Amidst Afghanistan crisis, UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called an urgent meeting of the G7 representatives to discuss the threat that the Taliban takeover poses for Afghanistan and the rest of the world.<o:p></o:p>

"I will convene G7 leaders on Tuesday for urgent talks on the situation in Afghanistan," Johnson tweeted. "It is vital that the international community works together to ensure safe evacuations, prevent a humanitarian crisis and support the Afghan people to secure the gains of the last 20 years."

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I will convene G7 leaders on Tuesday for urgent talks on the situation in Afghanistan. It is vital that the international community works together to ensure safe evacuations, prevent a humanitarian crisis and support the Afghan people to secure the gains of the last 20 years.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/BorisJohnson/status/1429423519612481536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The UK currently chairs the G7 group which includes&nbsp;Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United State

His statement has come a little after the locals in the UK took to the streets to protest the Taliban’s establishment of new regime in Afghanistan.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p></o:p>

Thousands gathered in London’s Hyde Park and marched down to Whitehall, past Downing Street around lunchtime.

<o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ground-report-afghanistans-day-6-under-taliban-407592">WATCH |</a></o:p>

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These demonstrators carried and placards and chanted slogans to express their anger towards the Taliban as many believe that "Talib has not changed".<o:p></o:p>

They demanded the Taliban to “stop killing Afghans" and "stop the oppression of Afghan women" as they waved the black, red and green national flag of Afghanistan.

<o:p>Johnson's statement has come a little after the&nbsp;UK's defence ministry said that at least seven people were killed in the chaos near Kabul airport.</o:p>

Amidst Afghanistan crisis, UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called an urgent meeting of the G7 representatives to discuss the threat that the Taliban takeover poses for Afghanistan and the rest of the world.

Amidst Afghanistan crisis, UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called an urgent meeting of the G7 representatives to discuss the threat that the Taliban takeover poses for Afghanistan and the rest of the world. "I will convene G7 leaders on Tuesday for urgent talks on the situation in Afghanistan," Johnson tweeted. "It is vital that the international community works together to ensure safe evacuations, prevent a humanitarian crisis and support the Afghan people to secure the gains of the last 20 years." I will convene G7 leaders on Tuesday for urgent talks on the situation in Afghanistan. It is vital that the international community works together to ensure safe evacuations, prevent a humanitarian crisis and support the Afghan people to secure the gains of the last 20 years. — Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) August 22, 2021 × The UK currently chairs the G7 group which includes Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United State His statement has come a little after the locals in the UK took to the streets to protest the Taliban’s establishment of new regime in Afghanistan. Thousands gathered in London’s Hyde Park and marched down to Whitehall, past Downing Street around lunchtime. WATCH | These demonstrators carried and placards and chanted slogans to express their anger towards the Taliban as many believe that "Talib has not changed". They demanded the Taliban to “stop killing Afghans" and "stop the oppression of Afghan women" as they waved the black, red and green national flag of Afghanistan. Johnson's statement has come a little after the UK's defence ministry said that at least seven people were killed in the chaos near Kabul airport.

UK PM Boris Johnson convenes G7 to discuss Afghanistan crisis

A senior Taliban representative on Sunday blamed the United States for the chaotic situation at Kabul airport even as thousands of foreigners and Afghan nationals continued to throng the area in the hope of getting on board the evacuation flights.

“America, with all its power and facilities... has failed to bring order to the airport. There is peace and calm all over the country, but there is chaos only at Kabul airport," AFP quoted Taliban leader Amir Khan Mutaqi as saying.

Muttaqi was a higher education minister when the Taliban&nbsp;last ruled the country. He has been in touch with the Kabul leadership and former president Hamid Karzai after the Taliban took over Afghanistan.

For the past one week, Kabul airport has been witnessing desperate scenes with a large number of Afghan civilians and foreigners swamping the area in a desperate attempt to flee the country.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taliban-takeover-of-afghanistan-a-us-backed-conspiracy-islamic-state-407284">Also read |&nbsp;Taliban takeover of Afghanistan a 'US-backed conspiracy': Islamic State</a>

While the US has been scrambling to expedite the evacuation process, the European Union admitted it was "impossible" to evacuate everyone at risk from the Taliban.

On Sunday, Britain's defence ministry said seven people had died in the crowds.

A journalist, who was among a group of fleeing media workers and academics fortunate enough to reach the airport, described desperate scenes of people surrounding their bus on the way in.

“They were showing us their passports and shouting ‘take us with you... please take us with you’,” AFP quoted the journalist as saying.

“The Taliban fighter in the truck ahead of us had to shoot in the air to make them go away,” the journalist said.

Britain’s Sky News on Saturday aired footage of at least three bodies covered in white tarpaulin outside the airport. It was not clear how they had died.

A senior Taliban representative on Sunday blamed the United States for the chaotic situation at Kabul airport even as thousands of foreigners and Afghan nationals continued to throng the area in the hope of getting on board the evacuation flights.

A senior Taliban representative on Sunday blamed the United States for the chaotic situation at Kabul airport even as thousands of foreigners and Afghan nationals continued to throng the area in the hope of getting on board the evacuation flights. “America, with all its power and facilities... has failed to bring order to the airport. There is peace and calm all over the country, but there is chaos only at Kabul airport," AFP quoted Taliban leader Amir Khan Mutaqi as saying. Muttaqi was a higher education minister when the Taliban last ruled the country. He has been in touch with the Kabul leadership and former president Hamid Karzai after the Taliban took over Afghanistan. For the past one week, Kabul airport has been witnessing desperate scenes with a large number of Afghan civilians and foreigners swamping the area in a desperate attempt to flee the country. Also read | Taliban takeover of Afghanistan a 'US-backed conspiracy': Islamic State While the US has been scrambling to expedite the evacuation process, the European Union admitted it was "impossible" to evacuate everyone at risk from the Taliban. On Sunday, Britain's defence ministry said seven people had died in the crowds. A journalist, who was among a group of fleeing media workers and academics fortunate enough to reach the airport, described desperate scenes of people surrounding their bus on the way in. “They were showing us their passports and shouting ‘take us with you... please take us with you’,” AFP quoted the journalist as saying. “The Taliban fighter in the truck ahead of us had to shoot in the air to make them go away,” the journalist said. Britain’s Sky News on Saturday aired footage of at least three bodies covered in white tarpaulin outside the airport. It was not clear how they had died.

Taliban blames US for ‘chaos’ at Kabul airport, says peace in rest of Afghanistan

If the reports are to be believed, the Afghan Taliban have extended amnesty to deposed Afghanistan president Ashraf Ghani and vice president Amrullah Saleh, allowing them to return to country if they want. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Senior Taliban leader Khalil ur Rahman Haqqani, in an interview with Geo News, said, "There is no enmity" between the group and Ashraf Ghani, Amrullah Saleh and former national security advisor, Hamdullah Mohib.” &nbsp;

Haqqani said, "We forgive Ashraf Ghani, Amrullah Saleh and Hamdullah Mohib," adding that enmity between the Taliban and the three was only on the basis of religion. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The leader said, "We forgive everyone from our end; from the general (who fought in the war against us) to the common man." &nbsp;&nbsp;

He also urged people not to flee the country, adding that the "enemy" was spreading propaganda that the Taliban will exact revenge on them. &nbsp;&nbsp;

"Tajiks, Balochs, Hazaras and Pashtuns are all our brothers. All Afghans are our brothers and hence, they can return to the country. The sole reason for our enmity was driven by the ambition to change the system. And the system has now changed," he added. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Haqqani said the Taliban were not the ones, who went to war against the US.&nbsp;

If the reports are to be believed, the Afghan Taliban have extended amnesty to deposed Afghanistan president Ashraf Ghani and vice president Amrullah Saleh, allowing them to return to country if they want.

If the reports are to be believed, the Afghan Taliban have extended amnesty to deposed Afghanistan president Ashraf Ghani and vice president Amrullah Saleh, allowing them to return to country if they want. Senior Taliban leader Khalil ur Rahman Haqqani, in an interview with Geo News, said, "There is no enmity" between the group and Ashraf Ghani, Amrullah Saleh and former national security advisor, Hamdullah Mohib.” Haqqani said, "We forgive Ashraf Ghani, Amrullah Saleh and Hamdullah Mohib," adding that enmity between the Taliban and the three was only on the basis of religion. The leader said, "We forgive everyone from our end; from the general (who fought in the war against us) to the common man." He also urged people not to flee the country, adding that the "enemy" was spreading propaganda that the Taliban will exact revenge on them. "Tajiks, Balochs, Hazaras and Pashtuns are all our brothers. All Afghans are our brothers and hence, they can return to the country. The sole reason for our enmity was driven by the ambition to change the system. And the system has now changed," he added. Haqqani said the Taliban were not the ones, who went to war against the US.

Taliban leader: Amrullah Saleh, Ashraf Ghani can return to Afghanistan

Multiple protests being held across the world for the ongoing situation in Afghanistan. In Spain and England hundreds came out in solidarity with the Afghan people. Watch this report to know more.

England and Spain witness solidarity protests for people in Afghanistan

A NATO official has said at least 20 people have lost their lives at Kabul airport during the evacuation process that began after the Taliban militants seized control of the capital city last week.

“The crisis outside the Kabul airport is unfortunate. Our focus is to evacuate all foreigners as soon as we can,” Reuters quoted the official, who didn’t wish to be named.

Large swathes of crowd have been gathering at the airport for the last one week in a last-ditched effort to fly out of the country amid fears of the return of stringent Sharia law the Taliban used to enforce when it was in power two decades ago.

Several western countries, including US, UK, had to suspend the evacuation process in the face of worsening security situation at the Taliban airport.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/ashraf-ghanis-brother-pledges-allegiance-to-taliban-report-407612">Also read |&nbsp;Ashraf Ghani's brother pledges allegiance to Taliban: Report</a>

“Our forces are maintaining strict distance from outer areas of the Kabul airport to prevent any clashes with the Taliban,” the NATO official added.

On Saturday, the United States and Germany told their citizens in Afghanistan to avoid travelling to Kabul airport, citing security risks.

Army major general William Taylor told a Pentagon briefing on Saturday that 5,800 US troops remain at the airport and that the facility “remains secure”. Taylor said some gates into the airport were temporarily closed and reopened over the past day to facilitate a safe influx of evacuees.

Australia ran four flights into Kabul on Saturday night, evacuating more than 300 people, including Australians, Afghan visa holders, New Zealanders, US and British citizens, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.

&nbsp;

A NATO official has said at least 20 people have lost their lives at Kabul airport during the evacuation process that began after the Taliban militants seized control of the capital city last week.

A NATO official has said at least 20 people have lost their lives at Kabul airport during the evacuation process that began after the Taliban militants seized control of the capital city last week. “The crisis outside the Kabul airport is unfortunate. Our focus is to evacuate all foreigners as soon as we can,” Reuters quoted the official, who didn’t wish to be named. Large swathes of crowd have been gathering at the airport for the last one week in a last-ditched effort to fly out of the country amid fears of the return of stringent Sharia law the Taliban used to enforce when it was in power two decades ago. Several western countries, including US, UK, had to suspend the evacuation process in the face of worsening security situation at the Taliban airport. Also read | Ashraf Ghani's brother pledges allegiance to Taliban: Report “Our forces are maintaining strict distance from outer areas of the Kabul airport to prevent any clashes with the Taliban,” the NATO official added. On Saturday, the United States and Germany told their citizens in Afghanistan to avoid travelling to Kabul airport, citing security risks. Army major general William Taylor told a Pentagon briefing on Saturday that 5,800 US troops remain at the airport and that the facility “remains secure”. Taylor said some gates into the airport were temporarily closed and reopened over the past day to facilitate a safe influx of evacuees. Australia ran four flights into Kabul on Saturday night, evacuating more than 300 people, including Australians, Afghan visa holders, New Zealanders, US and British citizens, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.

At least 20 died in a week during evacuation at Kabul airport: NATO official

Warning the return of the Taliban will bring cheer among every jihadist group around the world, former UK PM Tony Blair has said it is now a moral obligation for Western troops to stay until all those eligible are evacuated from Afghanistan.&nbsp;

The former prime minister shared his views over the situation in Afghanistan in a lengthy essay published on his website last night.&nbsp;

Blair, who ordered British troops to join the US-led invasion in 2001, said the hasty US troops’ withdrawal had been a 'tragic, dangerous, unnecessary' decision. It has undermined the West’s aims. &nbsp;

The leader also accused US President Joe Biden of getting motivated by “an imbecilic political slogan about ending ‘the forever wars’, as if our engagement in 2021 was remotely comparable to our commitment 20 or even 10 years ago”.&nbsp;

Blair wrote, “The abandonment of Afghanistan and its people is tragic, dangerous, unnecessary, not in their interests and not in ours.&nbsp;In the aftermath of the decision to return Afghanistan to the same group from which the carnage of 9/11 arose, and in a manner which seems almost designed to parade our humiliation, the question, which allies and enemies alike pose is: has the West lost its strategic will?"&nbsp;

“The world is now uncertain of where the West stands because it is so obvious that the decision to withdraw from Afghanistan in this way was driven not by grand strategy but by politics,” he added.&nbsp;

Warning the return of the Taliban will bring cheer among every jihadist group around the world, former UK PM Tony Blair has said it is now a moral obligation for Western troops to stay until all those eligible are evacuated from Afghanistan.

Warning the return of the Taliban will bring cheer among every jihadist group around the world, former UK PM Tony Blair has said it is now a moral obligation for Western troops to stay until all those eligible are evacuated from Afghanistan. The former prime minister shared his views over the situation in Afghanistan in a lengthy essay published on his website last night. Blair, who ordered British troops to join the US-led invasion in 2001, said the hasty US troops’ withdrawal had been a 'tragic, dangerous, unnecessary' decision. It has undermined the West’s aims. The leader also accused US President Joe Biden of getting motivated by “an imbecilic political slogan about ending ‘the forever wars’, as if our engagement in 2021 was remotely comparable to our commitment 20 or even 10 years ago”. Blair wrote, “The abandonment of Afghanistan and its people is tragic, dangerous, unnecessary, not in their interests and not in ours. In the aftermath of the decision to return Afghanistan to the same group from which the carnage of 9/11 arose, and in a manner which seems almost designed to parade our humiliation, the question, which allies and enemies alike pose is: has the West lost its strategic will?" “The world is now uncertain of where the West stands because it is so obvious that the decision to withdraw from Afghanistan in this way was driven not by grand strategy but by politics,” he added.

Taliban’s return may bring cheer among every jihadist group in world: Blair 

Forces holding out against the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-releases-propaganda-video-showing-fighters-in-army-uniform-gear-407587">Taliban</a> in northern Afghanistan say they have taken three districts close to the Panjshir valley where remnants of government forces and other militia groups have gathered.

Defence Minister General Bismillah Mohammadi, who has vowed to resist the Taliban, said in a tweet that the districts of Deh Saleh, Bano and Pul-Hesar in the neighbouring province of Baghlan to the north of Panjshir had been taken.

It was not immediately clear what forces were involved but the incident adds to scattered indications of opposition to the Taliban who swept to power in a lightning campaign that saw them take all of Afghanistan's main cities in a week.

Local television station Tolo News quoted a local police commander who said Bano district in Baghlan was under the control of local militia forces and said there had been heavy casualties.

The Taliban have not commented on the incident.

Former Vice President Amrullah Saleh and Ahmad Massoud, son of former anti-Soviet Mujahideen commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, have vowed to resist the Taliban from Panjshir, which repelled both Soviet forces and the Taliban in the 1980s and 1990s.

People close to Massoud say that more than 6,000 fighters, made up of remnants of army and Special Forces units as well as local militia groups, have gathered in the valley. They say they have some helicopters and military vehicles and have repaired some of the armoured vehicles left behind by the Soviets.

There appeared to be no connection between the groups in Panjshir and apparently uncoordinated demonstrations in some eastern cities and the capital Kabul in which protesters raised the red green and black colours of the Afghan flag.

But they underscore the problems that may face the Taliban as they begin to consolidate their rapid victory.

The Taliban have not so far tried to enter Panjshir, which is still dotted with the wreckage of Soviet armoured vehicles destroyed in the fighting more than 30 years ago.

But Western diplomats and others have expressed scepticism about the ability of the groups gathered there to mount an effective resistance given the lack of outside support and the need to repair and maintain weapons.

The former Soviet Union occupied Afghanistan from 1979 to 1989, leaving after 15,000 of its troops were killed and tens of thousands were wounded.

Forces holding out against the Taliban in northern Afghanistan say they have taken three districts close to the Panjshir valley where remnants of government forces and other militia groups have gathered.

Forces holding out against the Taliban in northern Afghanistan say they have taken three districts close to the Panjshir valley where remnants of government forces and other militia groups have gathered. Defence Minister General Bismillah Mohammadi, who has vowed to resist the Taliban, said in a tweet that the districts of Deh Saleh, Bano and Pul-Hesar in the neighbouring province of Baghlan to the north of Panjshir had been taken. It was not immediately clear what forces were involved but the incident adds to scattered indications of opposition to the Taliban who swept to power in a lightning campaign that saw them take all of Afghanistan's main cities in a week. Local television station Tolo News quoted a local police commander who said Bano district in Baghlan was under the control of local militia forces and said there had been heavy casualties. The Taliban have not commented on the incident. Former Vice President Amrullah Saleh and Ahmad Massoud, son of former anti-Soviet Mujahideen commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, have vowed to resist the Taliban from Panjshir, which repelled both Soviet forces and the Taliban in the 1980s and 1990s. People close to Massoud say that more than 6,000 fighters, made up of remnants of army and Special Forces units as well as local militia groups, have gathered in the valley. They say they have some helicopters and military vehicles and have repaired some of the armoured vehicles left behind by the Soviets. There appeared to be no connection between the groups in Panjshir and apparently uncoordinated demonstrations in some eastern cities and the capital Kabul in which protesters raised the red green and black colours of the Afghan flag. But they underscore the problems that may face the Taliban as they begin to consolidate their rapid victory. The Taliban have not so far tried to enter Panjshir, which is still dotted with the wreckage of Soviet armoured vehicles destroyed in the fighting more than 30 years ago. But Western diplomats and others have expressed scepticism about the ability of the groups gathered there to mount an effective resistance given the lack of outside support and the need to repair and maintain weapons. The former Soviet Union occupied Afghanistan from 1979 to 1989, leaving after 15,000 of its troops were killed and tens of thousands were wounded.

Anti-Taliban forces claim to have taken districts close to Panjshir valley

Equipping its fighters with army uniform and gear, Taliban have released a propaganda video on social media platforms. &nbsp;

The video appears to show Taliban's 'Badri 313' soldiers with special forces military helmets along with mounts for night vision goggles.&nbsp;

In the tweet, the group says the 'Badri 313' units have been deployed in Kabul for "security". The fighters are being portrayed to be world-class. &nbsp;

Earlier, Taliban media Manba al-Jihad Studio seems to have released a whole new photoset of new graduates from its Salahuddin Ayubi military training camp in Afghanistan. &nbsp;

As per the group, these new graduates were to be a part of Badri 313 battalion.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the Taliban has banned co-education in government and private universities in Herat, reports said.&nbsp;

Khaama Press news agency reported the decision was taken after a meeting between professors, owners of private institutions and Taliban leaders.&nbsp;

Reports said women lecturers would be allowed to teach only female students and not male students. Taliban's representative and head of higher education in the country Mullah Farid reportedly said co-education was the "root of all evils in society".&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Equipping its fighters with army uniform and gear, Taliban have released a propaganda video on social media platforms. The video appears to show Taliban's 'Badri 313' soldiers with special forces military helmets along with mounts for night vision goggles.

Equipping its fighters with army uniform and gear, Taliban have released a propaganda video on social media platforms. The video appears to show Taliban's 'Badri 313' soldiers with special forces military helmets along with mounts for night vision goggles. In the tweet, the group says the 'Badri 313' units have been deployed in Kabul for "security". The fighters are being portrayed to be world-class. Earlier, Taliban media Manba al-Jihad Studio seems to have released a whole new photoset of new graduates from its Salahuddin Ayubi military training camp in Afghanistan. As per the group, these new graduates were to be a part of Badri 313 battalion. Meanwhile, the Taliban has banned co-education in government and private universities in Herat, reports said. Khaama Press news agency reported the decision was taken after a meeting between professors, owners of private institutions and Taliban leaders. Reports said women lecturers would be allowed to teach only female students and not male students. Taliban's representative and head of higher education in the country Mullah Farid reportedly said co-education was the "root of all evils in society". (With inputs from agencies)

Taliban releases propaganda video showing fighters in army uniform, gear

An Indian Air Force special repatriation flight from Kabul with 168 evacuees has landed at the Hindan airbase. The flight included 107 Indian nationals and over 20 Afghan Sikhs.

Afghanistan Crisis: Afghan MPs evacuated on Indian flight

As the days pass, the situation in Kabul remains grim. On one hand, the Taliban is attempting a political game while on the other, thousands camp at the Kabul airport, hoping to leave their conflict-ridden homeland. Our correspondent Anas Mallick is in Kabul, bringing you the latest on the Afghan crisis.

Ground Report: Afghanistan's day 6 under Taliban

UK's defence ministry said that at least seven people were killed in the chaos near <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/thousands-of-afghans-still-wait-at-kabul-airport-us-allies-issue-advisory-407518">Kabul airport</a>.

Boris Johnson government's&nbsp;announcement comes even as reports said Taliban rulers had imposed some order around the chaotic Kabul airport on Sunday.

Watch:

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Thousands have gathered around Kabul airport a week after the militant group captured the capital. US, Australia and the UK have evacuated hundreds of officials and diplomats from the city.

<img alt="Kabul airport" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="44d3a4da-cb06-4b55-93b6-3193be7c9533" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/KK1_0.jpg" />

"Our sincere thoughts are with the families of the seven Afghan civilians who have sadly died in crowds in Kabul," the UK defence ministry said in a statement.

<img alt="Kabul airport" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7e76c20c-f8d5-4e96-9b35-29a98acc71b6" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/X2.jpg" />

Australia airlifted 300 people in four flights on Saturday night which included Australians, Afghan visa holders, New Zealanders, US and British citizens.

US and Germany had issued advisories to their citizens to avoid travelling to Kabul airport due to mass gatherings of Afghans desperate to board flights out of the country.

Reports say Afghans have tried to push up against concrete blast walls of the airport to enter the area even as 5,800 US troops remain at the airport.

The United States has evacuated&nbsp;17,000 people, including 2,500 Americans from Kabul in the past week with 3,800 people put on US flights in the last 24 hours.

(With inputs from Agencies)

UK's defence ministry said that at least seven people were killed in the chaos near Kabul airport. Boris Johnson government's announcement comes even as reports said Taliban rulers had imposed some order around the chaotic Kabul airport on Sunday.

UK's defence ministry said that at least seven people were killed in the chaos near Kabul airport. Boris Johnson government's announcement comes even as reports said Taliban rulers had imposed some order around the chaotic Kabul airport on Sunday. Watch: Thousands have gathered around Kabul airport a week after the militant group captured the capital. US, Australia and the UK have evacuated hundreds of officials and diplomats from the city. "Our sincere thoughts are with the families of the seven Afghan civilians who have sadly died in crowds in Kabul," the UK defence ministry said in a statement. Australia airlifted 300 people in four flights on Saturday night which included Australians, Afghan visa holders, New Zealanders, US and British citizens. US and Germany had issued advisories to their citizens to avoid travelling to Kabul airport due to mass gatherings of Afghans desperate to board flights out of the country. Reports say Afghans have tried to push up against concrete blast walls of the airport to enter the area even as 5,800 US troops remain at the airport. The United States has evacuated 17,000 people, including 2,500 Americans from Kabul in the past week with 3,800 people put on US flights in the last 24 hours. (With inputs from Agencies)

At least seven Afghans killed in chaos near Kabul airport amid evacuation

Across Afghanistan, the Taliban are carrying out door-to-door searches and hunting for those Afghans who worked with the US & its allies. Instead of protecting their employees, some missions of Western governments abandoned their local staff. Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: The Taliban is hunting for rivals in a door-to-door manhunt

Afghan women are on the frontlines, challenging the Taliban's repressive rule. From organising protests to arranging safe passage for their family, Afghan women have refused to relinquish their hard-earned rights. Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Afghan women challenge Taliban's rule

America's billion-dollar war chest has been captured by the Taliban. Reports say these weapons are being distributed to Pak-backed terrorists looking to stir trouble in Kashmir. Palki Sharma tells you India's biggest worry about the Taliban.

Gravitas: Taliban's rise & India's biggest worry

The Taliban is now sitting on minerals worth $1 trillion spread across Afghanistan. A 2010 Pentagon report called Afghanistan the 'Saudi Arabia of Lithium'. Is this why China is striking deals with the Taliban? Palki Sharma has a report.

Gravitas | China's Afghan Game: Minerals worth $1 Trillion

An Afghan teenager who played for the national youth football team fell to his death after trying to cling to a US military plane. Palki Sharma tells you how some tried to profit from his misery.

Gravitas: 17-year-old Afghan youth footballer died in fall from US plane in Kabul

Thousands of Afghan refugees crowded outside the Kabul airport hoping for safe passage. American soldiers responded by firing tear gas at them. Palki Sharma tells you stories of desperation & hopelessness from Kabul.

Gravitas: Afghan parents pass children over airport wall

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Saturday to maintain dialogue with the Taliban and to take a "gradual" approach to relations with Afghanistan's new rulers.

"We must keep the channels of open dialogue with the Taliban and pursue a gradual engagement instead of an approach based on hard conditions," Erdogan said in a phone call with Putin, according to a statement from his office.&nbsp;

The Turkish leader also welcomed talks between the Taliban and former senior Afghan officials as "promising".&nbsp;

"We welcome the Taliban's moderate messages as positive for the moment, but the process ahead will be shaped not by their words but by their deeds," Erdogan said.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-plus-who-created-the-taliban-407485">WATCH</a>

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"The presidents agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation on Afghanistan," the Kremlin said in a statement.&nbsp;

According to Moscow, the two leaders affirmed the need to ensure "stability and a peaceful society in the country" with an emphasis on "the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking".

Turkey, which has several hundred troops in Afghanistan, is involved in securing Kabul airport with the United States.&nbsp;

In July, Ankara offered Washington to take over the airport after the withdrawal of US troops.

That plan appeared to be in jeopardy with the return of the Taliban, who have publicly warned Turkey against keeping its troops there.&nbsp;

"We can continue to secure and manage Kabul airport if the right conditions emerge," the Turkish leader said on Saturday.&nbsp;

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Saturday to maintain dialogue with the Taliban and to take a "gradual" approach to relations with Afghanistan's new rulers.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Saturday to maintain dialogue with the Taliban and to take a "gradual" approach to relations with Afghanistan's new rulers. "We must keep the channels of open dialogue with the Taliban and pursue a gradual engagement instead of an approach based on hard conditions," Erdogan said in a phone call with Putin, according to a statement from his office. The Turkish leader also welcomed talks between the Taliban and former senior Afghan officials as "promising". "We welcome the Taliban's moderate messages as positive for the moment, but the process ahead will be shaped not by their words but by their deeds," Erdogan said. WATCH "The presidents agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation on Afghanistan," the Kremlin said in a statement. According to Moscow, the two leaders affirmed the need to ensure "stability and a peaceful society in the country" with an emphasis on "the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking". Turkey, which has several hundred troops in Afghanistan, is involved in securing Kabul airport with the United States. In July, Ankara offered Washington to take over the airport after the withdrawal of US troops. That plan appeared to be in jeopardy with the return of the Taliban, who have publicly warned Turkey against keeping its troops there. "We can continue to secure and manage Kabul airport if the right conditions emerge," the Turkish leader said on Saturday.

Turkey's Erdogan urges Putin to remain 'open' to Taliban

It was the end of a decadeslong American military engagement overseas, and thousands of U.S. allies were clamoring to board the last planes leaving for, they hoped, eventual resettlement in the United States. Their capital had fallen. Deadly reprisals for those who stayed behind were almost certain.

It was 1975, the tumultuous backdrop was Southeast Asia, and Washington largely opened America’s doors, letting in some 300,000 refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia over the next four years. Joe Biden, then a young U.S. senator from Delaware, co-sponsored landmark legislation that won unanimous passage in the Senate and was signed into law in 1980, divorcing refugee admissions from U.S. foreign policy and generally expanding the number allowed into the country each year.

Now, as similar scenes of chaos and desperation unfold in Kabul with the conclusion of America’s 20-year war in Afghanistan, most analysts say there is little chance the country will repeat the extensive refugee-resettlement effort that accompanied the end of the war in Vietnam.

Decades of lukewarm public sentiment over refugees, a toxic political stalemate over immigration and contemporary concerns over terrorism and the coronavirus pandemic have all but eliminated the possibility of a similar mass mobilisation.

Since the 1930s, polling by Gallup has shown time and again that Americans are ambivalent toward accepting refugees. As recently as 2018, amid a surge of Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans seeking safe haven, Americans said they would rather accept ordinary immigrants coming to look for better lives than refugees fleeing war and violence, according to the Pew Research Center — the opposite of respondents in 16 other Western countries.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-plus-who-created-the-taliban-407485">WATCH</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-plus-who-created-the-taliban-407485/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The refugee law that Biden co-sponsored calls for the president to determine the number of refugee admissions for a given year based on humanitarian concerns or what is otherwise in the national interest, giving the White House wide latitude.

When the program began in 1980, the U.S. capped the number of refugees at 234,000. But that limit has trended generally downward since, hitting what many thought would be a low of 15,000 in the last year of the presidency of Donald Trump, whose hostility to all kinds of immigration was a cornerstone of his administration.

Biden ran on a pledge to adopt a more humane policy and rebuild the resettlement program, but the country is poised to admit the lowest number of refugees in the history of the program — there have been 6,246 through July 31 — partly because the pandemic closed consulates and delayed processing of applications.

The crisis conditions in Afghanistan have prompted urgent calls to resettle Afghans who are trying urgently to leave before a Taliban crackdown, starting with the translators and others who face retribution because of their work with the U.S. military.

“President Biden has said, ‘America is back’ — is the city on the hill. Now he has the chance to prove it,” said Ryan Crocker, whose long diplomatic career included stints as U.S. ambassador to both Iraq and Afghanistan.

More than a dozen governors from both parties have expressed a willingness to receive refugees, and faith-based groups across the country are volunteering to help sponsor Afghan families. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, said the state had “a long history of welcoming refugees from around the world” and was “eager to continue that practice” with Afghan refugees.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/afghan-parliament-member-nabiullah-baz-speaks-with-wion-407506">WATCH</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/afghan-parliament-member-nabiullah-baz-speaks-with-wion-407506/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

But with large numbers of people fleeing violence and poverty in Central America and other countries pushing recently across the border with Mexico, some conservatives are calling for a hard line against large numbers of Afghan refugees.

Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wis., said he was “deeply disturbed” that thousands of Afghans could be transported to Fort McCoy in his state without appropriate screening and called on the White House to abandon “this dangerous ready-fire-aim plan.”

And Fox News’ Tucker Carlson warned that admitting refugees now could eventually result in “millions” of Afghan immigrants. “So first we invade, and then we are invaded.”

What obligation, if any, does the United States have to accept people from other countries who are fleeing for their lives? None legally. There is no international law that requires the United States to take in refugees.

Yet, since the aftermath of World War II, it has played a leading role in welcoming refugees, especially from countries where it engaged militarily in the service of strategic and geopolitical considerations.

Between 1945 and 1950, the United States admitted about 350,000 Europeans, mainly Jews who survived the Holocaust.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower paroled some 40,000 Hungarians into the United States, and President John F. Kennedy went on to allow several hundred thousand Cubans opposed to the regime of Fidel Castro. Then came Vietnam and the exodus of hundreds of thousands of boat people after the fall of Saigon.

Also read :&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/switzerland-postpones-evacuation-plans-as-security-at-kabul-airport-worsens-407480">Switzerland postpones evacuation plans as security at Kabul airport worsens</a>

In all of those cases, refugees were casualties of America’s Cold War campaign against communism, and they enjoyed a certain amount of public support.

“During the ’80s, refugees are relatively popular because they are seen as a symbol of the superiority of our political and economic system,” said Serena Parekh, author of two books on refugees, including “No Refuge: Ethics and the Global Refugee Crisis,” published last year. “They are part of Cold War politics and play well into national interests.”

In the late 1980s, the United States received tens of thousands of Soviet Jews and other religious minorities for whom the American public had sympathy. In the 1990s, there was an influx from the conflict in the former Yugoslavia.

But by the late 1990s, the Congressional Black Caucus was criticizing the program for not assisting enough Africans fleeing bloodshed in countries such as Somalia, forcing them to remain parked in teeming camps. Public attitudes toward refugees already were shifting, said Parekh, a professor at Northeastern University.

“Refugees start to look more foreign or dissimilar to people in the U.S.,” she said. “Instead of being seen as people courageously fleeing persecution, they are seen as people who will be an economic burden.”

Also read :&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/from-narco-terrorism-to-informal-economy-the-state-crime-nexus-of-afghanistans-opium-dilemma-407432" hreflang="en">From narco-terrorism to informal economy: The state-crime nexus of Afghanistan’s opium dilemma</a>

In response to 9/11, the United States invaded Afghanistan; two years later, it invaded Iraq.

Back home, public concern grew when immigrants — not refugees — were involved in a handful of other deadly terror attacks. The administrations of George W. Bush and Barack Obama added layers of security checks to the application process.

“The refugee program became so mired in red tape and extreme vetting that it looks like a program designed to keep people out of the United States rather than rescue them,” said Mark Hetfield, CEO of HIAS, a resettlement agency founded as Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, and who has worked in the field for 32 years.

After terrorist attacks in Paris in 2015, more than 20 governors announced that their states would not accept refugees from Syria, fearing terrorist infiltrators.

Not long after taking office, Trump slashed the refugee cap to 50,000 from the 110,000 set by Obama, and issued an executive order barring the entry of people from several predominantly Muslim countries. The next year, he set a ceiling of 45,000; fewer than half arrived amid tighter background checks and restrictions.

Biden quickly began to undo his predecessor’s immigration policies, but rising public concern over the rapid increase in unauthorized crossings on the southwestern border prompted him to defer a plan to increase the cap on refugees this year.

The delay forced 700 refugees, already screened and holding tickets, to be pulled off flights. There was swift rebuke from human rights activists and fellow Democrats, and within hours, the White House announced that the 2021 cap would be raised to 62,500. But it was not clear whether — given the pandemic, the program’s depletion by his predecessor and soaring numbers at the border — this number would be achieved.

As of March 31, the latest data available, 20,829 Afghans, plus 52,799 family members, had received special immigrant visas since 2014 under a separate program created by Congress for those who could face reprisals for their work with U.S. troops.

One of the Afghans who was evacuated and arrived in Houston this month, a 32-year-old interpreter who worked with a U.S. Marines platoon, said he managed to escape only days before his city, Gardez, south of Kabul, fell to the Taliban.

“I am just worried for so many people still there,” said the man, who wanted to be identified only by his English nickname, Harry, out of fear for the relatives he left behind. “They are hiding, or moving their families from place to place.”

Biden on Wednesday said the United States hoped to evacuate between 50,000 and 65,000 Afghan allies, including their families, and had approved an additional $500 million to help with “urgent refugee and migration needs.”

Many of them will be directed to other countries for processing. How many Afghans will eventually be welcomed into the United States remains an open question, one that Crocker, the former diplomat, said is key to everything the United States tried to achieve during the war.

“We owe it to Afghan females, the free media,” he said. “It’s for all those people we basically said to, ‘You go ahead and build a new, free open society and we will be here to see you get that done and that you get it done safely.’

“We have the moral obligation and the capacity to do it.”

It was the end of a decadeslong American military engagement overseas, and thousands of U.S. allies were clamoring to board the last planes leaving for, they hoped, eventual resettlement in the United States.

It was the end of a decadeslong American military engagement overseas, and thousands of U.S. allies were clamoring to board the last planes leaving for, they hoped, eventual resettlement in the United States. Their capital had fallen. Deadly reprisals for those who stayed behind were almost certain. It was 1975, the tumultuous backdrop was Southeast Asia, and Washington largely opened America’s doors, letting in some 300,000 refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia over the next four years. Joe Biden, then a young U.S. senator from Delaware, co-sponsored landmark legislation that won unanimous passage in the Senate and was signed into law in 1980, divorcing refugee admissions from U.S. foreign policy and generally expanding the number allowed into the country each year. Now, as similar scenes of chaos and desperation unfold in Kabul with the conclusion of America’s 20-year war in Afghanistan, most analysts say there is little chance the country will repeat the extensive refugee-resettlement effort that accompanied the end of the war in Vietnam. Decades of lukewarm public sentiment over refugees, a toxic political stalemate over immigration and contemporary concerns over terrorism and the coronavirus pandemic have all but eliminated the possibility of a similar mass mobilisation. Since the 1930s, polling by Gallup has shown time and again that Americans are ambivalent toward accepting refugees. As recently as 2018, amid a surge of Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans seeking safe haven, Americans said they would rather accept ordinary immigrants coming to look for better lives than refugees fleeing war and violence, according to the Pew Research Center — the opposite of respondents in 16 other Western countries. WATCH The refugee law that Biden co-sponsored calls for the president to determine the number of refugee admissions for a given year based on humanitarian concerns or what is otherwise in the national interest, giving the White House wide latitude. When the program began in 1980, the U.S. capped the number of refugees at 234,000. But that limit has trended generally downward since, hitting what many thought would be a low of 15,000 in the last year of the presidency of Donald Trump, whose hostility to all kinds of immigration was a cornerstone of his administration. Biden ran on a pledge to adopt a more humane policy and rebuild the resettlement program, but the country is poised to admit the lowest number of refugees in the history of the program — there have been 6,246 through July 31 — partly because the pandemic closed consulates and delayed processing of applications. The crisis conditions in Afghanistan have prompted urgent calls to resettle Afghans who are trying urgently to leave before a Taliban crackdown, starting with the translators and others who face retribution because of their work with the U.S. military. “President Biden has said, ‘America is back’ — is the city on the hill. Now he has the chance to prove it,” said Ryan Crocker, whose long diplomatic career included stints as U.S. ambassador to both Iraq and Afghanistan. More than a dozen governors from both parties have expressed a willingness to receive refugees, and faith-based groups across the country are volunteering to help sponsor Afghan families. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, said the state had “a long history of welcoming refugees from around the world” and was “eager to continue that practice” with Afghan refugees. WATCH But with large numbers of people fleeing violence and poverty in Central America and other countries pushing recently across the border with Mexico, some conservatives are calling for a hard line against large numbers of Afghan refugees. Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wis., said he was “deeply disturbed” that thousands of Afghans could be transported to Fort McCoy in his state without appropriate screening and called on the White House to abandon “this dangerous ready-fire-aim plan.” And Fox News’ Tucker Carlson warned that admitting refugees now could eventually result in “millions” of Afghan immigrants. “So first we invade, and then we are invaded.” What obligation, if any, does the United States have to accept people from other countries who are fleeing for their lives? None legally. There is no international law that requires the United States to take in refugees. Yet, since the aftermath of World War II, it has played a leading role in welcoming refugees, especially from countries where it engaged militarily in the service of strategic and geopolitical considerations. Between 1945 and 1950, the United States admitted about 350,000 Europeans, mainly Jews who survived the Holocaust. President Dwight D. Eisenhower paroled some 40,000 Hungarians into the United States, and President John F. Kennedy went on to allow several hundred thousand Cubans opposed to the regime of Fidel Castro. Then came Vietnam and the exodus of hundreds of thousands of boat people after the fall of Saigon. Also read : Switzerland postpones evacuation plans as security at Kabul airport worsens In all of those cases, refugees were casualties of America’s Cold War campaign against communism, and they enjoyed a certain amount of public support. “During the ’80s, refugees are relatively popular because they are seen as a symbol of the superiority of our political and economic system,” said Serena Parekh, author of two books on refugees, including “No Refuge: Ethics and the Global Refugee Crisis,” published last year. “They are part of Cold War politics and play well into national interests.” In the late 1980s, the United States received tens of thousands of Soviet Jews and other religious minorities for whom the American public had sympathy. In the 1990s, there was an influx from the conflict in the former Yugoslavia. But by the late 1990s, the Congressional Black Caucus was criticizing the program for not assisting enough Africans fleeing bloodshed in countries such as Somalia, forcing them to remain parked in teeming camps. Public attitudes toward refugees already were shifting, said Parekh, a professor at Northeastern University. “Refugees start to look more foreign or dissimilar to people in the U.S.,” she said. “Instead of being seen as people courageously fleeing persecution, they are seen as people who will be an economic burden.” Also read : From narco-terrorism to informal economy: The state-crime nexus of Afghanistan’s opium dilemma In response to 9/11, the United States invaded Afghanistan; two years later, it invaded Iraq. Back home, public concern grew when immigrants — not refugees — were involved in a handful of other deadly terror attacks. The administrations of George W. Bush and Barack Obama added layers of security checks to the application process. “The refugee program became so mired in red tape and extreme vetting that it looks like a program designed to keep people out of the United States rather than rescue them,” said Mark Hetfield, CEO of HIAS, a resettlement agency founded as Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, and who has worked in the field for 32 years. After terrorist attacks in Paris in 2015, more than 20 governors announced that their states would not accept refugees from Syria, fearing terrorist infiltrators. Not long after taking office, Trump slashed the refugee cap to 50,000 from the 110,000 set by Obama, and issued an executive order barring the entry of people from several predominantly Muslim countries. The next year, he set a ceiling of 45,000; fewer than half arrived amid tighter background checks and restrictions. Biden quickly began to undo his predecessor’s immigration policies, but rising public concern over the rapid increase in unauthorized crossings on the southwestern border prompted him to defer a plan to increase the cap on refugees this year. The delay forced 700 refugees, already screened and holding tickets, to be pulled off flights. There was swift rebuke from human rights activists and fellow Democrats, and within hours, the White House announced that the 2021 cap would be raised to 62,500. But it was not clear whether — given the pandemic, the program’s depletion by his predecessor and soaring numbers at the border — this number would be achieved. As of March 31, the latest data available, 20,829 Afghans, plus 52,799 family members, had received special immigrant visas since 2014 under a separate program created by Congress for those who could face reprisals for their work with U.S. troops. One of the Afghans who was evacuated and arrived in Houston this month, a 32-year-old interpreter who worked with a U.S. Marines platoon, said he managed to escape only days before his city, Gardez, south of Kabul, fell to the Taliban. “I am just worried for so many people still there,” said the man, who wanted to be identified only by his English nickname, Harry, out of fear for the relatives he left behind. “They are hiding, or moving their families from place to place.” Biden on Wednesday said the United States hoped to evacuate between 50,000 and 65,000 Afghan allies, including their families, and had approved an additional $500 million to help with “urgent refugee and migration needs.” Many of them will be directed to other countries for processing. How many Afghans will eventually be welcomed into the United States remains an open question, one that Crocker, the former diplomat, said is key to everything the United States tried to achieve during the war. “We owe it to Afghan females, the free media,” he said. “It’s for all those people we basically said to, ‘You go ahead and build a new, free open society and we will be here to see you get that done and that you get it done safely.’ “We have the moral obligation and the capacity to do it.”

50 years after Vietnam, thousands flee another lost American war

"It's mathematically impossible" for the US and its allies to evacuate tens of thousands of their Afghan personnel and families by August 31, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell warned Saturday.

Borrell, speaking to AFP from Spain in a telephone interview, added that "we have complained" to the Americans that their security at Kabul airport was overly strict and hampering attempts by Afghans who worked for the Europeans to enter.

August 31 is the deadline the United States had announced for the complete pullout of its forces from Afghanistan, but President Joe Biden has flagged that might be extended if airlifts remain viable.

The US military is currently in control of Kabul's airport and running its air traffic control operations.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-plus-who-created-the-taliban-407485">WATCH</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-plus-who-created-the-taliban-407485/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"As far as I know, for the moment the Americans haven't said they will stay beyond August 31, but they might change their thinking," Borrell said.

"They want to evacuate 60,000 people between now and the end of this month. It's mathematically impossible," he said.

Borrell told AFP that, for Europe's evacuation efforts, "the problem is access to the airport -- the US checks and security measures are very strong" and were preventing the passage of Afghan staff.

He said Brussels had lodged a complaint with the US, asking for "more flexibility".

The EU's top foreign policy official had been in Madrid accompanying European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on a visit to a Spanish air base receiving incoming flights carrying European citizens and Afghan personnel -- and several American citizens.&nbsp;

He said just 150 of the 400 Afghans employed by the EU have been evacuated so far. "I'm very aware that this is very insufficient," he said.

"Planes are leaving while people are still on the tarmac," he said.

Despite his exasperation, Borrell denied there were tensions between the European Union and the United States over the ongoing evacuations.

But, he said, questions will have to be asked over "why things happened like this" and evoked a future EU summit being called to address the situation that Europe has found itself in, and what the next steps should be regarding Afghanistan.

Borrell, who this week told the European Parliament that the chaotic evacuation scenes were a "catastrophe" for the West, underlined that the European Union has been working on for some time on a strategy paper that will propose a 50,000-strong rapid reaction force to tackle future crises.

"It's mathematically impossible" for the US and its allies to evacuate tens of thousands of their Afghan personnel and families by August 31, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell warned Saturday.

"It's mathematically impossible" for the US and its allies to evacuate tens of thousands of their Afghan personnel and families by August 31, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell warned Saturday. Borrell, speaking to AFP from Spain in a telephone interview, added that "we have complained" to the Americans that their security at Kabul airport was overly strict and hampering attempts by Afghans who worked for the Europeans to enter. August 31 is the deadline the United States had announced for the complete pullout of its forces from Afghanistan, but President Joe Biden has flagged that might be extended if airlifts remain viable. The US military is currently in control of Kabul's airport and running its air traffic control operations. WATCH "As far as I know, for the moment the Americans haven't said they will stay beyond August 31, but they might change their thinking," Borrell said. "They want to evacuate 60,000 people between now and the end of this month. It's mathematically impossible," he said. Borrell told AFP that, for Europe's evacuation efforts, "the problem is access to the airport -- the US checks and security measures are very strong" and were preventing the passage of Afghan staff. He said Brussels had lodged a complaint with the US, asking for "more flexibility". The EU's top foreign policy official had been in Madrid accompanying European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on a visit to a Spanish air base receiving incoming flights carrying European citizens and Afghan personnel -- and several American citizens. He said just 150 of the 400 Afghans employed by the EU have been evacuated so far. "I'm very aware that this is very insufficient," he said. "Planes are leaving while people are still on the tarmac," he said. Despite his exasperation, Borrell denied there were tensions between the European Union and the United States over the ongoing evacuations. But, he said, questions will have to be asked over "why things happened like this" and evoked a future EU summit being called to address the situation that Europe has found itself in, and what the next steps should be regarding Afghanistan. Borrell, who this week told the European Parliament that the chaotic evacuation scenes were a "catastrophe" for the West, underlined that the European Union has been working on for some time on a strategy paper that will propose a 50,000-strong rapid reaction force to tackle future crises.

'Impossible' to evacuate all allied Afghans by Aug 31: EU

Afghan Parliament Member Nabiullah Baz speaks with WION on the ongoing situation in Afghanistan. Watch this report to know more.

Afghan Parliament Member Nabiullah Baz speaks with WION

As the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, thousands of locals and foreign nationals tried their best to flee the country. However, one UK citizen has decided to stay back till all of his employees and family members have safely left Afghanistan.<o:p></o:p>

A little before the Taliban announced complete takeover of Kabul, even the former President Ashraf Ghani fled the country. However, a former British Royal Marine, Paul ‘Pen’ Farthing, has shown more courage.<o:p></o:p>

Farthing served in the UK's Royal Marine for 22 years and then set up the 'Nowzad' animal shelter in 2007, in remembrance of his first rescue dog.<o:p></o:p>

Since 2007, Farthing had managed to grow his foundation and employ a staff of 25 Afghan nationals, who had been religiously serving the animals at the shelter.

<o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-plus-who-created-the-taliban-407485">WATCH</a></o:p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-plus-who-created-the-taliban-407485/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"I had an opportunity, the fact that I am a British citizen, I'm going to use that to full effect - so I've said I'm not going until my staff leave this country,"&nbsp;Farthing told news agency Reuters.<o:p></o:p>

His animal shelter has also given the country its first female veterinarians. This was a huge achievement for Farthing and his animal shelter as the Taliban had not allowed women to work under their previous regime and had strongly disapproved of keeping dogs as pets.<o:p></o:p>

As the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, Farthing decided to stay in the country to ensure his employees and family members are evacuated first. "My staff don't deserve the fate that awaits them if they stay here in Afghanistan," he said.<o:p></o:p>

Farthing has also pointed out that although there is a sense of calmness in the community, contrary to the expectations, the areas near the Kabul International Airport are the ones which are highly chaotic and violent. <o:p></o:p>

“You've got the British and Americans inside and then outside you've got this throng of people; and then you have the Taliban checkpoints," Farthing said.<o:p></o:p>

As the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, thousands of locals and foreign nationals tried their best to flee the country. However, one UK citizen has decided to stay back till all of his employees and family members have safely left Afghanistan.

As the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, thousands of locals and foreign nationals tried their best to flee the country. However, one UK citizen has decided to stay back till all of his employees and family members have safely left Afghanistan. A little before the Taliban announced complete takeover of Kabul, even the former President Ashraf Ghani fled the country. However, a former British Royal Marine, Paul ‘Pen’ Farthing, has shown more courage. Farthing served in the UK's Royal Marine for 22 years and then set up the 'Nowzad' animal shelter in 2007, in remembrance of his first rescue dog. Since 2007, Farthing had managed to grow his foundation and employ a staff of 25 Afghan nationals, who had been religiously serving the animals at the shelter. WATCH "I had an opportunity, the fact that I am a British citizen, I'm going to use that to full effect - so I've said I'm not going until my staff leave this country," Farthing told news agency Reuters. His animal shelter has also given the country its first female veterinarians. This was a huge achievement for Farthing and his animal shelter as the Taliban had not allowed women to work under their previous regime and had strongly disapproved of keeping dogs as pets. As the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, Farthing decided to stay in the country to ensure his employees and family members are evacuated first. "My staff don't deserve the fate that awaits them if they stay here in Afghanistan," he said. Farthing has also pointed out that although there is a sense of calmness in the community, contrary to the expectations, the areas near the Kabul International Airport are the ones which are highly chaotic and violent. “You've got the British and Americans inside and then outside you've got this throng of people; and then you have the Taliban checkpoints," Farthing said.

UK citizen who runs animal shelter refuses to leave Afghanistan without his staff

The United States on Saturday urged its citizens in Afghanistan to avoid traveling to the Kabul airport for now, citing "potential security threats" near its gates.

The warning, posted on the website of the US Embassy in Afghanistan and tweeted by the State Department in Washington, provided no detail on the nature of the threat.

But conditions outside Hamid Karzai International Airport have been chaotic amid the crush of people hoping to flee the Taliban takeover of the country.

As thousands of Americans and Afghans wait in the airport for flights or gather outside its gates, there have been "sporadic" reports, confirmed by the Pentagon, of Taliban fighters beating and harassing people trying to flee.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-plus-who-created-the-taliban-407485">WATCH</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-plus-who-created-the-taliban-407485/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"Because of potential security threats outside the gates at the Kabul airport, we are advising US citizens to avoid traveling to the airport and to avoid airport gates at this time unless you receive individual instructions from a US government representative to do so," the US embassy alert said.

17,000 evacuated

Underlining the threat that the White House sees in the unfolding chaos -- and likely also due to concern over a hurricane approaching the US northeast -- President Joe Biden canceled a planned trip home to Delaware Saturday.

Pentagon officials, speaking not long after the warning was issued, declined to offer details of the threat, merely saying they were continuing to process people reaching the airport gates.

"There has been no reported change to the current enemy situation in and around the airport at this time," Major General Hank Taylor said.

He said 17,000 people had been evacuated since the operation began on August 14, with many flown first to Qatar or Kuwait. The total included 2,500 Americans.

In the past 24 hours, Taylor said, six military C-17 planes and 32 charter flights had departed the Kabul airport, carrying 3,800 people.

Taylor said three flights had already reached Dulles International Airport outside Washington, adding that Afghan citizens were being sent on to the Fort Bliss army base in western Texas for processing.

The United States hopes to evacuate a total of 30,000 Americans and Afghan civilians.

On Friday, the US military sent helicopters to rescue over 150 Americans unable to reach the airport gates, an official said.

That was the first evidence that US forces were willing and able to go beyond the US-secured compound to help people seeking evacuation.

American officials earlier confirmed that evacuation operations from Afghanistan had stalled for about seven hours Friday, because a receiving base in Qatar was overflowing.

Biden has promised to help any American in Afghanistan seeking to evacuate, saying, "Any American who wants to come home, we will get you home."

But he has admitted that the presence of thousands of US soldiers at the airport does not guarantee safe passage to that vast compound.

The United States on Saturday urged its citizens in Afghanistan to avoid traveling to the Kabul airport for now, citing "potential security threats" near its gates.

The United States on Saturday urged its citizens in Afghanistan to avoid traveling to the Kabul airport for now, citing "potential security threats" near its gates. The warning, posted on the website of the US Embassy in Afghanistan and tweeted by the State Department in Washington, provided no detail on the nature of the threat. But conditions outside Hamid Karzai International Airport have been chaotic amid the crush of people hoping to flee the Taliban takeover of the country. As thousands of Americans and Afghans wait in the airport for flights or gather outside its gates, there have been "sporadic" reports, confirmed by the Pentagon, of Taliban fighters beating and harassing people trying to flee. WATCH "Because of potential security threats outside the gates at the Kabul airport, we are advising US citizens to avoid traveling to the airport and to avoid airport gates at this time unless you receive individual instructions from a US government representative to do so," the US embassy alert said. 17,000 evacuated Underlining the threat that the White House sees in the unfolding chaos -- and likely also due to concern over a hurricane approaching the US northeast -- President Joe Biden canceled a planned trip home to Delaware Saturday. Pentagon officials, speaking not long after the warning was issued, declined to offer details of the threat, merely saying they were continuing to process people reaching the airport gates. "There has been no reported change to the current enemy situation in and around the airport at this time," Major General Hank Taylor said. He said 17,000 people had been evacuated since the operation began on August 14, with many flown first to Qatar or Kuwait. The total included 2,500 Americans. In the past 24 hours, Taylor said, six military C-17 planes and 32 charter flights had departed the Kabul airport, carrying 3,800 people. Taylor said three flights had already reached Dulles International Airport outside Washington, adding that Afghan citizens were being sent on to the Fort Bliss army base in western Texas for processing. The United States hopes to evacuate a total of 30,000 Americans and Afghan civilians. On Friday, the US military sent helicopters to rescue over 150 Americans unable to reach the airport gates, an official said. That was the first evidence that US forces were willing and able to go beyond the US-secured compound to help people seeking evacuation. American officials earlier confirmed that evacuation operations from Afghanistan had stalled for about seven hours Friday, because a receiving base in Qatar was overflowing. Biden has promised to help any American in Afghanistan seeking to evacuate, saying, "Any American who wants to come home, we will get you home." But he has admitted that the presence of thousands of US soldiers at the airport does not guarantee safe passage to that vast compound.

US tells citizens to avoid Kabul airport due to 'security threats'

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

Will Afghanistan become a safe haven for terror?

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

Will Work with Taliban if necessary: UK PM on current situation in Afghanistan

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

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

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

Thousands rally in London decrying Taliban takeover

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

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

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

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

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

After women, Taliban send back Afghan's government employees

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

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

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

Switzerland postpones evacuation plans as security at Kabul airport worsens

The Pakistan Police have arrested 194 Afghan nationals in Peshawar for rioting, damaging public property and shouting slogans against Pakistan during the celebrations of their country’s Independence Day, which falls on August 19.

According to local media reports, the incident took place on Thursday night at Phase III Chowk of the Hayatabad area. Scores of Afghan nationals descended on the streets to celebrate the Independence Day of Afghanistan.

The city police said clashes erupted between Afghan and Pakistan youths after they had heated exchanges over the closure of Phase III Chowk.

The police said the Afghanistan nationals pelted stones at them when their personnel reached the area and tried to open the road.

They added that 20 rioters have been put into custody and eight more in the University Town neighbourhood.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/why-is-sanctionpakistan-trending-because-thousands-of-afghans-want-the-world-to-punish-pakistan-for-backing-taliban-404496">Also read |&nbsp;Why is #SanctionPakistan trending? Because thousands of Afghans want the world to punish Pakistan for backing Taliban</a>

Following the incident, the police deployed their personnel at Phase III chowk and nearby areas to prevent any untoward situation.

Ever since the Taliban took over Afghanistan, there have been widespread protests by Afghan refugees around the world. Pakistan has been accused of extending support to the militia group.

In Afghanistan, too, several people were killed when the Taliban militants fired on them while protesting against the regime during a rally celebrating Independence Day on Thursday.

The Pakistan Police have arrested 194 Afghan nationals in Peshawar for rioting, damaging public property and shouting slogans against Pakistan during the celebrations of their country’s Independence Day, which falls on August 19.

The Pakistan Police have arrested 194 Afghan nationals in Peshawar for rioting, damaging public property and shouting slogans against Pakistan during the celebrations of their country’s Independence Day, which falls on August 19. According to local media reports, the incident took place on Thursday night at Phase III Chowk of the Hayatabad area. Scores of Afghan nationals descended on the streets to celebrate the Independence Day of Afghanistan. The city police said clashes erupted between Afghan and Pakistan youths after they had heated exchanges over the closure of Phase III Chowk. The police said the Afghanistan nationals pelted stones at them when their personnel reached the area and tried to open the road. They added that 20 rioters have been put into custody and eight more in the University Town neighbourhood. Also read | Why is #SanctionPakistan trending? Because thousands of Afghans want the world to punish Pakistan for backing Taliban Following the incident, the police deployed their personnel at Phase III chowk and nearby areas to prevent any untoward situation. Ever since the Taliban took over Afghanistan, there have been widespread protests by Afghan refugees around the world. Pakistan has been accused of extending support to the militia group. In Afghanistan, too, several people were killed when the Taliban militants fired on them while protesting against the regime during a rally celebrating Independence Day on Thursday.

More than 190 Afghan nationals arrested in Peshawar for anti-Pak slogans

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

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

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