Leaving was only way to keep guns silent and save Kabul, says ex-Afghan President Ashraf Ghani

Afghanistan LIVE updates: "Leaving Kabul most difficult decision of my life,but I believed it was the onlyA way to keep guns silent and save Kabul and her citizens," former Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani said.

File Photo

New Delhi: Ex-Afghan President Ashraf Ghani released a statement on Wednesday and denied reports of fleeing away with millions of dollars belonging to Afghan people.

National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday said he hopes the Taliban will deliver good governance and follow Islamic principles in Afghanistan. 

The Taliban on Tuesday announced the new government in Afghanistan naming some of the world’s most wanted terrorists among their ranks. The Taliban named Mullah Hassan Akhund, an associate of the movement’s late founder Mullah Omar, as the head of Afghanistan’s new government while Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, head of the movement’s political office, has been named his deputy.  At least five of the newly appointed members are on the UN-designated list of terrorists.

Hibatullah Akhundzada, supreme leader of the Taliban and the second emir of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, said in a statement released in English said: "I assure all the countrymen that the figures will work hard towards upholding Islamic rules and sharia law in the country."

On the other hand, protests erupted in Pakistan on Tuesday with at least 70 people, mostly women, rallying outside the Pakistani embassy, holding banners and chanting against what they said was meddling by Islamabad, who have long been accused of having close ties to the Taliban movement. While, a crowd gathered in Kabul for an anti-Pakistan rally, the Taliban resorted to firing gun shots into the air to disperse the protesters. 

Meanwhile, US President Joe on Tuesday told reporters that China has a "real problem" with the Taliban. "China has a real problem with the Taliban. They try to work out some of that with the Taliban, I am sure. As does Pakistan, as does Russia, as does Iran," Biden told reporters at the White House.

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08 September 2021

23:30 IST

Taliban’s committed to preventing terrorist groups from using Afghanistan as a base for external ops that could threaten any of us, a pledge they've since extended not just to us but to all other countries.We need to hold them accountable to that commitment: US Secretary of State

He added, "Of course, we can’t just rely on Taliban to meet these commitments. Horrific attack that ISIS-K carried out on Aug 26th, which killed 13 US service members and many, many Afghans, did show the serious threat that these groups continue to play inside Afghanistan."

Blinken said, "All of us have to remain vigilant and monitor threats and address them swiftly when they arise. US will maintain robust counterterrorism capabilities in the region to neutralize any threats, and we won’t hesitate to use those capabilities if we have to do so." (ANI input)

22:55 IST

Taliban has said repeatedly that any Afghans who want to travel & have appropriate documents will be able to do so, & more than a hundred countries have affirmed their expectation Taliban will honor that pledge. It’s also enshrined now in a UNSC resolution: Antony Blinken

22:54 IST

We must hold Taliban, incl the recently announced caretaker govt and any eventual Afghan govt, to their commitment to allow foreign nationals, visa holders and Afghans to travel outside the country if they wish: US Secy of State Antony Blinken at Ministerial on Afghanistan

We must hold Taliban, incl the recently announced caretaker govt &any eventual Afghan govt, to their commitment to allow foreign nationals, visa holders & Afghans to travel outside the country if they wish: US Secy of State Antony Blinken at Ministerial on Afghanistan

(File pic) pic.twitter.com/cV4hI449H7

— ANI (@ANI) September 8, 2021

19:27 IST

Leaving Kabul most difficult decision of my life,but I believed it was the only way to keep guns silent and save Kabul and her citizens...baseless allegations that as I left Kabul I took millions of dollars belonging to Afghan people. Charges completely false: Ex-Afghan Pres Ashraf Ghani

Leaving Kabul most difficult decision of my life,but I believed it was the only way to keep guns silent&save Kabul &her citizens...baseless allegations that as I left Kabul I took millions of dollars belonging to Afghan people.Charges completely false: Ex-Afghan Pres Ashraf Ghani pic.twitter.com/DE0gvqWXDX

— ANI (@ANI) September 8, 2021

15:17 IST

The National Conference chief  Farooq Abdullah, as per ANI, said, "I hope they (Taliban) will deliver good governance and follow Islamic principles in that country (Afghanistan) and respect human rights. They should try to develop friendly relations with every country." 

15:17 IST

Five journalists from Etilaatroz, a daily newspaper in Kabul, have been arrested by the Taliban: TOLONews (ANI)

12:28 IST

The the Afghan envoy to United Nations Ghulam Isaczai has called the announcement by the Taliban of the new Afghan govt "anything but inclusive. The new Taliban govt is dominated by Pashtuns and has no representation of country's minority groups, and as many as 17 of the 33 members are on the United Nations terror list. Read full story here

12:27 IST

A spokesperson for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the UN does not engage in recognition of governments and reiterated that only a negotiated and inclusive settlement will bring sustainable peace to the conflict-torn country.

The Taliban had on Tuesday unveiled a hardline interim government led by Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund, with key roles being shared by high-profile members of the insurgent group, including a specially designated global terrorist of the dreaded Haqqani Network as the interior minister. (PTI)

12:26 IST

Head of Afghanistan`s second-largest political party -- Jamiat-e-Islami -- Salahuddin Rabbani reacted to the caretaker government of the Taliban and said that a government composed of a single ethnic group will not last long. The former foreign minister wrote on his Facebook post that the monopoly of power has been experienced in the past which was defeated and the Taliban with this cabinet will too bite the dust, Khaama News reported. (IANS)

12:25 IST

The Americans trying to evacuate hundreds of Afghans and American citizens - including one Afghan who worked as a US military translator and says he is anticipating his beheading by the Taliban - pleaded for action from the Biden administration to get the would-be evacuees aboard charter flights that are standing by to fly them from Afghanistan. "Unfortunately we are left behind now," the former translator said quietly in the pre-dawn darkness Wednesday in Afghanistan. "No one heard our voice." (PTI)

11:47 IST

The United Nations is making an emergency appeal for $606 million to help nearly 11 million people in Afghanistan for the four remaining months of 2021. It says they face a humanitarian crisis exacerbated by drought, displacement, chronic poverty and the sharp increase in hostilities as the Taliban swept to power. (PTI)

11:45 IST

Afghan women lead protests outside Pakistani embassy in Kabul chanting slogans like 'Death for Pakistan' and "Pakistan, Pakistan, leave Afghanistan". See pics here

09:14 IST

The banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has warned the country's media and journalists against calling them a "terrorist outfit" or they will be treated as "enemies".

"Such labels on the TTP meant the media professionals were dishonest towards their duty and would create enemies for itself," Mohammad Khurasani said. "Using such terms for TTP showed a partisan role of media and journalists," the Dawn newspaper quoted the online statement by TTP. 

07:59 IST

US President Joe Biden on Tuesday said that China has a "real problem" with the Taliban so it is going to try to work out "some arrangement" with the outfit, which has recently seized the control in Afghanistan and announced its government. "China has a real problem with the Taliban. So they`re going to try to work out some arrangement with the Taliban, I`m sure. As does Pakistan, as does Russia, as does Iran. They`re all trying to figure out what do they do now," he told reporters at the White House. (Reuters)

07:39 IST

Supreme Leader (Amir ul Muminin) Hibatullah Akhundzada via press statement assured that it will provide a healthy and safe environment for religious and modern sciences to all countrymen within the framework of Sharia.

Taliban will work for the freedom, functioning and improvement of the media quality. "We consider it our duty to take into account the sacred precepts of Islam, the national interests of the country and impartiality in our broadcasts," the statement read.

07:39 IST

The Taliban's statement on Behalf of Hibatullah Akhundzada said, "New Taliban Regime will be committed to all international laws and treaties, resolutions and commitments that are not in conflict with Islamic law and the country's national values." 

It said that the Taliban will take serious and effective steps towards protecting human rights, the rights of minorities as well as the rights of the underprivileged groups within the framework of the demands of the sacred religion of Islam.