Afghanistan Crisis Highlights: Taliban has taken control after withdrawal of US-led forces.
The Taliban said Tuesday the war in Afghanistan was over and that all their opponents would be pardoned, as they held their first news conference since seizing power from the Western-backed government in Kabul.
"War has ended... (the leader) has pardoned everyone," spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said, adding: "We are committed to letting women work in accordance with the principles of Islam."
The Taliban on Tuesday declared that no threat will be posed to any country from Afghanistan as the group took charge of the strife-torn country following a shockingly rapid collapse of its democratic government with the departure of most western troops.
"The Islamic emirate is pledging to all world countries that no threat will be posed to any country from Afghanistan," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told reporters at their first press conference in Kabul in which he announced an Islamic government will be established in Afghanistan soon.
The Taliban news conference came as the United States and Western allies evacuated diplomats and civilians the day after scenes of chaos at Kabul airport as Afghans desperate to flee the Taliban thronged to the terminal.
Here are the Highlights on Afghanistan-Taliban crisis:
UK To Take 20,000 Afghans Refugees Under Resettlement SchemeBritain on Tuesday announced a resettlement scheme for Afghans fleeing the Taliban after their return to power, offering an initial 5,000 places in the first year, rising to up to 20,000 in the long term.
The announcement came on the eve of an extraordinary session of parliament on Wednesday, where MPs recalled from holiday will discuss the collapse of the Afghan government, so soon after the withdrawal of Western forces.
Some 900 British troops have been sent back to the Afghan capital to help repatriate thousands of UK nationals, including embassy staff, following the Islamists' return.
London said priority would be given to those most at risk, including Afghan women, children and others forced to flee or facing threats and persecution from the hardliners, offering them a chance to remain in Britain indefinitely.
"This resettlement scheme will be kept under further review for future years, with up to a total of 20,000 in the long term," the Home Office said in a statement.
Human Remains Found In Landing Gear Of Military Flight From Kabul: US Air ForceThe U.S. Air Force said on Tuesday that it was investigating the circumstances surrounding human remains that were found in the wheel well of one of its C-17s that flew out of Kabul amid the chaos of the Taliban taking over the city.
In a statement, the Air Force said that the aircraft landed at Kabul's airport on Monday and was surrounded by hundreds of Afghan civilians.
"Faced with a rapidly deteriorating security situation around the aircraft, the C-17 crew decided to depart the airfield as quickly as possible," the statement said.
Taliban Gained "Fair Amount" Of US Defense Equipment: White HouseThe White House acknowledged Tuesday that the Taliban had amassed a significant amount of US military equipment after seizing control of Afghanistan following two decades of war with American forces.
Pictures and videos have shown the Taliban with firearms and vehicles that Pentagon troops used or provided to the Afghan national security forces, as well as advanced UH-60 Black Hawk attack helicopters and other equipment at the Kandahar airport.
"We don't have a complete picture, obviously, of where every article of defense materials has gone. But certainly, a fair amount of it has fallen into the hands of the Taliban," said White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.
"Obviously, we don't have a sense that they are going to readily hand it over to us," he said.
Taliban Promised "Safe Passage" Of Civilians To Kabul Airport: White HouseThe United States said Tuesday the Taliban had promised safe passage for thousands of civilians seeking to reach Kabul airport with a view to leaving Afghanistan.
"The Taliban have informed us they are prepared to provide the safe passage of civilians to the airport, and we intend to hold them to that commitment," National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters at the White House.
Sullivan said the United States was also "talking" with the Taliban about the timetable for the removal of thousands of American citizens and Afghans fleeing the country on US military aircraft.
Afghan vice president says on Twitter he is legitimate caretaker president
Afghan vice president Amrullah Saleh said on Twitter on Tuesday he is in Afghanistan and is the "legitimate caretaker president".
US media firms seek aid for Afghan journalists
American media outlets are urging the US administration to help protect Afghan journalists seeking to flee as the Taliban tighten their grip in the country, AFP reported.
The publishers of the Washington Post, New York Times and Wall Street Journal sent a letter Monday to President Joe Biden seeking aid for Afghan journalists and their families who have been working for the US media organizations.
PM Modi Holds High-Level Meeting On Afghanistan, Top Ministers Present
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security this evening, to to assess the situation in war-torn Afghanistan. The meeting was attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
India has evacuated its staffers from the embassy in Kabul, which fell to Taliban on Sunday. The embassy personnel, including the Indo-Tibetan Border Police on security duty, have been flown back on two Air Force planes -- the second one took off this morning, sources have said.
Read Here.
NATO chief blames Afghan leadership for Kabul collapse
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday the alliance was surprised by the speed of the Taliban victory in Afghanistan but blamed Afghan leaders for the "tragedy".
"Ultimately, the Afghan political leadership failed to stand up to the Taliban and to achieve the peaceful solution that Afghans desperately wanted," he said.
Czech Republic's second evacuation flight leaves Kabul
A second Czech plane left Kabul on Tuesday, evacuating Czechs and local staff from Afghanistan after the Taliban seized control of the country, Foreign Minister Jakub Kulhanek said.
Military flights evacuating diplomats and civilians resumed earlier on Tuesday after the runway at Kabul airport was cleared of thousands of people desperate to flee after the Taliban seized the capital, Reuters reported.
Uganda to take 2,000 Afghan refugees at U.S. request
Uganda said on Tuesday it had agreed to a request from the United States to take in temporarily 2,000 refugees from Afghanistan fleeing after the Taliban takeover, Reuters reported.
The east African nation has long experience receiving people escaping conflict and currently hosts about 1.4 million refugees, most from South Sudan.
Germany halts development aid for Afghanistan: minister
Germany has halted development aid for Afghanistan, the minister responsible said on Tuesday, after the Taliban swept back into power, AFP reported.
"State cooperation on development is suspended for the time being," Development Minister Gerd Mueller said in an interview with the Rheinische Post newspaper. "We are working at pace to evacuate from Afghanistan, those local development officials and NGO workers who want to leave."
China Denounces US "Awful Mess" In Afghanistan
China on Tuesday accused Washington of "leaving an awful mess" in Afghanistan after the Taliban seized control of the country prompting a chaotic evacuation of US personnel and allies.
Beijing has signalled its readiness to cooperate with the Taliban after the United States' withdrawal, which spurred a rapid advance by the terror group across the country that saw them capture the capital Kabul on Sunday.
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Kabul Airport Scenes "Shameful" For West: German PresidentGermany's president on Tuesday criticised Western powers over chaotic scenes at Kabul airport where thousands of Afghans gathered in a bid to flee the country after the Taliban swept back to power.
"The images of desperation at Kabul airport are shameful for the political West," Frank-Walter Steinmeier said, calling the situation in Afghanistan a "human tragedy for which we share responsibility". Read Here.
Thousands Of Afghan Rights Workers At Risk: United Nations
The top United Nations human rights official expressed fear on Tuesday for the safety of thousands of Afghans who have worked on human rights issues, while the U.N refugee agency called for a halt to forced deportation of Afghan asylum seekers."We are particularly concerned about the safety of the thousands of Afghans who have been working to promote human rights across the country, and have helped improve the lives of millions," Rupert Colville said.
Kabul Airport Chaotic Scenes Are 'Shameful For The West': German PresidentGermany's President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Tuesday blasted Western powers over the scenes of desperation at Kabul airport where thousands of Afghans have gathered in a bid to flee the country after the Taliban swept back to power.
"The images of desperation at Kabul airport are shameful for the political West," he said, calling the situation in Afghanistan a "human tragedy for which we share responsibility".
Turkey Welcomes 'Positive Messages' From TalibanTurkey said on Tuesday it welcomed the "positive messages" to the international community given by Taliban fighters following their seizure of power in Afghanistan.
"We welcome the positive messages given by the Taliban to foreigners, diplomatic missions and their own population. I hope we will see (the same approach) in their actions," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in televised comments.
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