Kabul:
The Taliban warned on Monday there would be “consequences” if the United States and its allies extend their presence in Afghanistan beyond next week, as chaos continued to overwhelm Kabul airport.
The hardline Islamists’ takeover of the nation last weekend shocked Western nations, coming just two weeks just before an August 31 deadline for all troops to completely withdraw from the nation.
To handle the chaotic airlifting of foreigners and Afghans — lots of of whom worry reprisals for working with Western nations — thousands of soldiers have poured back into Afghanistan, with stress increasing on Washington to extend the deadline.
But the Taliban, who have so far sought to strike a more moderate tone, showed no willingness to compromise on the US pullout.
“If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations — the answer is no. Or there would be consequences,” Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen told Sky News on Monday.
Staying beyond the agreed deadline would be “extending occupation”, he added.
Harrowing Scenes
Two Taliban sources meanwhile told AFP the group would not announce the makeup of its government or cabinet till the last US soldier has left the nation.
The rush to leave Kabul has sparked harrowing scenes and killed at least eight persons, some crushed to death even though at least one particular person died following falling from a moving plane.
One Afghan was killed and 3 other folks had been injured in a dawn firefight on Monday that according to the German military erupted among Afghan guards and unknown assailants.
German and American troops “participated in further exchange of fire”, the German army mentioned in a statement.
The Taliban, infamous for an ultra-strict interpretation of sharia law throughout their initial 1996-2001 rule, have repeatedly vowed a softer version this time.
‘Pain And Loss’
President Biden has insisted he desires to finish the US military presence and the airlifts by August 31.
But with the European Union and Britain saying it would be not possible to get every person out by then, Biden is beneath stress to extend the deadline.
Speaking at the White House on Sunday, Biden mentioned talks had been beneath way to discover the possibility of extending the deadline.
He also acknowledged the tragic scenes at the airport, which have incorporated babies and children becoming passed to soldiers more than razor-wire fences and males clinging to the outdoors of departing planes. But he mentioned they had been element of the price of departure.
“There is no way to evacuate this many people without pain and loss and heartbreaking images you see,” he mentioned.
‘Peace And Calm’
In the streets of the capital, the Taliban have enforced a calm of a sort, with their armed forces patrolling the streets and manning checkpoints.
Visually, they have also been seeking to stamp their authority, making sure the tri-coloured national flag is replaced with their white banner.
At a roadside in Kabul at the weekend, young males sold Taliban flags, which bear in black text the Muslim proclamation of faith and the regime’s formal name: “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan”.
“Our goal is to spread the flag of the Islamic Emirate throughout Afghanistan,” mentioned seller Ahmad Shakib, who research economics at university.
Resistance
Outside of Kabul, there have been flickers of resistance against the Taliban.
Some ex-government troops have gathered in the Panjshir Valley, north of the capital — lengthy recognized as an anti-Taliban bastion.
The Taliban mentioned Monday their fighters had surrounded resistance forces holed up in the valley, but had been seeking to negotiate rather than take the fight to them.
Taliban fighters “are stationed near Panjshir”, spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid tweeted, saying they had the location surrounded on 3 sides.
“The Islamic Emirate is trying to resolve this issue peacefully,” he added.
The announcement follows scattered reports of clashes overnight, with pro-Taliban social media accounts claiming gunmen had been massing, and Afghanistan’s former vice president Amrullah Saleh saying resistance forces had been holding robust.
One of the leaders of the movement in Panjshir, named the National Resistance Front, is the son of famed anti-Taliban commander Ahmad Shah Massoud.
The NRF is ready for a “long-term conflict” but is also nevertheless looking for to negotiate with the Taliban about an inclusive government, its spokesman Ali Maisam Nazary told AFP in an interview on the weekend.
“The conditions for a peace deal with the Taliban are decentralisation, a system that ensures social justice, equality, rights, and freedom for all,” he mentioned.
(This story has not been edited by TheSpuzz employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)