KABUL: The Taliban on Sunday claimed to have taken control of Afghanistan’s presidential palace after President Ashraf Ghani left the country, several international news agencies reported.
Two senior Taliban commanders present in Kabul told Reuters, while three Taliban sources have confirmed the development to AFP. However, there was no confirmation from the Afghan government about the Taliban’s claim.
In addition, the militants entered multiple districts in the Afghan capital. “Military units of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan have entered Kabul city to ensure security,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid tweeted, adding that “their advance is continuing normally”.
Two officials from the Taliban told Reuters there would be no transitional government following their lighting sweep across Afghanistan. American diplomats were evacuated from their embassy by helicopter to the airport.
Ghani’s destination was uncertain, a senior Interior Ministry official said he had left for Tajikistan, while a Foreign Ministry official said his location was unknown and the Taliban said it was checking his whereabouts.
The Guardian also reported a Kabul Hospital tweeting that “more than 40 people” have been wounded in clashes on the outskirts of Kabul and are receiving treatment there.
Ashraf Ghani flees
Ashraf Ghani fled Afghanistan on Sunday evening, ceding power to the Taliban as they reached the capital Kabul to seal a nationwide military victory. His exit came hours after the Taliban ordered their fighters to wait on the outskirts of the capital following an astonishing rout of government forces.
“The former Afghan President has left the nation, leaving the people to this situation,” Abdullah Abdullah, who heads the peace process, said in a video on his Facebook page. “God hold him accountable, and the people will have their judgement,” he added.
Meanwhile, the CNN reported that a high-level Afghan government delegation will travel to Doha “soon” for talks with the Taliban.
“The situation is changing by the minute but we could expect an Afghan government delegation that has more power and authority to travel to Doha soon,” a source privy to the intra-Afghan negotiations told CNN.
