Summary

  • Taliban violence against protesters is increasing, the UN human rights organisation says

  • The agency called on the Islamist group to stop using force, and allow peaceful demonstrations

  • A second international flight carrying passengers leaving Afghanistan has now departed from Kabul airport

  • The first flight to carry foreigners since the US pullout left on Thursday

  • US officials described the Taliban co-operation as businesslike and professional

  • Saturday will be the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in the US - which triggered a two-decade conflict in Afghanistan

  1. Explosion heard near Kabul airportpublished at 13:52 British Summer Time 29 August 2021
    Breaking

    There have been multiple reports of a loud explosion heard near Kabul airport.

    Some images posted on social media show black clouds of smoke rising into the air above buildings.

    A health ministry official has confirmed that a blast has occurred in the area.

    It is not clear what caused the explosion and the BBC is seeking further details.

  2. More on Biden's airport attack warningpublished at 13:30 British Summer Time 29 August 2021

    BidenImage source, EPA

    We reported earlier that US President Joe Biden had warned another attack at the airport in Kabul is highly likely.

    About 170 people were killed in a suicide bombing near the airport on Thursday, which was carried out by a branch of the Islamic State group.

    The state department has urged all US citizens to leave the area because of a "specific, credible threat", adding that the attack could happen today.

    "This strike was not the last," Biden said, referring to the attack on Thursday. "We will continue to hunt down any person involved in that heinous attack and make them pay."

    White House officials add that the next few days of the US evacuation operation are likely to be the most dangerous since it began.

  3. Far fewer planes at Kabul airport - reporterpublished at 13:09 British Summer Time 29 August 2021

    There are not many reports about Kabul airport so far today, with fewer journalists there, tighter Taliban security and fears of fresh attacks.

    Al Jazeera's Charlotte Bellis, who is still in Kabul, reports: "This morning... there isn’t even a single US plane on the ground at Kabul airport, and there have been far fewer in the air than there were even yesterday."

    She said hundreds of people were still attempting to get out and had now taken to buses in co-ordination with the Taliban, to try to get through to the airport without lingering outside.

    Taliban checks on the approach to the airportImage source, EPA
    Image caption,

    Taliban checks have tightened on the approach to the airport

  4. We've had to leave for now - UK ambassadorpublished at 12:44 British Summer Time 29 August 2021

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post

    Britain's ambassador to Afghanistan, Sir Laurie Bristow, has praised "the extraordinary intense effort" by the Foreign Office, military and Border Force to evacuate more than 15,000 people from Afghanistan to the UK "in under two weeks".

    The ambassador posted a video on Twitter soon after touching down at RAF Brize Norton on Sunday.

    He confirmed the embassy would temporarily move to Qatar, but stressed it would reopen as soon as possible - adding that the British government would continue to put pressure on the Taliban "to allow safe passage" to Afghans and British nationals in the country.

    "We'll do everything we can to protect the gains of the last 20 years - and, above all, to help the Afghan people achieve the peace and the security that they deserve."

  5. Pen Farthing and animals 'safe' after leaving Kabulpublished at 12:18 British Summer Time 29 August 2021

    Pen Farthing and dogImage source, Nowzad
    Image caption,

    Pen Farthing set up the Nowzad animal shelter after serving in Afghanistan in the mid-2000s

    The founder of an animal shelter in Afghanistan is "safe" after leaving the country, his charity has said.

    Paul "Pen" Farthing, a former Royal Marine, was attempting to get his staff and rescue animals out of Kabul when they became caught up in Thursday's airport bomb blasts.

    Mr Farthing's charity Nowzad confirmed he and his animals had left the country on Saturday - but without his staff.

    The charity wrote on social media that it was a "devastating blow" that their "wonderful team" had been left behind.

    "We are now working extremely hard to get them evacuated and will not rest until they too are safe," said a statement on Facebook., external

    After serving in Afghanistan in the mid-2000s, Mr Farthing set up the Nowzad animal shelter in Kabul, rescuing dogs, cats and donkeys.

    While his campaign to evacuate the 140 dogs and 60 cats from Afghanistan has received significant public support, some government ministers have complained that too much time has been spent on the issue when troops "should be focused on dealing with the humanitarian crisis".

    Read more.

  6. 'Lots of tears' as Afghan Paralympians reach Tokyopublished at 11:47 British Summer Time 29 August 2021

    Zakia KhudadadiImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Zakia Khudadadi will take part in the taekwondo competition

    Two Afghan Paralympic athletes have arrived to compete in the Tokyo Games after a "major global operation" to get them from Kabul.

    Zakia Khudadadi and Hossain Rasouli were welcomed to the athletes' village by a party including IPC president Andrew Parsons.

    International Paralympic Committee spokesman Craig Spence said: "As you can imagine, the meeting was extremely emotional.

    "There were lots of tears from everyone in the room. It really was a remarkable meeting."

    He said their participation sent out "a very strong message of hope".

    Khudadadi and Rasouli were among thousands of people unable to leave Afghanistan after the Taliban seized power before the pair were evacuated.

    "We never gave up hope," said Parsons.

    Khudadadi, the first woman to represent Afghanistan at the Paralympics, will compete on Thursday in the women's K44 -49kg weight taekwondo category.

    Rasouli is set for the men's T47 long jump and 400m T47 event.

    The flag of Afghanistan was held by a volunteer at the opening ceremony.

  7. UK PM pays tribute to evacuation missionpublished at 11:13 British Summer Time 29 August 2021

    Media caption,

    Afghanistan: 'A mission unlike anything we've seen in our lifetimes'

    As the last British troops, diplomats and officials leave Kabul, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has praised the UK's evacuation efforts.

  8. We will talk but not surrender, say anti-Taliban forcespublished at 10:51 British Summer Time 29 August 2021

    The Reuters news agency has been speaking to the anti-Taliban opposition in the Panjshir Valley, north of Kabul. That's just about the only area left that is not under Taliban control - although they have surrounded it.

    The agency interviewed Khalid Noor, the son of a once-powerful governor of Balkh province.

    He said opposition figures were grouping together to "negotiate collectively" with the Taliban - and this included veteran ethnic Uzbek leader Abdul Rashid Dostum.

    Just how united such factions would be remains unclear, and Mr Noor himself said there was a "huge risk" the talks would fail.

    But if that happened, he said, surrender would be "out of the question" and that history had shown any attempt to rule Afghanistan by force was "impossible".

    Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has said talks are taking place, putting the chance of success at "60%".

    Abdul Rashid Dostum.Image source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Veteran Uzbek Abdul Rashid Dostum. Will he still have a role to play?

  9. British ambassador home as last UK troops leavepublished at 10:31 British Summer Time 29 August 2021

    Sir Laurie BristowImage source, PA Media

    Sir Laurie Bristow, Britain's ambassador to Afghanistan, has arrived in the UK and the last British soldiers to leave Kabul are expected to touch down within hours.

    The final flight left on Saturday, bringing to an end the UK's 20-year military involvement in Afghanistan.

    More than 15,000 people have been evacuated by the UK since 14 August, including 5,000 British nationals and their families, along with 8,000 Afghans.

    UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has said he thought between 800 and 1,100 eligible Afghans would be left behind, along with around 100 to 150 Britons - although he said some of those were staying willingly.

    Read more here.

  10. US evacuation operations enter final phasepublished at 10:11 British Summer Time 29 August 2021

    US forces at Kabul airport are in the final phase of evacuations, bringing to an end 20 years of military presence.

    A Western security official told Reuters the timing for the end of the operation had yet to be decided, with just over 1,000 civilians already at the airport remaining to be flown out.

    Tuesday is the final possible day, under a deal agreed with the Taliban.

    US President Joe Biden warned late on Saturday that another militant attack on the airport was highly likely and could come as early as Sunday.

    The state department has urged all US citizens to leave the area near the airport because of a "specific, credible threat".

    A suicide bombing near the airport on Thursday resulted in some 170 deaths.

    A US marine checks an Afghan woman as she prepares to take a flight at Kabul airportImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    A US marine checks an Afghan woman as she prepares to take a flight at Kabul airport

  11. We're ready to take over airport - Talibanpublished at 09:48 British Summer Time 29 August 2021

    Taliban at airportImage source, EPA
    Image caption,

    Taliban fighters on the approaches to the airport in Kabul

    Taliban technical experts and engineers are ready to take over Kabul airport as soon as US forces leave, the group that now controls Afghanistan says.

    A Taliban official told Reuters: "We are waiting for the final nod from the Americans to secure full control."

    The Taliban have also said they hope to announce a government for the country within a few days.

    Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid admitted that the group's takeover of Kabul was "sudden" and "unanticipated" and spoke of "minor obstacles" in forming an administration.

    He also said there had been an exchange of messages with anti-Taliban fighter in the Panjshir Valley, north of Kabul, and that the Taliban hoped differences would be settled through talks.

  12. Welcome to our coverage - the latest main pointspublished at 09:22 British Summer Time 29 August 2021

    Welcome to Sunday's live coverage of events in Afghanistan, as US forces enter the final phase of their pullout - and the Taliban prepare for full control.

    Here at the latest main points:

    • US troops at Kabul airport are in the final phase now, but an exact time for full departure has yet to be decided, officials say
    • Only up to 1,000 civilians already at the airport remain to be flown out
    • US President Joe Biden warned on Saturday that an another attack at the airport was likely
    • The state department urged all US citizens to leave the area because of a "specific, credible threat"
    • After the final UK withdrawal was completed, PM Boris Johnson said service personnel should feel pride, but acknowledged the fall of Kabul to the Taliban was hard for them to watch
    • The Taliban say they are prepared to take over at the airport when given the "nod" from the Americans, and will announce an "inclusive" government within days

  13. We're pausing our live coveragepublished at 18:46 British Summer Time 28 August 2021

    A Taliban checkpoint near Kabul airportImage source, EPA
    Image caption,

    The Taliban patrol near Kabul airport

    We're pausing our live coverage - thanks for staying with us. Here's a quick recap of the day's developments before we go:

    • The US says two high-profile members of the group behind Thursday's deadly attack at Kabul airport have been killed in a drone strike
    • The strike targeted "planners and facilitators" from the group IS-K, a branch of Islamic State
    • However, the Pentagon warned that IS-K remained an "active" threat as evacuations at the airport reach the final stages
    • The Taliban have condemned the US strike, describing it as a "clear attack on Afghan territory"
    • Meanwhile, the US said more than 117,000 people had been flown out of Afghanistan, the majority of them Afghans, and more had been approved for flights in the coming hours
    • The UK's final flight purely for civilian evacuees left Kabul airport earlier today
    • Afghans unable to reach the airport are having to make their way to neighbouring countries such as Pakistan, but many fear what will happen at Taliban checkpoints
    • And world leaders, including UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, have been discussing how to deal with a Taliban-led Afghanistan after foreign forces leave the country
  14. Whispered voice notes and a dramatic escapepublished at 18:34 British Summer Time 28 August 2021

    Gabriel Gatehouse
    BBC Newsnight

    Shukria Barakzai

    For Shukria Barakzai, 15 August seemed, at first, an unremarkable Sunday morning. A prominent journalist and politician, a former member of the Afghan parliament and ambassador to Norway, she was a frequent traveller. She already had a few bags packed, as she was due to fly to Turkey later that day for a brief trip.

    "To be honest, everything was just on schedule, like a normal day for me," she said.

    It wasn't until she got to the airport itself, and joined the queue for a Covid PCR test that she realised something was wrong.

    "I saw all my former colleagues - members of parliament, governors, ministers - they were all queuing. And I said: 'Oh, are we all going, is everything OK?'"

    That's when she heard the news. The Taliban were at the gates of the city - Kabul had fallen.

    Read more here.

  15. Taliban condemns US drone strikepublished at 18:22 British Summer Time 28 August 2021

    Zabihullah Mujahid during a press conference in Kabul, AfghanistanImage source, EPA
    Image caption,

    Zabihullah Mujahid gave his first televised press conference earlier this month

    The Taliban have condemned the US drone strike in eastern Afghanistan that targeted and killed members of the Islamic State group.

    Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Reuters news agency that it was a "clear attack on Afghan territory".

    The US said it had successfully targeted members of the group IS-K, or Islamic State Khorasan Province. IS-K earlier said it was behind Thursday's deadly airport attack.

    Mujahid also said the Taliban expected to be in full control of Kabul airport in the coming hours.

    They have been selecting officials to run the new government and expect to announce a full cabinet soon, he added.

    Mujahid gave his first televised press conference earlier this month, but he had been operating in the shadows for years.

  16. US marine ousted from command for criticising leaderspublished at 17:58 British Summer Time 28 August 2021

    Lance Colonel Stuart SchellerImage source, US Marine Corps

    A US marine colonel has been relieved of command after posting a video online demanding accountability from "senior leaders" over the evacuation from Afghanistan.

    Lt Col Stuart Scheller posted a video on Facebook and LinkedIn on Thursday in which expressed his "growing discontent and contempt for... perceived ineptitude at the foreign policy level".

    "The reason people are so upset... is not because the marines on the battlefield let someone down... People are upset because their senior leaders let them down. And none of them are raising their hands," he said, adding he was willing to risk his job, retirement and family stability to say this.

    His video has been shared more than 43,000 times on Facebook.

    On Friday afternoon, Col Scheller announced he'd been relieved of his command "based on a lack of trust and confidence".

    “My chain of command is doing exactly what I would do... if I were in their shoes,” he wrote.

    Dan Crenshaw, a Texas congressman and former Navy Seal, tweeted, external: ""This guy is all class. He knew what the consequences would be. His concerns are not wrong."

    Maj Jim Stenger, a spokesperson for the Marine Corps, said: “This is obviously an emotional time for a lot of marines. There is a forum in which marine leaders can address their disagreements with the chain of command, but it’s not social media.”

  17. 'Everybody is afraid - they are panicking'published at 17:38 British Summer Time 28 August 2021

    Max Zabih Amiri
    Image caption,

    Mr Amiri, who lives in Wrexham, came to the UK as an asylum seeker in 2002

    An Afghan man living in Wales, whose family are stuck in Afghanistan, says they have so far failed to get out of the country.

    Max Zabih Amiri, who fled in 2002, said some family members had spent three days and nights at the airport in Kabul.

    "It was so overcrowded," he said. "My niece fell unconscious and they had to go back home.

    "We are waiting for the situation to change for them to go somewhere - or bring them here if possible - or anywhere in the world, at least, in peace."

    Amiri, 44, fled his home country almost 20 years ago.

    "Nobody [is] feeling safe," he said of the recent Taliban takeover

    "Everybody is afraid - they are scared, they are panicking."

    Read more.

  18. 117,000 people evacuated from Kabul - USpublished at 17:20 British Summer Time 28 August 2021

    US Maj Gen William TaylorImage source, EPA

    At today's Pentagon briefing, Maj Gen William Taylor also gave an update on the number of people evacuated from Kabul airport as missions there wind down.

    "We continue to evacuate American citizens and vulnerable Afghans out of Kabul," he said, adding that about 1,400 people were screened ready for flights today.

    "As I said yesterday, we have the ability to include evacuees on military airlifts out of Afghanistan until the very end."

    Maj Gen Taylor said that more than 117,000 people, the majority of them Afghan civilians, had been evacuated since the mission began.

  19. The group behind the airport attackpublished at 17:06 British Summer Time 28 August 2021

    We've just heard from the Pentagon that two high-profile members of the group said to be behind Thursday's deadly attack at Kabul airport were killed in a US drone strike.

    But what do we know about the group, IS-K? Watch the video above to find out more.

  20. Threat from IS remains active, US sayspublished at 16:44 British Summer Time 28 August 2021

    Kirby goes on to say that the threat from IS-K remains "active" and "dynamic".

    "We aren't thinking for a minute that what happened yesterday gets us in the clear," he says.

    He adds, however, that removing what he described as "valid targets" would "absolutely" have an impact on IS-K's ability to carry out further attacks.