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Afghan collaborators, their families, Spanish soldiers and members of the embassy board a Spanish military plane as part of their evacuation, at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, August 27, 2021 - Sputnik International

Live Updates: Taliban Say Will Need Technical Assistance to Operate Kabul Airport

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On Monday, US CENTCOM officially announced that American troop withdrawal from Afghanistan was complete and the 20-year mission came to an end. The airport in Kabul has come under full control of the Taliban*.
The movement wants to resume domestic and international flights from Kabul airport as soon as possible, Mohammad Naim, a spokesman for the Taliban's political office, told Sputnik on Monday.
In order to resume flights as soon as possible, he said, it is necessary to repair part of the destroyed equipment at Kabul airport. 
Naim said that the Taliban will need technical assistance to operate the airport, but security issues are the sole responsibility of the Taliban.
On 28 August, US Army Maj. Gen. William Taylor said that two Daesh*-Khorasan leaders were killed and another was injured in an American airstrike on the Afghan province of Nangarhar.
On 27 August, the White House admitted there was clearly a breakdown in the security process that failed to prevent the 26 August suicide bombing at the Kabul Airport, which left at least 170 civilians and 13 US personnel dead. The attack, claimed by Daesh-K, comes amid a chaotic US evacuation from Afghanistan following the Taliban's takeover of Kabul on 15 August.
 *Terrorist organizations banned in Russia and many other countries
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03:03 GMT 31.08.2021

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Taliban movement (recognized as a terrorist organization, banned in Russia) will need technical assistance to operate Kabul airport, Mohammad Naim, a spokesman for the Taliban's political office, told Sputnik.

Earlier, sources in the Taliban leadership told Al Jazeera television that the airport in Kabul came under their control after the evacuation of foreign troops from Afghanistan.

“Certainly, there is assistance in technical issues related to airport operation, and we welcome that. There were Turks in the technical department at Kabul airport, and if they had wanted, they could have stayed and worked, of course, only in the technical part... There is no problem if they stay and help us. If they do not want, we can contact other parties," Naim said.

He said that airport security issues are the sole responsibility of the Taliban.

Naim said all the details regarding the operation of the airport will become clear in the coming days.

00:15 GMT 31.08.2021

"We believe there are still a small number of Americans – under 200 and likely closer to 100 – who remain in Afghanistan and want to leave. We’re trying to determine exactly how many," Blinken said at a presser on Monday.

23:09 GMT 30.08.2021

"As of today, we’ve suspended our diplomatic presence in Kabul and transferred our operations to Doha, Qatar, which will soon be formally notified to Congress," Blinken said at a presser on Monday. "For the time being, we will use this post in Doha to manage our diplomacy with Afghanistan, including consular affairs, administering humanitarian assistance, and working with allies, partners, and regional and international stakeholders to coordinate our engagement and messaging to the Taliban."

22:42 GMT 30.08.2021

“We demand that the international community assist our people in the economy, education and health care,” a spokesman for the movement told Al Jazeera television.

22:09 GMT 30.08.2021
21:12 GMT 30.08.2021

"I think that the terror threat is going to be very high," US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Kenneth McKenzie said during a press briefing on Monday afternoon.

"There are at least 2,000 hardcore [Daesh] fighters in Afghanistan now," he said.

20:38 GMT 30.08.2021
20:25 GMT 30.08.2021
20:16 GMT 30.08.2021

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) – The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) can consider imposing new sanctions on Afghanistan as well, UK Ambassador to the United Nations Barbara Woodward said on Monday.

“We know that the Taliban [banned in Russia] want to see the lifting of some of the sanctions on Afghanistan and that will be an important consideration. The flip side of that is of course the Security Council could consider further sanctions on Afghanistan,” Woodward said during a UNSC meeting on Afghanistan.

20:14 GMT 30.08.2021

"We are not in a place yet, where we are prepared to recognize the Taliban… We need to see what kind of government they form," US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said on Monday. "We insist that that government be inclusive, and that it allows for the participation of women, and that it takes into consideration as it forms itself the rights of all Afghans, including minorities. So, we will see what kinds of actions they take before any decisions are made about recognition."

19:57 GMT 30.08.2021

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) – Russia abstained from voting on the Afghanistan resolution at the United Nations Security Council meeting earlier in the day because the text of the document didn’t include a passage on terrorism and didn’t mention the Islamic State (banned in Russia), Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia told the UN Security Council on Monday..

The 15-member council adopted a resolution that expects the Taliban (banned in Russia) to allow Afghans and foreigners to safely leave the country. Russia and China abstained while 13 others voted in favor.

“Despite the fact that the resolution was proposed against the backdrop of a terrible terrorist attack, the authors categorically refused to refer to a passage on the fight against terrorism, containing internationally recognized terrorist organizations ISIL and the East Turkistan Islamic movement,” Nebenzia said.

19:55 GMT 30.08.2021

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The last US aircraft has left from the airport in Kabul, bringing the nearly two-decade-long engagement of the United States in Afghanistan to an end, Newsweek editor said via Twitter citing US official.

“final plane is wheels up. War is over,” Naveed Jamali said citing a US official.

19:42 GMT 30.08.2021

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The reports saying that the United States provided the lists of evacuees to the Taliban group (terrorist group, banned in Russia) are mischaracterized, White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said on Monday at a briefing.

Reports have recently emerged that the US officials gave the Taliban a list of US citizens as well as Afghan allies to grant access to Kabul’s airport.

"There have been reports that we provided lists of people who want to leave Afghanistan to the Taliban. That's inaccurate, that's misreported, that's misconstrued," Psaki told reporters.

19:42 GMT 30.08.2021

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - The UN Security Council adopted a resolution that expects the Taliban movement (banned in Russia) to allow Afghans and foreigners safely leave the country, with the abstentions from two permanent members - China and Russia - the council's president, Indian Foreign Secretary, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, said on Monday.

"The result of the voting is as follows: 13 votes in favor, zero votes against, two abstentions. The draft resolution has been adopted," Vardhan said.

The resolution, drafted by France, the United Kingdom and the United States, calls on the Taliban to deliver on their commitments that Afghans will be able to travel and may leave Afghanistan anytime they want, including through the Kabul airport, with no one preventing them from traveling.

18:59 GMT 30.08.2021
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UN Security Council Holds Meeting on Situation in Afghanistan
18:49 GMT 30.08.2021
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18:49 GMT 30.08.2021
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18:48 GMT 30.08.2021

US soldiers reportedly shot Afghan civilians in the chaotic aftermath of the suicide bombings near the Kabul airport, eyewitnesses told the RT broadcaster.

On Thursday, several explosions hit Kabul airport and its outskirts, killing over 150 people, including 13 American troops. The Islamic State-Khorasan terror group (banned in Russia) claimed responsibility for the attacks.

"We saw that they were shooting people in the stomach and in the head from all sides, not just into the air," one witness said, adding that "mostly Americans were shooting."

According to another eyewitness, when the suicide vest of the IS attacker went off, people ran in all directions resulting in what he described as "absolute pandemonium."

"That is when American troops, according to the witnesses, began firing into the crowds. They began shooting indiscriminately [fearing more suicide bombers in the crowd]," the witness noted.

Washington has admitted its security services' failure to thwart the terrorist attacks amid a chaotic US evacuation from Afghanistan. The White House confirmed that President Joe Biden gave the US military all the authority needed to carry out attacks against ISIS-K without congressional approval.

18:39 GMT 30.08.2021

The Taliban (a terrorist group, banned in Russia) have to follow certain conditions, including compliance with humanitarian law, guaranteeing freedom to leave Afghanistan to all those willing to do so, among other things, if they want to be recognized by the international community as a legitimate power in Afghanistan, the French Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

"At the heart of our demands, there is respect for humanitarian law and the protection of all those who have the right to be protected by an asylum, as well as the freedom for those who want to leave Afghanistan to do so, the respect for human rights and, particularly, respect for the dignity of Afghan women, refusal of terrorism. Free access to humanitarian aid and the establishment of a transitional government against the background of the ongoing negotiations in Doha are also part of our expectations," a ministry's spokesperson said at a briefing.

The Taliban came to power in the Central Asian country on August 15 by entering Kabul and completing the weeks-long offensive across Afghanistan. Many countries have since then evacuated their citizens and limited numbers of Afghan nationals who worked for the foreign missions during the war.

With the August 31 withdrawal deadline less than a day away, France has so far removed over 2,600 people, including more than 2,500 Afghans, from the country. France finished evacuations last week.

17:37 GMT 30.08.2021

The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on Monday called on the Taliban (a terrorist group, outlawed in Russia) to honor their pledge to protect Afghan women and girls and to respect and fulfill human rights, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said in a release.

"As the planned withdrawal of international troops from Afghanistan is due to be completed within hours, the Committees urge the Taliban and all other parties to take measures to protect the lives and respect the human rights of women and children," OHCHR said in a release.

The call follows reports of targeted attacks against women, particularly academics, health workers, human rights defenders, journalists, and civil servants.

The committees stressed that the women should be praised for their contribution to Afghanistan's socioeconomic and political development rather than being attacked. They also warned that religious norms and traditions cannot be invoked to justify violations of women's and girls' rights under international human rights law.

"The Taliban has issued a number of statements in recent days referring to their plans to form an inclusive government. They have pledged to uphold the rights of women to work and of girls to go to school. The Committees urge the Taliban to honor their own commitments and not to let history repeat itself," OHCHR added.

Women's rights under the Taliban remain an issue of concern. Earlier in August, the Islamist movement said that women would be allowed to study and work as well as take part in governmental activities. Last week, the Taliban said that female state officials would be able to resume their work after necessary regulations are worked out.

However, according to the United Nations and media reports, the movement has already forbidden women in several parts of Afghanistan to work or leave their homes without being accompanied by a male relative. 

17:21 GMT 30.08.2021

Council of Europe member states should meet their humanitarian commitments and accept refugees fleeing from Afghanistan in the wake of the Taliban (a terrorist group, banned in Russia) takeover, Dunja Mijatovic, the organization's human rights commissioner, said on Monday.

According to the official, while some governments and local authorities promised to accept Afghan refugees, others either hinted at or take steps to prevent an influx of people from the Central Asian country. Mijatovic went on to criticize the latter approach.

"Member states should unequivocally commit to handling the arrival of persons fleeing the horrendous situation in Afghanistan in accordance with their human rights obligations," Mijatovic said in a statement.

On August 15, Afghanistan saw the Taliban completing a large-scale offensive by seizing the capital of Kabul, which led to the collapse of the US-backed civilian government. This development has left many trying to flee the country to avoid potential reprisals from the radical movement.

17:21 GMT 30.08.2021

The United Nations hopes the Taliban movement (banned in Russia) will be able to secure the Kabul airport and enable its functioning after the departure of foreign troops from Afghanistan, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a press briefing on Monday.

"We very much hope that the Taliban will be able to secure the airport and provide an environment in which the airport can function,… in which aircraft operators feel that their planes can land and take off safely," Dujarric said.

On August 26, the Kabul airport and its surroundings were targeted by explosive devices. The Islamic State-Khorasan terror group (banned in Russia) claimed responsibility for the attacks. A source in the Afghan Ministry of Health told Sputnik that over 1,300 people had been injured in a series of terrorist attacks, with the death toll standing at 110 people. At least 13 US service members were killed in the attack, according to Defense Department.

Earlier on Monday, Defense Department spokesperson John Kirby said the threat of another terror attack targeting the Kabul airport was still "real" and "active."

The US military's withdrawal from Afghanistan its scheduled to end on August 31. Since July, the United States and allied countries have evacuated approximately 122,000 people out of Afghanistan, including about 5,400 US citizens.

16:51 GMT 30.08.2021
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15:07 GMT 30.08.2021
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14:22 GMT 30.08.2021

As many as 150 Afghan journalists, photographs and cameramen signed an open letter calling on the United Nations, the international community, and human rights organizations to protect them from threats.

"Considering the increasing challenges and threats facing media workers, as well as their families and property, we urge the United Nations and donor countries to take action to save our lives and our families," the letter read as quoted by the TOLOnews broadcaster on Monday.

The world "must take action to save our lives and those of our families,” reporter Ahmad Navid Kawosh was cited as saying.

Earlier in August, the Taliban (a terrorist group, banned in Russia) reportedly announced that journalists can return to their workplaces and were free to analyze the situation in the country. However, the UN has already raised the alarm over a number of killings of journalists in Afghan regions captured by the movement. In addition, the International Federation of Journalists has received over 2,000 requests from Afghan journalists for facilitating their evacuation from Afghanistan.

14:22 GMT 30.08.2021

German military jets evacuated 138 of 174 Afghan allies and hundreds of their family members since the operation began in mid-August, an interior ministry spokesperson said on Monday.

"Before the start of the evacuation on August 14 the federal ministry knew of 174 Afghan support staff. The number together with their family members stood at 686… As of today, 138 Afghan support staff and 496 family members have arrived in Germany," Steve Alter told a news conference.

Germany brought more than 5,300 people out of Kabul, including 4,000 Afghan nationals, before the airlift shut down on Thursday. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said after a string of suicide bombings hit the Kabul airport that the federal government was looking for safer options to evacuate people at risk, possibly by land.

14:21 GMT 30.08.2021

US Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has branded the Biden administration's decision to withdraw forces from Afghanistan one of the largest foreign policy failures in the country's history.

"We are looking at the exit, and over the next two days, our heroic military is doing the best they can with a horrible policy decision. This is one of the worst foreign policy decisions in American history," McConnell told Fox News on Sunday.

The withdrawal from the Central Asian nation is even worse than that of American troops from South Vietnam in 1973, as there was no terrorist threat from that country, unlike the current situation in Afghanistan, he pointed out, voicing concern for the future of the United States, as terrorist leaders are "excited about the success they see in bringing America to its knees in Afghanistan."

The Taliban (a terrorist group, banned in Russia) took over Kabul in mid-August, completing a large-scale offensive across the country, and forbidding foreign troops from staying beyond the August 31 deadline.

14:21 GMT 30.08.2021

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) raised the alarm on Monday over a Pakistani reporter who went missing after reporting live from the bomb site outside the Kabul airport, appealing to the Taliban (terrorist group, banned in Russia) to allow free and independent reporting in Afghanistan.

Muhammad Iqbal Mengal went missing after live coverage of the bombing's aftermath outside the Kabul airport on August 26. The IFJ suspects he was detained by the Taliban, as two other Pakistani journalists were arrested on August 25 by the militants for not having approval to report, but who were released the next day.

"Arresting, abducting and requiring permission for journalists to report contradicts the core principles of an independent and free press. The IFJ urges the Taliban to ensure media can work without fear of retribution or persecution," the statement said.

The Pakistani branch of the journalist community pressed the authorities in Pakistan and Afghanistan to ensure Mengal's safe release.

14:19 GMT 30.08.2021

The international community should respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Monday, commenting on the idea of creating a so-called "safe zone" in the Central Asian country for humanitarian purposes.

According to French President Emmanuel Macron, Paris, Berlin and London are working on an initiative to urge the United Nations to set up a safe zone in Kabul to ensure that humanitarian operations continue. The Taliban (a terrorist group, banned in Russia) dismissed the idea as unnecessary.

"We took note of the relevant reports, as well as to the fact that the Afghan Taliban rejected the proposal to create a safe zone. China believes that the international community should respect the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity of Afghanistan and the will of the Afghan people," the diplomat said.

In addition, any action by the UN Security Council and international partners should contribute "to a smooth transition of the situation in Afghanistan," he noted.

On Sunday, a UNSC source told Sputnik that the council is not currently discussing the idea of sending a UN peacekeeping mission to Afghanistan.

12:18 GMT 30.08.2021
11:59 GMT 30.08.2021
11:35 GMT 30.08.2021
10:50 GMT 30.08.2021

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The death toll from a US drone attack near the Kabul Airport has climbed to 12, Al Jazeera reported on 30 August.

CNN initially reported that the attack had claimed the lives of nine civilians, including six children.

On 30 August, media outlets reported that US Central Command spokesman Capt. Bill Urban confirmed an airstrike on a car filled with explosives, prompted by an alleged threat from the Daesh-Khorasan terrorist group (banned in Russia).

10:36 GMT 30.08.2021
10:36 GMT 30.08.2021
10:24 GMT 30.08.2021
09:34 GMT 30.08.2021
09:24 GMT 30.08.2021
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09:23 GMT 30.08.2021
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07:38 GMT 30.08.2021

The rockets were launched from the north of the Afghan capital, and the extent of the damage is still unknown, although initial reports indicated there were no casualties, the source added.

07:37 GMT 30.08.2021
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"National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Chief of Staff Ron Klain have briefed the president on the rocket attack at Hamid Karzai International Airport. The president was informed that operations continue uninterrupted at HKIA, and has reconfirmed his order that commanders redouble their efforts to prioritise doing whatever is necessary to protect our forces on the ground", White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement. 

04:49 GMT 30.08.2021
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