Taliban on Sunday captured Afghanistan capital Kabul as West backed President Ashraf Ghani fleed the country, effectively handing over the the reigns to the resurgent outfit.
This marks an end to a two decade long conflict in the region during which U.S battled Taliban for control of the country. The capture of Kabul came after a blitzkreig like onslaught that saw the Taliban capture more than a dozen provincial capitals in less than two weeks.
They have already made it clear that there would be no power sharing, aiming for complete control of the country.
This was made evident as they occupied a deserted Presidential Palace. Suhail Shaheen, a Taliban spokesman and negotiator, told The Associated Press that the militants would hold talks in the coming days aimed at forming an “open, inclusive Islamic government.”
Here are all the latest developments regarding this takeover by Taliban and what it means for the people of Afghanistan and beyond.
What went down?
Taliban had captured more a than dozen cities surrounding Kabul. This meant the capital city was surrounded on all sides by the fighters.
However, they made it clear that they are looking for a peaceful transition of power and don’t wan to take the city by force.
Taliban has ordered its fighters to enter Kabul to prevent looting after the local police deserted their posts, the armed group’s spokesman said on Sunday.
“Our forces have not entered Kabul city, and we just issued a statement saying that our forces will not enter Kabul city,” Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen earlier told Al Jazeera. “We are talking and awaiting a peaceful transfer – a transition of the capital city.”
Type of governance
Taliban said the group would announce from the palace the restoration of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the formal name of the country under Taliban rule.
This would mean the implementation of Islamic Law Sharia. However, the group has also said talks will be held about forming an open and inclusive Islamic government.
World reaction
The world has been shook by this swift takeover by Taliban of Afghanistan. Different countries have been looking to evacuate their citizens from the region.
While Taliban has assured nations that no harm will come to foreign embassies and diplomats in the country.
Russia is already working with other nations and looks to hold an emergency UNSC meeting on Afghanistan.
Foreign ministry official Zamir Kabulov has said Moscow does not plan to evacuate its embassy in Kabul, saying the Taliban had offered Russia security assurances for its missions in Afghanistan.
US officials said diplomats were being ferried by helicopter to the airport from its embassy. More American troops were being sent to help in the evacuations.
Pakistan foreign officer spokesman Zahid Hafeez Chaudhry said there were concerns “about the increasingly deteriorating situation”, but “we have not taken any decision to close our embassy”.
Reaction of Afghan people
Kabul residents reported seeing Taliban fighters peacefully enter some of Kabul’s outer suburbs.
Taliban have assured that the situation in Kabul is ‘normal’. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid also said the Taliban has deployed special units to different parts of Kabul and that the “general public is happy with the arrival of the Mujahideen and satisfied with the security”.
In an earlier tweet, Mujahid had said the Taliban have assured all embassies that foreign nationals in Kabul will not face any danger.
(Inputs from Al jazeera)
(Featured image design Faizan Wani, Taarukk Media)