Afghanistan crisis live updates: Two killed in anti-Taliban protest in Herat

Britain on Monday said it would do its utmost to rescue more than 300 Afghans who helped its armed forces but are now languishing under the new Taliban regime. Addressing parliament, Prime Minister Boris Johnson failed to answer a question on how many British-Afghans remained after a hurried Western airlift was ended.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Doha on Monday, an AFP correspondent saw, ahead of crisis talks with the Qataris after the Taliban claimed to have full control over Afghanistan. Blinken, accompanied by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, is the most senior US official to visit the region since the Taliban's lightning takeover of Afghanistan on August 15 and the conclusion of Washington's chaotic withdrawal. (AFP)

Four Americans left Afghanistan by land on Monday with Taliban knowledge in the first departures arranged by the US government since its military pullout, a US official said. The four US citizens left by land and were greeted by US diplomats, said a senior official, without specifying to which country they crossed. "The Taliban did not impede them" and were aware of the effort, the official told reporters accompanying Secretary of State Antony Blinken flying to Qatar. (AFP)

The Taliban on Monday asserted that it will not allow any country, including Pakistan, to interfere in Afghanistan's internal affairs as it confirmed that ISI chief Lt Gen Faiz Hameed met the insurgent group's de-facto leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar in Kabul, amidst efforts to finalise a government in the war-torn country. The questions of interference in Afghanistan's internal affairs were raised after the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General Lt Gen Hameed dashed to Kabul on an unannounced visit last week.

Thousands of Afghan nationals, who have been evacuated from the Kabul airport to foreign countries, as well the ones who are still present inside Afghanistan, do not agree to giving Islamabad an appreciating shoulder tap on its role over the years.

Bangladesh Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Monday said the stability of Afghanistan is definitely important for regional stability and his country is keeping a close eye on the latest developments. Responding to a question on recognition of the Taliban the minister said it is too early to say anything as no government has been formed yet. (ANI)

The Panjshir resistance has denied Talibans claim of having captured the province. "Taliban's claim of occupying Panjshir is false. The NRF forces are present in all the strategic positions across the valley to continue the fight. We assure the people of Afghanistan that the struggle against the Taliban and their partners will continue until justice and freedom prevails," the National Resistance Front (NRF) said.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday did not respond to a media report claiming that the Taliban has invited China, Pakistan, Russia, Turkey, Iran and Qatar to attend the new government formation ceremony in Afghanistan. China is already coordinating its evolving policy on Afghanistan with its “all-weather ally” Pakistan and Russia which also share borders with Afghanistan.