<p>&nbsp;Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani has left the country on Sunday as the Taliban started entering the capital city Kabul.</p>

<p>While the Interior Minister confirmed his move to news agency Reuters, the President’s office said it "cannot say anything about Ashraf Ghani's movement for security reasons".</p>

<h2><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/live-president-ghani-leaves-afghanistan-as-taliban-enter-capital-kabul-405579" hreflang="en">LIVE: President Ghani leaves Afghanistan as Taliban enter capital Kabul</a></h2>

<p>Soon after Ghani left the country, Amrullah Saleh,&nbsp;the 1st Vice President of Afghanistan, also left the country, sources confirmed to WION.</p>

<p>Ghani left the country hours after the Taliban started entering the capital city on Sunday morning. The Taliban had earlier, in the morning, stated that the group does not want to take over the city by force and will wait for a 'peaceful transition of power'.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/reports-president-ashraf-ghani-leaves-afghanistan-as-taliban-take-control-405754"><strong>WATCH |</strong></a></p>

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<p>Following the warning from the Taliban, Ghani immediately busied himself in talks with the NATO representatives.</p>

<p>However, soon after the President left the country, the Taliban was ordered to enter Kabul. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid says the forces were entering Kabul to make sure there is no&nbsp;looting and chaos as the Afghan security forces&nbsp;left parts of Kabul city and their checkpoints. He also urged locals not to be afraid of the Taliban and not&nbsp;to panic from their entrance into the city.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-declare-not-to-enter-kabul-for-now-wait-for-transition-405574" hreflang="en">Taliban declare not to&nbsp;enter Kabul for now, wait for transition</a></strong></p>

<p>Meanwhile, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken lashed out at critics and said, "this is not Saigon.&nbsp;The US has succeeded in its mission to stop attacks on US". He also added, "It's simply not in our interests to remain in Afghanistan."</p>

<p>Blinken also added that all staff members of the US embassy in Kabul are being moved to the Kabul International Airport.</p>


Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani has left the country on Sunday as the Taliban started entering the capital city Kabul. While the Interior Minister confirmed his move to news agency Reuters, the President’s office said it "cannot say anything about Ashraf Ghani's movement for security reasons".

Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani has left the country on Sunday as the Taliban started entering the capital city Kabul. While the Interior Minister confirmed his move to news agency Reuters, the President’s office said it "cannot say anything about Ashraf Ghani's movement for security reasons". LIVE: President Ghani leaves Afghanistan as Taliban enter capital Kabul Soon after Ghani left the country, Amrullah Saleh, the 1st Vice President of Afghanistan, also left the country, sources confirmed to WION. Ghani left the country hours after the Taliban started entering the capital city on Sunday morning. The Taliban had earlier, in the morning, stated that the group does not want to take over the city by force and will wait for a 'peaceful transition of power'. WATCH | Following the warning from the Taliban, Ghani immediately busied himself in talks with the NATO representatives. However, soon after the President left the country, the Taliban was ordered to enter Kabul. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid says the forces were entering Kabul to make sure there is no looting and chaos as the Afghan security forces left parts of Kabul city and their checkpoints. He also urged locals not to be afraid of the Taliban and not to panic from their entrance into the city. Also read | Taliban declare not to enter Kabul for now, wait for transition Meanwhile, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken lashed out at critics and said, "this is not Saigon. The US has succeeded in its mission to stop attacks on US". He also added, "It's simply not in our interests to remain in Afghanistan." Blinken also added that all staff members of the US embassy in Kabul are being moved to the Kabul International Airport.

Afghan's President Ashraf Ghani leaves country as Taliban enter Kabul

President Ashraf Ghani said that peace in Afghanistan means peace in the entire region. He also said that the ongoing violence in the country is against the will of the people.

Will 'Heart of Asia' summit turn the tables in Afghan peace process?

Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani arrived in Doha on Monday, where peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban have stalled.

Afghanistan’s president Ashraf Ghani lands in Doha amid peace talks

Ashraf Ghani said the Taliban militants have increased their attacks despite the repeated calls by the Afghan people, the Afghan governemnt and international community to reduce violence and declare a ceasefire.

Afghan attack: Ghani orders security forces to go offensive against Taliban

<p>&nbsp;The Taliban sent vehicles for fighters set to be released by the Afghan government in a prisoner swap expected to be announced on Tuesday, and were ready to honour their side of the deal by handing over 1,000 captured government troops, militant leaders said.</p>

<p>&nbsp;<strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-president-ashraf-ghani-rejects-taliban-demand-to-free-5000-prisoners-283605">Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani rejects Taliban demand to free 5,000 prisoners</a></strong></p>

<p>Afghan President Ashraf Ghani will issue a decree for at least 1,000 Taliban prisoners to be released this week, Reuters reported on Monday, paving the way for opening direct talks between the Afghan government and Taliban insurgents.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/president-ghani-appeals-to-taliban-to-enter-negotiations-283988">&nbsp;President Ghani appeals to Taliban to enter negotiations</a></strong></p>

<p>A senior Taliban leader in Doha, the capital of Qatar where negotiations between the militants and US&nbsp;officials have taken place, said vehicles had been sent to an area near Bagram Prison to fetch the freed fighters.</p>

<p>The prisoner release is part of a deal signed by the United States and the Taliban last month that allows US&nbsp;forces and NATO troops to withdraw from Afghanistan to end more than 18 years of war.</p>

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<p>The Taliban have demanded the release of the prisoners as a confidence-building measure.</p>

<p>Ghani, who was sworn in on Monday at a ceremony attended by US&nbsp;Special Envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad, had earlier rejected the Taliban demand for its fighters to be released.</p>

<p>"After our conversation with Zalmay Khalilzad on Monday, in which he conveyed to us the release of our 5,000 prisoners, we sent vehicles to pick them up," the senior Taliban leader said via phone from Doha.</p>

<p>It is unclear how many prisoners will be released immediately, but three other sources told Reuters on Monday that it could vary between 1,000 to 1,800. It was also unclear whether prisoners would be released from other prisons aside from Bagram.</p>

<p>The US&nbsp;Embassy declined to comment. A spokesman for NATO's mission referred questions to the Afghan government.</p>

<p>The Taliban leader in Doha also confirmed the group had finalised arrangements for the release of 1,000 prisoners held by them, adding that they had shifted all prisoners to safe locations in Afghanistan.</p>

<p>"We are planning to release the 1,000 prisoners of the Afghan government to the Red Crescent and they could then shift them to their hometowns or pay them cash for travelling home," he said.</p>

<p>An official Taliban spokesman said he could not comment as he had yet to be informed of the plans.</p>


The Taliban sent vehicles for fighters set to be released by the Afghan government in a prisoner swap expected to be announced on Tuesday, and were ready to honour their side of the deal by handing over 1,000 captured government troops, militant leaders said.

The Taliban sent vehicles for fighters set to be released by the Afghan government in a prisoner swap expected to be announced on Tuesday, and were ready to honour their side of the deal by handing over 1,000 captured government troops, militant leaders said. Also read: Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani rejects Taliban demand to free 5,000 prisoners Afghan President Ashraf Ghani will issue a decree for at least 1,000 Taliban prisoners to be released this week, Reuters reported on Monday, paving the way for opening direct talks between the Afghan government and Taliban insurgents. Also read: President Ghani appeals to Taliban to enter negotiations A senior Taliban leader in Doha, the capital of Qatar where negotiations between the militants and US officials have taken place, said vehicles had been sent to an area near Bagram Prison to fetch the freed fighters. The prisoner release is part of a deal signed by the United States and the Taliban last month that allows US forces and NATO troops to withdraw from Afghanistan to end more than 18 years of war. × The Taliban have demanded the release of the prisoners as a confidence-building measure. Ghani, who was sworn in on Monday at a ceremony attended by US Special Envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad, had earlier rejected the Taliban demand for its fighters to be released. "After our conversation with Zalmay Khalilzad on Monday, in which he conveyed to us the release of our 5,000 prisoners, we sent vehicles to pick them up," the senior Taliban leader said via phone from Doha. It is unclear how many prisoners will be released immediately, but three other sources told Reuters on Monday that it could vary between 1,000 to 1,800. It was also unclear whether prisoners would be released from other prisons aside from Bagram. The US Embassy declined to comment. A spokesman for NATO's mission referred questions to the Afghan government. The Taliban leader in Doha also confirmed the group had finalised arrangements for the release of 1,000 prisoners held by them, adding that they had shifted all prisoners to safe locations in Afghanistan. "We are planning to release the 1,000 prisoners of the Afghan government to the Red Crescent and they could then shift them to their hometowns or pay them cash for travelling home," he said. An official Taliban spokesman said he could not comment as he had yet to be informed of the plans.

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The U.S. Secretary of Defence Mark Esper and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg issue a joint statement with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on combating terrorism in Afghanistan and supporting the Afghan security and defence forces.

Prez Ashraf Ghani gives US-Afghan joint statement