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Afghan security forces stand at a checkpoint in Kabul before the Taliban take the city
Photo: Stringer / EPA-EFE
The radical Islamic Taliban are almost at their destination in their offensive in Afghanistan - and have now taken the capital Kabul.
They come "from all sides," said a senior ministerial representative to the Reuters news agency.
According to their own statements, the Taliban have now even penetrated the presidential palace and taken control of the building.
The Afghan government initially did not confirm the statements made by the two Taliban commanders.
At the beginning of the day, the Taliban were still outside the city.
The fighters were initially instructed not to penetrate the metropolis.
Rather, they should take a stand at the gates of the city, according to a statement by the Islamists.
Since last Friday, the Taliban had taken over two-thirds of the country's provincial capitals in a rapid advance, moving ever closer to the capital.
On Sunday morning (local time) they took over Jalalabad in the east of the country, the penultimate city still under government control.
USA evacuates embassy
The Afghan Interior Minister Abdul Sattar Mirsakwal said that morning that there was an agreement with the Taliban for a peaceful change of power.
The city's safety is guaranteed, he said in a video.
Defense Minister Bismillah Khan Mohammadi also said in a video address that, as a representative of the armed forces, he would guarantee the security of Kabul.
People shouldn't panic.
Several states hastily launched evacuation missions.
The United States began taking diplomats from the embassy to Kabul airport by helicopter.
The process was "in full swing" and should be completed by Tuesday morning at the latest, reported the CNN station, citing an unnamed US government official.
The US embassy in Kabul instructed compatriots to get to safety.
“The security situation in Kabul is changing rapidly, including at the airport.
There are reports that the airport has come under fire;
therefore we instruct US citizens to get to safety, "it said in a warning published on Sunday.
The safe operation of the airport is a prerequisite for a number of countries to be able to fly their staff out quickly as planned.
Germany also closed its embassy in Kabul because of the advance of the Taliban.
The approximately 20 embassy staff and the federal police officers who are deployed to protect the diplomatic mission were also brought to the airport, which was secured by military means, for security reasons.
Bundeswehr paratroopers are due to fly to Kabul in military transporters on Monday.
It is about the largest evacuation operation of the Bundeswehr to date.
Chaotic scenes and shootings in the city
Chaotic scenes played out in the city during the day.
There was a shooting in front of a bank, a resident of the city said.
Many people tried to withdraw their savings and buy groceries.
A soldier from Kabul said his entire unit had taken off their uniforms.
In a further statement that evening, the Taliban said they had received reports that police stations and ministries had been abandoned.
The security forces have fled.
In order to prevent looting, the Taliban leadership ordered its fighters to enter the areas from which the enemy had fled.
It was also revealed that President Ashraf Ghani has left the country.
This was confirmed by the chairman of the National Council for Reconciliation, Abdullah Abdullah, in a video message posted on Facebook.
The "ex-president" left the country in this situation, and God may hold him accountable, said Abdullah.
The people will also judge him.
Abdullah did not provide any information on where the president had left the country.
Local media reported that he flew to Tajikistan.
"You can see the fear on their faces"
Since the start of the withdrawal of international troops in May, the Taliban had advanced ever faster to the gates of Kabul.
They also brought all major border crossings and thus all important land routes to neighboring countries under their control.
Thousands of families then made their way to Kabul in the hope of at least being able to get to safety there or to get out of the country via the airport.
Long traffic jams formed on many streets in Kabul on Sunday. "Some people left their keys in the car and made their way to the airport on foot," one resident told Reuters about the situation on the phone. People are afraid of fighting. Hospitals struggled to take care of many injured people. Whole families stood in front of the embassy gates. In the city center, many people tried to stock up on supplies. Hundreds of people spent the night huddled in tents or outdoors on the side of the road or in parking lots, as a local resident reported. "You can see the fear on their faces."
Many refugees fear that when the Taliban return to power, they will again be able to enforce a very strict interpretation of Islamic law. The Islamists had ruled Afghanistan from 1996 until they were overthrown by US-led troops in late 2001. In a statement, they assessed their rapid advance in recent weeks as evidence of their acceptance among the population. Nobody has to fear for their life, not even foreigners. A Taliban official told Reuters that the extremist group wanted to avoid victims. So far, no one in Kabul has been killed or injured by a Taliban fighter. But he also pointed out that no ceasefire had been declared.
Just a few days ago, an assessment by the US secret services said that Kabul could be held for at least three months. In Qatar, the Taliban leadership has now declared that all people who want to leave Kabul will be granted a safe exit. The Taliban fighters had been instructed to avoid the use of force. Women should go to sheltered places. A spokesman told the BBC that women's rights were respected. It will also be up to the courts to decide on penalties such as executions, stoning and amputations. The media should be allowed to report critically.
US President Joe Biden warned the Taliban against attacks on Americans.
Any action that endangered US citizens and soldiers would be "answered with a rapid and strong military response from the US."
kfr / yes / dpa / Reuters