Afghanistan crisis live updates: Biden promises further strikes against ISIS-K

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday spoke to his Italian counterpart Mario Draghi as the two leaders stressed the need for international cooperation, including at the level of the G20, in addressing the security and humanitarian challenges arising out of the spiralling crisis in Afghanistan. Discussing the recent developments in Afghanistan and its implications for the region and the world after the Taliban captured power there, they strongly condemned the horrific terror attack at the Kabul International Airport on Thursday and emphasised the need to ensure the safe repatriation of stranded people, an official statement said.

President Joe Biden's national security team has told the president that another terror attack is "likely'' in Kabul, and that "maximum force protection'' measures are being taken at the airport in the Afghan capital. White House press secretary Jen Psaki did not go into detail on the assessment Biden received from his team one day after a suicide bomber killed 13 US service members and scores of Afghans outside the airport. Psaki says the next few days of the mission to evacuate Americans and vulnerable Afghans fleeing Taliban rule "will be the most dangerous period to date." Biden has said that he intends to complete the evacuation by his Tuesday deadline.

The Pulitzer Prize Board announced a special citation Friday for people in Afghanistan who risked their safety to help produce news stories and images from their war-torn country. "From staff and freelance correspondents to interpreters to drivers to hosts, courageous Afghan residents helped produce Pulitzer-winning and Pulitzer-worthy images and stories that have contributed to a wider understanding of profoundly tragic and complicated circumstances," the board said. The citation comes with a $100,000 emergency relief grant intended to help men and women involved in journalism in Afghanistan either resettle or to continue their work safely.The Pulitzer Prize Board announced a special citation Friday for people in Afghanistan who risked their safety to help produce news stories and images from their war-torn country. "From staff and freelance correspondents to interpreters to drivers to hosts, courageous Afghan residents helped produce Pulitzer-winning and Pulitzer-worthy images and stories that have contributed to a wider understanding of profoundly tragic and complicated circumstances," the board said. The citation comes with a $100,000 emergency relief grant intended to help men and women involved in journalism in Afghanistan either resettle or to continue their work safely.

Two British nationals and the child of a third British national were killed in Thursday's attack at Kabul's airport, British foreign minister Dominic Raab said on Friday. "Yesterday's despicable attack underlines the dangers facing those in Afghanistan and reinforces why we are doing all we can to get people out," Raab said in a statement. The Kabul airport attack on Thursday, which killed 13 US troops and at least 79 Afghans, was claimed by Islamic State militants. The Islamic State's Afghan affiliate, ISIS-Khorosan, has emerged as an enemy of both the West and of the Taliban.

The two men risked their lives together nearly a decade ago trying to eliminate the Taliban, dodging bullets and forever bonding in a way that can only be forged in war. Now the American soldier and his Afghan translator were together again in Germany shopping for a suit. Abdulhaq Sodais's future hinges on an asylum hearing in a German court after he was denied a US visa, and US Army Veteran Spencer Sullivan was there to help him prepare. Together, they watched videos from Sodais' hometown: The crackle of gunfire, dead bodies being carted off as black smoke billowed. Once US troops withdrew, the fragile government built over years by people like Sodais and Sullivan collapsed in just days.

The Pentagon said on Friday that a deadly attack at the gate to Kabul airport in Afghanistan on Thursday was carried out by one suicide bomber, not two. "I can confirm for you that we do not believe that there was a second explosion at or near the Baron Hotel, that it was one suicide bomber," Army Major General William Taylor told reporters.

India has said there is a lack of clarity of any entity forming the government in Afghanistan and New Delhi continues to be on a wait and watch mode. When asked whether India will be recognizing the Taliban, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said: "The situation on the ground is uncertain. The prime concern is the safety and security of people. Currently, there is a lack of clarity about any entity forming the government in Kabul. So I think we are jumping the gun on recognition."

The French foreign ministry has had operational contacts with representatives of the Taliban in recent days in Kabul and in Doha in order to facilitate its ongoing evacuations from Kabul, a foreign ministry source said on Friday.

World leaders must rapidly increase investments in humanitarian assistance, immediately reinstate the Covid-19 response and recovery plans, and create and fund global coalitions to help the people of Afghanistan, and all approaches and programs must explicitly tackle gender-specific barriers, PMNCH Board Chair Helen Clark said. WHO's Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health is the world's largest alliance for the health and well-being of women, children and adolescents, with over 1,000 partner organisations across its 10 constituencies.