Taliban guarantees security to embassies, foreign nationals in Kabul

Kabul: Amid fears, and propaganda, about a likely Taiban swoop on foreign nationals and interests following the militants' capture of Kabul, a spokesman of the Taliban has come out to reassure that they will pose no hazard to diplomatic missions and foreign nationals caught in the Afghan capital.

"We assure all embassies, diplomatic missions, institutions and residences of foreign nationals in Kabul that there is no danger to them," Xinhua news agency quoted Muhammad Naeem, a spokesman for the Taliban's political office in Doha, as saying on Sunday evening.

As Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport was packed with tens of passengers in wait for flights departing the country, but they were disappointed that there were no flights taking off. Meanwhile, reports say the US has ordered an additional 3,000-plus military personnel to Afghanistan, in addition to the 1,000 already there, mainly to ensure evacuation of US citizens held up in the country.

However, partly dispelling popular perception about the Taliban as a militant group lot all set to unleash attacks, the spokesperson stressed that the movement is committed to maintaining security in Kabul and other Afghan cities.

The Taliban, after a nearly unopposed spree across several provincial cities, captured Kabul on Sunday and took control of the Presidential palace, by which time the beleaguered President Ashraf Ghani had fled reportedly to Tajikistan together with the first lady and close aides.

Though the Taliban had earlier assured having no plans to enter Kabul with military force, the security vacuum in the capital seems to have let or persuaded them to take over the security including charge of deserted police posts.

To avoid the power vacuum created after Ghani's escape, head of High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah, former President Hamid Karzai and head of Hezb-e-Islami Gulbadin Hekmatyar came together and formed a temporary council, IANS quoted a Khaama Press report on Sunday night.

The council is aimed at transferring the power peacefully to the Taliban and asked the forces of Afghan security and of the Afghanistan Islamic Emirate to secure Kabul and do not allow any chaos.

The trio in their separate video clips delivered different messages to the people of Kabul.

Abdullah, who had earlier been at loggerheads with the Ashraf Ghani, before accepting his compromise position in the administration, accused Ashraf Ghani of fleeing the country and leaving the people in a mess. He also took to the streets of Kabul and greet the people who were hugging crying and thanked him for being with them.

While Karzai encouraged people not to panic as he and his children are still living in the Afghan capital, Hekmatyar accused Ghani of continuing the war and remaining stubborn to transfer power peacefully to a government that is acceptable to all.

The Afghanistan Islamic Emirate asked people to cooperate with them in identifying and arresting those who impersonate them and rob people and property.

Sunday night was rather quiet but there were sporadic fires and the choppers were patrolling the Afghan capital, said the news report.