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Afghanistan

Countries Urged To Cooperate In Getting Afghans Out After Airlift Ends

A military aircraft takes off from the military airport in Kabul on August 27.
A military aircraft takes off from the military airport in Kabul on August 27.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has urged countries that took part in the airlift in Afghanistan to work together to provide safe passage for those eligible to leave.

Raab joined the foreign ministers of several countries in a virtual meeting on August 30 organized by the U.S. State Department to discuss their next steps in Afghanistan as an airlift evacuation winds down.

Raab also said Afghanistan's Taliban leadership should be judged on its actions and on whether people are allowed to leave, the Foreign Office said in a statement.

Inside The Taliban's Kabul

A fighter wearing sandals stands guard as senior Taliban figure Abdul Baqi Haqqani addresses an all-male meeting on the Taliban's education policies at Kabul's Loya Jirga Hall on August 29.
1/14 A fighter wearing sandals stands guard as senior Taliban figure Abdul Baqi Haqqani addresses an all-male meeting on the Taliban's education policies at Kabul's Loya Jirga Hall on August 29.
Surreal scenes in the Afghan capital as Islamic extremists who seized control of Afghanistan hold meetings on women's education and patrol the streets of Kabul with U.S.-made weapons.
Haqqani (at podium) announced during the meeting that although Afghan women will be allowed to study at university, there will be a ban on mixed classes under Taliban rule.
2/14 Haqqani (at podium) announced during the meeting that although Afghan women will be allowed to study at university, there will be a ban on mixed classes under Taliban rule.
Surreal scenes in the Afghan capital as Islamic extremists who seized control of Afghanistan hold meetings on women's education and patrol the streets of Kabul with U.S.-made weapons.
A woman covered by a burqa on the street in Kabul on August 27.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> A female Kabul resident who spoke to RFE/RL by encrypted messaging said there was uncertainty in the Afghan capital about what Taliban rule will be like. &quot;The spokesperson of the Taliban says they have changed and blah blah blah,&quot; the woman wrote. &quot;But ordinary Taliban on the streets are so much different and rude, carrying guns.&quot;<br /> &nbsp;
3/14 A woman covered by a burqa on the street in Kabul on August 27.
 
A female Kabul resident who spoke to RFE/RL by encrypted messaging said there was uncertainty in the Afghan capital about what Taliban rule will be like. "The spokesperson of the Taliban says they have changed and blah blah blah," the woman wrote. "But ordinary Taliban on the streets are so much different and rude, carrying guns."
 
Surreal scenes in the Afghan capital as Islamic extremists who seized control of Afghanistan hold meetings on women's education and patrol the streets of Kabul with U.S.-made weapons.
Taliban fighters wearing modern ballistic helmets and carrying U.S.-made weapons at a checkpoint in Kabul on August 29.<br /> &nbsp;
4/14 Taliban fighters wearing modern ballistic helmets and carrying U.S.-made weapons at a checkpoint in Kabul on August 29.
 
Surreal scenes in the Afghan capital as Islamic extremists who seized control of Afghanistan hold meetings on women's education and patrol the streets of Kabul with U.S.-made weapons.
An abandoned U.S. armored vehicle seen in Kabul on August 29.<br /> <br /> U.S. forces left behind billions of dollars&#39; worth of military equipment as they evacuated Afghanistan -- much of it meant for the Afghan National Army. The modern weaponry has now fallen into the hands of the Taliban.
5/14 An abandoned U.S. armored vehicle seen in Kabul on August 29.

U.S. forces left behind billions of dollars' worth of military equipment as they evacuated Afghanistan -- much of it meant for the Afghan National Army. The modern weaponry has now fallen into the hands of the Taliban.
Surreal scenes in the Afghan capital as Islamic extremists who seized control of Afghanistan hold meetings on women's education and patrol the streets of Kabul with U.S.-made weapons.
Despite the risks, some schools have reopened. These students and their teacher at a Kabul middle school were photographed on their way to class on August 30.<br /> &nbsp;
6/14 Despite the risks, some schools have reopened. These students and their teacher at a Kabul middle school were photographed on their way to class on August 30.
 
Surreal scenes in the Afghan capital as Islamic extremists who seized control of Afghanistan hold meetings on women's education and patrol the streets of Kabul with U.S.-made weapons.
A military aircraft takes off from Kabul airport on August 27. The final evacuation of remaining U.S. troops in Kabul is scheduled to end on August 31.<br /> &nbsp;
7/14 A military aircraft takes off from Kabul airport on August 27. The final evacuation of remaining U.S. troops in Kabul is scheduled to end on August 31.
 
Surreal scenes in the Afghan capital as Islamic extremists who seized control of Afghanistan hold meetings on women's education and patrol the streets of Kabul with U.S.-made weapons.
Crowds gather outside a closed branch of a Kabul bank on August 28. Since the Taliban seized power in Kabul, many government buildings, banks, schools, and universities have remained closed. As prices rise, cash is reportedly becoming harder to acquire.<br /> &nbsp;
8/14 Crowds gather outside a closed branch of a Kabul bank on August 28. Since the Taliban seized power in Kabul, many government buildings, banks, schools, and universities have remained closed. As prices rise, cash is reportedly becoming harder to acquire.
 
Surreal scenes in the Afghan capital as Islamic extremists who seized control of Afghanistan hold meetings on women's education and patrol the streets of Kabul with U.S.-made weapons.
Burqa-clad women shop at a market in Kabul on August 28. Sales of all-encompassing burqas &nbsp;-- which were mandatory for women under the Taliban&#39;s previous regime -- have shot up in recent weeks.<br /> &nbsp;
9/14 Burqa-clad women shop at a market in Kabul on August 28. Sales of all-encompassing burqas  -- which were mandatory for women under the Taliban's previous regime -- have shot up in recent weeks.
 
Surreal scenes in the Afghan capital as Islamic extremists who seized control of Afghanistan hold meetings on women's education and patrol the streets of Kabul with U.S.-made weapons.
Internally displaced Afghan families in tents at a park in Kabul on August 18. The Taliban has demanded civilians hand over all government property, including weapons.<br /> &nbsp;
10/14 Internally displaced Afghan families in tents at a park in Kabul on August 18. The Taliban has demanded civilians hand over all government property, including weapons.
 
Surreal scenes in the Afghan capital as Islamic extremists who seized control of Afghanistan hold meetings on women's education and patrol the streets of Kabul with U.S.-made weapons.
A man sells Taliban flags and posters of the militant group&#39;s leaders in Kabul on August 27.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;
11/14 A man sells Taliban flags and posters of the militant group's leaders in Kabul on August 27.
 
 
Surreal scenes in the Afghan capital as Islamic extremists who seized control of Afghanistan hold meetings on women's education and patrol the streets of Kabul with U.S.-made weapons.
Taliban fighters block a road in central Kabul with a U.S.-made Humvee on August 28.<br /> &nbsp;
12/14 Taliban fighters block a road in central Kabul with a U.S.-made Humvee on August 28.
 
Surreal scenes in the Afghan capital as Islamic extremists who seized control of Afghanistan hold meetings on women's education and patrol the streets of Kabul with U.S.-made weapons.
Daily life in Kabul
13/14 Daily life in Kabul
Surreal scenes in the Afghan capital as Islamic extremists who seized control of Afghanistan hold meetings on women's education and patrol the streets of Kabul with U.S.-made weapons.
14/14
Surreal scenes in the Afghan capital as Islamic extremists who seized control of Afghanistan hold meetings on women's education and patrol the streets of Kabul with U.S.-made weapons.
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A Foreign Office official said earlier that Britain was a "long way" from offering diplomatic recognition to the Taliban.

The State Department said the virtual meeting was to "discuss an aligned approach for the days and weeks ahead." In addition to Britain, representatives from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Kingdom, Turkey, Qatar, the European Union, and NATO were to participate.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to speak after the meeting to give an update on recent U.S. efforts in Afghanistan.

Pentagon officials said earlier on August 30 that more than 122,000 people had been flown out of Kabul's airport since the evacuation began in late July. The vast majority have been flown out since the Taliban took over the government two weeks ago.

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said some 6,000 Americans had been evacuated from Afghanistan so far. The Biden administration is still trying to determine how many Americans want to leave ahead of the August 31 deadline to withdraw U.S. troops.

U.S. officials have said the State Department would continue efforts to get people out even after the military presence ends.

'They Wanted To Punish Me': Hunted By The Taliban, Afghan Activist Escapes To Ukraine
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'They Wanted To Punish Me': Hunted By The Taliban, Afghan Activist Escapes To Ukraine
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One of the countries that has played a key role in the airlift is Qatar. Many of the U.S. military's flights in the rushed evacuation used the U.S. military base in Qatar as a transit stop.

Once the U.S. military leaves Kabul, Qatar is expected to provide civilian technical assistance to the Taliban at Kabul's international airport.

Qatar's Foreign Ministry has been taking part in negotiations about the operations of the Kabul airport with Afghan and international parties, mainly the United States and Turkey.

In addition, UN agencies are asking Qatar for help and support in delivering aid to Afghanistan.

The UN Security Council is expected to vote later on August 30 on a resolution requiring the Taliban to honor their commitment to let people freely leave Afghanistan, but the measure won't require a safe zone as proposed earlier by French President Emmanuel Macron.

Macron had raised the idea of a safe zone over the weekend and said France would propose it in a resolution.

'Power Vacuum' In Kabul: RFE/RL's Radio Azadi Journalist Describes Life Under The Taliban
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'Power Vacuum' In Kabul: RFE/RL's Radio Azadi Journalist Describes Life Under The Taliban
by RFE/RL

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Separately, a State Department statement on August 30 addressed the situation regarding Islamic State (IS), which has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing that last week killed scores of Afghans and 13 U.S. troops at a perimeter gate to the Kabul airport.

The statement said an existing coalition to defeat the IS group and its partners "continue to stand shoulder to shoulder" to defeat IS, which it said "remains a determined enemy."

It will use the coalition's expertise to counter the global branches of IS, including Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K), to identify and bring their members to justice.

"We will draw on all elements of national power -- military, intelligence, diplomatic, economic, law enforcement -- to ensure the defeat of this brutal terrorist organization," the statement said.

With reporting by AP, Reuters, AFP, and dpa
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