With the Taliban declaring "the war in Afghanistan is over" post the capture of the presidential palace, Afghanistan plunged back into extremist rule two decades after U.S. forces invaded the country post the 9/11 terror attacks.

The humiliation of the United States was complete when Mohammad Naeem, the spokesman for the Taliban's political office, told Al Jazeera TV: "Today is a great day for the Afghan people and the mujahideen. They have witnessed the fruits of their efforts and their sacrifices for 20 years." After 20 years the Taliban roared back into Kabul, and were already freeing al Qaeda terrorists held in Afghan jails, raising the prospects of more terror attacks being plotted against the U.S.

The magnitude of the damage from the botched exit from Kabul and the loss of U.S. influence can be easily gauged when China says its embassy staff are not moving out.

In Washington, the Afghanistan debacle threatens to hurt President Joe Biden amid a COVID-19 resurgence and overshadow his recent win in pushing through a trillion dollar infrastructure package to boost the U.S. economy. Worse, the crowds thronging the Kabul airport and helicopters whisking off staff from the U.S. embassy drew comparisons of Saigon 1975.

6:02 am ET: Reports of several evacuation flights taking off. U.S. military aircraft, including several C-17 transport planes, also taking off from the airport.

3:55 am ET: All countries, including Russia and Italy, evacuate their citizens. Russia announces its ambassador in Afghanistan will meet with a Taliban representative Tuesday. However, Russia maintained that "no one is going to rush with this [recognition]. Recognition or non-recognition will depend on the behavior of the new authorities."

3:46 am ET: The Chinese embassy in Kabul announces it has no plans to evacuate its staff. “The Chinese embassy has requested various factions in Afghanistan to ensure the safety of Chinese nationals, Chinese institutions, and Chinese interests," a statement by the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan reads.

3:17 am ET: Heavy gunfire reported as five killed at the passenger terminal of Kabul’s international airport, where thousands of Afghans converged hoping to get evacuated. Reports of bloodied bodies lying on the ground outside the terminal building.

1:39 am ET: Footages showing people rushing to board flights. U.S. military fires shots into the air to deter them.

10:04 pm ET: The U.S. safely evacuates all embassy personnel. "All embassy personnel are located on the premises of Hamid Karzai International Airport, whose perimeter is secured by the U.S. Military,” said State Department spokesperson Ned Price. A State Department official said the American flag is no longer flying at the U.S. embassy in Kabul.

9:13 pm ET: Taliban declares war is over and calls for peaceful relations with the international community. "We will not allow anyone to use our lands to target anyone, and we do not want to harm others," Mohammad Naeem, the spokesman for the Taliban’s political office, told Al Jazeera.

8:33 pm: Chaos at Kabul’s international airport as Afghans await flights. Women and children were seen sleeping in security corridors. Meanwhile, the Pentagon and the U.S. Department of State said they are taking steps to secure the airport to enable the safe departure of thousands of U.S. and allied personnel from Afghanistan via civilian and military flights. Taliban has also stationed fighters outside the airport.

IMAGES Afghans crowd the airport in Kabul, waiting to board flights to leave Afghanistan after the Taliban retook control of the country.
IMAGES Afghans crowd the airport in Kabul, waiting to board flights to leave Afghanistan after the Taliban retook control of the country. AFPTV
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