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What We Know: Taliban Takeover of Afghanistan

VOA News

   WASHINGTON - Here are the latest developments following the Taliban's
   takeover of Afghanistanas ofAugust 23.

   *U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, while in Singapore,saidthe U.S.
   government is "singularly focused on evacuating American citizens,
   Afghans who worked with us, and Afghans who are vulnerable, including
   women and children."

   *Germany's military reported a firefight broke out at the north gate of
   Kabul's airport, leaving one Afghan security officer dead and three
   others wounded.

   *U.S. President Joe Biden said those evacuated from Kabul who are not
   U.S. citizens or permanent residents are being taken to U.S. military
   bases and transit centers in other countries for security screening
   before being welcomed in the United States.

   *White House said Sunday the United States had evacuated
   orfacilitatedthe evacuation of 30,300 people since August 14.

   *The Pentagon activated the use of 18 civilian U.S. passenger jets from
   six airlines to help ferry Americans and Afghans from safe havens where
   they were staying after leaving Kabul.

   *The Taliban blamed the U.S. for the chaos around Kabul's airport,
   where people have been trying to leave following the insurgent group's
   takeover of the country.

   *The British Ministry of Defense has confirmed the deaths of seven
   Afghans near the airport on Saturday.

   *Taliban leaders are still conducting internal talks and meeting with
   former rivals on forming what they have promised will be an "inclusive
   Islamic government."

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