The Taliban has surrounded Panjshir, the only remaining province resisting its rule, a senior leader said Wednesday, as he called on the rebels to negotiate a peaceful settlement with them, reported Reuters. Panjshir has been the only province to hold out against Taliban since the fall of Kabul on August 15.
Meanwhile, with Kabul airport remaining inoperable, the Afghans fearful of Taliban reprisals are trying to escape through the country's land borders. An AFP report quotes a source as saying that a Qatari aircraft carrying a technical team has landed in Kabul to discuss resumption of airport operations.
US President Joe Biden on Tuesday defended his decision to pull troops out of Afghanistan, saying it was in the US national interest, reported AFP.
India, meanwhile, admitted for the first time on Tuesday to having held diplomatic talks with the Taliban. An Indian envoy met a key leader of the terrorist group in Doha, Qatar's capital.
