Afghanistan news live updates August 21

 

Afghanistan news live updates August 21: Even as violence and protests continue to mar Afghanistan since the Taliban took over the country, anti-Taliban fighters reportedly killed some fighters and liberated three districts from Taliban control on Friday. As desperate Afghans and foreign nationals scramble to flee the nation, Taliban fighters have set up checkpoints on the road leading to the Kabul airport to prevent them from reaching the tarmac. US President Joe Biden said US troops carried out one of the most difficult airlifts and managed to evacuate 13,000 people. NATO, too, vowed to speed up and help other countries in evacuating people. Meanwhile, as the Taliban aim to further strengthen their control, they look to China for support. Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen told Chinese state media that China has played a constructive role in promoting peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan and is welcome to contribute to the rebuilding of the country.

Ahmad Massoud , son of ‘Lion of Panjshir’, negotiating with Taliban over comprehensive govt

Ahmad Massoud, son of ‘Lion of Panjshir’Ahmad Shah Massoud, is negotiating with the Taliban over a comprehensive government, but no agreement or allegiance has been reached, Khalil ur Rehman Haqqani, senior Taliban commander, has said. (With inputs from Geeta Mohan)

We have moral obligation to help Afghans who helped us: US Defense Secretary

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday said that America has a moral obligation to help Afghans who helped them.

"We have a moral obligation to help those who helped us. And I feel the urgency deeply,” TOLO News quoted Lloyd Austin saying in an AP report.

“All of this is very personal for me. This is a war that I fought in and led. I know the country, I know the people, and I know those who fought alongside me,” said Austin.

General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also commanded troops in Afghanistan and spoke of the war in personal terms.

“For more than 20 years, we have prevented an attack on the US homeland. 2,448 lost lives, 20,722 were wounded in action, and many others suffered the unseen wounds of war. To each of them, I want you to know, personally, that your service matters,” said Milley.

“As the Secretary said, for both he and I, this is personal. And I know it’s personal for each and every one of you,” he further said.

Afghan govt employees returning to work blocked by Taliban

Afghan government employees in Kabul have been blocked by the Taliban from returning to work on the first day of the working week, Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency reported.

Only a few private telecommunication companies have been operating in the last few days.

“I went to the office this morning, but the Taliban who were at the gate told us they have not received any orders to reopen government offices. They told us to watch TV or listen to the radio for an announcement about when to resume work,” said Hamdullah, a government employee.

No recognition of Taliban, no political talks: EU Commission President

The European Union has not recognised the Taliban nor is it holding any political talks with the group, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said, Reuters news agency reported.

The head of the EU executive spoke after visiting a reception centre in Madrid for Afghan employees of EU institutions evacuated from Kabul.

Von der Leyen said she would propose an increase in the 57 million euros ($67 million) in humanitarian aid which the Commission had allocated this year for Afghanistan.

"We may well hear the Taliban's words but we will measure them above all by their deeds and actions," von der Leyen told a news conference.

Packed US Air Force cargo plane carries record number of refugees

The US Air Force has said that the cargo plane packed with Afghan refugees whose photo was widely shared online actually carried even more people than originally thought — 823 — and marked a new passenger record for the aircraft, The Associated Press reported.

The brief statement by the Air Mobility Command on Friday said the C-17 that departed the capital, Kabul, last Sunday had an initial count of 640 passengers, but that figure inadvertently left out 183 children sitting on people's laps.

The statement said the correct count of 823 passengers is a record for the C-17.

EAM Jaishankar receives call from his German counterpart to discuss evacuation challenges in Afghanistan

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar received a call from his German counterpart Heiko Maas on Saturday to discuss the evacuation challenges in Afghanistan and the policy implications of the changes in the country.