Taliban demand release of fellow prisoners

- Taliban's harsh conditions for peace in Afghanistan

- Taliban demand key positions in coalition government: President Ghani calls for reorganization of Taliban-held forces in northern, southern and western provinces

- Taliban seize radio station after Kandahar Afghanistan is slipping out of hand: UN chief

KABUL: The Taliban have seized control of the southern provinces of Afghanistan as well as the northern provinces early Saturday morning, as well as the border provinces of Pakistan in the east. With this, the Taliban have reached the gates of Kabul. The Taliban, which has partially succumbed to global pressure to bring peace to Afghanistan, has set some stringent conditions, including removing the Taliban from the UN list of terrorist groups to negotiate with the Afghan government.

Under pressure from global as well as Pakistan's spy agency ISI, the Taliban have agreed to hold peace talks with the Afghan government's negotiator in Pakistan. But he has set three drastic conditions for negotiations. He called for the unconditional release of all Taliban prisoners held in Afghan jails.

In addition, the Afghan government has asked the United Nations to remove the Taliban from its list of terrorist groups. It also includes stringent conditions such as appointing the Taliban to key positions such as president, defense minister, home minister, army chief and head of the NDS. If the Taliban come to these important positions, the post of Prime Minister will be formalized.

The Taliban, meanwhile, is reluctant to negotiate with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. Prince Mirwais, the son of former King Zair and chairman of the National Committee for the Preservation of Afghan Cultural Heritage, is therefore likely to be appointed as a negotiator by the Afghan government. The Taliban's previous meeting with the Afghan government had failed.

The Taliban, meanwhile, have seized control of northern, western and southern Afghanistan in recent weeks and are now advancing on Kabul. Two-thirds of the country is under the control of Sunni Pashtun fighters. The Taliban on Saturday also seized Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan's fourth-largest city in the northern province.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, on the other hand, addressed the nation on Saturday and said reorganizing the army was his government's priority. Steps are being taken in this direction. Don't let the war imposed on us cause more deaths.

The Taliban reached the gates of Kabul

US directs embassy to destroy sensitive documents

- Withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan a major US mistake, Taliban get a chance: British Secretary of Defense

As the Taliban's dominance in Afghanistan continues to grow, the United States has sent Marine commandos to evacuate its staff and civilians from the US Embassy in Kabul, instructing embassy staff to destroy sensitive documents.

The U.S. embassy in Kabul has been instructed to evacuate U.S. citizens as well as destroy items that could be used by the Taliban as propaganda or the American flag. The notice issued to the embassy staff asked them to use methods such as burning documents, tearing them up and throwing them in the trash. The US State Department in Washington has also begun preparations for the crisis. And steps have been taken to assist the US Embassy in Kabul.

Britain's defense secretary, Ben Wallace, on the other hand, said the US decision to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan was a mistake, which gave the Taliban a greater chance of wreaking havoc across the country. Wallace said the deal struck by former US President Donald Trump's administration to withdraw to Doha, Qatar, was a bad deal. I naturally thought this was a big mistake when dealing with Trump rather than dealing with the Taliban. The international community will probably suffer the consequences of this mistake.

Embassies are not at risk from us

India has done a great job, but let's not underestimate its military: the Taliban

- India has spent Rs. 2200 crore investment commendable: Taliban

The Taliban have occupied most of Afghanistan. At such times, a Taliban spokesman has assured the world that we will not attack any country's embassies and ambassadors.

Taliban spokesman Mohammad Suhail Shahi has praised India's work in Afghanistan, but also warned against sending troops. "There is no threat to any of the embassies and ambassadors from us," Shaheen said amid reports of various countries evacuating embassies and recalling their ambassadors.

Asked what will happen to India's projects in Afghanistan, the spokesperson said, "We appreciate every work done for the people of Afghanistan." India has worked for the development, reconstruction and economic prosperity of Afghanistan, such as dams, national and infrastructure development. "We are committed to not allowing the use of Afghan soil against any country," spokesman Mohammad Suhail Shaheen said. However, in a threatening tone, he added that it would not be good for India to come to Afghanistan with troops. We will not take that into account. Everyone has seen the result of the military presence of other countries in Afghanistan.