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Afghanistan crisis live updates: Ghani vows to return, ensure 'justice' for Afghans in 1st address since fleeing

THE TIMES OF INDIA | Aug 19, 2021, 02:34:47 IST

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Afghanistan crisis live updates: Ghani vows to return, ensure 'justice' for Afghans in 1st address since fleeing

The Taliban have offered a pledge of reconciliation, vowing no revenge against opponents and to respect women's rights in a "different" rule of Afghanistan from two decades ago. Meanwhile, Afghans and foreigners continued to flee the country, with the United States and other nations stepping up evacuation airlifts from Kabul. Stay with TOI for the latest developments

01:55 (IST) Aug 18

Afghanistan crisis: Islamic emirate at doorsteps poses a challenge to India

The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan brings into being a new Islamic emirate at India’s doorstep that is likely to be a lightning rod for Islamists everywhere with implications for India as regards terrorism and radicalisation. Unlike the Islamic State terror group, which was located much further away in Iraq-Syria, the Taliban have returned in India’s immediate neighbourhood with Pakistan-based terror groups like Lashkar and Jaish already detected in Afghanistan, working loosely with armed militias.

00:17 (IST) Aug 18

US, Taliban coordinate as Kabul evacuation speeds: Pentagon

The US military is coordinating with the Taliban while accelerating the airlift of Americans and Afghan allies from the Kabul airport, and also bringing in additional US troops in a scramble to complete the evacuation in two weeks, Pentagon officials said Tuesday. The disclosure by Pentagon spokesman John Kirby that US commanders are speaking with Taliban commanders is an indication that the new rulers of Afghanistan, who swept to power after 20 years of war against the US-supported Kabul government, will not interfere with the evacuation. Kirby would not discuss details of the Taliban arrangement.

00:09 (IST) Aug 18

Jaishankar calls on UN chief Guterres; discusses Afghan

External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday met UN secretary general Antonio Guterres here and discussed the situation in war-torn Afghanistan. "Good to meet UN Secretary General @antonioguterres. Our discussions focused on Afghanistan, following upon the Security Council meeting yesterday," Jaishankar said in a tweet. Jaishankar arrived in New York on Monday as the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on the situation in Afghanistan, the second time in just over 10 days that the powerful UN body met under India's Presidency for the month of August to discuss the rapidly deteriorating and unraveling situation in the war-torn country.

23:32 (IST) Aug 17

US intel agencies had warned of prospect of Taliban takeover of Afghanistan

US intelligence agencies had warned of the prospect of a Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and a rapid collapse of the Afghan military, raising questions as to why the Joe Biden administration seemed "ill-prepared to deal with the Taliban's final push into Kabul", according to a leading American daily.

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23:26 (IST) Aug 17

We have proven in other places that we can suppress terrorism without a permanent military presence on the ground and we intend to do exactly that in Afghanistan: US NSA Jake Sullivan

23:08 (IST) Aug 17

Desperate US seeks to evacuate 40,000 Americans from under Taliban guns as Biden defends premature withdrawal

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22:58 (IST) Aug 17

Taliban hindering evacuation of Afghans: German minister

Taliban checkpoints around Kabul airport are blocking Afghans from accessing the terminal, making it difficult for the West to evacuate local staff who worked for Western forces, German foreign minister Heiko Maas said on Tuesday.

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22:38 (IST) Aug 17

Afghan first Vice President Amrullah Saleh declares himself as caretaker President

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22:15 (IST) Aug 17

EU ministers weigh Afghan security, migrant challenges

European Union foreign ministers held emergency talks Tuesday to weigh the security implications of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan amid concerns that a widespread fear of hardline Islamist rule will provoke an exodus from the conflict-ravaged country.

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21:40 (IST) Aug 17

Afghan airspace closure: ICAO forms contingency team to minimise potential risks to aviation

United Nation’s aviation arm, International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), says it has formed a contingency team to deal with the Afghanistan situation.

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21:23 (IST) Aug 17

PM Modi directs officials to provide all possible help to Afghan citizens looking for assistance from India: Sources

21:19 (IST) Aug 17

PM Modi asks officials at CCS meeting to provide refuge to Sikh, Hindu minorities wanting to come to India from Afghanistan: Govt sources

21:08 (IST) Aug 17

'Will not seek retribution against former soldiers, contractors'

The Taliban will not seek retribution against former soldiers and members of the Western-backed government, the movement's chief spokesman said on Tuesday in his first official news conference in Kabul.

21:07 (IST) Aug 17

From now on Afghanistan will be a narcotics-free country

Taliban spokesperson

21:03 (IST) Aug 17

Taliban spokesman says our nation is a Muslim nation whether this was 20 years ago or now, but when it comes to maturity, of course, there is a huge difference between us now and 20 years ago

21:02 (IST) Aug 17

All the borders are under our control there is not going to be any case of smuggling weapons. All the weapons used in fighting are going to be gathered and registered