The protest began outside the Pakistan Embassy in the Afghan capital to denounce what the demonstrators allege as Pakistan’s interference in Afghanistan, especially Islamabad’s alleged support for the latest Taliban offensive that routed anti-Taliban fighters in Panjshir province.
The Taliban on Tuesday fired shots into the air to disperse crowds who had gathered for an anti-Pakistan rally in the capital, the latest protest since the hardline Islamist movement swept to power last month.
The Islamists have yet to announce a government, but Afghans — fearful of a repeat of the group’s previous brutal reign between 1996 and 2001 — have staged small, isolated demonstrations in cities including the capital Kabul, Herat and Mazar-i-Sharif.
- Taliban denies introduction of restrictions on social media
- Taliban vow to be accountable in new regime
- Second Afghan city falls as Taliban advances towards countryside
On Tuesday at least 70 people, mostly women, rallied outside the Pakistani embassy, holding banners and chanting against what they said was meddling by Islamabad, who has long been accused of having close ties to the Taliban movement. – AFP
Somewhere around 100 Americans still in Afghanistan: U.S Secretary of State
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the U.S. believes somewhere around 100 american citizenns, many of them dual nationals, are still in Afghanistan. Mr Blinken further added that “we are in touch with almost all of them”.
He further said that the United States is working to make sure charter flights can leave Afghanistan safely.
Speaking in Qatar at a press conference alongside Qatar Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Blinken said Taliban officials had told the U.S. they will let people with travel documents freely depart Afghanistan. [THT]
