Thousands of Afghans protested against the Taliban in the southern city of Kandahar on Tuesday, according to a former government official and local television footage, after residents were asked to vacate a residential army colony.

Thousands protest against Taliban in Kandahar over evictions

With the last troops of the US leaving Afghanistan within the stipulated deadline on Monday after 20 years of military operations, the Taliban is now shifting its focus on the government formation and is likely to make an announcement within a week.

Taliban to follow Iran model of governance, Hibatullah Akhundzada to be Supreme Leader

As the Taliban tightens its grip over Afghanistan, the group's leaders are now coming to the forefront to build their regime after living years in exile. Reports say the Taliban's supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, who has never made a public appearance and whose whereabouts have largely remained unknown, is currently in Kandahar.

Hibatullah Akhundzada: Taliban's reclusive leader set to play key role in Afghanistan

At least three people were reported killed in Jalalabad during the city’s protests against the Taliban banner replacing Afghanistan’s national flag. According to two witnesses and a former police official, Taliban fighters opened fire during anti-Taliban rallies in the Afghan city of Jalalabad, killing and wounding many Jalalabad protestors.

Watch: 3 killed, dozens injured after militants open fire on anti-Taliban protesters

As the Taliban consolidated its position in Kabul, the group said its leaders and co-founder, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, had returned to Afghanistan. Baradar, who is the chief of the Taliban's political office, arrived in Kandahar.

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar: Released from Pak prison earlier, Taliban co-founder is back in Afghanistan

Confirming the imminent withdrawal of most embassy staff in the wake of a rapid Taliban offensive, Boris Johnson said the United Kingdom would not abandon Afghanistan.

'UK will deploy 600 troops': Boris Johnson vows not to turn back on Afghanistan

Ashraf Ghani, who left Afghanistan on Sunday following the Taliban's rapid advance through the country and into Kabul, was twice elected Afghan president, as well as being one of the country's best-known academics.

Ashraf Ghani: Departing Afghan president who failed to make peace with Taliban

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that all the US embassy staff in Kabul are being moved to the airport as the Taliban attacked the Afghan capital.

As US embassy staff haphazardly removed from Kabul, Blinken rejects comparison with Saigon

The Taliban want to take control of Afghanistan "in the next few days", a spokesman for the group told the BBC Sunday, as their fighters encircled the capital. "In next few days, we want a peaceful transfer," Suhail Shaheen, based in Qatar as part of the group's negotiating team, told the BBC.

Taliban want peaceful transfer of power in 'next few days'

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was on Sunday to hold further crisis talks on Afghanistan, his office said, as he recalled parliament from its summer break.

UK PM holds Afghanistan crisis talks, recalls parliament

Turkey will work with Pakistan to help stabilise Afghanistan and prevent a new flood of refugees, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday. "Turkey is facing a growing migratory wave of Afghans transiting through Iran," he said, alongside his Pakistan counterpart Arif Alvi.

Turkey to work with Pakistan to stop new wave of Afghan migrants

As Taliban insurgents make gains in Afghanistan and security forces struggle to contain them, an international human rights monitor accused the Taliban insurgency there, of executing suspected government officials and security personnel, and sometimes even their family members.

Human Rights Watch dismayed by mounting Taliban revenge killings

As many as 33 people were killed in Afghanistan's southern Kandahar province in two weeks. Religious scholars, tribal elders, journalists are being sacrificed in targeted attacks. The Taliban forces are conducting searches and carrying out attacks on these people.

Around 33 people killed in Afghanistan's Kandahar province in targeted attacks

Taliban said on Wednesday claimed it had captured a key border crossing along the Pakistan frontier with US troops set to pull out completely in a few weeks. The checkpoint Spin Boldak was reportedly seized by the Taliban, however, the Afghan government said its security forces had repelled the attack.

Taliban claim control over key border crossing with Pakistan

Even as India has withdrawn its diplomats from its consulate in Kandahar, the local government has said that the consulate remains open. Speaking to our diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Bahir Ahmadi, spokesman of the Kandahar governor said, "Indian consulate is still open.

Indian consulate in city still open, says Kandahar governor's spokesman

Sources claim that 50 Indian diplomats and officials in Kandahar have been relocated amid deteriorating security situation.

50 India officials evacuated from Kandahar

Turmoil in Afghanistan: India pulls out diplomats, other officials

As violence spreads in Afghanistan, India has brought back personnel from its consulate in Kandahar. India has brought back its diplomats and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel from the consulate in the city.

As violence escalates, India brings back personnel from its Kandahar consulate

US armed forces have left one of the largest military bases in Afghanistan, the Kandahar Airfield in the southern province once dominated by Taliban, US media reported citing security officials.

US army leaves Kandahar Airfield as the drawdown continues in Afghanistan

Nemat Rawan, a former Afghan television journalist, was killed in southern Kandahar city on Thursday, officials said. She is the Afghan fifth journalist to have been killed this year.

Former Afghan TV host Nemat Rawan shot dead in Kandahar

Nearly 82 terrorists have been killed in airstrikes in the Arghandab district of southern Kandahar province on Sunday. "Besides the killing of 82 armed insurgents including the Taliban’s key commander Sarhadi, two tanks and several vehicles of the insurgents have also been destroyed, reported Xinhua, quoting police spokesman, Jamal Barakzai.

Afghan airstrikes kill over 80 terrorists in Kandahar

Dozens of Taliban fighters were killed in fierce overnight fighting between Afghan forces and militants who attacked multiple checkpoints in the insurgent bastion of Kandahar.

Several Taliban militants killed as fighting rocks insurgent bastion

Kandahar has never seen anything like this. A gym only for women has opened in the Afghanistan capital. This is something first of its kind in the country. At least 50 women come here everyday.

In conservative Afghanistan, ladies are pursuing health goals in this women-only gym

In Afghanistan's Kandahar, women are exercising their right to a healthy life in the region's first all-female gym. They are working out in Burqas and without any fear. Palki Sharma Upadhyay has a report.

Gravitas: Gymming in a Burqa

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