Aug. 15 will now also be remembered as the date that the U.S./NATO project in Afghanistan suffered its final death blows. Taliban forces reached the gates of Kabul and President Ashraf Ghani has fled the country. Head of High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah was said to be mediating a process for the transfer of power, reported Khaama Press.
An Interior Mministry official told Reuters the Taliban were coming in “from all sides” but gave no further details. There were no reports of fighting. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement that the group was in talks with the government for a peaceful surrender of Kabul. The Taliban leadership issued a statement saying that they have ordered their fighters to not enter the city by force. “Taliban fighters are to be on standby on all entrances of Kabul until a peaceful and satisfactory transfer of power is agreed,” the statement said.
