In pictures: Triumphant Taliban march on Kabul airport after US troops leave Afghanistan
Taliban leaders have pledged to secure the country, quickly reopen the airport and grant amnesty to former opponents.
The Taliban triumphantly marched into Kabul's international airport on just before dawn on Tuesday, hours after the final US troop withdrawal that ended America's longest war.
Standing on the tarmac, Taliban leaders pledged to secure the country, quickly reopen the airport and grant amnesty to former opponents.
In a show of control, turbaned Taliban leaders were flanked by the group's elite Badri unit as they walked across the tarmac.
The commandos in camouflage uniforms proudly posed for photos.
"Afghanistan is finally free," Hekmatullah Wasiq, a top Taliban official, told The Associated Press on the tarmac.
"The military and civilian side (of the airport) are with us and in control. Hopefully, we will be announcing our cabinet. Everything is peaceful. Everything is safe."
Header image: Taliban Badri special force fighters arrive at the Kabul airport in Kabul on August 31. — AFP
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Comments (56) Closed
Aug 31, 2021 01:57pm
I believe August 31st is now Afghanistan's Independence Day. I hope the Afghan people can live in peace and prosperity.
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Aug 31, 2021 01:59pm
Can they fly the aircraft too? If not, these would be missiles for suicide missions, no?
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Aug 31, 2021 02:10pm
Undoubtedly, Talibans are victorious and deserve to celebrate after over twenty years occupation of Afghanistan. Their resilience, determination and bravery played a major part in freedom from foreign occupation. Let's hope long lasting peace and law and order is maintained for all citizens regardless of their religion or social status.
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Aug 31, 2021 02:12pm
Why World still calling them "Taliban"? This behaviour shows the World is not recognizing Afghans.
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Aug 31, 2021 02:16pm
Worst defeat than Vietnam for America.
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Aug 31, 2021 02:18pm
A well deserved independence
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Aug 31, 2021 02:23pm
Probably the most iconic moments of the 21st century.
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Aug 31, 2021 02:25pm
Independence day for Afghanistan after over twenty years occupation. Well done Talibans, yours resilience, determination and bravery has significantly contributed towards your victory - this is the ground reality.
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Aug 31, 2021 02:28pm
A grave and grim historic lesson for all attacking, invading, occupying, holding, abusing, bombing, killing, and annexing armed forces of the world including India and Israel to read the "writing on the wall" and immediately withdraw its illegal, immoral and unethical armies from the invaded, holding, occupying and annexed lands and territories that don't belong to them.
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Aug 31, 2021 02:28pm
Looks like they are trained. Who gave them training. Where the training takes place. I smell a rate. I am trying since the Taliban take over. What is the deal with American? Everyone is very silent.
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Aug 31, 2021 02:53pm
Hopefully lessons will be learned from history and there will be no more trillion dollar blunders!
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Aug 31, 2021 02:57pm
Let's hope we Pakistanis also get rid of corrupt politicians and people sitting on high chairs
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Aug 31, 2021 03:39pm
Afghan Air Force? One can clearly mention that its a USAF C-130.
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Aug 31, 2021 03:45pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, What about china
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Aug 31, 2021 04:19pm
After this humiliation and it is a humiliation...... the American's need to rethink their strategy for next time......and there WILL BE a next time.
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Aug 31, 2021 04:46pm
@Fastrack, most iconic moment? Yeah , in your narrow world.
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Aug 31, 2021 04:50pm
@John, Hopefully lessons will be learned from history and there will be no more trillion dollar blunders!
Then how will the American arms industrial complex make zillions of dollors?
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Aug 31, 2021 04:54pm
Worst or better you are popular now Taliban.
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Aug 31, 2021 04:56pm
Some of the Taliban are wearing Sindhi Topi. It looks like they like the
Sindhi Culture.
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Aug 31, 2021 04:58pm
Looks like this is the first time they have been inside the airplane.
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Aug 31, 2021 05:16pm
Two words: Durand Line, let the games begin lol
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Aug 31, 2021 05:17pm
@Erum Aziz, Taliban' is plural of 'Talib' means student in phustu.
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Aug 31, 2021 05:20pm
@Erum Aziz, the Taliban got independence, not all Afghanis.
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Aug 31, 2021 05:37pm
@Yasin, interesting, so when do they finish studying whatever they are studying?
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Aug 31, 2021 05:49pm
It is easy to celebrate the victory of any armed group while living in cozy houses of our country. Ask people on the ground that what is like to live in a country with no economy, no jobs and no future for the current generation that is currently living there. I am pretty sure no one will dare to leave their DHA homes to swap some land in Kabul right now.
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Aug 31, 2021 06:40pm
Next thing you will see are American soldiers in shalwar kameez and Ak 47.
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Aug 31, 2021 06:47pm
To terrorize, threaten, and destroy is the easy part. Now to build a nation and get all its people to prosper without fear. The world is watching hoping the nation-graveyard will not cannibalize itself.
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Aug 31, 2021 06:50pm
@Erum Aziz, When you want to demonize someone you label them, and then you demonize the label. Now you can separate Afghans (good guys) from Talibaan (bad guys). When reporting it would be confusing to say the Afghan fought the invading forces and liberated their homeland...ok from whom? brings up a lot of questions.
Don't the Taliban have wives, daughters, sisters and mothers too? Are they Taliban or Afghan?
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Aug 31, 2021 06:59pm
We need to see such scenes in Islamabad, Delhi and Dhaka
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Aug 31, 2021 07:01pm
Taliban should call themselves Afghanis and assure ALL that the new govt. will be inclusive and tolerant of other religions and open up for education, freedom of women and law and order to earn int'l recognition. Get help in establishing the govt. Abdullah and Karzai can help. Rid ISIS from Afghan soil.
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Aug 31, 2021 07:03pm
@Sunny California, Mind your California business
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Aug 31, 2021 07:30pm
March of penguins to their end
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Aug 31, 2021 07:34pm
@Planettrekker, “ To terrorize, threaten, and destroy is the easy part.”
It’s not easy to fight and kick out the world’s most powerful military.
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Aug 31, 2021 07:37pm
What's the rationale of two decades of blood, iron, sweat and trillion dollars literally in trash?
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Aug 31, 2021 07:48pm
So the Taliban is now in charge. Good for them. But, now come the hard part of delivering a better life for the average Afghan. That is going to take some effort as good governance can’t be the outcome of violence and rule with the gun. Good luck to them.
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Aug 31, 2021 08:11pm
Wondered against whom Taliban is going to use these new toys.
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Aug 31, 2021 08:23pm
These imagines are very disturbing. Do they even know US disabled all aircrafts and other weaponry machines before leaving?
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Aug 31, 2021 08:25pm
Grave Yard of super powers.
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Aug 31, 2021 08:31pm
Nice photo op - now please resume airport operations as you promised. There are foreigners and Afghans who still want to leave Afghanistan.
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Aug 31, 2021 08:43pm
Now they have to show the world that they are not the Taliban of 2000; otherwise, history will repeat itself.
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Aug 31, 2021 09:01pm
Free uniforms to weapons to Jets all donated by the American tax payers
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Aug 31, 2021 09:12pm
Looking like a regular military force now rather than rag tag warriors
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Aug 31, 2021 09:28pm
Best wishes to Afghan Taliban and Afghan people , hope it ushers the nation in more prosperity and progress .
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Aug 31, 2021 09:34pm
Taliban look like American soldiers, they fought so hard against them and now they want to look like them?really
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Aug 31, 2021 09:57pm
@Erum Aziz, do Taliban represent all of afghans?
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Aug 31, 2021 10:29pm
Taliban is a terror outfit. The World including Pakistan should not recognize them unless they change their behavior and become civilized. Their past savagery, murder and killing is known to all. The Taliban must realize that they have to change and moderate their outlook in order to gain recognition.
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Aug 31, 2021 11:55pm
@Gary, when they can't fly it, how would they use it as suicide missiles?!
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Sep 01, 2021 12:37am
@Sunny California, this is not 1961 but 2021.
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Sep 01, 2021 01:02am
I wouldn't be surprised if India was actually training Taliban soldiers posing as Afghan national army.
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Sep 01, 2021 01:03am
@Sunny California, - Three words. In your dreams.
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Sep 01, 2021 01:09am
Driving American humvees in Kabul is enough to make Taliban go bankrupt
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Sep 01, 2021 02:09am
@MONIER, uniforms left over by afghan forces, these are not talibans military out fits.
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Sep 01, 2021 04:38am
They will continue terrorizing the population like they did earlier. Beating women, whipping men is what they are best at. Nothing more can be expected from the Taliban. Tough times for Pakistan as the Taliban want to replicate their success in Pakistan too.
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Sep 01, 2021 05:22am
@Gary,Keep “Nightmaring”!
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Sep 01, 2021 05:23am
Resurrection
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Sep 01, 2021 05:42am
Historic photos!
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