All eyes on G7 meet as Taliban warn towards extension of August 31 deadline | Top 10 Developments

As nations scramble to evacuate their residents and native companions from Kabul, a firefight exterior the Hamid Karzai International Airport left an Afghan soldier lifeless and three others injured on Monday. The state of affairs in Afghanistan stays tense every week after Taliban marched on Kabul, forcing President Ashraf Ghani to flee the nation.

Fighting continues in components of the nation the place native militias and personnel of the disbanded Afghan defence forces have joined fingers to problem Taliban’s authority. A spokesperson of the rebel group stated Taliban fighters have surrounded Panjshir province the place almost 9,000 resistance fighters led by Ahmed Massoud have gathered to battle the Taliban.With the G7 leaders’ assembly slated for Tuesday, the UK, France and Germany have hinted that they might ask US President Joe Biden to maintain American boots on the bottom past the August 31 deadline. Asked about the potential for such an extension, a Taliban spokesperson stated the August 31 deadline is a “red-line” and non-adherence to it may result in “consequences”.The Taliban have reportedly stated that there might be no formation of a brand new authorities in Afghanistan till the final American soldier leaves the nation.Back in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to German Chancellor Angela Merkel on quite a lot of points, together with current developments in Afghanistan.External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar stated PM Modi has directed the MEA to temporary ground leaders of all political events on the state of affairs in Afghanistan. The central authorities has additionally referred to as an all-party assembly at 11 am on August 26 to debate the difficulty.Resistance mounts as Taliban attempt to legitimize authority | Top 10 Developments1. Over 70 Indians, together with a gaggle of Afghan Sikhs and Hindus, have been evacuated from Kabul to Dushanbe in an IAF plane on Monday. Another 146 Indian nationals returned to Delhi days after they have been flown from Afghanistan to Qatar by NATO plane. Two of those people have been discovered constructive for Covid-19. The whole variety of Indians evacuated from Afghanistan since August 16 stands at 730 as of Monday.2. In a press release, the White House stated it has evacuated over 35,300 individuals from Kabul because the finish of July. The Pentagon has now roped in 19 civilian plane from United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air to hold US residents and Afghan companions to short-term areas exterior Afghanistan.3. US President Joe Biden defended his determination to withdraw troops in an tackle on Sunday. “There is no way to evacuate this many people without pain and loss and the heartbreaking images you see, it’s just a fact,” Biden stated. He additionally stated that US intelligence businesses are monitoring threats from terror outfits, together with ISIS and the Afghan affiliate often called ISIS-Okay, in Afghanistan.4. Taliban managed to recapture three districts in Baghlan province – Banu, Deh Salah and Pol e-Hesar – that have been seized by the Public’s Resistance Forces led by Khair Muhammad Andarabi final week. At the identical time, a Taliban district commander and three fighters have been gunned down by resistance forces in Andarab on Monday. Another 50 Taliban fighters have been killed and 20 taken hostage within the Fajr area.5. Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid stated the group has arrange bases in Badakhshan, Takhar and Andarab close to Panjshir. Stating that the Taliban are attempting to resolve the matter “peacefully”, Mujahid additionally stated that the Salang Highway is now open and resistance forces are “besieged” inside Panjshir.6. A video of the primary vp within the Ghani administration, Amrullah Saleh, taking part in volleyball with resistance fighters within the Panjshir valley goes viral on social media. Talibs have amassed forces close to the doorway of Panjshir, tweeted Saleh, who claims he’s the authentic caretaker president of Afghanistan in Ghani’s absence.7. In a bid to legitimise their authority, the Taliban have appointed Haji Mohammad Idris as performing director basic of the Bank of Afghanistan. Originally from Jowzjan, Idris was beforehand the pinnacle of Taliban’s financial fee. Meanwhile, a big gathering was held on the Loya Jirga corridor in Kabul for Taliban’s Da’wah Recruitment on Monday.8. On the day that Iran determined to renew export of gasoline to Afghanistan on the request of the Taliban, the World Health Organisation (WHO) stated greater than 500 tonnes of medical provides – together with surgical gear and extreme malnutrition kits – meant for Afghans are caught at Kabul airport.9. Addressing the Hindu Political Action Committee, US Congressman Steve Chabot, who can also be the Co-Chair of the India Caucus, stated that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) performed a “key role” in fostering Taliban and enabling them to grab energy. “It’s just disgusting to watch Pakistani officials celebrate the victory of this group that will bring untold brutality to the Afghan people,” Chabot stated.10. On Monday, members of the Afghan neighborhood in India sat in protest exterior the workplace of the UN Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) in New Delhi, demanding refugee standing and resettlement choices. A outstanding voice of the Afghan neighborhood in India, Ahmad Zhia Ghani, stated: “There are more than 21,000 Afghan refugees in India. There is no reason to return to Afghanistan now.”