Taliban Seizes Kabul – Inside the Sudden Power Shift
What Happened Overnight
- The Taliban swiftly took control of Kabul on Monday, 16th August, after U.S.-led forces began to pull out of Afghanistan.
- President Ashraf Ghani fled the capital on Sunday, claiming he wanted to spare the city from bloodshed. His last message on Facebook hinted at avoiding clashes that could endanger millions, but none of us know where he is now.
- Taliban officials declared the war over and promised the Afghan people a new system “soon” – a rather ambiguous statement that fans of good governance will probably interpret as a prank.
Western Nations Race to Evacuate
With the Taliban on the scene, Western governments burst into action to evacuate their citizens. The airport became the city’s new heart‑beat: frantic travelers, luggage caravans, and even night‑time scuffles as flights halted.
On the Ground: Chaos and Calm
- A 1TV report mentioned multiple explosions after dusk, but the city stayed surprisingly quiet during the day.
- Emergency relief groups, such as the nonprofit Emergency, were overwhelmed with 80 wounded patients at their Kabul hospital, admitting only those with life‑threatening injuries.
Political Echoes
- Washington’s critics blasted President Joe Biden for ending the longest U.S. war, arguing the chaos stemmed from leadership failures and a surge of troops meant to rescue American civilians.
- The Taliban’s political office has said, media-wise, that it wishes for good relations with the international community – a line that seems largely directed at the U.S. and its allies.
- Al Jazeera footage revealed Taliban commanders within the presidential palace, surrounded by armed fighters, fueling speculation about the new regime’s intentions.
Side Stories & Social Media Reactions
Local suffragists on social platforms called Ghani a coward for abandoning the capital in turmoil. Meanwhile, a few American diplomats were whisked away by helicopter from the fortified Wazir Akbar Khan district to the airport — a bold move in light of years of U.S.-supported training and investment in Afghan forces that now have vanished.
So while the Taliban vaulted into power, the city’s future hangs in the balance, the world watches, and Afghan citizens, somewhere between hope and fear, stare at the horizon in disbelief.
Syariah
Afghan Exodus: U.S. & Allies Ramp Up Evacuations
Afghans are growing uneasy—fear that the Taliban might resurface with the same stern rules they had in 1996‑2001, when women couldn’t work and punishments like stoning, whipping, and hanging were the norm.
New Image from the Militant Front
The Taliban has tried to look more “moderate,” promising to uphold women’s rights and protect both foreigners and Afghans. Whether that’s on the table or just a tall order, only time will tell.
U.S. Steps in: 1,000 Troops Added
- Another 1,000 U.S. troops have been authorized to help move Americans and Afghan staff out.
- A senior defense official mentioned that approximately 500 people have already been evacuated—most of them U.S. citizens.
- When all planned forces are in Kabul, the plan is to evacuate up to 5,000 people per day.
Europe’s Move
France, Germany, and the Netherlands are also working hard to get their citizens—and some Afghan employees—out of the country safely.
Other Nations Take a Different Route
- Russia is choosing not to evacuate its embassy for now.
- Turkey will keep its embassy operational.
UN Calls for Calm and Civility
Secretary‑General Antonio Guterres urged all parties, including the Taliban, to exercise the greatest restraint. He expressed particular concern for the future of women and girls in Afghanistan.
American evacuation
Blinken Says Helicopter Footage Is Nothing Like Saigon
When ABC News asked if the shots of helicopters carrying personnel evoked memories of the U.S. departure from Vietnam, Secretary of State Antony Blinken gave a clean‑cut reply: “Let’s take a step back. This is manifestly not Saigon.”
Biden’s Afghanistan Exit Sparks Internal Fire
President Biden now finds himself under a growing barrage of criticism. The move to wrap up the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan by August 31 follows a plan kicked off by his Republican predecessor, Donald Trump. The timing has sparked a sharp debate inside Washington.
Mitch McConnell Calls it a “Shameful Failure”
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell weighed in on Sunday, accusing the administration of a “shameful failure of American leadership.” He warned that:
- terrorists
- major competitors like China
are all watching “the embarrassment of a superpower laid low.”
Taliban Seizes Jalalabad Without Resistance
Meanwhile, the Taliban claimed the eastern city of Jalalabad in a surprisingly easy move, taking control of a crucial highway that leads into landlocked Afghanistan. They also captured the nearby Torkham border crossing, leaving the Kabul airport as the only remaining government-controlled exit.
A viral clip from the Taliban showed jubilant crowds chanting “Allahu Akbar” (meaning “God is greatest”) as a convoy of pickup trucks rolled into Jalalabad. Fightsmen bristled with machine guns and the white Taliban flag waved proudly.
Key Take‑Away Points
- Blinken deflects comparison to Saigon.
- Biden’s Afghanistan withdrawal plans face serious pushback.
- McConnell brands policy a national embarrassment.
- Taliban triumph in Jalalabad stirs fears of a shifting power balance.
