Share:The UN Security Council on Monday called on Afghanistan's warring parties to immediately end violence and turn to negotiations to fill the power vacuum after the Taliban overran the war-torn country. They further "underlined 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." The Taliban have rapidly taken Afghanistan in a lightning offensive that blindsided Western powers as government forces melted away. The capital Kabul fell to the group on Sunday after the Afghan government collapsed and former President Ashraf Ghani left the country. Following his departure, former President Hamid Karzai, veteran politician Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, and top peace negotiator Abdullah Abdullah have been working to ensure a smooth transfer of power.

Source: The Nation August 16, 2021 18:22 UTC