The US President speaks out following Monday's scenes of panic at Kabul airport as thousands of desperate Afghans tried to secure a place on a flight out of the country.
President Joe Biden has defended his decision to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan, in his first intervention since the Taliban takeover of the country including the capital Kabul.
His TV intervention follows chaos, panic and confusion at Kabul airport on Monday as thousands of Afghans converged on the runway in a desperate attempt to get out of the country after the Taliban seized power.
US forces at the airport were forced to fire into the air to restore calm. US officials say several people have died.
Taliban fighters entered Kabul on Sunday morning after capturing the country's biggest cities in a swift two-week campaign, amid the controversial withdrawal of US and Western troops from Afghanistan.
See our live blog below for latest updates. Key developments in summary:
President Biden says he stands "squarely behind" the American troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, where the US mission was never "nation-building".
US officials: 7 people dead at Kabul airport amid chaos as people tried to flee. Some died after clinging to the side of a US military plane.
All flights suspended at Kabul airport due to crowds on runway.
US and other Western embassies evacuated, diplomats relocated to the airport to aid the evacuation of staff and nationals.
Taliban negotiator says militant group wants to form “open, inclusive Islamic government” in Afghanistan.
UN Security Council calls for halt to violence and respect for human rights.
More than 60 countries released joint statement calling on Taliban to allow people to leave.
Latest updates:
Footage released on social media by journalists at the scene reveals scenes of desperation as people jostled in the hope of securing a place out of the country.
It comes less than a day after Taliban insurgents entered the capital after sweeping the country in a power-grabbing operation that has surprised Western countries by its swiftness.
A Taliban spokesperson and negotiator told the Associated Press news agency that the militant group is holding talks aimed at forming an “open, inclusive Islamic government” in Afghanistan.
Earlier, a Taliban official said the group would announce a new government from the presidential palace, but those plans appear to be on hold.
The United Nations Security Council has announced that it will hold an emergency meeting on Monday at 16:00 CEST to discuss the situation in Afghanistan. The European Union's Political and Security Committee will meet an hour earlier by videoconference with Belarus also on the agenda.
European Union Foreign ministers will convene on Tuesday afternoon for an extraordinary meeting, the bloc's top diplomat has announced.
"Afghanistan stands at a crossroad. Security and wellbeing of its citizens, as well as the international security, are at play," Josep Borrell said.
'Horrifying and heartbreaking'
The Taliban sought to project calm on Monday, circulating videos on its official social media accounts of fighters deployed throughout Kabul.
The posts said the fighters were deployed to "provide security" to Kabul residents. One said "the general public is happy with the arrival of the Mujahideen and satisfied with the security."
Spokesman Suhail Shaheen also stressed that fighters had been instructed not to enter anyone's house without permission".
He also rejected accusations that single women were being forced to marry Taliban fighters as "poisonous propaganda."
The Taliban ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001 with a harsh form of Islamic law. Women were largely confined to their homes and suspected criminals faced amputation or public execution.
According to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, more than 1,000 people have been killed or injured in the past month alone "in indiscriminate attacks against civilians."
At least 241,000 were forced to flee their home as the Taliban advanced through the country.
"I am also deeply disturbed by early indications that the Taliban are imposing severe restrictions on human rights in the areas under their control, particularly targeting women and journalists. It is particularly horrifying and heartbreaking to see reports of the hard-won rights of Afghan girls and women being ripped away from them," Guterres said last week.
'Safe passage'
More than 70 countries, including most European union member states, the UK and the US, have meanwhile urged the militant group to "respect and facilitate" evacuations of foreign nationals and Afghans who wish to leave the country.
Washington intends to have enough aircraft to fly out as many as 5,000 civilians a day, both Americans and the Afghan translators and others who worked with the U.S. during the war.
France's Minister for Armed Forces, Florence Parly, said two military planes would from Monday fly back and forth between Kabul and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates to evacuate people.
A group of 70 Italian diplomatic staff and Afghans who have worked with Italy boarded a military evacuation flight in Kabul late Sunday night. It is expected to arrive in Rome at 12:00 CEST after stopping in Kuwait.
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis also announced on Monday that the country's first evacuation flight had taken off from Kabul's international airport with 46 people on board. They included Czech nationals, the Afghan staffers at the Czech embassy and Afghan interpreters who helped the Czech armed forces during NATO missions together with their families.
A German military aircraft bound for Kabul left Wunstorf Monday morning to support the evacuation of German embassy personnel and local staff from Afghanistan.
"The aim of the mission is to bring German nationals, Afghan local staff and others to be protected by Germany," the Defence Ministry said.
Sweden also announced that 19 embassy employees had been flown out of Kabul while Denmark and Norway said the bulk of their embassy staff was now also out of Afghanistan.
Portugal’s defense minister João Gomes Cravinho told public broadcaster RTP late Sunday that the country is prepared to take in 243 Afghans, and their families who worked with Portuguese forces stationed in the country.
Lisbon is coordinating the evacuations with NATO as it doesn't have the military capacity to do so.
However, it is unclear how long Kabul’s deteriorating security would allow any evacuations to continue.
A spokesperson for the Taliban said on Twitter: "We assure all embassies, diplomatic missions, institutions and residences of foreign nationals in Kabul that there is no danger to them."
'A smooth transition'
Russia has meanwhile announced that its ambassador to Afghanistan will meet with a Taliban representative on Tuesday to discuss security for the diplomatic mission, adding that the outside perimeter of the embassy is already being guarded by the Taliban.
Ambassador Zamir Kabulov told the Ekho Moskvy radio station that some of roughly 100 Russian embassy staff “will be placed on leave or evacuated in some other fashion just in order not to create too big a presence."
He described the Talian swift advance through the country as “somewhat unexpected", saying that Russia was “too optimistic in our assessment of the quality of the armed forces trained by the Americans and NATO."
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said on Monday that Beijing, which shares a border with Afghanistan, would respect the choice of the Afghan people when asked whether they will recognise a Taliban government. China
Hua Chunying noted the Taliban pledges to negotiate the establishment of an inclusive Islamic government and to ensure the safety of both Afghans and foreign missions. China, she added, hopes that would “ensure a smooth transition of the situation in Afghanistan.”
Airlines avoid Afghan airspace
The flight-tracking website FlightRadar24 showed on Monday morning that commercial passenger flights were avoiding flying over Afghanistan.
British Airways confirmed to Euronews on Monday morning that it is "not currently using Afghanistan's airspace."
Air France also confirmed to Euronews on Monday that it has been rerouting flights to avoid Afghan airspace.
"Air France is constantly monitoring the current geopolitical situation in Afghanistan and the territories served and flown over by the airline's aircraft," it said in a statement.
"Flight plans are adjusted in real-time according to the decisions of the French and regional authorities, in order to ensure the highest level of flight safety," it added.
Virgin Atlantic said in an emailed statement to Euronews that "following the latest situation reports in Afghanistan, we will be re-routing our upcoming services to avoid Afghanistan’s airspace."
Its flights to Pakistan and India typically overfly Afghanistan.
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euronews Follow the news live on euronews.com – Breaking news, latest news updates, international news, stay informedBiden on 'gut-wrenching scenes' from Kabul
'Never a good time to withdraw', Biden says
'I inherited Trump's deal', says Biden
Biden: 'if necessary US will intervene in Afghanistan again'
Biden: our mission 'never nation building'
Biden: 'I stand squarely behind my decision' on troops withdrawal
Fact check: French ambassador did not leave Kabul amid Taliban seize of power
Misleading claims online had falsely suggested that David Martinon, France's ambassador to Afghanistan, had left the Afghan capital on a military plane as the Taliban seized power.
But France had instead moved their embassy operations across the city to Kabul's airport to continue the evacuation procedures.
READ MORE here for the full story from The Cube:
Fact check: French ambassador did not leave Afghan capital Kabul
euronewsMisleading rumours falsely suggested that France's Ambassador to Afghanistan had left Kabul, but he had instead moved the embassy's operations to the airport.Biden to address US nation shortly on deadly Afghan chaos
President Joe Biden is due to address the nation in around half an hour's time (21.45 CET) about the US evacuation from Afghanistan, after the planned withdrawal of American forces turned deadly at Kabul’s airport.
Biden returned to the White House Monday afternoon from the Camp David presidential retreat. It will be his first public remarks on the Afghanistan situation in nearly a week.
Biden and other top US officials had been stunned by the pace of the Taliban’s swift routing of the Afghan military.
The speed of the Afghan government’s collapse and the ensuing chaos posed the most serious test of Biden as commander in chief, and he came under withering criticism from Republicans who said that he had failed. (AP)
Afghanistan Timeline: 50 years of key events leading to today's crisis
Afghanistan in context: What's the background to today's crisis?
euronewsA look at Afghanistan's tumultuous history.Macron to Taliban: Women have right to 'freedom and dignity'
"Afghan women have the right to live in freedom and dignity," President Macron also said in his TV address to the French people following the Taliban takeover in Kabul.
"Afghanistan's destiny is in their hands but we will remain, fraternally by the side of the Afghan women... by saying very clearly to those who choose war, obscurantism and blind violence that they make the choice of isolation and endless misery," he added.
The French President said Afghanistan must not become once again the sanctuary for terrorism it once was, vowing that France would continue to combat "Islamist terrorism in all its forms".
He called for a united international response to ensure "international stability against a common enemy", and to do everything so that Russia, the US and Europe work together effectively "because our interests are the same".
Macron: European 'initiative' to head off irregular migratory flows
French President Emmanuel Macron says he wants to spearhead a European initiative to "anticipate" and "protect against large irregular migratory flows" that "feed trafficking of all kinds".
"We will therefore support, working with Germany and other Europeans, an initiative to build without delay a robust, coordinated and united response," he said in a special TV address on Monday night.
Macron also called for solidarity and unity over "criteria for protection" and in implementing cooperation with transit countries.
Photos of Taliban fighters in Kabul
UN Security Council urges talks on Afghan crisis
The U.N. Security Council is calling for an immediate halt to hostilities in Afghanistan and establishment of a new government “that is united, inclusive and representative" and that also includes women.
The council said in its first statement since the Taliban takeover that “institutional continuity and adherence to Afghanistan’s international obligations, as well as the safety and security of all Afghan and international citizens, must be ensured.”
Council members “called for an immediate end to the violence in Afghanistan" and the “restoration of security, civil and constitutional order," as well as urgent talks to resolve the current crisis of authority and find a resolution “through an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned process."
The council — without singling out the Taliban — also called for all parties to adhere to international human rights norms and standards and “put an end to all abuses and violations.” It also called for immediate access for U.N. and other humanitarian personnel to provide aid to millions in need, “including across conflict lines.”
The statement, drafted by Estonia and Norway, was approved by all 15 council members at an emergency meeting on Afghanistan. (AP)
Merkel: Western intervention 'not as fruitful' as hoped for
UK's defence minister fights back tears
But Ben Wallace, the UK’s defence secretary, admitted that might not be possible.
“It is a really deep part of regret for me that some people won't get back,” he told LBC.
“Some people won't get back and we will have to do our best in third countries to process those people.”
When asked why he was so personal to him, Wallace's voice started to quiver. “Because I'm a soldier,” he said. "Because it's sad and the West has done what it’s done and we have to do our very best to get people out and stand by our obligations and 20 years of sacrifice — is what it is.”
All civilian and military flights suspended from Kabul airport -- Pentagon
Europe's leaders coy on failed Western mission
'NATO's biggest debacle': Afghanistan troop withdrawals slammed
euronewsOn Monday the head of Angela Merkel's conservative party and possible successor to the German chancellor called the pullout NATO's "biggest debacle" since its creation.International community 'badly assessed' situation in Afghanistan -- German FM
Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Mass has admitted that the international community "badly assessed" the situation in Afghanistan, as the Taliban swept to power with lightning speed following the withdrawal of foreign troops.
"There's nothing more to say. All of us, the government, the intelligence services, the international community, we badly assessed" the situation, he said as Monday's scenes of chaos from Kabul airport unfolded.
Biden to speak from White House on Kabul evacuation
Earlier, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken admitted the pace of the Taliban takeover had taken the Biden administration by surprise.
But, he claimed, the US had fulfilled its role in the country.
READ MORE on the official US response:
US responds to criticism of Afghanistan withdrawal
euronewsCritics of Joe Biden say his decision to withdraw has undone two decades of work in the country and jeopardised the safety of the Afghan people.US officials say 7 killed in Kabul airport evacuation chaos
UN Secretary General calls on international community to unite
An Afghan military plane crashes in Uzbekistan (AFP)
An Afghan military plane crashed on Sunday night in Uzbekistan, a former Soviet republic in central Asia which shares a border with Afghanistan, a defence ministry spokesperson told AFP on Monday.
"The military plane illegally crossed the border of Uzbekistan. An investigation is underway" on the Afghan plane crash, Bakhrom Zoulfikarov said, confirming reports on Uzbek media which spoke of a crash in the southern border zone with Afghanistan.
UK soldiers' families shocked by Taliban blitz
Families of British soldiers who died in Afghanistan have expressed dismay at the sudden fall of the country to the Taliban.
Graham Knight, the father of 25-year-old Ben Knight who was killed when his Nimrod aircraft exploded in Afghanistan in 2006, said the British government should have moved more quickly to get civilians out.
The 69-year-old said the Taliban made their intent “very clear that, as soon as we went out, they would move in.”
He said the evacuation process should have started about a week ago and voiced worry that “some hothead American, or British hothead, will decide that the Taliban isn’t behaving how they want, shoot at them and that will be it.”
Ian Sadler, whose 21-year-old son Jack died when his Land Rover struck a mine in Afghanistan in 2007, was surprised that the U.S. and its allies had so much confidence in the Afghan national army.
The 71-year-old said it was left “without any direction” after the sudden withdrawal of allied forces. (AP)
‘I cry with my heart’: Women journalists fear for future under Taliban
Female journalists and activists who have worked towards amplifying the voices of women in Afghanistan now fear for their lives as the Taliban took over Kabul on Sunday in a rapid power grab.
Many women journalists were in hiding after being told to return home as Kabul was taken by the armed group.
READ MORE:
‘I cry with my heart’: Women journalists fear for future under Taliban
euronews"We lost everything we achieved in these 20 years in a blink of an eye," a female journalist in Kabul told Euronews.European far-right says Taliban victory will spur terror attacks, illegal migration
Iran sees opportunity for 'stable peace'
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Monday said Tehran will support efforts to restore stability in Afghanistan, with which it shares nearly 1,000 km of borders.
Raisi described the US' rapid pullout of Afghanistan to the official IRNA news agency as a “military failure” that should “turn to an opportunity for restoring life, security and stable peace.”
Iran is home to about 800,000 registered Afghan refugees and more than two million undocumented Afghans. The influx began after Soviet forces entered Afghanistan in 1979.
Who is leading the Taliban?
France vows to help Afghan activists, journalists and artists
West calls for 'safe passage' out of Afghanistan
German media calls for Berlin to help Afghan journalists
No fly zone
-The Afghan president has fled the country and the Taliban posted pictures of some of their militants in the presidential palace;