Afghanistan Crisis Highlights: Taliban has taken control after withdrawal of US-led forces.
The Taliban declared the war in Afghanistan was over after the terror group took control of the presidential palace in Kabul. Nations scrambled to evacuate their citizens from Kabul today.
Meanwhile, President Ashraf Ghani fled the country on Sunday as Taliban entered the city, saying he wanted to avoid bloodshed. Hundreds of Afghans desperate to leave the country flooded the Kabul airport.
"Today is a great day for the Afghan people and the mujahideen. They have witnessed the fruits of their efforts and their sacrifices for 20 years," Mohammad Naeem, the spokesman for the Taliban's political office, told Al Jazeera TV.
"Thanks to God, the war is over in the country," he added.
Taliban seized control of the country in just over a week after lightning sweep that ended in Kabul as Afghan forces melted away.
Here are the Highlights on Afghanistan-Taliban Crisis:
Taliban Takeover Is World's Failure, Says UKThe Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan is a "failure of the international community", Britain's Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said on Monday, assessing that the West's intervention was a job only half-done.
Watch NDTV Exclusive Video: Gunfire, People Scaling Walls - The Kabul Airport MeltdownKabul airport has been overrun by desperate Afghans trying to fly out of the country. But the airspace has been closed and no flights can operate. This NDTV exclusive video shows the chaos unfolding at the airport in Afghanistan's capital after the Taliban takeover. Gunfire can be heard. People are seen scaling the perimeter walls of the airport and running towards parked aircraft.
Afghanistan LIVE Updates: Russian Ambassador To Meet Taliban In Kabul TomorrowRussia's ambassador to Afghanistan will meet with the Taliban in Kabul on Tuesday, foreign ministry official Zamir Kabulov said.
"Our ambassador is in contact with the Taliban leadership, tomorrow he will meet with the Taliban security coordinator," Kabulov said in a interview to the Ekho Moskvy radio station on Monday, adding that Moscow will decide on recognising the new government based on its "conduct".
Afghanistan LIVE Updates: At Least 5 Killed At Kabul Airport: Reports
Nepal Urges Help For Evacuation Of Its Nationals From Afghanistan Nepal's government on Sunday called for the evacuation of an estimated 1,500 Nepalis working as security staff with embassies and with international aid groups in Afghanistan.
"We have formally written to embassies requesting them for the evacuation," Nepal Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sewa Lamsal told Reuters in Kathmandu.
Afghanistan LIVE Updates: France Says To Evacuate Its Nationals From Kabul By Monday Evening
After Taliban took control of Kabul, France said that the country will evacuate its nationals from Kabul by Monday evening.
Afghanistan LIVE Updates: "We're Not Going Back": Britain Says Taliban Control AfghanistanThe Taliban are in control of Afghanistan and British and NATO forces will not be returning to fight the insurgents, Britain's defence minister said on Monday.
"I acknowledge that the Taliban are in control of the country," Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told Sky News.
"I mean, you don't have to be a political scientist to spot that's where we're at." Asked if Britain and NATO would return to Afghanistan, Wallace said: "That's not on the cards.. we're going to go back."
Afghanistan LIVE Updates: Kabul Airspace Closed, Air India Flight To Afghan Capital Can't Operate No flights can operate from Kabul airport now as the airspace has been closed, officials said. That means no aircraft can also land there. An Air India aircraft tasked to fly to Afghanistan to bring out people will no longer be able to go there too, sources have said. A NOTAM or notice to airmen has been issued to say Kabul airspace has been closed.
"The airspace is closed. How any airline can operate? As of now we are not able to operate our 12:30 pm flight to Kabul," a source in Air India told NDTV.