US' Antony Blinken says Afghanistan mission 'successful', rejects comparison with Saigon

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday insisted that mission in Afghanistan has been "successful", rejecting its comparison with Saigon. His remarks come at a time when Taliban is on verge of re-capturing  war-ravaged country as it enters capital city Kabul.

Blinken said that US entered Afghanistan with one mission, that is to deal with people who attacked us on 9/11 and that mission has been successful, as reported by AFP. He also rejected comparisons with American departure from Saigon as Vietnam War drew to a close in 1975.

US forces withdrawal from Afghanistan is being compared to Saigon, as capital of n US-backed South Vietnam was recaptured by Communist-ruled North Vietnam two years after America's pullout. United States was in country for 19 years.

In backdrop of US and NATO spending hundreds of billions of dollars to build up Afghan Security forces, Taliban defeated m swiftly, gaining control over most of Afghanistan.

Ashraf Ghani leaves Afghanistan

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani has reportedly fled to Tajikistan. He has also resigned as president of war-torn country. “ former Afghan president has left nation,” Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, chief of High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR), said in a video on his Facebook page.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan's first Vice President Amrullah Saleh has claimed that he will not bow in front of extremist group under any circumstances. "I will never betray d soul & legacy of my hero Ahm Shah Masoud, commander, legend & guide. I won't dis-appoint millions who listened to me. I will never be under one ceiling with Taliban. NEVER," he tweeted.

Amid ongoing negotiations for a peaceful transfer of power, Taliban has entered Kabul. y justified move by saying that ir entry was necessary to prevent looting after Afghan forces deserted ir posts.