Taliban seize power in Afghanistan after government collapses

SUMMARY

The Taliban swept into Afghanistan's capital Sunday after the government collapsed and the embattled president joined an exodus of his fellow citizens and foreigners, signaling the end of a costly two-decade US campaign to remake the country.

By APAPAug 16, 2021 12:20:11 PM IST (Updated)

Taliban fighters stand outside the Interior Ministry in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Mullah Baradar Akhund, the senior official of the Taliban, seated with a group of men, makes a video statement.

Taliban fighters take control of the Afghan presidential palace after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled the country.

Heavily armed Taliban fighters fanned out across the capital, and several entered Kabul's abandoned presidential palace.

A Taliban official 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 before the militants were ousted by US-led forces.

Members of the 16 Air Assault Brigade arrive in Kabul as part of a 600-strong UK force sent to assist with Operation PITTING to rescue British nationals in Afghanistan amidst the worsening security situation there.

Taliban fighters pray while raising their flag.

Fearful that the Talibancould re-impose the kind of brutal rulethatall but eliminated women’s rights, Afghans rushed to leave the country, lining up at cash machines to withdraw their life savings.