President Ashraf Ghani, VP leave Afghanistan as Taliban take over

Kabul: The Taliban took control of Afghanistan's capital Kabul on Sunday (August 15) and are on their way to take control of the government. President Ashraf Ghani left the country for Tajikistan.

After wresting power from Afghanistan, a Taliban official said that the group will soon declare the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan from the presidential palace in the capital, Kabul.

Ali Ahmad Jalali will serve as the head of the new interim government, media reports claimed even as negotiations are going on in the Afghan Presidential Palace to transfer power to the Taliban.

American diplomats were evacuated from their embassy by helicopter to the airport.

Here are the latest updates on Afghanistan crisis:

15 August 2021

22:38 IST

British Airways has ordered pilots to avoid Afghan airspace because of deteriorating security there: British Airways spokesperson (ANI)

22:38 IST

A Taliban official says the group will soon declare the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan from the presidential palace in the capital, Kabul. That was the name of the country under the Taliban government ousted by US-led forces after the September 11, 2001, attacks. (ANI)

22:28 IST

Sources have told Zee Media that Afghanistan's Vice President Amrullah Saleh has also left the country.

22:08 IST

Anti-Pakistan protests across the globe were organised and the demonstrators raised their voices against Islamabad`s role in the Afghanistan debacle and blamed the country for helping the Taliban.

22:07 IST

There was a peace agreement between Afgan govt and the Taliban. It was just a handover process. Now the situation is calm in Kabul. Pakistan is one of the close supporters of Taliban. My family is still in Kabul: Afghan MP Abdul Qadir Zazai on his arrival in Delhi (ANI)

21:58 IST

The U.S. Embassy said Kabul's airport, where diplomats, officials and other Afghans had fled, has come under fire.

21:58 IST

“Reiterated Pakistan’s steadfast support for a peaceful settlement and need for international community’s consistent engagement with Afghanistan,” said Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on the rapidly evolving situation in Afghanistan.

Received a constructive call from @DominicRaab today. We discussed:

➖The rapidly evolving situation in Afghanistan:
Reiterated Pakistan’s steadfast support for a peaceful settlement & need for int’l community’s consistent engagement with Afghanistan.

— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) August 15, 2021

21:53 IST

Afghan leaders have created a coordination council to meet with the Taliban and manage the transfer of power. In a statement posted on social media by former president Hamid Karzai, he said the body will be lead by the head of the High Council for National Reconciliation, Abdullah Abdullah, as well as the leader of Hizb-e-Islami, Gulbudin Hekmatyar, and himself.

20:53 IST

Amid ongoing negotiations between the Afghan Government and the Taliban, First Vice President Amrullah Saleh vowed to never, ever and under no circumstances will he bow down to the Taliban.

I will never, ever & under no circumstances bow to d Talib terrorists. I will never betray d soul & legacy of my hero Ahmad Shah Masoud, the commander, the legend & the guide. I won't dis-appoint millions who listened to me. I will never be under one ceiling with Taliban. NEVER.

— Amrullah Saleh (@AmrullahSaleh2) August 15, 2021

20:08 IST

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in order to prevent looting and chaos their forces will enter some parts of Kabul and occupy outposts that have been evacuated by security forces. He asked the people to not panic about their entry into the city.

20:07 IST

Air India flight AI244 carrying 129 passengers from Kabul, Afghanistan landed in Delhi.

19:29 IST

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani has left the country for Tajikistan, according to a senior interior ministry official. (Reuters)

19:11 IST

President Ashraf Ghani left Afghanistan, according to media reports.

18:29 IST

Germany`s army is sending A400M transport aircraft to Kabul with 30 paratroopers each on board to evacuate embassy staff and their Afghan helpers as Taliban fighters surround the Afghan capital: Report

18:27 IST

Afghanistan students studying at JNU, New Delhi, fearing going back, have sought visa extension.

18:27 IST

Delhi-bound Air India flight takes off from Kabul with 129 passengers on board.

18:05 IST

Afghan nationals living in Delhi are worried about their families, friends as Taliban enter Kabul. "The situation is getting worse day by day. We're worried about our families who're staying in Afghanistan. May Allah keep us safe," said Ahmed, a shop owner in Lajpat Nagar. (ANI)

18:04 IST

The Taliban want peaceful transfer of power in Afghanistan in 'next few days', its spokesperson said. (AFP)

18:03 IST

UAE's flydubai will suspend Kabul flights from Monday, its spokesperson said.

18:02 IST

The United States evacuated diplomats from its Kabul embassy by helicopter.

17:59 IST

As the Taliban looks set to assume power in Afghanistan as it captures the capital city of Kabul after seizing power in almost the entire nation with its stunning advances, Donald Trump has hit out at US President Joe Biden blaimg him for the 'mess'.

NEW!

"Tragic mess in Afghanistan, a completely open and broken Border, Crime at record levels, oil prices through the roof, inflation rising, and taken advantage of by the entire world—DO YOU MISS ME YET?" pic.twitter.com/avSFWcxz4X

— Liz Harrington (@realLizUSA) August 13, 2021

17:58 IST

India has put in place contingency plans to evacuate hundreds of its officials and citizens from Kabul that has been gripped by fear and panic following reports of Taliban fighters entering the outskirts of the Afghan capital city, government sources said.

17:58 IST

Acting Ministers of Interior and Foreign Affairs Abdul Sattar Mirzakwal in separate video clips assured the people of Kabul will be secured as they are protecting the city along with international allies.

17:58 IST

Ali Ahmad Jalali will serve as the head of the new interim government, media reports claimed even as negotiations are going on in the Afghan Presidential Palace to transfer power to the Taliban.

17:56 IST

The Taliban took control of Kabul on Sunday (August 15). They entered the city from all sides, as per Afghan official.