According to Afghan Interior Minister Abdul Sattar Mirzakwal, the capital Kabul will not be attacked. “Citizens should not worry, the city is safe, anyone who causes unrest in the city will be dealt with by law,” he said.
“The security of the city is guaranteed, there will be no attack on the city and it has been agreed that the transfer of power will take place peacefully.”
Earlier, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told the BBC he could confirm talks were under way with the presidential palace on a peaceful seizure of power. The head of the Supreme Council for National Reconciliation, Abdullah Abdullah, is organizing them.
“Taliban fighters are waiting at all entrances to Kabul until an agreement is reached on a peaceful and satisfactory transfer of power,” said Zabihullah Mujahid.
For his part, Defense Minister Bismillah Khan Mohammadi also said in a video message posted on Facebook that he, as a representative of the armed forces, guarantees the security of Kabul. He added that it had become known that President Ashraf Ghani had met with politicians and instructed them to set up a delegation that would travel to Doha on Monday to reach an agreement with the Taliban.
“I assure you all that the security of Kabul will be maintained until an agreement is reached,” Mohammadi said. According to Al Arabiya television, a Taliban delegation arrived at the presidential palace in Kabul for talks with the government.
According to Al Arabiya, the office of President Ashraf Ghani said today that the situation in Kabul was under control and that the Taliban had not taken control of the Afghan capital.
There are no reports of fighting inside the city, according to Reuters.
However, unrest is rampant in Kabul as many people have struggled to make ends meet, buy food and return to their families. Many streets are in chaos as citizens either try to return home or go to the airport, residents say. “Some people left their car keys and started walking towards the airport,” a resident told Reuters by telephone. Another said: “People are returning to their homes for fear of fighting.”
President Ghani is urging security forces to ensure public order in Kabul
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani today called on security forces to ensure “the safety of all citizens” by ensuring public order in Kabul as the Taliban come close to seizing power in Afghanistan.
“I have instructed the security forces (…) to guarantee the safety of all our fellow citizens. It is our responsibility and we will do it in the best possible way. “Anyone who thinks of causing chaos or looting will be dealt with violently,” the Afghan head of state said in a videotaped message to the press.
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