Taliban declares end to war, says ready for dialogue

A spokesman for the Taliban's political office, Mohammad Naeem, speaking to Al-Jazeera, declared that the war in Afghanistan is over.

Naeem argued that the Taliban " put an end to this war that erupted in our country 20 years ago", Sputnik reported.

"We are ready to have a dialogue with all Afghan figures and will guarantee them the necessary protection", Naeem told the channel, adding "We do not think that foreign forces will repeat their failed experience in Afghanistan once again."

The spokesman also underlined that the Taliban will not "allow anyone to use our lands to target anyone" and said that the group does "not want to harm others".

Disorder at Kabul Airport

There were scenes of panic and desperation at Kabul’s airport on Monday morning. Video footage showed people trying to climb the outside of passenger stairs and running across the Tarmac as they tied to get on board flights out of the country. The US military fired shots into the air to deter them, telling Reuters that the flights were “only meant to ferry diplomats, foreign staff, and local embassy staff”.