane, fell on the rooftop of local people. They lost their lives due to the terrible conditions in Kabul. <a href="https://t.co/Cj7xXE4vbx">pic.twitter.com/Cj7xXE4vbx</a></p>
— Tariq Majidi (@TariqMajidi) <a href="https://twitter.com/TariqMajidi/status/1427178021652291586?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>The US troops reportedly used<strong> Apache helicopters</strong> to chase away Afghans swarming the airport as they made a desperate attempt to escape the Taliban.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/live-afghanistan-crisis-us-takes-charge-of-air-traffic-at-kabul-airport-as-taliban-consolidates-406158">Also Read: Live Afghanistan crisis - as it happens</a></p>

<p>The<strong> Pentagon</strong> had earlier closed all military and civilian flights at Kabul airport amid the chaotic scenes as reports said two armed Afghan men were killed.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-the-afghanistan-crisis-afghans-are-paying-for-americas-mistakes-406131/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The US is seeking to evacuate several embassy personnel including and as many as 30,000 <strong>Afghans </strong>who are currently fleeing the new regime.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Reports claimed a US <strong>Air Force C-17 Globemaster </strong>III safely evacuated some 640 Afghans from Kabul which is said to be the highest number of people ever flown on the cargo plane.</p>

<p>The chaotic scenes echoed in the US House as Republican Senate Minority Leader <strong>Mitch McConnell</strong> said: "Afghanistan is lost ... every terrorist around the world is cheering."</p>

<p>According to footage released by Tolo news, people were seen clinging to a&nbsp;<strong>US military transport plane </strong>as it taxied on the runway amid the chaos at the airport.</p>

<p>Reuters quoting eyewitnesses added that five people were killed at the airport, however, it is unclear how they died.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, US President <strong>Joe Biden </strong>arrived in Washington on Monday cutting short his vacation to address the nation.</p>

<p>The US President said: "I am president of the United States of America and the buck stops with me," adding,"I stand squarely behind my decision."</p>

<p>"After 20 years, I've learned the hard way that there was never a good time to withdraw US forces," Biden asserted.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from Agencies)</em></p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>


As the Taliban set up checkpoints at Kabul, people flooded the Hamid Karzai international airport as reports claimed people clung to the top of aircraft to get out of Afganistan.

As the Taliban set up checkpoints at Kabul, people flooded the Hamid Karzai international airport as reports claimed people clung to the top of aircraft to get out of Afganistan. Three Kabul residents who were trying to leave the country by hiding next to the tire or wing of an American plane, fell on the rooftop of local people. They lost their lives due to the terrible conditions in Kabul. pic.twitter.com/Cj7xXE4vbx — Tariq Majidi (@TariqMajidi) August 16, 2021 × The US troops reportedly used Apache helicopters to chase away Afghans swarming the airport as they made a desperate attempt to escape the Taliban. Also Read: Live Afghanistan crisis - as it happens The Pentagon had earlier closed all military and civilian flights at Kabul airport amid the chaotic scenes as reports said two armed Afghan men were killed. Watch: The US is seeking to evacuate several embassy personnel including and as many as 30,000 Afghans who are currently fleeing the new regime. Reports claimed a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III safely evacuated some 640 Afghans from Kabul which is said to be the highest number of people ever flown on the cargo plane. The chaotic scenes echoed in the US House as Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said: "Afghanistan is lost ... every terrorist around the world is cheering." According to footage released by Tolo news, people were seen clinging to a US military transport plane as it taxied on the runway amid the chaos at the airport. Reuters quoting eyewitnesses added that five people were killed at the airport, however, it is unclear how they died. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden arrived in Washington on Monday cutting short his vacation to address the nation. The US President said: "I am president of the United States of America and the buck stops with me," adding,"I stand squarely behind my decision." "After 20 years, I've learned the hard way that there was never a good time to withdraw US forces," Biden asserted. (With inputs from Agencies)

640 Afghans in US cargo plane; Afghans fall off flying plane in desperate attempt to flee Taliban - Watch

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security against the backdrop of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.</p>

<p>The Cabinet Committee on Security is the apex government body that deals with the issues of national security.</p>

<p>Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman attended the meeting, besides senior officials.</p>

<p>While official sources confirmed the meeting, but there was no word on what transpired there.</p>

<p>Sources said those present in the meeting also included National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, as also India's Ambassador to Afghanistan Rudrendra Tandon, who returned to India on Tuesday itself.</p>

<p>India has brought back the Indian ambassador and all staff members from its embassy in Kabul in two military transport aircraft in the wake of escalating tension and deteriorating security situation in the Afghan capital after its takeover by the Taliban.</p>

<p>A military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force brought back from Kabul around 150 people including Indian diplomats, officials, security personnel and some stranded Indians on Tuesday.</p>

<p>Another flight had evacuated around 40 staffers from Kabul on Monday.</p>

<p>Earlier on Tuesday, the MEA said that the immediate priority for the government is to obtain accurate information about all Indian nationals currently staying in Afghanistan.</p>

<p>India on Tuesday said the evacuation of its embassy staff from Kabul has been completed and the focus now would be to ensure the safe return of all Indian nationals from the Afghan capital in view of the prevailing situation in the country.</p>

<p>India has brought back the Indian ambassador and all staff members from its embassy in Kabul in two military transport aircraft in the wake of escalating tension and deteriorating security situation in the Afghan capital after its takeover by the Taliban.</p>

<p>In a tweet, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the movement from Kabul to India was a "difficult and complicated" exercise and thanked all those whose cooperation and facilitation made it possible.</p>

<p>"In view of the prevailing situation in Kabul, it was decided that our Embassy personnel would be immediately moved to India. This movement has been completed in two phases and the Ambassador and all other India-based personnel have reached New Delhi this afternoon," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.</p>

<p>The statement by the MEA came soon after a military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force brought back from Kabul around 150 people including Indian diplomats, officials, security personnel and some stranded Indians.</p>

<p>Another flight evacuated around 40 staffers from Kabul on Monday.</p>

<p>The MEA said the immediate priority for the government is to obtain accurate information about all Indian nationals currently staying in Afghanistan.</p>

<p>It also requested the Indians as well as their employers to urgently share the relevant details with MEA's Special Afghanistan Cell that has been set up to coordinate evacuation.</p>

<p>"The main challenge for travel to and from Afghanistan is the operational status of Kabul airport. This has been discussed at high levels with our partners, including by the External Affairs Minister with the US Secretary of State," the MEA said.</p>

<p>"Government of India is committed to the safe return of all Indian nationals and will institute flight arrangements once Kabul airport is open for commercial operations," it said.</p>

<p>A contingent of 99 ITBP commandos along with three sniffer dogs landed at the Hindon IAF base on Tuesday onboard a military evacuation flight from Taliban-captured Afghanistan, officials said.</p>

<p>The commandos also brought back their personal weapons and belongings and will now undergo a week-long COVID-19 quarantine at a Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) facility in Delhi, they said.</p>

<p>"With this, our complete contingent deployed for securing the Embassy in Kabul, its four consulates in Afghanistan and diplomats have returned. The commandos came along with the Embassy staffers along with other Indian nationals," ITBP spokesperson Vivek Kumar Pandey said.</p>

<p>The commandos were taken away in brown-coloured ITBP buses from the Hindon airbase to the quarantine facility.</p>

<p>A senior officer said the commandos also carried along their personal AK series assault weapons, bullet-proof jackets, helmets, communication gadgets, ammunition and three sniffer dogs.</p>

<p>Thirty diplomats including Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan Rudrendra Tandon, 99 ITBP commandos and 21 civilians were onboard the C-17 Globemaster aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) that took off from the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul this morning and made a halt at the Jamnagar airforce base before touching down at Hindon in Ghaziabad near here in the evening, he said.</p>

<p>There were four journalists among the 21 civilians, he said.</p>

<p>The ITBP had deployed over 300 commandos for security duties in Afghanistan.</p>

<p>The force was first deployed to secure the premises of the Kabul Embassy, diplomats and staffers in November, 2002.</p>

<p>It later sent its additional detachments to similarly guard Indian consulates located in Jalalabad, Kandhar, Mazar-e-Sharif and Herat.</p>

<p>The detachments from the consulates have already been withdrawn after they were shut recently due to the current crisis in the country and also due to negligible footfall as the coronavirus pandemic gripped the globe.</p>

<p>The ITBP also was deployed to secure the Delaram-Zaranj road project that was executed by the Border Roads Organization (BRO) between 2005-08.</p>

<p>A number of ITBP commandos were also killed in various terrorist attacks that took place during these duties and many of them were decorated with gallantry medals.</p>


Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security against the backdrop of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. The Cabinet Committee on Security is the apex government body that deals with the issues of national security.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security against the backdrop of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. The Cabinet Committee on Security is the apex government body that deals with the issues of national security. Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman attended the meeting, besides senior officials. While official sources confirmed the meeting, but there was no word on what transpired there. Sources said those present in the meeting also included National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, as also India's Ambassador to Afghanistan Rudrendra Tandon, who returned to India on Tuesday itself. India has brought back the Indian ambassador and all staff members from its embassy in Kabul in two military transport aircraft in the wake of escalating tension and deteriorating security situation in the Afghan capital after its takeover by the Taliban. A military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force brought back from Kabul around 150 people including Indian diplomats, officials, security personnel and some stranded Indians on Tuesday. Another flight had evacuated around 40 staffers from Kabul on Monday. Earlier on Tuesday, the MEA said that the immediate priority for the government is to obtain accurate information about all Indian nationals currently staying in Afghanistan. India on Tuesday said the evacuation of its embassy staff from Kabul has been completed and the focus now would be to ensure the safe return of all Indian nationals from the Afghan capital in view of the prevailing situation in the country. India has brought back the Indian ambassador and all staff members from its embassy in Kabul in two military transport aircraft in the wake of escalating tension and deteriorating security situation in the Afghan capital after its takeover by the Taliban. In a tweet, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the movement from Kabul to India was a "difficult and complicated" exercise and thanked all those whose cooperation and facilitation made it possible. "In view of the prevailing situation in Kabul, it was decided that our Embassy personnel would be immediately moved to India. This movement has been completed in two phases and the Ambassador and all other India-based personnel have reached New Delhi this afternoon," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. The statement by the MEA came soon after a military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force brought back from Kabul around 150 people including Indian diplomats, officials, security personnel and some stranded Indians. Another flight evacuated around 40 staffers from Kabul on Monday. The MEA said the immediate priority for the government is to obtain accurate information about all Indian nationals currently staying in Afghanistan. It also requested the Indians as well as their employers to urgently share the relevant details with MEA's Special Afghanistan Cell that has been set up to coordinate evacuation. "The main challenge for travel to and from Afghanistan is the operational status of Kabul airport. This has been discussed at high levels with our partners, including by the External Affairs Minister with the US Secretary of State," the MEA said. "Government of India is committed to the safe return of all Indian nationals and will institute flight arrangements once Kabul airport is open for commercial operations," it said. A contingent of 99 ITBP commandos along with three sniffer dogs landed at the Hindon IAF base on Tuesday onboard a military evacuation flight from Taliban-captured Afghanistan, officials said. The commandos also brought back their personal weapons and belongings and will now undergo a week-long COVID-19 quarantine at a Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) facility in Delhi, they said. "With this, our complete contingent deployed for securing the Embassy in Kabul, its four consulates in Afghanistan and diplomats have returned. The commandos came along with the Embassy staffers along with other Indian nationals," ITBP spokesperson Vivek Kumar Pandey said. The commandos were taken away in brown-coloured ITBP buses from the Hindon airbase to the quarantine facility. A senior officer said the commandos also carried along their personal AK series assault weapons, bullet-proof jackets, helmets, communication gadgets, ammunition and three sniffer dogs. Thirty diplomats including Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan Rudrendra Tandon, 99 ITBP commandos and 21 civilians were onboard the C-17 Globemaster aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) that took off from the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul this morning and made a halt at the Jamnagar airforce base before touching down at Hindon in Ghaziabad near here in the evening, he said. There were four journalists among the 21 civilians, he said. The ITBP had deployed over 300 commandos for security duties in Afghanistan. The force was first deployed to secure the premises of the Kabul Embassy, diplomats and staffers in November, 2002. It later sent its additional detachments to similarly guard Indian consulates located in Jalalabad, Kandhar, Mazar-e-Sharif and Herat. The detachments from the consulates have already been withdrawn after they were shut recently due to the current crisis in the country and also due to negligible footfall as the coronavirus pandemic gripped the globe. The ITBP also was deployed to secure the Delaram-Zaranj road project that was executed by the Border Roads Organization (BRO) between 2005-08. A number of ITBP commandos were also killed in various terrorist attacks that took place during these duties and many of them were decorated with gallantry medals.

Afghan crisis: PM chairs meeting with Doval, Foreign Secretary Shringla; India completes evacuation of diplomats

Afghan refugees living in India for several years with the yearning to return to their homeland one day said on Monday (August 16) all their hopes have shattered as the Taliban took control of the country. Thousands of Afghan refugees have been living in India, most of them in various settlements in the capital New Delhi. At one of the refugee community residential areas, the sense of loss was compounded with a feeling of fear for the loved ones stuck in Afghanistan.

Afghan refugees in India worry for women under Taliban rule

<p>A day after the<strong> Taliban</strong> took control of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/640-afghans-in-us-cargo-plane-afghans-fall-off-flying-plane-in-desperate-attempt-to-flee-taliban-watch-406167">Kabul</a>, videos appearing to show&nbsp;Taliban militants atop crashing cars have gone went viral on social media.</p>

<p>A Taliban militant was&nbsp;purportedly seen&nbsp;with a gun while sitting on the bumper car. In another video, the Taliban fighters appeared to take rounds in&nbsp;<strong>merry-go-round</strong> riding play horses amid chaos in Kabul.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="fr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kabul?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kabul</a> amusement park <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Afghanistan</a> <a href="https://t.co/ELK0GjrwAm">pic.twitter.com/ELK0GjrwAm</a></p>
— Hamid Shalizi (@HamidShalizi) <a href="https://twitter.com/HamidShalizi/status/1427341653916983305?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>Taliban's latest exploits come even as the Afghans fled to the<strong> Hamid Karzai international airport </strong>in a desperate bid to escape from the new leadership in Afghanistan.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Another one <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kabul?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kabul</a> <a href="https://t.co/dLTRP2KZOX">pic.twitter.com/dLTRP2KZOX</a></p>
— Hamid Shalizi (@HamidShalizi) <a href="https://twitter.com/HamidShalizi/status/1427348052491264004?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>US officials on Monday evening had closed the airport in Kabul as hundreds of Afghans stood at the tarmac with several seen chasing <strong>US military planes</strong> as it left the airport.</p>

<p>Videos posted on social networks showed scenes of panic and fear in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/taliban-have-won-rise-and-fall-of-afghan-president-ashraf-ghani-405867"><strong>Kabul</strong></a> as people huddled together at the airport desperate to leave the country.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/live-afghanistan-crisis-india-brings-back-ambassador-embassy-staff-from-kabul-406158">LIVE Afghanistan crisis: As it happens</a></p>

<p>Although the <strong>Pentagon</strong> had announced earlier it was making preparations for&nbsp;mass evacuation, Taliban's abrupt entry into the Afghan capital led to panic in the city.</p>

<p>Amid the confusion at the airport, a crisis cell has been set up to organise the reception of <strong>Afghan refugees</strong> on US bases. US officials said at least 2,000 Afghans have already been airlifted.</p>

<p><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></p>

<p>The US intends to transport thousands of <strong>interpreters</strong> and their families who helped the US forces in Afghanistan in the past 20 years.</p>

<p>The US reopened the airport on Tuesday morning after it was closed for several hours due to breakdown in security on the tarmac disrupting evacuation efforts as a US C-17 transport aircraft landed with US Marines aboard.</p>

<p><strong>Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of the&nbsp;videos</strong></p>

<p><strong>Video courtesy -Twitter:&nbsp;@HamidShalizi</strong></p>

<p><em>(With inputs from Agencies)</em></p>


A day after the Taliban took control of Kabul, videos appearing to show Taliban militants atop crashing cars have gone went viral on social media. A Taliban militant was purportedly seen with a gun while sitting on the bumper car.

A day after the Taliban took control of Kabul, videos appearing to show Taliban militants atop crashing cars have gone went viral on social media. A Taliban militant was purportedly seen with a gun while sitting on the bumper car. In another video, the Taliban fighters appeared to take rounds in merry-go-round riding play horses amid chaos in Kabul. #Kabul amusement park #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/ELK0GjrwAm — Hamid Shalizi (@HamidShalizi) August 16, 2021 × Taliban's latest exploits come even as the Afghans fled to the Hamid Karzai international airport in a desperate bid to escape from the new leadership in Afghanistan. Another one #Kabul pic.twitter.com/dLTRP2KZOX — Hamid Shalizi (@HamidShalizi) August 16, 2021 × US officials on Monday evening had closed the airport in Kabul as hundreds of Afghans stood at the tarmac with several seen chasing US military planes as it left the airport. Videos posted on social networks showed scenes of panic and fear in Kabul as people huddled together at the airport desperate to leave the country. LIVE Afghanistan crisis: As it happens Although the Pentagon had announced earlier it was making preparations for mass evacuation, Taliban's abrupt entry into the Afghan capital led to panic in the city. Amid the confusion at the airport, a crisis cell has been set up to organise the reception of Afghan refugees on US bases. US officials said at least 2,000 Afghans have already been airlifted. WATCH - Kabul chaos: Shocking videos and photos from Afghanistan after Taliban takeover The US intends to transport thousands of interpreters and their families who helped the US forces in Afghanistan in the past 20 years. The US reopened the airport on Tuesday morning after it was closed for several hours due to breakdown in security on the tarmac disrupting evacuation efforts as a US C-17 transport aircraft landed with US Marines aboard. Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of the videos Video courtesy -Twitter: @HamidShalizi (With inputs from Agencies)

WATCH : Fun amid chaos - Taliban fighters ride in bumper cars with guns; ride horses in merry-go-round in Kabul- Watch

<p>As chaotic scenes at Kabul airport on Monday went viral across the world, <strong>satellite images</strong> showed thousands of Afghans attempting to board flights in a desperate bid to flee the capital as the <strong>Taliban</strong> took control of Kabul.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:</strong></p>

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<p>US officials had closed the<strong> Kabul airport </strong>on Monday evening as Afghans crowded the main tarmac at Hamid Karzai international airport, however, it was opened on Tuesday as the US and French nationals began leaving Afghanistan.</p>

<p><img alt="Satellite image of Kabul airport" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f94db49b-cca6-42e9-a4cd-ed3ff7e5c09e" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Sat2.JPG" /></p>

<p>Satellite images taken by Maxar Technologies on Monday at approximately 10:30 am (local time) showed people at the airport as <strong>US military planes</strong> taxied on the runway with several Afghans following the plane in desperation.</p>

<p>Dramatic photo of 640 Afghans crammed into a <strong>US Air Force C-17 military plane </strong>with men, women and children created waves on social media on Tuesday.</p>

<p>The chaos at Kabul airport led <strong>German President </strong>Frank-Walter Steinmeier to declare the images "shameful".</p>

<p>"The failure of the years-long efforts to build a stable and viable society in <strong>Afghanistan</strong> raises fundamental questions for the past and future of our foreign policy and military engagement," Steinmeier said.</p>

<p><img alt="Satellite image of Kabul airport" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1c11cf74-597c-490d-83b9-9b2fa07adca5" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Sat1.JPG" /></p>

<p>"The images of desperation at Kabul airport are shameful for the political West," the German president said as nationals began pulling out of Afghanistan.</p>

<p>Reports say<strong> Iran </strong>and Turkey are bracing for a refugee influx after witnessing chaos in Kabul on Monday. US President <strong>Joe Biden</strong> however defended his move saying the Afghan government was given "every chance to determine their own future".</p>

<p>"<strong>American troops</strong> cannot and should not be fighting in a war and dying in a war that Afghan forces are not willing to fight for themselves," the US president said in a televised address.</p>

<p>The United States has reportedly sent at least 6,000 troops to ensure the safe <strong>evacuation</strong> of embassy officials although scenes of Afghans clinging to the transport planes led to widespread criticism of the Biden administration.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from Agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


As chaotic scenes at Kabul airport on Monday went viral across the world, satellite images showed thousands of Afghans attempting to board flights in a desperate bid to flee the capital as the Taliban took control of Kabul.

As chaotic scenes at Kabul airport on Monday went viral across the world, satellite images showed thousands of Afghans attempting to board flights in a desperate bid to flee the capital as the Taliban took control of Kabul. Watch: US officials had closed the Kabul airport on Monday evening as Afghans crowded the main tarmac at Hamid Karzai international airport, however, it was opened on Tuesday as the US and French nationals began leaving Afghanistan. Satellite images taken by Maxar Technologies on Monday at approximately 10:30 am (local time) showed people at the airport as US military planes taxied on the runway with several Afghans following the plane in desperation. Dramatic photo of 640 Afghans crammed into a US Air Force C-17 military plane with men, women and children created waves on social media on Tuesday. The chaos at Kabul airport led German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to declare the images "shameful". "The failure of the years-long efforts to build a stable and viable society in Afghanistan raises fundamental questions for the past and future of our foreign policy and military engagement," Steinmeier said. "The images of desperation at Kabul airport are shameful for the political West," the German president said as nationals began pulling out of Afghanistan. Reports say Iran and Turkey are bracing for a refugee influx after witnessing chaos in Kabul on Monday. US President Joe Biden however defended his move saying the Afghan government was given "every chance to determine their own future". "American troops cannot and should not be fighting in a war and dying in a war that Afghan forces are not willing to fight for themselves," the US president said in a televised address. The United States has reportedly sent at least 6,000 troops to ensure the safe evacuation of embassy officials although scenes of Afghans clinging to the transport planes led to widespread criticism of the Biden administration. (With inputs from Agencies)

WATCH - Satellite images show chaos at Kabul airport after Taliban takeover of Afghanistan

<p>Former USSR leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who oversaw the withdrawal of Soviet Union forces from Afghanistan in 1989 after Moscow's failed decade-long campaign there, on Tuesday said that NATO's deployment to the country had been doomed from the beginning.</p>

<p>Talking to the&nbsp;RIA Novosti news agency,&nbsp;Gorbachev said that "from the very start (the US invasion) was a bad idea, although Russia initially supported it,".</p>

<h2><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/live-afghanistan-crisis-india-brings-back-ambassador-embassy-staff-from-kabul-406158">LIVE Afghanistan crisis: India brings back ambassador, embassy staff from Kabul</a></h2>

<p>"Failure should have been admitted earlier," 90-year-old Gorbachev said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Now it is important to learn from the situation and at least not repeat such mistakes," he added.</p>

<p data-testid="paragraph-1">Taking advantage of US troops' withdrawal from Afghanistan, Taliban militants completed a military takeover of the country on Sunday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In 2001, after the September 11 attacks, the US invaded Afghanistan following the Taliban refusal to hand over Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Similarly, conducted by the Soviet Union, the invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 was aimed at supporting an Afghan communist government at odds with Muslim guerrilla fighters.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/guantanamo-ex-inmates-emerge-as-key-players-in-talibans-victory-in-afghanistan-406238" hreflang="en">Guantanamo ex-inmates emerge as key players in Taliban’s victory in Afghanistan&nbsp;</a></strong></p>

<p>Soon after coming into power in 1985, Gorbachev formally ended Soviet involvement in Afghanistan.&nbsp;</p>

<p data-testid="paragraph-1">Soviet presence in Afghanistan at a time when the Soviet Union was experiencing what turned out to be its last days was perceived by Gorbachev as a political mistake wasting precious resources.</p>

<p data-testid="paragraph-2">After Moscow withdrew its main forces from Afghanistan, the Soviet-backed regime survived for three years, but never recovered from a Russian decision&nbsp;to cut off aid to them.&nbsp;The Soviet Union collapsed in 1992 and the regime later that year.</p>

<p data-testid="paragraph-2"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/kabul-airport-chaotic-scenes-are-shameful-for-the-west-says-german-president-406240" hreflang="en">Kabul airport chaotic scenes are 'shameful for the West', says German president</a></strong></p>

<p>Over the course of a decade, as many as two million Afghans were killed by Soviet troops in their Afghanistan conflict. Additionally, seven million Afghans were forced from their homes. The Soviet Union also lost approximately 14,000 soldiers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It was fighters of the anti-Soviet Mujahideen who helped to establish the Taliban in the early 1990s.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Former USSR leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who oversaw the withdrawal of Soviet Union forces from Afghanistan in 1989 after Moscow's failed decade-long campaign there, on Tuesday said that NATO's deployment to the country had been doomed from the beginning.

Former USSR leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who oversaw the withdrawal of Soviet Union forces from Afghanistan in 1989 after Moscow's failed decade-long campaign there, on Tuesday said that NATO's deployment to the country had been doomed from the beginning. Talking to the RIA Novosti news agency, Gorbachev said that "from the very start (the US invasion) was a bad idea, although Russia initially supported it,". LIVE Afghanistan crisis: India brings back ambassador, embassy staff from Kabul "Failure should have been admitted earlier," 90-year-old Gorbachev said. "Now it is important to learn from the situation and at least not repeat such mistakes," he added. Taking advantage of US troops' withdrawal from Afghanistan, Taliban militants completed a military takeover of the country on Sunday. In 2001, after the September 11 attacks, the US invaded Afghanistan following the Taliban refusal to hand over Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. Similarly, conducted by the Soviet Union, the invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 was aimed at supporting an Afghan communist government at odds with Muslim guerrilla fighters. Also read | Guantanamo ex-inmates emerge as key players in Taliban’s victory in Afghanistan Soon after coming into power in 1985, Gorbachev formally ended Soviet involvement in Afghanistan. Soviet presence in Afghanistan at a time when the Soviet Union was experiencing what turned out to be its last days was perceived by Gorbachev as a political mistake wasting precious resources. After Moscow withdrew its main forces from Afghanistan, the Soviet-backed regime survived for three years, but never recovered from a Russian decision to cut off aid to them. The Soviet Union collapsed in 1992 and the regime later that year. Also read | Kabul airport chaotic scenes are 'shameful for the West', says German president Over the course of a decade, as many as two million Afghans were killed by Soviet troops in their Afghanistan conflict. Additionally, seven million Afghans were forced from their homes. The Soviet Union also lost approximately 14,000 soldiers. It was fighters of the anti-Soviet Mujahideen who helped to establish the Taliban in the early 1990s. (With inputs from agencies)

Doomed from start: US invasion of Afghanistan was a 'bad idea', says last Soviet leader Gorbachev

<p>The Taliban's rapid takeover of Afghanistan has left regional heavyweights&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;and Turkey with a headache -- both countries may see an opportunity to boost their influence but neither wants a further influx of refugees.</p>

<p>This is especially the case right now as both countries are battling the coronavirus pandemic and facing economic difficulties.</p>

<h2><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/live-afghanistan-crisis-india-brings-back-ambassador-embassy-staff-from-kabul-406158">LIVE Afghanistan crisis: India brings back ambassador, embassy staff from Kabul</a></h2>

<p>Analysts say everything depends on the unknown factor -- whether the Taliban present a more moderate stance that allows for international cooperation or they return to the unbridled extremism that led to their overthrow in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks.</p>

<p>"The situation is a huge risk for Turkey, there is no doubt.&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;will also stand to lose if the Taliban returns to its old ways and provides a safe haven" for Islamist extremists, Asli Aydintasbas, a senior fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), told AFP.</p>

<p>Iran&nbsp;and Turkey both risk seeing substantial inflows of refugees, many of whom cross from&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;into Turkey in the hope of reaching Europe.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Both already host large refugee populations -- 3.6 million Syrians in Turkey and 3.5 million Afghans in&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;-- and tolerance at home is running out.</p>

<p>The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19 pandemic</a> has hit&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;hard, pushing the sanctions-battered country further into crisis, while in Turkey the economic growth that was always the bulwark of Erdogan's popularity has faded away.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/guantanamo-ex-inmates-emerge-as-key-players-in-talibans-victory-in-afghanistan-406238" hreflang="en">Guantanamo ex-inmates emerge as key players in Taliban’s victory in Afghanistan&nbsp;</a></strong></p>

<p>Turkish President Recept Tayyip Erdogan said last week that he was prepared to meet the Taliban leadership in a bid to secure peace while&nbsp;Iran's new hardline President Ebrahim Rasi said the US military "defeat" in Afghanistan was a chance to bring peace to the country.</p>

<p>On Tuesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu talked of "positive messages" coming from the Taliban on protection for civilians and foreigners, expressing hope they would follow through with positive actions.</p>

<p><strong>'Ticking bomb'&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>But analysts say the Taliban takeover has robbed Erdogan of a strategic card he was eager to play -- an offer to provide military security at Kabul airport that might have improved relations with US President Joe Biden.</p>

<p>"The whole Turkish mission is in jeopardy as well as the idea of using Kabul airport as leverage in relaunching Turkey’s relationship with Washington," Aydintasbas said, adding it was "hard to imagine" the Taliban letting Turkey control the airport.</p>

<p>"A few days ago this looked like a golden opportunity for Turkey. Now it is a huge ticking bomb."</p>

<p>Meanwhile, "the most pressing issue" for Erdogan is the possible influx of refugees from Afghanistan at a time of growing unrest in Turkey over the long-term presence of Syrians in the country, she said.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/fun-amid-chaos-taliban-fighters-ride-in-bumper-cars-with-guns-ride-horses-in-merry-go-around-in-kabul-watch-406201" hreflang="en">Fun amid chaos: Taliban fighters ride in bumper cars with guns; ride horses in merry-go-around in Kabul- Watch</a></strong></p>

<p>Aydintasbas said neighbouring countries "have no idea what Taliban 2.0 will look like".</p>

<p>"If the Taliban has become more moderate then Turkey could engage with it," she said.</p>

<p>The International Crisis Group argued in a research note that the Taliban's diplomatic engagement "has shifted to a regionally focused approach", emphasising dialogue with&nbsp;Iran, Russia, Central Asian states and China.</p>

<p><strong>US-led stability&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Rouzbeh Parsi of the Swedish Institute of International Affairs, said US forces leaving the region was&nbsp;Iran's stated goal, but their departure was far from entirely welcome for Tehran.</p>

<p>"US support for the governments in Afghanistan and Iraq has also been helpful for&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;in that it ensured a certain stability and US did the heavy lifting," he said.</p>

<p>Overwhelmingly Shiite&nbsp;Iran, which shares a more than 900-kilometre (550-mile) border with Afghanistan, appeared keen to achieve peaceful coexistence with the Sunni Taliban, he said.</p>

<p>"Iran&nbsp;has for some time, pragmatic as always, accepted that the Taliban are not going to disappear and that no outsider will be able to militarily defeat them," he said.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/watch-unidentified-man-shoots-at-a-civilian-trying-to-enter-kabul-airport-406227" hreflang="en">Watch: Unidentified man shoots at a civilian trying to enter Kabul airport</a></strong></p>

<p>"Iran&nbsp;is a country heavily beset by Covid, corruption, and a faltering economy. The ability and willingness to take on more Afghan refugees is probably not great."</p>

<p>Parsi added that&nbsp;Iran's future relationship with the new rulers in Kabul "hinges on the pragmatism of the Taliban", noting that Tehran would pay particular attention to the wellbeing of the mainly Shiite, Persian-speaking Hazara minority.</p>

<p>Marc Pierini, visiting scholar at Carnegie Europe and a former EU ambassador to Turkey, said Europe was anxiously watching the potential migrant flows after a million people reached its shores mainly through Turkey in 2015 when the Syrian conflict was at its peak.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Handling this emergency will require a degree of confident humanitarian cooperation between the EU and&nbsp;Iran-Turkey, which will be difficult to achieve," he told AFP.</p>


The Taliban's rapid takeover of Afghanistan has left regional heavyweights Iran and Turkey with a headache -- both countries may see an opportunity to boost their influence but neither wants a further influx of refugees.

The Taliban's rapid takeover of Afghanistan has left regional heavyweights Iran and Turkey with a headache -- both countries may see an opportunity to boost their influence but neither wants a further influx of refugees. This is especially the case right now as both countries are battling the coronavirus pandemic and facing economic difficulties. LIVE Afghanistan crisis: India brings back ambassador, embassy staff from Kabul Analysts say everything depends on the unknown factor -- whether the Taliban present a more moderate stance that allows for international cooperation or they return to the unbridled extremism that led to their overthrow in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks. "The situation is a huge risk for Turkey, there is no doubt. Iran will also stand to lose if the Taliban returns to its old ways and provides a safe haven" for Islamist extremists, Asli Aydintasbas, a senior fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), told AFP. Iran and Turkey both risk seeing substantial inflows of refugees, many of whom cross from Iran into Turkey in the hope of reaching Europe. Both already host large refugee populations -- 3.6 million Syrians in Turkey and 3.5 million Afghans in Iran -- and tolerance at home is running out. The COVID-19 pandemic has hit Iran hard, pushing the sanctions-battered country further into crisis, while in Turkey the economic growth that was always the bulwark of Erdogan's popularity has faded away. Also read | Guantanamo ex-inmates emerge as key players in Taliban’s victory in Afghanistan Turkish President Recept Tayyip Erdogan said last week that he was prepared to meet the Taliban leadership in a bid to secure peace while Iran's new hardline President Ebrahim Rasi said the US military "defeat" in Afghanistan was a chance to bring peace to the country. On Tuesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu talked of "positive messages" coming from the Taliban on protection for civilians and foreigners, expressing hope they would follow through with positive actions. 'Ticking bomb' But analysts say the Taliban takeover has robbed Erdogan of a strategic card he was eager to play -- an offer to provide military security at Kabul airport that might have improved relations with US President Joe Biden. "The whole Turkish mission is in jeopardy as well as the idea of using Kabul airport as leverage in relaunching Turkey’s relationship with Washington," Aydintasbas said, adding it was "hard to imagine" the Taliban letting Turkey control the airport. "A few days ago this looked like a golden opportunity for Turkey. Now it is a huge ticking bomb." Meanwhile, "the most pressing issue" for Erdogan is the possible influx of refugees from Afghanistan at a time of growing unrest in Turkey over the long-term presence of Syrians in the country, she said. Also read | Fun amid chaos: Taliban fighters ride in bumper cars with guns; ride horses in merry-go-around in Kabul- Watch Aydintasbas said neighbouring countries "have no idea what Taliban 2.0 will look like". "If the Taliban has become more moderate then Turkey could engage with it," she said. The International Crisis Group argued in a research note that the Taliban's diplomatic engagement "has shifted to a regionally focused approach", emphasising dialogue with Iran, Russia, Central Asian states and China. US-led stability Rouzbeh Parsi of the Swedish Institute of International Affairs, said US forces leaving the region was Iran's stated goal, but their departure was far from entirely welcome for Tehran. "US support for the governments in Afghanistan and Iraq has also been helpful for Iran in that it ensured a certain stability and US did the heavy lifting," he said. Overwhelmingly Shiite Iran, which shares a more than 900-kilometre (550-mile) border with Afghanistan, appeared keen to achieve peaceful coexistence with the Sunni Taliban, he said. "Iran has for some time, pragmatic as always, accepted that the Taliban are not going to disappear and that no outsider will be able to militarily defeat them," he said. Also read | Watch: Unidentified man shoots at a civilian trying to enter Kabul airport "Iran is a country heavily beset by Covid, corruption, and a faltering economy. The ability and willingness to take on more Afghan refugees is probably not great." Parsi added that Iran's future relationship with the new rulers in Kabul "hinges on the pragmatism of the Taliban", noting that Tehran would pay particular attention to the wellbeing of the mainly Shiite, Persian-speaking Hazara minority. Marc Pierini, visiting scholar at Carnegie Europe and a former EU ambassador to Turkey, said Europe was anxiously watching the potential migrant flows after a million people reached its shores mainly through Turkey in 2015 when the Syrian conflict was at its peak. "Handling this emergency will require a degree of confident humanitarian cooperation between the EU and Iran-Turkey, which will be difficult to achieve," he told AFP.

Taliban takeover leaves Iran and Turkey fearing refugee influx

Inside pictures of plane at Kabul airport as Afghans battle to flee Taliban rule