Afghanistan crisis live updates: India allowed to operate two flights daily to evacuate citizens from Kabul

Pak FM Qureshi discusses Afghan situation with several counterparts

Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday held telephonic interactions with his counterparts from Russia, Germany Turkey, the Netherlands, Belgium and with the OIC chief on the rapidly evolving situation in Afghanistan.

Taliban release 340 prisoners in Farah Province

Taliban have released 340 "political prisoners" in Farah province in western Afghanistan, Sputnik reported on Saturday. Another 40 inmates were released in central Uruzgan province, The Russian News Agency reported citing the Shamshad News broadcaster. This comes after Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada earlier on Thursday ordered the release of political detainees from all Afghan prisons.

Impossible to evacuate all allied Afghans by August 31: EU foreign policy chief

"It's mathematically impossible" for the US and its allies to evacuate the tens of thousands of Afghan personnel and families by August 31, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told AFP on Saturday. Borrell added that "we have complained" to the Americans that their security at Kabul airport was overly strict and hampering attempts by Afghans who worked for the Europeans to enter.

Indonesian embassy in Afghanistan evacuated, diplomats moved to Pakistan

The Indonesian embassy in Afghanistan has been completely evacuated as the security situation in Kabul deteriorates and several diplomats at the Indonesian mission in Pakistan have been designated to take over its duties. Earlier in the day, an Indonesian air force Boeing-737 arrived from Kabul at the Halim airbase in the suburbs of Jakarta with evacuated diplomats and their families, as well as other Indonesian citizens aboard, Sputnik reported citing Kompas TV.'

US, Germany advise citizens against travel to Kabul airport amid evacuation chaos

The United States and Germany advised their nationals in Afghanistan to avoid travelling to Kabul airport on Saturday, citing security risks as thousands gathered trying to flee the country almost a week after Taliban Islamists took control. The German Embassy also advised its local citizens not to go to the airport, warning in an email that the Taliban were conducting increasingly strict controls around the airport. A senior U.S. military official said there had been short periods in the last 24 hours when the gates to Kabul airport have been closed, but no reported change in the "enemy" situation in and around the single-runway airfield.

Ashraf Ghani wasn't prepared for Taliban takeover, fled with only clothes he was wearing: Report

Providing vivid details of the last weeks' events which led to the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban, the former officials said that the advisors were stunned by the speed of the Taliban's advance on the capital of Kabul, reported CNN. According to the report, a senior member of the Ghani administration met in Kabul with a prominent member of a group allied to both the Taliban and al Qaeda, who told him bluntly that the government must surrender.

Thousands rally in London decrying Taliban takeover

Thousands rallied in central London on Saturday to protest the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban and show solidarity with Afghans opposed to the new regime in Kabul. Several thousand people descended on the centre of the British capital from lunchtime, massing in Hyde Park and marching down Whitehall past Downing Street, the residence and office of Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Taliban attacked ITBP contingent, soldier returned from Afghanistan says

Over 500 Nepalese nationals evacuated from Afghanistan

JeM chief Masood Azhar's brother Rauf Azhar calls on Mullah Baradar to pledge allegiance: Reports

US officials say 2,500 Americans have been evacuated from Kabul in past week

Pentagon spokesman says cannot rule out possibility of US troops going outside Kabul airport to get people

India has been allowed to operate two flights per day from Kabul to evacuate its nationals stranded in Afghanistan, government sources said.The permission has been granted by the American and Nato forces which have been controlling operations of the Hamid Karzai International Airport after the Afghan capital fell to the Taliban on August 15.

Aiming to improve situation, provide smooth exit at Kabul airport in the next 32 hours: Taliban official

Thousands of Western force members are inside kabul airport and we are protecting their presence too, the official added.

Jaishankar, German counterpart discuss evacuation challenges in Afghanistan

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said he received a phone call from German foreign minister Heiko Mass during which they discussed the evacuation challenges in Afghanistan. "Appreciate the call from Foreign Minister @HeikoMaas of Germany. Discussed the evacuation challenges in Afghanistan and the policy implications of the changes there," Jaishankar tweeted.

Ashraf Ghani's brother pledges allegiance with us, claim Taliban

The Taliban on Saturday informed that Hashmat Ghani, who is a close aid of Ashraf Ghani, has pledged allegiance with the terror group, Sputnik reported. "Hashmat Ghani, brother of former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, swore allegiance to the Islamic Emirate in the presence of Khalil al-Rahman Haqqani," a statement from the Taliban said. Khalil al-Rahman Haqqani is the leader of the Taliban-affiliated Haqqani network, Sputnik reported.

Members of armed uprising groups attacked the Pol-e-Hesar district of northern Baghlan province in Afghanistan and cleared them of the Taliban. Ever since the Taliban toppled all but Panjsher province on August 15, the fighters were engaged in their first armed conflict which erupted between them and the people's uprising. Local residents claim two other districts -- Deh Salah and Qasaan -- have also been taken back from the Taliban, Afghan media reported.

Afghans running out of money as banks, ATMs shut for 7th day