Taliban sweep into Kabul, declare Afghanistan “war is over”

US August 16, 2021 , by IRIA No Comments

Taliban sweep into Kabul presidential palace as Ghani flees

The Taliban swept into Afghanistan’s capital on Sunday and declared the war in Afghanistan is over as President Ashraf Ghani fled the country.

Panic and fear gripped Kabul on Monday as heavily armed Taliban fighters took control of the abandoned presidential palace, signalling the end of the two-decade US war in Afghanistan.

Western nations scrambled to evacuate their citizens amid chaos at the airport as hundreds of Afghans flooded the Kabul airport to flee the country.

“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 Taliban spokesman said.

“Thanks to God, the war is over in the country” the spokesman for Taliban’s political office said. The group said they did not want to live in isolation and called for peaceful international relations.

Suhail Shaheen, Taliban negotiator, said the group would hold talks in the coming days to form an “open, inclusive Islamic government.”

Ghani flees

President Ashraf Ghani fled the country on Sunday as the militants surrounded the capital. Sources said that Ghani has left the Tajikistan capital, Dushanbe, on a private jet. He is expected to travel to the US on a US craft from Oman.

Ghani said he had left to prevent bloodshed. “The Taliban have won with the judgement of their swords and guns, and are now responsible for the honour, property and self-preservation of their countrymen,” he said in a statement on Facebook.

Abdullah Abdullah, the head of the Afghan National Reconciliation Council said: “The former president of Afghanistan left Afghanistan, leaving the country in this difficult situation…God should hold him accountable.”

U.S. completes Kabul embassy evacuation

US Department of State spokesman said the evacuation of US staff from its embassy in Kabul is now complete. “We can confirm that the safe evacuation of all Embassy personnel is now complete. All Embassy personnel are located on the premises of Hamid Karzai International Airport, whose perimeter is secured by the US Military,” Ned Price wrote.