Afghanistan: chaos and confusion at the airport and Kabul
Afghanistan, Kabul international airport, August 16, 2021, the day after the takeover of the capital by the Taliban.
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3 min
Afghanistan woke up on Monday morning in the hands of the Taliban the day after the capture of the capital Kabul.
President Ashraf Rani, who left the country, acknowledged the victory of the rebels.
The latter have taken control of the presidential palace.
The entry of the Taliban into Kabul caused a wave of panic with residents trying to flee the city through the only exit point, the airport.
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The situation at Kabul International Airport on Monday morning is chaotic.
News agencies report US forces fired in the air in front of a very large crowd on the tarmac.
According to Reuters, the aim was to prevent panicked Afghans from boarding aircraft intended to evacuate the Americans.
It is the safe who can, reports our correspondent Sonia Ghezali.
There would be no direct clashes with the Taliban, but numerous videos on social media show the utter disorganization at the airport.
We see many people trying to climb the stairs leading to a plane, the Afghans present desperately trying to flee by the only exit point that is not controlled by the Taliban.
The airport also hosts many foreign embassies who have withdrawn there, pending an evacuation of their staff, such as that of the United States Embassy whose flag was removed this morning.
► to read also: in Afghanistan, the lightning conquest of the Taliban tarnishes the image of the United States
In Kabul, panic seemed to have gripped the city yesterday, with queues in front of banks, shops closed, police taking off their uniforms.
The Taliban control the entire capital, including the green zone, the once secure zone, reports Sonia Ghezali.
A Taliban leader told Reuters that instructions had been given not to frighten civilians, and that they were awaiting the departure of all foreign powers before structuring the new governance of the country.
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To read also
: Back to the day when power fell into the hands of the Taliban
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