Taliban militants surrounded the capital Kabul on Sunday.
The Taliban leaders and Afghan government officials have started peaceful talks for the transfer of power after fighters surrounded Kabul on Sunday.
“According to the latest information, the center of the district came under the control of Mujahidin with all its accessories,” Zabihullah Mujahid, the official Twitter Account of the Spokesman of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, tweeted. “Many weapons, vehicles, and equipment fell into the hands of Mujahidin.”
Taliban leadership released a statement saying they have instructed their forces not to cross the gates of Kabul and take the city by force: “Negotiations are underway to ensure that the transition process is completed safely and securely.”
The Taliban have assured Kabul residents that they do not intend to take the capital by force and ordered their fighters to remain on the outskirts of the capital.
The militants promised not to attack as the peaceful transfer of power talks were underway.
“Kabul is a densely populated city, and our mujahideen do not intend to enter Kabul by force or fight. We will enter Kabul peacefully,” media outlets reported citing the insurgent group said on Sunday morning.
“Talks are currently going on with the Afghan government for a peaceful handover of power.”
With the capital surrounded, government departments and offices asked employees to go home, and many private businesses and banks also closed, according to video footage posted on Twitter.
In a video released by the Ministry, Afghanistan’s Defence Minister says Kabul will “remain secured” until a peace agreement on the country is reached, with the president sending a delegation to Doha as the Taliban race closer to a complete military takeover.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan President Ghani has once again assured locals that he “will make sure that people of Kabul are safe.”
Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani said “remobilizing the Afghan security and defense forces is our top priority,” in a televised address on Saturday.
President Biden has approved the deployment of additional U.S.troops (around 5,000) to ensure “an orderly and safe drawdown of US personnel and other allied personnel” ahead of the scheduled withdrawal of the US and NATO from Afghanistan by August 31.
President Biden also directed the Secretary of State to support President Ghani and other Afghan leaders as they seek to prevent further bloodshed and pursue a political settlement. Secretary Blinken will also engage with key regional stakeholders, he said in a White House statement on Saturday.
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