Afghan First Vice President Amrullah Saleh said on Monday that he was remaining in the country despite the seizure of Kabul by the Taliban Islamist movement.
Kabul Airport Resumes Commercial Flights While Taliban Takes Full Control Of Afghanistan – Pentagon
On Sunday, Saleh said that he would never bow to the Taliban.
“In my soil. With d people. For a cause & purpose. With a solid belief in righteousness. Opposing Pak-backed oppression & brutal dictatorship is our legitimacy,” the official wrote on his Twitter page.
Earlier he tweeted: “I will never, ever & under no circumstances bow to d Talib terrorists. I will never betray d soul & legacy of my hero Ahmad Shah Masoud, the commander, the legend & the guide. I won’t disappoint millions who listened to me. I will never be under one ceiling with the Taliban. NEVER.”
On Sunday, the Taliban entered Kabul, after which President Ashraf Ghani announced resignation and left the country. Ghani said his decision was dictated by the desire to prevent violence as the militants were ready to carry out an attack on the capital.
Taliban spokesman Mohammad Naeem said that the movement had put an end to the 20-year war in the country.
Meanwhile, a total of 64 nations signed a joint statement late Sunday calling for the safe and orderly departure of anyone who wants to leave Afghanistan in the wake of the Taliban’s stunning takeover.
Among the countries that signed the joint statement were Canada, France, Germany and the UK.
“Given the deteriorating security situation, we support, are working to secure, and call on all parties to respect and facilitate the safe and orderly departure of foreign nationals and Afghans who wish to leave the country.
“Those in positions of power and authority across Afghanistan bear responsibility—and accountability—for the protection of human life and property, and for the immediate restoration of security and civil order,” said the statement.
“Afghans and international citizens who wish to depart must be allowed to do so; roads, airports and border crossings must remain open and calm must be maintained,” it noted.
“The Afghan people deserve to live in safety, security and dignity. We in the international community stand ready to assist them.”
The statement comes after the Taliban made rapid military advances, taking control of the country as Afghan government forces fled or surrendered. The Taliban took control of the presidential palace in Kabul on Sunday, according to the group’s spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid.
This came following an eventful day that saw minute-to-minute developments, including the Taliban’s entering the besieged capital and the departure of embattled President Ashraf Ghani along with his close aides.
Ghani, who was dubbed “the former president” by the head of Afghanistan’s National Reconciliation Council, Abdullah Abdullah, in a video message, left the country.
“He [Ghani] left Afghanistan in a hard time. God holds him accountable,” Abdullah said in the message in the Persian language.
Following the departure of Ghani, former President Hamid Karzai, veteran politician Gulbuddin Hekmatyar and top peace negotiator Abdullah formed a council with the aim of ensuring a smooth transfer of power.
Defending his decision, Ghani said in a message that he had left Kabul in order to avoid bloodshed.
Mujahid said the Taliban will not accept any transitional setup. Instead, he added, the group wants an immediate transition of power.
A delegation of the Taliban’s military commission is present at the presidential palace to negotiate the transfer of power, he told ABC News.
The Taliban’s consultative council has already announced a general amnesty for Afghan forces and government officials in the case of unconditional surrender.
Ghost Town
US forces’ helicopters meanwhile were seen conducting back and forth flights between the American Embassy and Kabul airport to evacuate US diplomats.
“Kabul looks like a ghost city as I speak. All shops, markets and restaurants are closed. Roads and streets wear a deserted look,” Anis Khan, a Kabul-based journalist, told local broadcaster Geo News.
“The city is in the grip of fear and confusion,” Khan added.
The US later announced that it had completed the evacuation Sunday night of all remaining personnel from its embassy in Kabul as the Taliban laid claim to the Afghan capital.
“We can confirm that the safe evacuation of all Embassy personnel is now complete,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.
“All Embassy personnel are located on the premises of Hamid Karzai International Airport, whose perimeter is secured by the U.S. Military.”
Inputs from Anadolu Agency and Sputnik
