"Congratulations to Afghanistan" - Taliban celebrate departure of last US troops

The United States on Monday completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan, ending America’s longest war and closing a chapter in military history likely to be remembered for colossal failures, unfulfilled promises and a frantic final exit that cost the lives of more than 180 Afghans and 13 U.S. service members, some barely older than the war.

7:27 Paris time (GMT + 2)

U.S. Embassy in Kabul suspends operations

The US Embassy in Kabul suspended operations on Tuesday, 31 August, the embassy's website said.

"While the U.S. government has withdrawn its personnel from Kabul, we will continue to assist US citizens and their families in Afghanistan from Doha, Qatar," the website said.    (Reuters)

06:30 Paris time (GMT + 2)

Taliban welcome "good" diplomatic relations with U.S., congratulate Afghans on "victory"

The Taliban's top spokesman congratulated Afghans on their victory on Tuesday, hours after the last U.S. troops left the country following 20 years of military intervention.

"Congratulations to Afghanistan... This victory belongs to us all," Talibanspokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said from the runway of Kabul airport.

"We want to have good relations with the U.S. and the world. We welcome good diplomatic relations with them all," he added, calling the American defeat a “lesson for other invaders”.    (AFP)

 

06:19 Paris time (GMT + 2)

Livestream shows the Taliban in control of Kabul airport

Taliban leaders have symbolically walked across the runway at Kabul's international airport after the U.S. withdrawal, marking their victory. 

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a livestream posted by a militant as he walked through the facility: "The world should have learned their lesson and this is the enjoyable moment of victory.”

Taliban officials filmed the empty airfield on their mobile phones, surrounded by special forces members of the insurgents. 

01:12 Paris time (GMT + 2)

Blinken: U.S. suspended diplomatic operations in Kabul 

The United States embarked Monday on a "new" chapter regarding Afghanistan and shifted its diplomatic operations to Qatar, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, as he expressed commitment to helping every American who wants to leave the war-weary nation.

 "As of today, we've suspended our diplomatic presence in Kabul and transferred our operations to Doha, Qatar," Blinken said, adding that Congress would be notified.

America's top diplomat, speaking just hours after the final evacuation flights left Kabul, said a small number of U.S. citizens, "under 200" but likely closer to just 100, remained in the country.

In a statement he made following the completion of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, he added that the U.S. will continue "relentless efforts" to help Americans, Afghans, others to leave Afghanistan if they choose to.

00:05 Paris time (GMT + 2)

Biden to speak about Afghanistan withdrawal on Tuesday

U.S. President Joe Biden announced he will address the nation on Tuesday on the final U.S. exit from Afghanistan after 20 years of war against the Taliban.

"Tomorrow afternoon, I will address the American people on my decision not to extend our presence in Afghanistan beyond 8/31," the U.S. president said in a statement shortly after the Pentagon announced that the final US military plane had flown out of Kabul.

Biden's statement praised the military for carrying out the evacuation of final US troops, diplomats, and nearly all Americans, as well as tens of thousands of Afghan allies who worked for or fought alongside international forces in the war.

 "The past 17 days have seen our troops execute the largest airlift in U.S. history, evacuating over 120,000 US citizens, citizens of our allies, and Afghan allies of the United States," Biden said.

23:45 Paris time (GMT + 2)

Taliban proclaim "full independence", celebrate after U.S. withdrawal

The Taliban have proclaimed “full independence” for Afghanistan after the last US soldiers flew out following 20 years of war. 

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said early Tuesday that “American soldiers left the Kabul airport, and our nation got its full independence.” 

The U.S. confirmed its last forces withdrew ahead of a Tuesday deadline, ending America’s longest war and a frantic two-week evacuation effort. The Taliban seized most of the country in a matter of days earlier this month.    (AP)

U.S. completes its withdrawal from Afghanistan

Hours ahead of President Joe Biden’s Tuesday deadline for shutting down a final airlift, and thus ending the U.S. war, Air Force transport planes carried a remaining contingent of troops from Kabul airport. Thousands of troops had spent a harrowing two weeks protecting a hurried and risky airlift of tens of thousands of Afghans, Americans and others seeking to escape a country once again ruled by Taliban militants.

In announcing the completion of the evacuation and war effort. General Frank McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command, said the last planes took off from Kabul airport at 3:29 p.m. Washington time, or one minute before midnight in Kabul.

The airport had become a U.S.-controlled island, a last stand in a 20-year war that claimed more than 2,400 American lives.

The closing hours of the evacuation were marked by extraordinary drama. American troops faced the daunting task of getting final evacuees onto planes while also getting themselves and some of their equipment out, even as they monitored repeated threats – and at least two actual attacks – by the Islamic State group’s Afghanistan affiliate. A suicide bombing on 26 August killed 13 American service members and some 169 Afghans.

The final U.S. exit included the withdrawal of its diplomats, although the State Department has left open the possibility of resuming some level of diplomacy with the Taliban depending on how they conduct themselves in establishing a government and adhering to international pleas for the protection of human rights.    (AP)