One month since Taliban takeover: Here’s the whole lot that has occurred in Afghanistan

On August 15, the Taliban took over Kabul.
With the capital of their fingers, the hardline Islamist militant group accomplished their takeover of Afghanistan in a fast offensive that noticed provinces and warlords surrender with no combat.

The siege got here two weeks previous to the date the United States chosen to finish its troop withdrawal, after a pricey two-decade battle. It has now been a month for the reason that Taliban seized energy in Afghanistan. Here’s what all has occurred within the nation.
The fall of Kabul
Despite the US and NATO’s pouring of lots of of billions of {dollars} to construct up the Afghan safety power, the Taliban seized practically all of Afghanistan in simply over every week.
On August 15, the insurgents entered the outskirts of Kabul however remained exterior town’s downtown. According to the Associated Press, staff on the time fled authorities workplaces, and smoke rose over town as embassy workers had been seen burning necessary paperwork.
Taliban fighters contained in the Afghan presidential palace, in Kabul. (File/AP)
While the Taliban fighters remained on the outskirts, stories of Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani leaving the nation added extra panic.
Ghani later mentioned in an announcement mentioned that he fled to stop additional bloodshed. “The Taliban have won with the judgement of their swords and guns, and are now responsible for the honour, property and self-preservation of their countrymen,” he wrote in a Facebook publish.

In a number of hours, Al Jazeera aired visuals of Taliban fighters coming into Afghanistan’s presidential palace. The group’s management, surrounded by dozens of armed fighters, addressed the media from the nation’s seat of energy, signalling an official takeover.
Grim visuals from airport
As Taliban fighters moved across the corridors of the luxurious Presidential palace, 1000’s of Afghans determined to go away the nation thronged the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul.
Fearful that the Taliban would reimpose the form of brutal rule that each one however eradicated girls’s rights, a number of Afghans lined up at money machines to withdraw their life financial savings.
Hundreds of individuals collect close to a U.S. Air Force C-17 transport aircraft at a fringe on the worldwide airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Aug. 16, 2021. (AP)
In visuals that shocked the world, many had been seen clinging to a US navy transport aircraft because it taxied on the runway. Another video on social media confirmed a number of falling via the air because the aeroplane quickly gained altitude over town. Seven Afghan civilians had been killed within the chaos on the airport.
Though the Taliban had promised a peaceable transition, the US Embassy suspended operations and warned Americans late within the day to shelter in place and never attempt to get to the airport.
Some lots of of individuals run alongside a U.S. Air Force C-17 transport aircraft because it strikes down a runway of the worldwide airport, in Kabul (AP)
Many individuals watched in disbelief as helicopters landed within the US Embassy compound to take diplomats to a brand new outpost on the airport. The United States rejected comparisons to the US pullout from Vietnam. In phrases of worldwide response, most international locations mentioned their major focus was on evacuating their residents who’re caught in war-torn international locations.

On August 17, US President Joe Biden broke his silence and mentioned that he stand by his determination to withdraw American troops. In an almost 15-minutes lengthy handle, Biden mentioned, “I am the President of the USA and the buck stops with me.”
US President Joe Biden (Left); A person pulls a woman to get inside Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan August 16, 2021. (Reuters)
Two days later, a twin-suicide bomb assault exterior the Kabul airport killed at the very least 95 Afghans and 13 US troops. The Islamic State group later claimed accountability for the killings.
US-led overseas forces ultimately evacuated about 1,24,000 foreigners and at-risk Afghans, however tens of 1000’s had been left behind.
Anti-Afghan protests
While 1000’s of Afghans had been attempting to flee Taliban rule, movies emerged on social media of a small group of ladies holding placards and demanding equal rights on the streets of Kabul. This was reportedly the primary agitation of its form for the reason that militant group seized management of the nation.
An individual wounded in a bomb blast exterior the worldwide airport in Kabul, Afghanistan on Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021, arrives at a hospital in Kabul. (The New York Times)
More protests throughout the cities of Afghanistan additionally emerged on the event of the nation’s Independence day. At one demonstration within the metropolis, about 200 individuals gathered earlier than the Taliban broke it up violently.

“It was a remarkable display of defiance…It was also further evidence that while tens of thousands are now seeking escape, there were many more left behind and determined to have a voice in the kind of country in which they live,” a New York Times report remarked on the protest.
A member of the Taliban forces factors his gun at protesters, as Afghan demonstrators shout slogans throughout an anti-Pakistan protest, close to the Pakistan embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan September 7, 2021. (Reuters)
Meanwhile, away from Kabul within the Panjshir Valley, an anti-Taliban guerrilla motion started to kind below the management of Ahmad Massoud, the son of Ahmad Shah Massoud, who was one of many predominant leaders of Afghanistan’s anti-Soviet resistance within the Nineteen Eighties and was killed in 2001, on the behest of the Taliban and al-Qaeda.
The area, situated 150 kilometers northeast of the capital, Kabul, hosted some senior members of the ousted authorities, together with the deposed Vice President Amrullah Saleh and ex-Defense Minister Bismillah Mohammadi. Saleh has declared himself the caretaker president after ousted President Ashraf Ghani fled the nation.
Militiamen loyal to Ahmad Massoud, son of the late Ahmad Shah Massoud, participate in a coaching train, in Panjshir province, northeastern Afghanistan. (AP)
“I will never, ever and under no circumstances bow to the Taliban terrorists. I will never betray the soul and legacy of my hero Ahmad Shah Mas[s]oud, the commander, the legend and the guide,” Saleh wrote on Twitter.
The Panjshir Valley has repeatedly performed a decisive position in Afghanistan’s navy historical past, as its geographical place nearly utterly closes it off from the remainder of the nation. However, the Taliban in current days have claimed victory over Panjshir.
New Taliban govt
On September 7, the Taliban named Mullah Hasan Akhund, an affiliate of the motion’s late founder Mullah Omar, as the pinnacle of Afghanistan’s new authorities on Tuesday, with Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, head of the motion’s political workplace, as deputy.
Sarajuddin Haqqani, son of the founding father of the Haqqani community, designated as a terrorist group by the United States, was appointed as the brand new inside minister.
Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar (Left) and Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada.
In phrases of construction, the brand new authorities in Kabul was much like the one in Tehran in some methods. The prime non secular chief of the Taliban, Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, who introduced as Afghanistan’s supreme authority, though he’s not a part of the federal government.
According to an announcement launched after the cabinet appointments, Akhundzada instructed the brand new authorities to uphold Islamic guidelines and Sharia regulation in Afghanistan. In the assertion launched in English, Akhundzada additionally urged these in cost to guard the nation’s highest pursuits, and to make sure “lasting peace, prosperity and development”.
Photographs of school rooms divided by curtains had been circulated broadly on social media. (Reuters)
In phrases of schooling, the all-male interim authorities introduced a algorithm to be adopted by feminine college students. The girls are anticipated to observe a strict gown code as accepted by the Taliban’s interpretation of Islam and put on a hijab whereas attending lessons, segregated from the male college students. The authorities has additionally suggested that separate entrances be created for women and men.

Reports of violence in opposition to journalists have additionally emerged.
Economic woes
Ever for the reason that takeover, the Taliban appears to face daunting issues as they search to transform their lightning navy victory right into a sturdy peacetime authorities.
According to Reuters, even after a long time of battle and the deaths of tens of 1000’s of individuals, safety has largely improved, however Afghanistan’s economic system is in ruins regardless of lots of of billions of {dollars} in growth spending over the previous 20 years.
Afghans line up exterior a financial institution to take out their cash after Taliban takeover in Kabul, Afghanistan on Sept. 1, 2021. (Reuters)
The Kabul airport, which witnessed chaotic scenes in August, is alleged to be up and working with help from Qatari officers. The first worldwide industrial flight departed from Kabul airport final week.
However, very like in August, lengthy traces are nonetheless seen exterior banks, the place weekly withdrawal limits of 20,000 afghanis (approx $200) have been imposed to guard the nation’s dwindling reserves.
Impromptu markets the place individuals promote family items for money are reported to have sprung up throughout the capital. However, consumers nonetheless stay in brief provide. “Thefts have disappeared. But bread has also disappeared,” one shopkeeper informed Reuters.