Edition

English

News
World News
South Asia News
Afghanistan crisis: Committee on price control to be established

THE TIMES OF INDIA | Sep 02, 2021, 01:57:54 IST

Comments

Afghanistan crisis: Committee on price control to be established

With the US withdrawl complete, the focus will now shift to how the Taliban, with sole authority, address Afghanistan’s multiple challenges, including whether they will allow other foreigners and Afghans to leave the country. The Taliban say they want to keep the civilian airport open, but without logistical support and security guarantees it appears commercial airlines will not fly into the country. Stay here for all live updates

13:14 (IST) Aug 31

The group has also been monitoring the ground situation in Afghanistan and international reactions, including the Resolution passed this morning by the UN Security Council.

13:13 (IST) Aug 31

This group has been meeting regularly over the last few days. It is seized of issues pertaining to the safe return of stranded Indians, the travel of Afghan nationals (especially minorities) to India, and assuring that the territory of Afghanistan is not used in any manner for terrorism directed against India.

13:13 (IST) Aug 31

In view of the evolving situation in Afghanistan, Prime Minister had recently directed that a high-level group comprising EAM, NSA and senior officials focus on the immediate priorities of India.

12:58 (IST) Aug 31

US President Joe Biden issued a statement saying "Now, our 20-year military presence in Afghanistan has ended," and that his administration is working to secure safe passage for foreign nationals and at-risk Afghans to leave Afghanistan.

12:18 (IST) Aug 31

UNSC Resolution addressed India’s immediate concerns about facilitating travel from Afghanistan, including Kabul airport. This will cover Indian nationals stranded in the country as well as Afghan nationals (including minorities) who wish to travel to India: ANI quoting sources

11:56 (IST) Aug 31

The number of British nationals still in Afghanistan is in the low hundreds, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Tuesday.

"I know that the number of UK nationals, the particular responsibility of the Foreign Office, is now down at a very low level... low hundreds given that we taken in total 5,000 out," Raab told Sky News. On Friday, Britain's defence minister Ben Wallace said he thought there were around 100 to 150 British nationals still in the country, some of whom were willingly staying.

Daily Puzzles

Connect

The Perfect Trace

Play Now

Loop The Loop

Puzzle Circuit

Play Now

Daily Crossword

Special puzzle

Play Now

Classic Matrix

Number Play

Play Now

Mini Crossword

Lite Challenge

Play Now

11:41 (IST) Aug 31

As Afghanistan adjusts to Taliban rule, music goes silent

Even before the last US flight left Kabul at midnight on Monday, many of the bright and garish sights and sounds of city life in Afghanistan were changing as those left behind tried to fit in with the austere tone of their new Taliban rulers. The Taliban have so far been at pains to show a more conciliatory face to the world, with none of the harsh public punishments and outright bans on public entertainments that characterized their previous time in power before 2001. Cultural activities are allowed, they say, so long as they do not go against Sharia law and Afghanistan's Islamic culture. Taliban authorities in Kandahar, the birthplace of the movement issued a formal order against radio stations playing music and female announcers last week but for many, no formal order was necessary.

11:16 (IST) Aug 31

Never in history has withdrawal from war been handled so badly: Trump

Never in history has a withdrawal from war been handled so badly or incompetently as by Americans from Afghanistan, former president Donald Trump has said as the United States flew its last military flight out of Kabul bringing back all of its armed forces from the country. "Never in history has a withdrawal from war been handled so badly or incompetently as the Biden administration's withdrawal from Afghanistan," Trump said as the longest American war came to an end, with the Taliban regaining power in the country which they had lost after the American invasion weeks after the September 9/11 attacks.

11:05 (IST) Aug 31

Taliban Badri special force fighters secure the airport in Kabul today

10:25 (IST) Aug 31

American defeat a lesson for other invaders: Taliban spokesman

10:02 (IST) Aug 31

"We want to have good relations with the US and the world. We welcome good diplomatic relations with them all," he added.

10:02 (IST) Aug 31

"Congratulations to Afghanistan... this victory belongs to us all," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said from the runway of Kabul airport.

10:02 (IST) Aug 31

The Taliban's top spokesman congratulated Afghans on their victory on Tuesday, hours after the last US troops left the country following 20 years of military intervention.

10:02 (IST) Aug 31

Taliban control now-quiet Kabul airport after US withdrawal

09:46 (IST) Aug 31

No other military could accomplish what US did in short span of time in Afghanistan: Austin

No other military in the world could accomplish what the US, its allies and partners did in such a short span of time in Afghanistan, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said as America completed the withdrawal of its forces from Kabul, ending 20 years of war that culminated in the Taliban's return to power. Chaos enveloped Kabul after Afghanistan's government collapsed and the Taliban seized control on August 15. The Taliban insurgents stormed across the country, capturing all major cities in a matter of days, two weeks before the US was set to complete its troop withdrawal after a costly two-decade war.

09:35 (IST) Aug 31

1st group of 149 Afghan evacuees arrives in North Macedonia

A first group of 149 Afghan evacuees landed late Monday in North Macedonia, where they will stay for a few months pending resettlement elsewhere. The passengers on a private Afghan Kam Air flight that arrived at Skopje international airport were employees of Western organizations in Afghanistan and members of their families. Met first by medical workers in protective clothing, the Afghan men, women and children were transferred to a hotel near the capital, Skopje. They will be tested for the coronavirus and granted temporary three-month visas.

09:30 (IST) Aug 31

UNSC resolution 'unequivocally' conveys Afghan territory should not be used to threaten any country, of 'direct importance to India': FS Shringla

The UN Security Council resolution on Afghanistan, adopted under India's presidency, "unequivocally" conveys that Afghan territory should not be used to attack any country and shelter terrorists and this is of "direct importance to India," according to Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla. This was the first resolution adopted by the Council on the situation in Afghanistan following the takeover of Kabul by the Taliban and came on the penultimate day of India's Presidency of the Security Council for the month of August.

09:16 (IST) Aug 31

US military disabled scores of aircraft before leaving Kabul airport

The US military disabled scores of aircraft and armored vehicles as well as a high-tech rocket defense system at the Kabul airport before it left Monday, a US general said. Central Command head General Kenneth McKenzie said 73 aircraft that were already at Hamid Karzai International Airport were "demilitarized," or rendered useless, by US troops before they wrapped up the two-week evacuation of the Taliban-controlled country.

09:15 (IST) Aug 31

Afghanistan: Nearly 10 million children in desperate need of humanitarian aid, says UNICEF

There are nearly 10 million children in Afghanistan "in desperate need of humanitarian aid", said UNICEF Afghanistan Representative, Herve Ludovic De Lys, adding that these children are deprived of their right to a healthy and protected childhood. "Those least responsible for this crisis, are paying the highest price -- including the children killed and injured in a series of atrocities in Kabul since last Thursday", the senior UN Children's Fund official told correspondents. "Again, today, I heard of more unsettling reports - of unaccompanied children across the country...more reports of grave violations, including children being recruited by armed groups...All this in a year in which more than 550 children have been killed, and more than 1400 injured."

08:50 (IST) Aug 31

Taliban celebrate 'complete independence' as last US troops leave Afghanistan

Celebratory gunfire echoed across Kabul as Taliban fighters took control of the airport before dawn on Tuesday following the withdrawal of the last US troops, ending 20 years of war that left the Islamic militia stronger than it was in 2001. Shaky video footage distributed by the Taliban showed fighters entering the airport after the last US troops took off a minute before midnight, marking the end of a hasty and humiliating exit for Washington and its NATO allies. "The last US soldier has left Kabul airport and our country gained complete independence," Taliban spokesman Qari Yusuf said, according to Al Jazeera TV. The US Army shared an image taken with night-vision optics of the last US soldier to step aboard the final evacuation flight out of Kabul - Major General Chris Donahue, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division.