Afghanistan Crisis HIGHLIGHTS: Afghan Athlete Makes Debut At Tokyo Paralympics Amid Crisis In Home Country
Afghanistan Taliban Crisis HIGHLIGHTS: For all the latest developments in the Afghanistan-Taliban crisis and the situation created around it follow ABP News LIVE blog to stay updated.
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Background
Afghanistan Taliban Crisis HIGHLIGHTS: The US military has completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan to end a brutal 20-year war, which has been America's longest. It started and ended with the hardline Taliban in power, despite billions of dollars spent trying to rebuild the conflict-wracked country, reports AFP.
Celebratory gunfire rang out in Kabul in the early hours of Tuesday, and elated senior Taliban officials hailed the event as a watershed moment.
The withdrawal came after the fraught final days of a frantic mission to evacuate tens of thousands of Americans and Afghans who had helped the US-led war effort -- and which left scores of Afghans and 13 US troops dead in a suicide attack last week.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken says fewer than 200 Americans remain in Afghanistan who want to leave and the US will continue to try to get them out. Blinken says the number of Americans left may be closer to 100. He says the US would work with Afghanistan's neighbors to secure their departure either overland or by charter flight once the Kabul airport re-opens.
Taliban fighters watched the last U.S. planes disappear into the sky over Afghanistan around midnight Monday and then fired their guns into the air, celebrating victory after a 20-year insurgency that drove the world's most powerful military out of one of the poorest countries.
The departure of the U.S. cargo planes marked the end of a massive airlift in which tens of thousands of people fled Afghanistan, fearful of the return of Taliban rule after the militants took over most of the country and rolled into the capital earlier this month.
Afghan athlete Hossain Rasouli represents Afghanistan in Tokyo Paralympics
Afghan athlete Hossain Rasouli participated in a long jump event at the Tokyo Paralympics on Tuesday after being evacuated from his war-torn country. Rasouli, who competed in the men's T47 long jump, became 1st athlete to represent Afghanistan in Tokyo Paralympics.
EU to organize high-level forum in September to discuss resettlement of needy Afghans
The European Commission will organize a special high-level forum in September to discuss the resettlement of needy Afghans, European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson said on Tuesday.
"As part of the follow up to the #JHA @EUCouncil today, I will convene, in September, a High-Level Resettlement Forum to discuss concrete priorities with the Member States and provide sustainable solutions to those Afghans who are most vulnerable, particularly women and children, but also human rights activists, journalists, lawyers. We will cooperate together with the other global leaders on a coordinated approach to safe and legal routes for resettlement," Johansson said on Twitter.
PM Modi Discusses Afghanistan Situation With President Of European Council
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday spoke on the telephone with President of the European Council Charles Michel about the evolving situation in Afghanistan and reiterated India's commitment to further strengthening India-EU relations.
"Spoke with @eucopresident Charles Michel, President of the European Council, about the evolving situation in Afghanistan. Also reiterated our commitment to further strengthening India-EU relations," Modi wrote on Twitter.
"The leaders discussed the recent developments in Afghanistan and the implications for the region and the world. They unequivocally condemned the horrific terror attack at the Kabul International Airport that resulted in many casualties. They emphasized the importance of a stable and secure Afghanistan and discussed the potential role India and the EU could play in this context," an official statement read.
America Left Behind USD 85 Billion Worth Of Weapons In Afghanistan
Taliban now have USD 85 billion worth of American weapons that were left behind by American Army after hostile takeover by Afghanistan, Donald Trump Jr said while taking a jibe at President Joe Biden.
Donald Trump Jr tweeted:"Each and every man, woman, and child in American contributed about $265 to their terrorist cause assuming +/-320 mil citizens. Well done Democrats."
Trump Jr mentioned that the US was leaving behind 22,174 humvees, 8,000 trucks, 634 MIII7, 162,043 radios, 155 MxxPro mine-proof vehicles, 16,035-night vision goggles/devices, 169 armoured personnel carriers, 358,530 assault rifles, 42,000 trucks and SUVs, 126,295 pistols, 64,363 machine guns, 176 artillery pieces, 33 Mi-17 and as many UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters, four C-130 transporters, 23 Embraer EMB 314/A29 Super Tucano, 43 MD530 choppers, 28 Cessna 208, and 10 Cessna AC-208 planes, The News International reported.
ISIS-K's Deep Involvement May Worsen Afghanistan's Future
The dreaded Kabul attack in Talian-controled Afghanistan that killed over 100 including 13 US troops has signalled severe difficulties for the nation in future. The catastrophic Daesh-K attack near Kabul was a message to the US as well as the Taliban.
Now, Al-Qaeda will probably operate more easily against the backdrop of terrorism. The attack also undermined the US argument that American troops were in Afghanistan to combat terrorism, Turkey's Daily Sabah reported.