these are pictures of ashraf ghani earlier this week.the military. now he has left the palace, left the city, left the country. confirming that president ashraf ghani has left afghanistan. we have been talking to people in afghanistan and from afghanistan throughout the day about what this means to them. mariam wardak, is a co—founder of the her afghanistan organisation which campaigns for gender inclusion in the country. here she is speaking earlier. i think that the public reacts, the negativity that is spreading across social media, is causing more of a concern to others around the world, more so than how the people are handling it on the ground. as you heard previously from your former speaker, she mentioned that some people were asked to return to their shops and stay and things would be back to normal. however, the fear, which is a normal reaction to what is happening, is what is causing the star more so than anything else. could the taliban have moved so fast with such success if they weren't supported by large numbers of people?

she now says, "i would call ashraf ghani a gutless person.words to explain. i wish i could just look in his eyes and tell him, i was a woman and i stayed here, while you ran away." do you feel that the same level of anger toward ashraf ghani? if i ask myself honestly, i'm looking for the president that i know — he was a different person. he had a different feeling for the country. and he was an honest person. i'm looking to find that president — where is that president? believe me, because since three years that i was working with her, the corruption and fighting with corruption was the first — the first things that we focused a lot. kamila, i don't know whether you had a chance in germany to watchjoe biden address the american people, but his message to them was simple — that america was no longer prepared to spend blood and treasure propping up an afghan government and an afghan military that was no longer prepared to fight for its own survival. i just wonder what you make of what the americans have done. if i think honestly, my expectation

president ashraf ghani has fled reportedly to tajikistan. in a statement on facebook ashraf ghani has said he left the country in order to avoid bloodshed. it's his first comments since leaving. meanwhile this picture has emerged and it's believed to be of the taliban inside the presidential palace in kabul. the remaining staff of the us embassy have been operating from kabul airport but even there the security situation is said to have been deteriorating. it's being reported that the american flag has been taken down at the us embassy and nato says all commercial flights at kabul airport have been suspended as evacuations take place. the latest developments come after the taliban's rapid advance in recent days through provinces across afghanistan. here's our diplomatic correspondent, paul adams. as the taliban moves in, the west moves out. american helicopters busy over kabul all day today, ferrying diplomats from the us embassy to the airport. this disorderly end was not the plan. and nor was this, a city in panic, people desperate to leav

the ousted president ashraf ghani fleeing the country.om al jazeera showing heavily armed taliban lounging very comfortably in the presidential palace. now, this was the scene at kabul's airport. crowds rushing to leave. too many people, not enough flights. u.s. troops have now taken over that airport. their mission to help u.s. personnel and their allies get out of afghanistan. the taliban's return to power in afghanistan now appears inevitable. it's happened. but exactly how that new government will take shape remains unclear. earlier cnn's nic robertson talked to a taliban spokesman about where things go from here. >> reporter: when i spoke to the taliban spokesman he said priority for them was providing security and establishing a new government, perhaps surprisingly they don't have that fully formulated yet, he said. >> our priority is maintaining security, and then we would have a new government and an exclusive islamic government in the coming days. >> people who are not members of the taliban to be part of this new government? >>

the president, ashraf ghani, has fled the country.se pictures filmed by the bbc show people trying to get out of city today. the taliban said they are in talks with officials from the government about a peaceful transfer of power. these images show us staff being helicoptered to the airport. the us said they have succeeded in their mission. we the us said they have succeeded in their mission.— their mission. we can do right by their mission. we can do right by the peeple _ their mission. we can do right by the peeple who _ their mission. we can do right by the people who stood _ their mission. we can do right by the people who stood with - their mission. we can do right by the people who stood with us, i their mission. we can do right by the people who stood with us, in| the people who stood with us, in afghanistan all these years, including afghans who worked for the embassy and our military. we have a massive effort to bring afghans out of country. it is up to the afghans, the government, up to the taliban, to decide the way forward

now some more breaking news: afghan president, orformer afghan president, ashraf ghani has made his firstered the presidential palace. he added any clashes between his government and the taliban would endanger millions of kabl residents. millions of kabul residents. mr ghani did not disclose details on his new, current location. that statement just out from the former afghan president. colonel chris kolenda, author of zero—sum victory: what we're getting wrong about war, he led the us troops as commander to fight against the taliban in 2007 and also engaged them in peace talks later. thank you forjoining us. just first of all, your reaction to these very fast speed developments we've seen in the last 24—48 hours. first fast speed developments we've seen in the last 24-48 hours.— in the last 24-48 hours. first of all, in the last 24-48 hours. first of all. thank _ in the last 24-48 hours. first of all. thank you — in the last 24-48 hours. first of all, thank you very _ in the last 24-48 hours. first of all, thank you very much - in the last 24-48 hours. first of all, thank you very much fo

it's been confirmed in the last hour that the president, ashraf ghani, has left the country. pictures filmed by the bbc in kabul show people attempting to leave the city. the taliban said they are in talks with senior officials in president ashraf ghani's government on a peaceful transfer of power. and in the last hour, these images have emerged of us embassy staff being helicoptered to kabul airport. it comes as the secretary of state antony blinken has insisted the situation is �*patently not saigon�* — in a reference to america's humiliating departure from vietnam in 1975. he argued us had succeded in its mission. speaking to nbc�*s meet the press programme a short time ago, the us secretary of state gave the latest on his government's position. we can do right by the people who stood with us in afghanistan all these years, including afghans who worked for the embassy, worked for our military. we have a massive effort under way to bring afghans at risk out of the country, if that's what they so desire. and ultimately it is up to the afghans themselves, it is up to the afgh

he is not a man in favour— ashraf ghani's leadership?all. there had - a man in favour at all. there had been rumours circulating for a few days about his resignation, nothing has been confirmed but people want him to step down. he has not led the country in any kind of strong way. even when he went up north a few days ago to bolster efforts, he had a meeting with the local power brokers out there but he should have been talking to the men that are putting their lives on the line for him and his country who were trying to protect the country and bolster that way. the government is failing to deliver services in many areas of the country and obviously the government is running for severe corruption scandals so people do not want to have him in control but the government is seen not favourably either. —— so people do not want to have the taliban in control. either. -- so people do not want to have the taliban in control. haveany army general— have the taliban in control. haveany army general spoken _ have the taliban in control. haveany arm

they took the capital after president ashraf ghani fled to uzbekistan.haos. people are desperate to leave, fearing a bloody assault. there's little violence so far, but plenty of panic. chris costa is a former special assistant to president trump and senior director for counter—terrorism on the national security council. he is also executive director of the international spy museum in washington. thanks very much forjoining us. we havejust heard thanks very much forjoining us. we have just heard a thanks very much forjoining us. we havejust heard a moment ago from another veteran, bradley bowman, whom you may well know, talking about the level of delusion among politicians in washington, and what can be achieved with the afghan army. whether you think delusion lies?— delusion lies? first of all, thanks very _ delusion lies? first of all, thanks very much - delusion lies? first of all, thanks very much for - delusion lies? first of all, l thanks very much for having delusion lies? first of all, - thanks very much for having me. so, i don't know bradley, b

falling into the hands of the taliban, now we're talking the countries but without the president ashraf ghanicountry, according to the news agencies there and also one of the senior government officials. it has triggered a lot of media anger, one journalist says that ghani has ruined the people and left on his own. the fact that he managed to get away, despite all these hardships, confusion, fear, people not knowing who has come to take over, and that the president has left the country, that has really angered people. it is extraordinary, and even in the official confirmation, we saw that phrase that the people willjudge him for what he has done. yes, because many people blame this government for the current situation and the way the way the whole government collapse in the last ten days, there has been shocking for many afghans because they thought it was a government, the structure of the government had that had been put in place for the last 20 years, american and other western countries have been pumping in money to build a civil society, the government structure, ministry buildings, supr

do you call on ashraf ghani, his team, and | call on ashraf ghani, his team, and the other afghan leadersyou? yes. you are prepared to _ and work with you? yes. you are prepared to work _ and work with you? yes. you are prepared to work with _ and work with you? yes. you are prepared to work with anyone i and work with you? yes. you are i prepared to work with anyone who accepts your rule? yes. we want to work with anyone. because we want to open a new chapter of peace, peaceful coexistence, unity and work for the country and for the people of afghanistan. but for the country and for the people of afghanistan.— of afghanistan. but they had to acce -t of afghanistan. but they had to accept sharia _ of afghanistan. but they had to accept sharia law _ of afghanistan. but they had to accept sharia law and - of afghanistan. but they had to accept sharia law and the i of afghanistan. but they had to i accept sharia law and the taliban style of living under the islamic emirate? will it be called the islamic emirate?— emirate? will it be called the islamic emirate? that is not a taliban style. _

it seemed like the exact opposite of the way ashraf ghani was billing himself but importantly the waythat things were going in the last few weeks, it seemed to set that narrative at the last two or three weeks when provinces kept falling and districts kept falling and the government was largely silent -- not so much on the district, but the provinces over the last, what, nine or 10 days they were completely silent. they never confirmed a single province falling. so in that case, in the short term, very much allied with everything going on at the time. but in the long term, it seemed to be the exact opposite of everything ashraf ghani had billed himself as. amy: we're going to go to break. ali latifi, freelance journalist, speaking to us from kabul, and ahmed rashid, award-winning journalist. we will be back with them in a moment. ♪♪ [music break] amy: "rose without thorns" by veronica doubleday and john baily. this is democracy now!, democracynow.org, the war and peace report. i'm amy goodman. we continue to look at the taliban seizing control of afghanistan as thousands of afghans an

they took the capital after president ashraf ghani fled to uzbekistan.. people are desperate to leave, fearing a bloody assault. there's little violence so far, but plenty of panic. in other news, there's been a sharp rise in the death toll from the devastating earthquake that hit haiti on saturday, almost 1,300 people are now known to have died, many more are feared to be trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings. the epicentre of the 7.2 magnitude quake was 150km south west of the capital, port au prince. hospitals in the area are inundated and struggling to cope with the number of injured, which has almost doubled to around 6,000 people. medical teams are being despatched from cuba and ecuador amid concerns about the approach of a tropical storm. well, care international teams have begun distributing core relief items including tents and water in grand anse, following the earthquake, and i'm joined now by the deputy country director of care international in port au prince, muhamed bizimana. thank muhamed bizimana. you very much indeed for joinin

they took the capital after president ashraf ghani fled to uzbekistan.haos. people are desperate to leave, fearing a bloody assault. there's little violence so far, but plenty of panic. let's get more now on the situation in afghanistan. i'm joined now by steve fish, politics professor, at the university of california, berkeley. i want to start by asking you, we've seen this rapid advance by the taliban, did you expect them to move as quickly as they have? i them to move as quickly as they have? . . . , them to move as quickly as they have? ., , ., , have? i actually thought they would. have? i actually thought they would- and _ have? i actually thought they would. and i _ have? i actually thought they would. and i think _ have? i actually thought they would. and i think the - have? i actually thought they| would. and i think the bynum administration grossly underestimated how fast the taliban would move once the united states withdrew its troops. —— biden administration. we actually tend to base their estimates on how long it would take a couple to fall

this is after ashraf ghani, the president of afghanistan fled the country.ppened. stay with bbc news. let's get you an update on the weather now. hello, warmth and sunshine does not feature very much in the forecast for the week ahead, certainly a cool start to the new week as we pick up a north—westerly wind. for much of the week, it could be mainly dry, but often cloudy and that is certainly the situation today. we have these slow—moving frontal systems across the uk, bringing a lot of cloud and also further outbreaks of rain. heavy and frequent showers across the north of scotland. further south across scotland and northern england, we have this zone of patchy rain which will be sliding its way southwards, some sunshine there as well, and across wales and south—west england, we have clouds and showers and those are likely to stay this afternoon. further east, drier, but we can't rule out some showers and the best of the sunshine is further east, and the highest temperatures too. this evening and overnight, much of the rain across england and wales will ea

first in response it's thes first time we have heard from president ashraf ghani.ng the afghan forces and how do wow think he will do that?— the afghan forces and how do wow think he will do that? thank you for havin: think he will do that? thank you for having me- — think he will do that? thank you for having me- i— think he will do that? thank you for having me. i heard _ think he will do that? thank you for having me. i heard another - think he will do that? thank you for having me. i heard another priority| having me. i heard another priority from president ashraf ghani as well, which was very much about avoiding further bloodshed and destruction, particularly in kabul and i think thatis particularly in kabul and i think that is absolutely the priority now, time needs to be won, and time can be won by continuing to support the afghan force, including us support for them, afghan force, including us support forthem, but afghan force, including us support for them, but time for a political settlement, the urgency for that is clear qatar as you say is hosting talk,

he -- the taliban in agreement for talks with anyone except ashraf ghani.ghani saw himself as a target. the taliban were not ready to talk to him. this is why he was an obstacle to the peace process moving forward. there were other reasons as well. that was the main reason. everybody in afghanistan knows this. it is part of the record. we cannot change history with narratives that are false. we need to grasp the moment. there is an opportunity for afghanistan to come together to unite. there are taliban who are against the broad-based approach. there are other politicians who are opposed to even deal with the taliban. he wants to fight. there are all kinds of different shades of politicians in afghanistan. people are still willing to fight. the majority now want stability and peace and prefer a broad-based approach. until we go towards a more solid political system that reflects the will of the majority of afghans. >> how much has all of this changed the geopolitical map in asia? how much is this going to be benefiting russia and china? are they going to be

this is then-president ashraf ghani talking to lyse doucet. >> we have priorities. the jury is out.resident's jury was out. the fact that those talks did not make any headway is something mike pompeo has since picked up on. he told "fox news sunday" they would engage in meaningful talks before we completed our requirement to fully withdraw. he put the failure to enforce that at president biden's door. trump officials say the problem was in the deal itself. mcmaster has since called it a surrender agreement. there was another concern. in the months that followed, a correspondent reflected that he could not think of a recent successful peace deal which has excluded the government from negotiations. more recently, an expert in ghanistan who served during the trump administration has described the dough hot talks as an unfair negotiation because nobody was -- describe the doha negotiations as unfair because no one was looking out for the afghan government. president biden was on the afghan responsibility. president biden: we gave them every tool. we pay their salaries, provided for the

>> i think -- it seems his relationship to ashraf ghani was kinda broken.did not respect ashraf ghani. he did not respect the guy who wanted money from the u.s.. he respected the guy much more who bought against the was successfully and were alpha males like him and that is why he also said to the taliban leader, "you are tough people." all of these things lead to what we see now because at the same time as you mentioned, the afghan government was excluded from the talks and it was necessary to have all of these different players on the ground talking with each other because this would have been the aim of interact and talks. the u.s. was focusing on the withdrawal but the taliban also assured -- intra-afghan talks. these tas were sabotaged by both sides. continued attacking afghan forces and afghan civilians at the same time the afghan government ashraf ghani did not want to release more prisoners and the also found different reasons to not participate in the talks and to not lose power and money, of course. but at the end, they lost all of it. amy: emran

tonight, afghanistan's deposed president ashraf ghani, who has fled to the united arab emirates, said intention of staying in exile. for our first report on afghanistan tonight let's go live to kabul, and join our correspondent secunder kermani. residents here are still grappling with what this taliban takeover will mean for their lives. in some parts of the city, things seem to be getting back to normal but there are many who are still deeply, deeply anxious. outside the airport, chaos continues. thousands are still desperate to leave the country. here, a girl — terrified. "the taliban are coming for me", she cries. this family has been camped outside here for five days. "the situation here is very bad", she says. "no one wants to live here. "everyone wants to live in peace and to be able to study. "we want to go anywhere that is safe." despite assurances from the taliban that anyone linked to the government will be given an amnesty, many here are deeply fearful for their future and that's why we're still seeing these chaotic scenes the airport. no one's clear yet what comes next but

president ashraf ghani has left the country, taking a flight to uzbekistan.afghans trying to board flights out of the country. the us state department says american troops are now taking steps to secure the airport. thousands of us troops are assisting with the evacuation of embassy staff, citizens, and some afghan nationals from kabul. there's been a sharp rise in the death toll from the earthquake that hit haiti on saturday — almost 1300 people are now known to have died, many more are feared to be trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings. hospitals are struggling to cope with the injured. now on bbc news it's hardtalk with stephen sackur.

in his first public comments, ashraf ghani said he plans to return.at the militant group will re—introduce punishments in line with its strict interpretation of islam's legal system, sharia law, as they did in the country between 1996 and 2001. a senior taliban member has told reuters there will be no democracy under taliban rule, and that an islamic council will decide on the future role of women. to understand what this might mean — and what exactly sharia law is — i'm joined by professor corri zoli from syracuse university's forensics and national security institute in new york. great to have you on newsday with us. i want to start by asking, there will be many people watching who will be many people watching who will might be the sole authority on how islam is practised in afghanistan, but they say they're going by sharia law. can you help us understand what exactly sharia law is? ,, , , ., ., ~' is? sure. greetings from new york. essentially. — is? sure. greetings from new york. essentially, sharia _ is? sure. greetings from new york. essentially

leaves behind. >> reporter: long before reaching kabul the taliban were warning afghan president ashraf ghani leadership were running out. attacking another outdoor presidential address early last year. but in recent days as the taliban closed in kabul, ghani's silence finally signaled his concerns. his administration unprepared just as the afghan people were looking for leadership, and international allies waiting for a plan. it was just saturday with only a few cities left under government control, the rest seized by the taliban during their rapid advance that ghani finally addressed the nation. >> translator: i will do my best to prevent this imposed war on the afghan people resulting in further killing in innocent people, loss in achievements over the last 20 years, destruction of public infrastructure and prolonged instability. >> reporter: notably he didn't resign, something the taliban had been demanding for months but said he was in urgent talks with local leaders and international partners. the embattled president not seeming to grasp with the taliban staring down on the capital, the

on wednesday, ousted afghan president ashraf ghani spoke publicly for the first time since fleeing kabul. speaking from the united arab emirates, ghani said he left to prevent more bloodshed. >> all my colleagues in the west told me if i don't leave, things would be worse. i could have stayed and started a war, but i had responsibility to my people and i did not want to start a bloodbath like in syria and yemen. amy: president biden says u.s. troops will stay in afghanistan until every american is evacuated, even if that means staying beyond his august 31 deadline. this comes as evacuation flights continue from the airport in kabul. but many afghans cannot make it safely to the airport. taliban fighters have shot at and whipped some of the people trying to flee. wednesday night, u.s. forces fired tear near the airport at afghans who were trying to flee the country. al jazeera reports at least 12 people have been killed in or around the airport this week. meanwhile, president biden is defending his handling of the withdrawal of troops from afghanisn. he was interviewed by george stephanop

for a new american security.— let's just show you more of that statement from afghan president ashraf ghanifacebook, mr ghani said... he said he left the country in order to avoid bloodshed, as the taliban entered the presidential palace. mr ghani also added the taliban are now responsible for protecting the country's honour, wealth and self—esteem. he did not disclose details on his new, current location. fawaz gerges is professor of international relations at the london school of economics. hejoins me now from london. hello, thank you forjoining us. just give us your assessment really of how this has happened at such speed. of how this has happened at such seed. ~ .,, of how this has happened at such seed. ~ u,, ., of how this has happened at such seed. ~ ., , , ., , speed. well, most of us seem to be sur-rised, speed. well, most of us seem to be surprised. with _ speed. well, most of us seem to be surprised, with what _ speed. well, most of us seem to be surprised, with what we _ speed. well, most of us seem to be surprised, with what we are - speed. well, most of us seem to be surprised

the ousted president, ashraf ghani, has fled the country.l palace. now, the taliban's descent on kabul triggered panic. this was the scene at kabul's airport earlier. gunfire rang out as crowds rushed to catch a flight out of kabul. there were way too many people and not enough flights. a different scene in the green zone. the u.s. and other countries evacuating their embassy staff, and this former hub of diplomatic and military activity a ghost town. afghan civilians are already paying the price of a taliban takeover, losing their homes, belongings, and security. the u.n. says there are already 5 million internally displaced afghan civilians and more than 550,000 have lost their homes this year alone. neighboring pakistan has already taken in more than 1 million afghan refugees. meanwhile, turkey's president says the country will work with pakistan to help stabilize afghanistan and prevent a new wave of afghan migrants. for more regional reaction, cnn's arwa damon joins me from istanbul, turkey. but first let's get to sophia saffie in islam

ashraf ghani speaking from the uae says he left to prevent bloodshed and denied rumors he fled with suitcasesl of cash. uae says he has been taken in with his family on humanitarian grounds. >> if i stayed, i would have witnessed bloodshed. couple should not be turned into another yemen or syria. i left with waistcoat and clothes. the persecution saying i have taken money are baseless lies. you can ask customs officials, they are baseless. >> and afghanistan, adjusted after the taliban reassured the world people would be safe under its wool, fires have opened fire -- against protesters. >> three people are said to have been killed at a demonstration against the groups takeover in jalalabad. people were marching in the streets, carrying the afghan flag. video later showed taliban leaders hitting protesters with sticks. >> [gunfire] >> gunfire has also been heard in the east, no immediate reports of injury. demonstrators raised the afghan national flag in the city. taliban fighters were seen chasing crowds away. at kabul airport, u.s. troops fired into the air to disperse people who have been g

that means president ashraf ghani and this government are leaving, they are now talking about a transitionalho will be in the transitional government, this government is not going to exist, according to the interior minister's statement, in his video carried widely on local media as well. so the end seems to be quite near, and the end seems to be quite near, and the taliban spokesman made it very clear... in fact, the taliban spokesman made it very clear... infact, one the taliban spokesman made it very clear... in fact, one of the spokespersons was saying that pallor fighters were instructed to stay at the gates of kabul and not enter the city, on the outskirts, until the transition takes place. —— that taliban fighters. if you look at their statement, they are making it very clear, talks are going on, stay back, don't do anything. as we speak, in the next hour probably we will get more detailed. lots of speculation about what will happen to president ashraf ghani and others, because things are changing rapidly. but as we speak, there is no news of any fighting inside kabul city, and many o

he has been with— government with ashraf ghani.on for some time, trying to negotiate with the taliban _ time, trying to negotiate with the taliban. they are now very confident and very— taliban. they are now very confident and very sure that in the coming days— and very sure that in the coming days from — and very sure that in the coming days from wat suhail shaheen, the taliban— days from wat suhail shaheen, the taliban spokesperson, said to me, they will— taliban spokesperson, said to me, they will reimpose an islamic state, they will reimpose an islamic state, the government of the taliban, and that is— the government of the taliban, and that is what they call themselves, back across the country. this is some _ back across the country. this is some of— back across the country. this is some of what he had to say. their properties, their lives are safe. our leadership have instructed our forces to remain at the gate of kabul and not to enter the city. we are waiting a peaceful transfer of power. when you say peaceful transfer of p

-- i should say former president ashraf ghani's main offices inside the presidential office where the taliban sat confidently holding their weapons at his desks. it's just startling to see. briefly in those images filmed by al jazeera, let's just say we have over the last sort of half hour or so heard an uptick in helicopters in the skies. that normally means american activity. that's quite a lot actually. those images, though, utterly startling. the reporter who filmed those images asked one of the men with the weapons to talk a little. he spoke in english saying that he spent eight years guantanamo bay prison. they are very keen, it seems, to show how relaxed they are in the corridors of what was the other government's power. at the same time, president ashraf ghani -- i should say former, but we just simply don't really quite know who's in control at the moment although visibly on the streets, it's the taliban. former president ghani has released a statement from wherever he is. there were suggestions he'd gone to tajikistan. he seems to have left without notice, without advert

. >> president ashraf ghani afterr the taliban arrived at the presidential palace. a new reconciliation council will be formed by a leader and the former afghan president. in a statement they said the council's goal is to prevent chaos and resume -- reduce the suffering of the afghan people. kabul was the final destination in the taliban's lightning fast offensive. they took all major cities in just over a week. the taliban told residents they should not fear the truce and none of the fighters would enter anyone's homes or harass them. sunday, all routes out of kabul were sealed off. the emergency evacuation of the u.s. embassy is underway. >> the focus has to be on getting these brave american personnel out and our brave afghans who helped us through the years out. >> this processing center, filled with afghans who helped the west during the 20 year war, now fearing for their lives. x we served the american forces, for the u.s. and coalition forces. they have to take care of us. >> other afghans are bracing for what is to come. >> life has become difficult for peop

they also said they are in talks with senior officials in president ashraf ghani's government on a peacefulransfer of power. in a moment, we'll hear from the taliban spokesman who spoke to me a few hours ago about what the group plan to do next. but first, with an update on all the latest developments here's our world affairs correspondent paul adams. it's the final act, the fall of kabul. with the taliban closing in, those who can are leaving, taking what they can carry. and it's all happening without a fight. translation: the security forces i are in kabul providing security. | the international forces are also there to support us. yesterday, the president in a meeting decided to send a delegation to doha to reach an agreement there. we will provide security until they reach an agreement. the enemy is spreading rumours. until a peace agreement, kabul will remain secure. and the taliban say they won't take kabul by force. negotiations are under way, their latest statement says, to ensure a safe, secure transition. our forces are instructed to stand at the gates of kabul and not try to ente

president ashraf ghani suddenly fled the country, then this. taliban fighters were seen rolling up the afghan flag inside the presidential palace. and tonight president biden is deploying another thousand troops to kabul. they're part of a 6000 strong contingent to help evacuate americans. and take a look at this. u.s. helicopters have been flying between the u.s. embassy and the airport. that's where diplomats and civilians have moved. it is now the only way out for americans and our allies. we have team coverage of today's events in afghanistan with reaction from washington and london. but we begin tonight with cbs's roxana saberi in kabul. roxana. >> reporter: good evening, jericka. in a single day, the taliban not only made it to the gates of the capital, they also made their way in without resistance. the president who just yesterday vowed to keep fighting, fled the country, and the afghan government essentially collapsed. videos posted online appear to show crowds of kabul residents warmly embracing the taliban as they arrived. in a state

ashraf ghani says he has no intention of staying in exile.orrespondent starts our coverage. >> outside the airport, chaos continues. thousands are still desperate to leave the country. here, a girl terrified. " the taliban are coming for me," she cries. this family has been camped outside for five days. the situation here is very bad she says, no one wants to live here. everybody wants to live in peace. we want to go anywhere that is safe. despite assurances om the taliban that anyone linked to the government will be given amnesty, many here are deeply fearful for their future. that is why we're still seeing chaotic scenes at the airport. no one's clear what comes next, but political discussions have begun. this was the arrival of a deputy leader of the taliban in kandahar, their spiritual home. whilst this is a member of the notorious -- family entrenched in the taliban's leadership meeting with former president karzai and other senior politicians. in a speech tonight from the gulf, the fmer president ashraf ghani, said he supported the effo

just hours later, seeing the writing on the wall, and likely saving his life, president ashraf ghani escaped the country. he was game over kabul is falling now we've just left our office, hour long-time home in afghanistan and heading to a safer location. we hope a safer location already, we've seen some gunman, looked like taliban on the streets. and all of the checkpoints, the police, the soldiers, they're gone it was done. after 20 years, the taliban took kabul and afghanistan almost effortlessly the taliban seized the presipresiden ial palace al jazeera broadcast them in afghan's equivalent of the oval office, while the united states scrambled to evacuate, and a glorious end to a 20-year war. >> thanks to richard engel for that report. >>> joe biden is facing sharp criticism over the decision to pull u.s. forces from afghanistan. he consulted with his national security team from camp david as he monitoring the deteriorating situation. here's nbc's monica alba >> reporter: as afghanistan falls to taliban control, the biden administration stands by its plan to leave. >> that is the

as the taliban captured a ninth provincial capital, afghan president ashraf ghani fired his army chiefthe government still remains in control in key urban centres, but their hold on many areas is fragile. us officials say the taliban could reach the capital, kabul, within weeks. our correspondent yogita limaye is in kabul, a city crammed with thousands of people who've desperately fled from other parts of the country. desperation on a scale not seen in decades. thousands have arrived in kabul... ..in the past few days. people who had homes and jobs, who led dignified lives... ..forced to leave everything behind. angry that they have been left on their own — no government, no humanitarian agencies. this woman's sons are in the army. she says only the poor go to the battlefield, while politicians watch. we have seen this camp grow by the hour. people have been coming in from different parts of the country, as more and more provincial capitals, more and more cities are being taken over by the taliban. many of those we have met here have run once, twice, multiple times, and now they have c

president ashraf ghani had very little popular support, and trust is going to be in short supply across the board this morning. frances? >> the taliban has taken over in a little over a week so how did they assemble so quickly, and how did they get so powerful >> reporter: yeah, frances really yesterday was the final day, the crowning moment of the taliban taking over the country. we saw those headlines in major provinces fall day by day over the last ten days. yesterday morgue started with the taliban at the dates of kabul. a spokesperson said they were waiting for a "peaceful transition of power. by late morning, early afternoon, our team on the ground, richard engel and other saw police and security forces leave as the taliban came in and the day ended after the former president ashraf ghani fled the country and taliban established themselves in the seat of power. >> so what's next for the afghan people, specifically women and girls? >> reporter: that's one of the big questions, the people in afghanistan do not know which version of the taliban they're going to get so the taliban spo

in a pre-recorded speech broadcast today, afghanistan's president, ashraf ghani, gave no indication heomething the taliban has demanded. ghani said he is holding meetings and will share the results “soon." >> ( translated ): i have started extensive consultations inside the government, with the elders and political leaders, representatives of people from all walks of life and our international partners. >> sreenivasan: at the kabul airport, thousands of afghans are trying to leave the country. the government continues to control kabul and several other areas with security checkpoints and military troops in place. for more on the situation in afghanistan, i spoke with "new york times" correspondent thomas gibbons-neff, who is in kabul. we spoke just before noon eastern time today-- that's 8:30 p.m. in afghanistan. thomas, thanks for joining us. first, what is the situation right now in kabul where you are? >> thanks for having me. so, the situation in kabul is deteriorating to the point where we have displaced people coming from all over the country as the taliban kind of pushed through

earlier, at the same disc, president ashraf ghani clinging to the fragments of power.he man gazing down on kabul�*s streets has fled, he says to avoid bloodshed. as the taliban moves in, the west moves out. american helicopters busy over kabul all day today, ferrying diplomats from the us embassy to the airport. this disorderly end was not the plan. hundreds of british troops have now arrived to help with the evacuation of thousands of british and afghan civilians. the operation is well under way. these troops may not be on the ground for long. kabul is in chaos, people desperate to leave, taking what they can, fearing a bloody assault. there is little violence so far, but a lot of panic. crowds descended on banks, trying to take out of their savings, as police officers and security officials abandoned their positions, the taliban urged people to stay calm. we wanted to avoid bloodshed and destruction to the properties of the people and not to give a chance to plunderers, looters, who are waiting for such moments to loot or plunder the properties of the people. but the

as the militants now close in on the capital, kabul, the beleaguered president ashraf ghani gave a televised in the current| situation, the re-mobilisation of our security and defence forces is our top priority and serious steps are being taken in this regard. but in many areas, it is too late. the man on the right, one of the most prominent local commanders fighting for the government, nicknamed because of his fearsome reputation the lion of herat. but he and his city, afghanistan's third largest, are now firmly in taliban hands. the humanitarian crisis is growing by the day. tens of thousands of people have poured into kabul to escape the fighting. now people who can afford to leave are scrambling to get out. i'm afraid of being killed. like, i am totally sure that i am not going to survive here. the uk lost a54 lives in afghanistan before pulling out a few weeks ago at the end of an almost 20 year mission. but this weekend, 600 troops will fly back into the country to take british nationals out. the americans are doing the same, leaving many afghans are feeling ——afghans feeling abandoned

on wednesday the united arab emirates confirmed that ashraf ghani had taken refuge in that country.hy he decided to leave. >> translator: if i had stayed the president of afghanistan, i would have been hanged in front of the eyes of the people of afghanistan. this would have been a dreadful disaster in our history. i'm not fearful of an honorable death. but i don't want the dishoneorig of afghanistan. >> eleni giokos is covering this for us in dieubai. so ghani pushing back against the accusations that he cut and run. >> absolutely. he is justifying why he felt he needed to flee and he needed to flee with such urgency. and he described the circumstances that played out on sunday that forced him to make that difficult decision. he described a situation where people that had entered the presidential palace which he says made little resistance started moving from room to room and he barely had enough time to take his shoes or his prized possessions which he says were his laptop and his notebooks. we also know the uae foreign ministry says that they welcomed ghani and his family on huma

we've also confirmed with us officials that afghan president ashraf ghani fled the country along with a number of top advisers images from the capital city striking and disturbing to many around the world as you see taliban fighters carrying machine guns walking through the halls of the presidential palace this after evacuations took place all day, the only airport in kabul over whelmed by us military flights as the u. s military worked to evacuate embassy personnel, along with a number of american allies, events are moving so quickly, but job number one is for us to bring back first all american personnel and make him let help them. get it. make sure they get out safely. but second, all of the brave afghans who helped our military they have to be providing an exit to come to america, and we've been working on ledges. in relation to do that commercial airlines no longer allowed to land in kabul that, according to nato, other extremely concerning images today, as prisoners were released from a jail near bagram air base, many of these imprisoned people taliban fighters, some of them al