• The last plane leaves.

    The longest American war ends

  • Afghanistan, extraordinary G7-EU-NATO summit.

    Di Maio: "The terrorist threat is concrete"

  • Afghanistan: 20 years of US military campaign

Share

August 31, 2021 The Taliban controls the Kabul airport and retains full control of the airport after the last American plane has left its runway. LaPresse / AP writes it. The Taliban leaders later symbolically crossed the trail, marking their victory.



"The world should have learned the lesson and this is the pleasant moment of victory," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a livestream posted by a militant.



"After 20 years we have defeated the Americans," said Mohammad Islam, a Taliban guard at the airport in Logar province holding a Kalashnikov rifle.



"They are gone and now our country is free." He added: "It is clear what we want. We want sharia (Islamic law), peace and stability ".



Mohammad Naeem, a spokesman for the Taliban political bureau in Qatar, also spoke in an online video earlier Tuesday. "Thank God all the occupiers have completely left our country," he said, congratulating the fighters by referring to them as mujahedeen, or holy warriors.



"This victory was given to us by God. It was due to 20 years of sacrifice by the mujahideen and their leaders. Many mujahedeen sacrificed their lives. ''



Mohammad Naeem, spokesman for the Taliban political office in Qatar, said added: "Thank God all the occupiers have completely left our country," he said, congratulating the fighters referring to them as mujahedeen, or holy warriors.



"This victory was given to us by God. It was due to 20 years of sacrifice by the mujahideen and its leaders. Many mujahideen sacrificed their lives."



Zalmay Khalilzad, the US special representative who oversaw America's talks with the Taliban, tweeted that "Afghans face a moment of decision and opportunity" after their withdrawal. "The future of their country is in theirs. hands. They will choose their path in full sovereignty, '"he wrote. "This is an opportunity to also end their war".



But the Taliban face what could be a series of major crises as they take over the country's government completely. Most of the billions of dollars that Afghanistan holds in foreign reserves - writes LaPresse / AP - is now frozen in America, putting pressure on its depreciating Afghan currency.



Banks have implemented withdrawal controls, fearing runs on their deposits amid uncertainty. Government officials across the country say they haven't received a salary in months, and medical equipment continues to be in short supply. A severe drought has also reduced the country's food supplies, making its imports even more important and increasing the risk of people starving.



Biden: Taliban guarantee safe passage for those who want to leave


The US president, Joe Biden, has made it clear that he intends to hold the Taliban responsible for their commitment to allow those who try to leave the country to be able to do so safely. "The Taliban have made commitments for safe passage and the world" will control.



"This will include ongoing diplomacy in Afghanistan and coordination with partners in the region to reopen the airport allowing for continuous departure for those who want to leave and the provision of humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people," Biden wrote in a statement after the departure of the last US troops from Kabul airport.