Afghanistan crisis live updates: Two killed in anti-Taliban protest in Herat

India and Russia will hold high-level inter-governmental discussions on the situation in Afghanistan, the government announced on Tuesday. At the invitation of national security adviser Ajit Doval, his counterpart and the secretary of the security council of the Russian Federation Nikolay Patrushev will be visiting India for the meeting on September 7-8, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Some Afghans evacuated by US seek asylum in Germany

Dozens of people evacuated from Afghanistan by the United States military have applied for asylum in Germany during their layovers at the Ramstein US Air Base, officials said Tuesday.

UN wants aid workers free to reach needy Afghans

The UN's humanitarian chief says a top Taliban leader pledged to let aid workers operate safely and independently and reach the millions of Afghans in need. Now, the UN is aiming to get the promises in writing and put them into action.

West Delhi gurudwara shelters 44 Afghan Sikhs evacuated from Afghanistan

A gurdwara in New Mahavir Nagar in west Delhi on Tuesday sheltered 44 Afghan Sikhs who were among 78 people evacuated from Afghanistan after Kabul fell to the Taliban last month. Of the 44 people, 32 will be adopted by the Sobti Foundation of New York-based philanthropist Mandeep Singh Sobti, said Kanv Bhalla, an entrepreneur coordinating rehabilitation efforts. A few people have families in Punjab and they have left for their respective places, he said.

The Taliban's secretive supreme leader on Tuesday told the newly appointed government to uphold sharia law, in his first message since the hardline movement swept to power. "I assure all the countrymen that the figures will work hard towards upholding Islamic rules and sharia law in the country," Hibatullah Akhundzada, who has never been seen in public, said in a statement released in English. Akhundzada told Afghans that the new leadership would ensure "lasting peace, prosperity and development", adding that "people should not try to leave the country". "The Islamic Emirate has no problem with anyone," he said.

UN says 'negotiated, inclusive' settlement needed for Afghan peace

Two killed in anti-Taliban protest in Afghanistan's Herat

Two people were shot dead and eight wounded in a protest in the western Afghan city of Herat on Tuesday, a doctor said. The bodies were brought to the city's central hospital from the site of the protest, the doctor, who asked not to be named out of fear of reprisals, told AFP. "They all have bullet wounds," he said.

Amir Khan Muttaqi has been appointed acting foreign minister

Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund is the chief of the Taliban's powerful decision-making body 'Rehbari Shura'

New Taliban government only 'acting,' spokesman clarifies

Sirajuddin Haqqani is appointed acting interior minister, Mullah Yaqoob is acting defense minister

Abas Stanikzai to be acting deputy foreign minister in new Afghan government

Taliban spokesman says Hassan Akhund is appointed acting Prime Minister in new Afghan government, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar to be acting deputy PM

Taliban to announce first members of new govt Tuesday night: Official

"It was agreed that we would announce a new government before a formal ceremony could be held," Ahmadullah Wasiq said, adding "some members" of the cabinet would be announced at a press conference.

Thousands of Afghans stranded at Pakistan border to flee Taliban regime

Afghans and their families, who hail from Afghanistan's northern and eastern provinces have been in a hurry to leave the country soon after Kabul fell to the Taliban. Islamabad is allowing only those people who have either Pakistani ID cards or Kandahar ID cards, Pajhwok Afghan News said on Monday.

Afghans with valid visas and passports stranded in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif and waiting to take chartered evacuation flights out of the country will be allowed to leave, a Taliban official at the city's international airport said Tuesday. Mawlawi Hafiz Mansour said the majority of Afghans waiting to take one of four evacuation flights have neither valid visas nor passports.

Journalists arrested during protest rally in Kabul

The Taliban have fired gunshots to disperse a rally on Tuesday in Kabul and arrested several Afghan journalists who were covering the demonstration, witnesses and Afghan media outlets said. An Afghan journalist who was among those detained and who was later freed told The Associated Press he was punished by the Taliban. "They made me rub my nose on the ground and apologize for covering the protest,'' he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.