Taliban fighters on Sunday have infiltrated the outskirts of Kabul, after workers in fear left the government offices and helicopters were seen landing in the US embassy in the capital of Afghanistan. This further tightens the militant organisation's control in the war-torn country.
Three officials have confirmed that the Taliban terrorists have occupied the districts of Kabul - Kalakan, Qarabagh, and Paghman.
The invaders later vowed not to take the capital forcibly as inconsistent gunfire could be heard in the capital.
"Nobody's life, property and pride will be hurt and the existence of the residents of Kabul won't be in danger," the Taliban said.
A Taliban representative said the aggressors were “awaiting a peaceful transfer of Kabul city.”
Suhail Shaheen offered the remark to Qatar's Al-Jazeera English satellite news station. He declined to offer particulars on any potential arrangements between his powers and the public authority.
Earlier, the fighters had already taken control over Jalalabad, near a key border traverse with Pakistan, the last major city other than Kabul not to be under their capture.
A massive revolt that shook the nation in just over a week, the Taliban has defeated, captured most of the Afghan regions and made the Afghan security forces flee from the country, despite a little support from the US military.
A few hours later when the diplomatic shielded SUVs were seen vacating the area around the post, several active shuttle-run flights could be seen near the embassy. No response was sent from the US State Department relating to the movements.
However, as per two US military officials, clusters of smoke were visible near the embassy’s roof as the diplomats were told to urgently destroy sensitive documents.
The Czech Republic has also suggested withdrawing their Afghan staff from their embassy after removing their diplomats to Kabul International Airport.
On Saturday, President Ashraf Ghani addressed the country for the first time since the offensive began. He appeared to look isolated, yet had sworn to not admit defeat to the achievements of the 20 years since the American troops' invasion had overturned the Taliban after the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre.
Ghani has also been deserted by the warlords with whom he had negotiated just days earlier. They seem to have given in to the Taliban or fled leaving the president with no military options. Even the undergoing meetings in Qatar, which is the location of a Taliban office, has also failed to put a stoppage to the insurgents taking over the country.
Frightened about the future, civilians in huge numbers are now living in parks and open spaces in Kabul itself.
On Sunday, Kabul seemed calm, meanwhile, some ATMs had stopped distributing cash after hundreds hurled in front of private banks to draw out the life savings they have.
Meanwhile, on early Sunday, the Taliban militants had posted photos of them online in the governor’s office in Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar province.
Abrarullah Murad, a lawmaker from the territory stated that the rebels have captured Jalalabad after elders consulted the fall of the government there. He also said that there was no fight as the city had yielded.
Maidan Shar, the capital city of Maidan Wardak was also taken under the control of the militants on Sunday, is some 90 kilometres from Kabul, said Afghan lawmaker Hamida Akbari and the Taliban.
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Later on Sunday, another provincial capital in Khost fell under the grip of the Taliban, said a provincial council member who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of counterattacks.
The downfall of Mazar-e-Sharif on Saturday was the fourth largest city, which the Afghan forces and two influential former warlords had sworn to defend, handing the militants the clout of northern Afghanistan.