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The Taliban hailed the departure of US troops as a “historic moment”, saying the country has now gained “full independence”.
The Taliban on Tuesday welcomed the departure of US troops after nearly 20 years of occupation, calling their departure a “historic moment” while declaring that the country is now a “free and sovereign nation”.
Speaking to reporters at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said his group’s victory “belongs to all of us.”
“We have no doubt that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is a free and sovereign nation,” he said, adding that the Americans “could not achieve their objective through military operations.”
He also pledged that Afghanistan would have “diplomatic working relations” with the West, vowing that the Afghans “would protect our freedom, our independence and our Islamic values.”
Earlier, Marine General Frank McKenzie, head of the US Central Command, announced that the last US troops sent to evacuate US citizens and Afghans threatened by the Taliban had left Kabul just before midnight local time.
“We didn’t get everyone out that we wanted to get out. But I think if we stayed another 10 days we wouldn’t take out everyone we wanted out. And there would still have been some disappointed people. It is a difficult situation.
President Joe Biden set the August 31 deadline for the withdrawal earlier this year.
Here are the latest updates:
Taliban spokesperson to hold press conference at Kabul airport
Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid and his troops are said to be entering Kabul airport, where he is expected to hold a press conference.
Images posted on social media showed Zabihullah and his group entering the airport on Tuesday morning, where they are expected to make important announcements.
Officials on their way to the airport. @TGhazniwal pic.twitter.com/ACc6YHtCB0
– Muhammad Jalal (@ MJalal700) August 31, 2021
Beijing monitors Afghanistan “very closely” after US withdrawal
With its growing investments in Afghanistan, its “massive investments” in Pakistan, as well as its geopolitical interests at stake, China is “monitoring very closely” developments in the region following the withdrawal of US troops from Kabul.
Katrina Yu of Al Jazeera, reporting from Beijing, said that while China “maintains a non-interference approach”, it is still monitoring the situation very closely.
Yu said Beijing wanted to give the Taliban “a space to prove themselves,” while urging Washington DC to play a role in “cleaning up the mess” after the withdrawal.
“Calm” in Kabul after the withdrawal of American troops
Residents of Kabul woke up early Tuesday in full Taliban control after the complete withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan.
Charles Stratford of Al Jazeera, reporting from Kabul, said “the atmosphere is calm” in the Afghan capital after a night of victory celebration.
“For the Taliban, this is a historic victory for them. The Taliban have always spoken of their fight in Afghanistan against foreign powers as one of the rites of national sovereignty, ”he said.
Our correspondent said there were “a lot of unanswered questions” now that Afghanistan’s new rulers are starting to rebuild the country.
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