Taliban Declares 'Complete Independence'... "Controlling Entire Afghanistan" (Update)

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] As the United States completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Taliban declared Afghanistan's "complete independence" and stated that they are controlling the entire country.

According to the Associated Press, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said on the 31st, "The U.S. military has left Kabul Airport, and our country has gained complete independence."

Taliban spokesperson Qari Yousuf also told Al Jazeera TV, "The last U.S. soldier has left Kabul Airport, and we are completely independent," while another Taliban spokesperson told Sputnik News, "The entire Afghanistan is under Taliban control."

The Associated Press reported that Taliban fighters celebrated their victory as they watched the last U.S. aircraft leave the airport around midnight the previous day.

One fighter cheered, "The last transport plane has left. Now everything is over," adding, "The sacrifices of the past 20 years have finally paid off."

Al Jazeera reported that gunfire was heard in Kabul on the same day to celebrate the Taliban's victory. Citing a local correspondent, Al Jazeera said, "The skies over Kabul were filled with gunfire," and "It lasted for an hour."

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

The media further reported that a senior Taliban official said on the day of the U.S. withdrawal completion, "The Taliban has written a new history," and "The 20-year occupation of Afghanistan by the United States and NATO has ended."

The U.S. Department of Defense officially confirmed the completion of the withdrawal of U.S. troops stationed in Afghanistan and the evacuation of civilians on the same day.

Accordingly, the 20-year war between the United States and the Afghan Taliban, triggered by the September 11 attacks on the New York Trade Center and others in 2001, officially ended on this day.

Meanwhile, as the United States completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Taliban fully took control of Kabul Airport.

Al Jazeera reported, citing Taliban officials, that Kabul Airport is under Taliban control.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) notified airlines that Hamid Karzai Airport in Kabul is now in an uncontrolled state following the complete withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan, according to major foreign media outlets.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

In the notice issued that day, the FAA stated that there is no air traffic control service at Kabul Airport, and aircraft landing in Kabul or flying over Afghan airspace must exercise "extreme caution."

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