The Taliban have rejected the potential extension of a looming deadline for US and other foreign troops to completely withdraw from Afghanistan.

"A special relationship" — a term coined after the Second World War by the then-British Prime Minister Winston Churchill to describe his country’s close bilateral ties with former colony the US, from economic to cultural, to the military. Decades later, that supposed strong bond seems to exist in all but name.

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan on the sidelines of the Army-2021 forum. The monarch arrived in Russia not only to inspect new models of technology, but also to discuss the situation in Syria and Afghanistan.

Nikki Haley has said that the US administration has surrendered Bagram Air Force Base, and $85 billion worth of equipment and weapons to the Taliban.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says he has exchanged views with his Japanese counterpart, Toshimitsu Motegi, on a range of issues, including “the catastrophic US-engineered situation in Afghanistan.”

A Taliban official vows accountability for the conduct of its members across Afghanistan, insisting that the militant group will probe reports of any reprisals or atrocities by its forces.

The United States invaded Afghanistan in 2001. It claimed the invasion was aimed at fighting terrorism and eradicating Taliban from Afghanistan.

Afghan Shias commemorate the holy day Ashura under the watchful eyes of Taliban gunmen.

The Taliban militant group says Afghans who used to work with foreign forces as interpreters have nothing to fear after the troop withdrawals if they "show remorse.”

Washington has called on Americans to leave Afghanistan “as soon as possible” as the country faces a sharp increase in coronavirus cases and deaths.