Afghan minister: Kabul handover to be peaceful, Taliban declares 'war is over'

[enhanced_deficit]

Did not see any reports of shots fired so far. If this is confirmed, this could be shaping up to be the most peaceful change of power in Kabul in entire Afghan history. Things can change in a minute but pretty remarkable developments so far in terms of lack of fighting.
First report from Chinese outlet, pending confirmation from US MSM. If things hold this pattern, Prez Trump and Biden would both get credit for ending the longest war in US history at a peaceful note. (Aug 02, 2021 China meet following Belt n Road bus terror attack may have also played an instrumental role in super fast transformation of Afghanistan and fleeing of Aghan Prez Ghani).
Early news also suggest China, US and other powers likely would accept new government including Taliban after an initial interim arrangement barring any False Swan surprises:


15-Aug-2021
Afghan interior minister: Kabul handover to be peaceful

"It is agreed that power will be transferred in a peaceful manner to a transitional administration," Afghan acting Interior Minister Abdul Sattar Mirzakwal said in a televised message broadcast on local media on Sunday. He added that the situation is under control and all prisoners were released and transported to a safe place.
news.cgtn.com/news/2021-08-15/Afghan-interior-minister-Kabul-handover-to-be-peaceful-12KE8ETH23C/index.html

Peaceful takeover of Kabul, assurance to citizens: What Taliban said as they prepared to come back to power after 20 yrs

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the group is in talks with the Afghan government "for a peaceful surrender" of Kabul, after insurgents entered the capital's outskirts.
AUG 15, 2021
hindustantimes.com/world-news/from-peaceful-takeover-of-kabul-to-assurance-to-citizens-what-taliban-said-as-they-prepared-to-come-back-to-power-after-20-years-101629018390851-amp.html


August 15, 2021 9:00 PM EDT Last Updated 8 minutes ago

Taliban declares 'war is over' as president and diplomats flee Kabul

Reuters

• Summary

• Taliban says form of new regime to be announced soon
• Ghani says he left country to avoid bloodshed
• Scenes of chaos as diplomats, Afghans flee to airport
• U.S. scrambles to evacuate citizens
• Islamist group seeks to project more moderate image

KABUL, Aug 16 (Reuters) - The Taliban declared the war in Afghanistan was over after insurgents took control of the presidential palace in Kabul as U.S.-led forces departed and Western nations scrambled on Monday to evacuate their citizens.
President Ashraf Ghani fled the country on Sunday as the Islamist militants entered the city, saying he wanted to avoid bloodshed, while hundreds of Afghans desperate to leave flooded Kabul airport.
"Today is a great day for the Afghan people and the mujahideen. They have witnessed the fruits of their efforts and their sacrifices for 20 years," Mohammad Naeem, the spokesman for the Taliban's political office, told Al Jazeera TV.
"Thanks to God, the war is over in the country."
Naeem said the type and form of the new regime in Afghanistan would be made clear soon, adding the Taliban did not want to live in isolation and calling for peaceful international relations.
"We have reached what we were seeking, which is the freedom of our country and the independence of our people," he said. "We will not allow anyone to use our lands to target anyone, and we do not want to harm others."

reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/talibans-rapid-advance-across-afghanistan-2021-08-10/

 

[enhanced_deficit]

It appears US media dropped the ball big time in coverage of this chapter of US exit from Afghanistan.

Afghanistan: Former president Hamid Karzai forms coordination committee for peaceful transition to Taliban regime after president Ghani fled Kabul

Apart from Hamid Karzai, High Council for National Reconciliation chairman Abdullah Abdullah and Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin party chief Gulbuddin Hekmatyar are members of the coordination committee

15 August, 2021
OpIndia Staff

Abdullah Abdullah, Hamid Karzai, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar

Former Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai has announced that a committee has been formed for a smooth transition of power to the Taliban as the current administration fled the country. Abdullah Abdullah, the chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation, former mujahideen leader and chief of Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin party Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, and former president Hamid Karzai are members of this committee.

Karzai tweeted to inform that after president Ashraf Ghani and other senior officials of the Afghan government fled the country, there is the possibility of chaos and suffering among the citizens. Therefore, in order to prevent such chaos and to ensure a peaceful transfer of power, the Coordinating Council has been formed.
— Hamid Karzai (@KarzaiH) August 15, 2021

The Council further asked the Afghan govt security forces and the security forces of the Taliban to prevent any chaos and to maintain law and order while exercising restraint. He also provided some phone numbers people can call in case of facing any difficulties.
Earlier, Hamid Karzai had issued a video message asking the govt forces and Taliban to protect the people. Appearing in the video with his three daughters, he said that he is in Kabul with his girls and asked the people to stay in their homes & remain calm.

pic.twitter.com/HBuIzODnPh
— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) August 15, 2021
​

Karzai had added that he and other political leaders will continue their efforts to solve the issues peacefully.

Abdullah Abdullah also asked the people to keep calm, and asked the Afghan forces to cooperate in ensuring security. He had also asked the Taliban to allow some time for talks before entering Kabul. Abdullah referred Ashraf Ghani as ‘former president’, saying that he has fled the country.

Proving the US analysis wrong that Taliban will take at least 90 days to capture Kabul, the group reached the city today itself, after capturing most of the provincial capitals in most bloodless operations. The Afghan forces surrendered to them without fight, and either fled or joined them. After the group surrounded Kabul today, President Ghani, vice President Amrullah Saleh and other senior ministers and officials fled the country this evening. Following their departure, the Taliban ordered its fighters to enter the city to ‘prevent looting’, as the police and security forces in the city also have fled.

opindia.com/2021/08/hamid-karzai-forms-committee-for-peaceful-transition-to-taliban-regime/

 

[phill4paul]

It's totally awesome! A low yield nuke on Tora Bora and the start of this would have sent a message without blood and treasure.

 

[enhanced_deficit]

It's totally awesome! A low yield nuke on Tora Bora and the start of this would have sent a message without blood and treasure.

Not only that is incorrect and non-feasible for so many reasons, the comment also reflects pre Woke-Foreign-Policy mindset.

 

[phill4paul]

Not only that is incorrect and non-feasible for so many reasons, the comment also reflects pre Woke-Foreign-Policy mindset.

Why was it not feasible?

 

[enhanced_deficit]

Won't be too surprized if these photos superimposed side by side ended up being Time Mag's Photo Of The Year, all linked directly or indirectly to Trump's disruptive Presidency. 2021, a disruptive year.


Afghan minister: Kabul handover to be peaceful
Reuters
Aug 15, 2021


Presidential Palace Stormed, Kabul
Aug 15, 2021

Trump now promises an 'orderly transition' of power
CNBC
Jan 7, 2021

US Capitol Building Stormed, DC
Jan 6, 2021

"On Jan. 6, rioters coming from a pro-Trump rally broke into the U.S. Capitol, resulting in deaths, injuries, arrests and vandalism."



Interestingly, DC Capitol building photos seem to show greater agitation than photos at Kabul Capitol building (so far).
So far no reports of facebook suspending accounts of any Palace stormers.


"The ransacked office"
Facebook to suspend President Trump's account 'until the peaceful transition of power is complete'

 

[enhanced_deficit]

This was an overly simplistic photos comparison based on incomplete reporting, no one should read into such superficial comparison as an example of "an armed society is a polite society" argument. Granted (dangerously) unlimited 2nd amendment rights there, civilized societies don't have so many arms or boundless rights to bear arms.

 

[pcosmar]

Why was it not feasible?

Radiation destruction of all Oil and Mineral assets in a wide area.

Counterproductive Profitwise.

just as a point

Their innocence in the attack on the US aside.