US Embassy Lowers Flag as Taliban Conquers Kabul
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The US, along with 65 other countries, warns the Taliban movement "bears accountability" in case Afghans and foreigners are prevented from leaving the country.
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The Taliban's conquest of Kabul has hastened the leave of US personnel.
Following the speedy conquest of the Taliban, the US State Department announced that the US flag was lowered from the US embassy in the Afghan capital, Kabul, as the embassy staff were being transported to the airport.
The US and 65 countries also stressed, in a joint statement, that Afghan nationals and foreigners wishing to leave Afghanistan "must be allowed to do so," warning that the Taliban "bears responsibility and accountability" if any violation occurs.
In a joint statement, the US Department of State and Defense said that "a series of steps to secure the Hamid Karzai International Airport to enable the safe departure of US and allied personnel from Afghanistan via civilian and military flights."
The two ministries added, "Over the next 48 hours, we will have expanded our security presence to nearly 6,000 troops, with a mission focused solely on facilitating these efforts and will be taking over air traffic control."
"Tomorrow and over the coming days, we will be transferring out of the country thousands of American citizens who have been resident in Afghanistan, as well as locally employed staff of the U.S. mission in Kabul and their families and other particularly vulnerable Afghan nationals," the statement continued.
These statements come at a time when a Taliban official said that the movement would soon declare the "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan" from the presidential palace in the capital, Kabul.
The movement announced that it had taken control of the Afghan presidential palace and entered the capital, Kabul, while Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled Afghanistan, heading to Tajikistan.
