{"id":10833,"date":"2021-08-16T11:36:15","date_gmt":"2021-08-16T03:36:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/?p=10833"},"modified":"2021-08-16T11:36:17","modified_gmt":"2021-08-16T03:36:17","slug":"taliban-say-they-have-taken-control-of-afghan-presidential-palace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newmalaysiatimes.com\/?p=10833","title":{"rendered":"Taliban say they have taken control of Afghan Presidential Palace"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

PESHAWAR (Pakistan), Aug 16 — The Taliban have taken control of the presidential palace in Afghanistan\u2019s capital Kabul, Anadolu Agency (AA) quoted a Taliban spokesman on Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This came following an eventful day, which saw minute-to-minute developments, including the Taliban’s entry to the besieged capital and the departure of embattled President Ashraf Ghani along with his close aides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghani, who was dubbed as former president by the head of Afghanistan’s National Reconciliation Council Abdullah Abdullah in a video message, left the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“He (Ghani) left Afghanistan in a hard time, God holds him accountable,\u201d Abdullah said in a video message in the Persian language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following the departure of Ghani, former President Hamid Karzai, veteran politicians Gulbuddin Hekmatyar and Abdullah formed a council with the aim to ensure a smooth transfer of power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"presidential<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Defending his much-expected decision, Ghani, though it is not clear if he has officially resigned, said in a message that he has left Kabul in order to avoid bloodshed<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zabihullah Mijahud, the Taliban spokesman, who announced the Taliban’s deployment in several parts of Kabul, and takeover of the presidential palace, nonetheless, did not announce the seizure of power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said the Taliban will not accept any transitional setup, instead, he added, the group wants an immediate transition of power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delegation of the Taliban’s military commission is present at the presidential palace to negotiate the transfer of power, Mujahid told ABC News.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Taliban\u2019s consultative council has already announced a general amnesty for the Afghan forces and the government officials in case of unconditional surrender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, the US forces helicopters were seen carrying out back and forth flights between the American Embassy and Kabul airport to evacuate US diplomats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The city is in grip of fear and confusion,” Khan added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the same development, the UN Security Council has scheduled an emergency meeting on Afghanistan for Monday morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— BERNAMA<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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