Taliban Besieges Entrances to Kabul
The Afghan capital experiences chaos due to the "Taliban" Movement besieging its entrances, and a leader in the Movement calls on the Afghan forces to cease firing and allow all civilians to cross.
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Taliban forces on a street in Jalalabad province (AFP)
Al Mayadeen correspondent quoted a source in the Afghan capital, Kabul, as saying that "the Taliban Movement is besieging the entrances to the capital, but has not yet entered it," stressing that the capital is experiencing great chaos, pointing out that a presidential plane is ready and it may be transferring President Ashraf Ghani.
Our correspondent quoted the source as saying that most TV stations in the Afghan capital are in a state of chaos, and so is the city itself.
According to a statement by the Movement today, Sunday, the latter confirmed that it had ordered its militants not to enter the Afghan capital, Kabul, by force, and that negotiations were underway to ensure the peaceful transition process.
The Movement Spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that the Movement's militants were ordered to stop at the capital's entry points, noting that they did not kill or injure anyone in Kabul.
Reuters quoted a Taliban leader in Doha as saying that "the Afghan forces should cease firing and allow all civilians to cross." The leader called on Afghan civilians to "stay in their country and not leave it out of fear." He revealed that the Movement is negotiating with the Afghan government for a peaceful handover of Kabul.
Reuters also quoted an official in the Afghan presidential palace who said that "President Ghani is holding talks with Zalmay Khalilzad and NATO officials."
A US official revealed that "key" members of the US team are starting their work from Kabul Airport, while a NATO official said that several European Union employees have moved to a "safer" location in the capital.
