"War is over" Taliban declares victory... Afghan president flees to Uzbekistan (Comprehensive)

Taliban Flag Raised at Afghan Presidential Palace
National Broadcaster Seized Followed by Address to the Nation
Afghan President Flees to Uzbekistan

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young] After the collapse of the Afghan regime, the Taliban, which took control of the capital Kabul, seized the Afghan presidential palace on the 15th (local time) and declared a de facto victory, saying "the war is over."

It has been only three months since the United States began the phased withdrawal of U.S. troops stationed in Afghanistan last May, and just 10 days since the Taliban rapidly took control of major stronghold cities. The U.S. has decided to dispatch additional troops to help evacuate staff from its embassy in Afghanistan and assist Afghans fleeing abroad.

Al Jazeera broadcast footage showing Taliban commanders with dozens of armed fighters inside the Afghan presidential palace in Kabul on the same day. The broadcast reported that after seizing the Afghan presidential palace, the Taliban raised their flag.

After the rapid expansion of Taliban forces following the start of the U.S. troop withdrawal, the fall of Kabul on this day prompted President Ashraf Ghani to flee abroad in haste. According to Al Jazeera and other outlets, President Ghani fled to Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, a neighboring country.

Having seized the Afghan presidential palace, the Taliban declared a de facto victory in the civil war against the Afghan government on this day. A Taliban spokesperson told Al Jazeera, "The war in Afghanistan is over," adding that the governing method and regime form will soon be determined. The Taliban stated, "We guarantee everyone that we will support the safety of residents and diplomatic envoys," and "We are ready to dialogue with all Afghan figures and will ensure necessary protection."

The U.S. embassy in Kabul, which began evacuating diplomats and staff, also lowered the American flag hanging at the embassy on this day, according to CNN and other U.S. media. The lowering of the U.S. embassy flag corresponds to the final stage of embassy withdrawal. It is reported that the Kabul U.S. embassy had employed about 4,200 people, one of the largest numbers among U.S. diplomatic missions worldwide. The U.S. plans to deploy an additional 1,000 troops to Kabul, bringing the total to 6,000 troops to assist embassy staff and Afghans in escaping.

According to AFP, a U.S. Department of Defense official stated that President Joe Biden urgently approved the dispatch of an additional 1,000 troops on this day. The official added that within a few days, a total of 6,000 U.S. troops will be active in Kabul to assist U.S. embassy staff and Afghan citizens in evacuations and to respond to the crisis.

Meanwhile, the Taliban have repeatedly issued messages through public addresses and media interviews promising to form an open government and meet the expectations of the people. According to AP News, Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen said after the Taliban entered Kabul that they are in talks to form an "open and inclusive Islamic government."

The Taliban are also reported to have taken control of Afghanistan’s state-run broadcasting. According to Al Arabiya, the Taliban seized the Afghan state TV in Kabul on this day and urged Afghans to remain calm through a public address.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.