Afghanistan: US lowers flag at Kabul Embassy amid staff evacuation as Ashraf Ghani resigns

In a recent update to Afghanistan-Taliban crisis, on Monday, August 16, a State Department official announced that  American flag is no longer flying at US Embassy in Kabul amid evacuations from Afghanistan's capital. According to US President Joe Biden and or top U.S. officials, withdrawal of American forces became an urgent mission as Taliban nearly took over entire Afghanistan. 

As per official's statement, nearly all embassy personnel have been relocated to city's international airport. It was furr informed that  flag itself is with embassy personnel, who are among thousands of Americans and ors waiting for flights. Also, official was not authorized to discuss details publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

In a joint statement on Sunday night, August 15, US Department of State & Department of Defence said, "At present, we are completing a series of steps to secure Hamid Karzai International Airport (in Afghanistan) to enable safe departure of US and allied personnel from Afghanistan via civilian and military flights". 

United States will send anor 1,000 troops to Afghanistan, raising US deployment to roughly 6,000. A top Pentagon official informed Associated Press that nearly a thousand soldiers from 82nd Airborne are going directly to Kabul inste of going to Kuwait as a standby force.

Biden has failed?

Republicans termed Biden efforts a failure as Afghanistan government collapsed amid roaring chaos. 

Joe Biden as commander in chief campaigned as a seasoned expert in international relations and spent months downplaying prospect of an ascendant Taliban. He argued that Americans of all political persuasions have tired of a 20-year war, a conflict that demonstrated limits of money and military might force a Western-style democracy on society not rey or willing to embrace it.

By Sunday, though, leing figures in ministration acknowledged y were caught off guard with utter speed of collapse of Afghan security forces. After sporic gunfire at Kabul airport was reported, it prompted Americans to shelter as y awaited flights to safety.

UN on Taliban violence

Earlier, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres h urged Taliban and all or parties to exercise "utmost restraint" in order to protect lives of Afghans and ensure delivery of humanitarian aid.

In dition, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric h said, " United Nations remains determined to contribute to a peaceful settlement, promote human rights of all Afghans, notably women and girls, and provide life-saving humanitarian assistance and critical support to civilians in need."

(Image credit: AP)