Pentagon authorises more troops for Kabul as US embassy says airport security not stable - CNA

Washington invested billions of dollars over four US administrations in Afghan government forces, giving them advantages over the Taliban, but they were unable to defend the country in the face of the militants' advance, Blinken told CNN.

The United States' original mission in Afghanistan, launched to oust al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden after the Sep 11, 2001, attacks, had been fulfilled, Blinken said, saying Washington had prevented further attacks by militants harboured by the Taliban.

But Biden has faced rising domestic criticism after sticking to the plan to withdraw, which was agreed under his Republican predecessor Donald Trump. On Saturday, Biden defended his decision, saying an "endless American presence in the middle of another country's civil conflict was not acceptable to me".

Republican lawmaker Michael McCaul said a Taliban takeover would revive the threat to the United States.

"We are going to go back to a pre-9/11 state. A breeding ground for terrorism," he told CNN on Sunday.

Biden met with his national security team on Sunday by secure videoconference from the presidential retreat at Camp David to hear updates on evacuations and the security situation, a White House official said.

US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat like Biden, said at a news conference that the safety of US personnel and of Afghans who supported the Americans should be Washington's top concern.

"Job number one is for us to bring back, first, all American personnel ... But second, all of the brave Afghans who helped our military, they have to be provided an exit to come to America," Schumer said. 

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2021-08-15 14:17:40Z
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Germany closes Kabul embassy and rushes evacuation of citizens, local helpers - CNA

Maas convened the government's crisis team to launch emergency measures to secure the departure of German staff and other people at risk, according to a diplomatic source.

A defence ministry spokesman did not confirm a report by tabloid Bild that two military planes were ordered to leave for Kabul later on Sunday.

Originally, several military evacuation flights were expected to depart on Monday, with the planes continuing to shuttle between Kabul and possibly the Uzbek capital Tashkent to fly out Germans and Afghans eligible for relocation to Germany.

Less than 100 Germans remain in Afghanistan beyond the government officials still working there, the foreign ministry in Berlin said on Friday.

It was still unclear on Sunday how many local helpers would be flown out.

A government source spoke of at least 1,000 former Afghan employees, including close family members, but added that this was only a rough estimate.

A support network founded by German troops put the number of those eligible for relocation under government rules at 2,000 people.

But the group, which goes by the name Patenschaftsnetzwerk Afghanische Ortskraefte (Sponsorship Network for Afghan Helpers), argues that another 4,000 Afghans should also be flown out, although they do not fulfil official requirements, as they were working as subcontractors, for example.

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2021-08-15 14:16:32Z
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Taliban enter Afghan capital as US diplomats evacuate by chopper - CNA

KABUL: Taliban insurgents entered Afghanistan's capital Kabul on Sunday (Aug 15), an interior ministry official said, as the United States evacuated diplomats from its embassy by helicopter.

The senior official told Reuters the Taliban were coming in "from all sides" but gave no further details.

There were no reports of fighting. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement that the group was in talks with the government for a peaceful surrender of Kabul.

The entry into the capital caps a lightning advance by the Islamist militants, who were ousted 20 years ago by the United States after the Sep 11 attacks. The collapse of the Afghan government defence has stunned diplomats - just last week, a US intelligence estimate said Kabul could hold out for at least three months.

"Taliban fighters are to be on standby on all entrances of Kabul until a peaceful and satisfactory transfer of power is agreed," the statement said.

A tweet from the Afghan Presidential palace account said firing had been heard at a number of points around Kabul but that security forces, in coordination with international partners, had control of the city.

There was no immediate word on the situation from President Ashraf Ghani. A palace official said he was in emergency talks with US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and top NATO officials.

Many of Kabul's streets were choked by cars and people either trying to rush home or reach the airport, residents said.

"Some people have left their keys in the car and have started walking to the airport," one resident told Reuters by phone. Another said: "People are all going home in fear of fighting."

US officials said diplomats were being ferried by helicopter to the airport from its embassy in the fortified Wazir Akbar Khan district. More American troops were being sent to help in the evacuations after the Taliban's lightning advances brought the Islamist group to Kabul in a matter of days.

"Core" US team members were working from the Kabul airport, a US official said, while a NATO official said several EU staff had moved to a safer, undisclosed location in the capital.

A Taliban official told Reuters the group did not want any casualties as it took charge but had not declared a ceasefire.

Earlier on Sunday, the insurgents captured the eastern city of Jalalabad without a fight, giving them control of one of the main highways into landlocked Afghanistan. They also took over the nearby Torkham border post with Pakistan, leaving Kabul airport the only way out of Afghanistan that is still in government hands.

The capture of Jalalabad followed the Taliban's seizure of the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif late on Saturday, also with little fighting.

"There are no clashes taking place right now in Jalalabad because the governor has surrendered to the Taliban," a Jalalabad-based Afghan official told Reuters. "Allowing passage to the Taliban was the only way to save civilian lives."

A video clip distributed by the Taliban showed people cheering and shouting "Allahu Akbar" - God is greatest - as a convoy of pick-up trucks entered the city with fighters brandishing machine guns and the white Taliban flag.

After US-led forces withdrew the bulk of the their remaining troops in the last month, the Taliban campaign accelerated as the Afghan military's defences appeared to collapse.

President Joe Biden on Saturday authorised the deployment of 5,000 US troops to help evacuate citizens and ensure an "orderly and safe" drawdown of military personnel. A US defence official said that included 1,000 newly approved troops from the 82nd Airborne Division.

Taliban fighters entered Mazar-i-Sharif virtually unopposed as security forces escaped up the highway to Uzbekistan, about 80km to the north, provincial officials said. Unverified video on social media showed Afghan army vehicles and men in uniforms crowding the iron bridge between the Afghan town of Hairatan and Uzbekistan.

Two influential militia leaders supporting the government - Atta Mohammad Noor and Abdul Rashid Dostum - also fled. Noor said on social media that the Taliban had been handed control of Balkh province, where Mazar-i-Sharif is located, due to a "conspiracy".

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2021-08-15 09:11:15Z
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PM Muhyiddin to offer resignation: What's next in Malaysia's political crisis? - The Straits Times

KUALA LUMPUR (REUTERS) - Malaysia's Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin will tender his resignation to the King, Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah, on Monday (Aug 16) but advise the ruler that his Perikatan Nasional pact remains the largest bloc in Parliament.

The resignation, if confirmed, could end months of political turmoil facing the country, which is already battling record high Covid-19 infections and an economic downturn from multiple lockdowns.

But it is not clear who would form the next government as no party has a clear majority in Parliament.

It would be up to the constitutional monarch, Sultan Abdullah, to decide what happens next.

Here are the possible scenarios:

Interim government

The King can appoint an interim premier from among lawmakers, including Mr Muhyiddin himself, until a permanent successor is found.

Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy and the King has the power to appoint as prime minister a lawmaker whom he believes can command a majority.

Elections

Mr Muhyiddin can advise the King to dissolve Parliament and call for early polls.

But elections are unlikely in the short term as Malaysia has seen a record number of Covid-19 infections and deaths in recent days.

A general election is not due until 2023.

King picks new premier

When former premier Mahathir Mohamad resigned just two years into his five-year term last year, the King - in an unprecedented move - met with all 222 lawmakers to see who had the majority to form the government.

He picked Mr Muhyiddin who had the backing of political parties that were then in the opposition.

The King could do the same now.

---

Below are the top candidates for premiership or as interim prime minister:

Ismail Sabri Yaakob, deputy prime minister

Mr Ismail Sabri Yaakob could get support from the majority of Mr Muhyiddin's coalition. PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

One of the key ministers handling the Covid-19 crisis, Mr Ismail Sabri was appointed as deputy premier last month in a bid by Mr Muhyiddin to ease tensions with key ally, the United Malays National Organisation (Umno) party.

He could get support from the majority of Mr Muhyiddin's coalition, which has the backing of around 100 lawmakers. But it is unclear if he has the full support of Umno. He went against Umno's call to withdraw support for Mr Muhyiddin.

Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, veteran lawmaker

Mr Ku Li is seen as a compromise candidate between the various Umno factions. PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

Mr Ku Li, as he is popularly known, has been a lawmaker for 47 years, held various ministerial positions in his political career and was the founding chairman of state oil firm Petronas.

The 84-year-old politician from Umno is seen as a compromise candidate between the various factions in the party. Umno support is key to the formation of any new government.

Anwar Ibrahim, opposition leader

Mr Anwar Ibrahim has repeatedly made a play for the top job. PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

The 74-year-old has repeatedly made a play for the top job, but has so far failed to show he can command a majority.

Mr Anwar's Pakatan Harapan coalition has 88 lawmakers, well short of the simple majority needed to form a government.

His old foe Tun Dr Mahathir and some other opposition lawmakers do not support his premiership bid.

National operations council

Former premier Mahathir has proposed the formation of a bipartisan council that would govern the country until a new government can be formed.

The 96-year-old has offered to lead the council.

A similar council governed Malaysia for two years from May 1969 after deadly racial riots.

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2021-08-15 07:30:10Z
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Malaysia's PM Muhyiddin to resign after opposition rejects concession offer in return for support - The Straits Times

KUALA LUMPUR  - Malaysia’s Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin will tender his resignation to the King on Monday (Aug 16), said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Special Functions) Mohd Redzuan Yusof, as reported by news site Malaysiakini.

The premier made known his decision when he met lawmakers from his Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia at the headquarters of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) alliance in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday morning, said Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan.

“We just finished the meeting. Tomorrow, there will be a special Cabinet meeting. After that, he will head to Istana Negara to submit his resignation,” he told Malaysiakini.

Tan Sri Muhyiddin was scheduled to have an audience with the King on Monday afternoon, when the ruler was widely expected to pressure him to immediately hold a confidence vote in Parliament or step down. Mr Muhyiddin had initially hoped to test his majority only on Sept 7, the scheduled date for the confidence vote.

Malaysia’s ruling pact had resumed a series of meetings on Sunday in a last-ditch attempt to cling on to power, after Mr Muhyiddin’s offer of concessions to rival parties in return for their support was rejected outright.

After a full day of closed-door discussions on Saturday, PN lawmakers  holed up at the pact’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, seeking to salvage the situation after Mr Muhyiddin’s gambit on Friday failed to restore the pact’s parliamentary majority.

It is estimated that Mr Muhyiddin has the backing of 100 MPs, while there are 88 in opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Harapan, 15 in Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s camp and another 17 in various opposition parties largely loyal to former premier Mahathir Mohamad.

A simple majority of 111 lawmakers is required to govern, with two wards currently lying vacant in the 222-seat Parliament.

The Straits Times understands that those in Umno who have so far ignored Zahid’s directive to pull out of PN want to replace Mr Muhyiddin with a prime minister candidate from their own ranks. Mr Muhyiddin heads Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia. 

Should all of Umno’s 38 lawmakers rally behind their new candidate along with the other ruling parties, the PN majority would be restored with 115 MPs. 

While deputy premier Ismail Sabri Yaakob as Umno vice-president is the most senior party figure for the job, Malaysia’s longest-serving lawmaker Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah is seen as the most widely accepted compromise candidate.

Sources across the political divide have revealed that the Kelantan prince, popularly known as Ku Li, is favoured not just by MPs from various parties, but also among Malaysia’s royals.  

The King, Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah, plays a key role in resolving this latest political crisis as he is tasked constitutionally to appoint a prime minister who can command the confidence of Parliament.

Meanwhile, the pool of about 120 MPs currently outside of government have yet to coalesce behind a prime minister candidate.

While Datuk Seri Anwar has been endorsed for the top job by his 88-strong PH coalition, most lawmakers outside of PH are either opposed to his leadership, or bound by Umno’s resolution earlier this year not to team up with him or the Democratic Action Party, the largest component in PH.

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2021-08-15 02:40:03Z
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Afghan government seeks to hold capital as Taliban takes Jalalabad - CNA

KABUL: Taliban insurgents took control of the key eastern Afghanistan city of Jalalabad without a fight on Sunday (Aug 15), leaving the territory controlled by the crumbling government to little more than the capital Kabul.

The United States was sending more troops to the encircled capital to help evacuate its civilians after the Taliban's lightning advances brought the extremist group to the door of Kabul in a matter of days. Just last week, a US intelligence estimate said Kabul could hold out for at least three months.

The fall of Jalalabad has also given the Taliban control of a road leading to the Pakistan city of Peshawar, one of the main highways into landlocked Afghanistan.

It followed the Taliban's seizure of the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif late on Saturday, also with little fighting.

"There are no clashes taking place right now in Jalalabad because the governor has surrendered to the Taliban," a Jalalabad-based Afghan official told Reuters. "Allowing passage to the Taliban was the only way to save civilian lives."

A second security official in the city said the Taliban had agreed to give safe passage to government officials and security forces while they leave Jalalabad.

The decision to surrender was taken to avoid "casualties and destruction", the person added.

After US-led forces withdrew the bulk of the their remaining troops in the last month, the Taliban campaign has accelerated as the Afghan military's defences appeared to collapse.

US President Joe Biden on Saturday authorised the deployment of 5,000 troops to help evacuate citizens and ensure an "orderly and safe" drawdown of US military personnel. A US defence official said that included 1,000 newly approved troops from the 82nd Airborne Division.

Taliban fighters entered Mazar-i-Sharif on Saturday virtually unopposed as security forces escaped up the highway to neighbouring Uzbekistan, about 80km to the north, provincial officials said. Unverified video on social media showed Afghan army vehicles and men in uniforms crowding the iron bridge between the Afghan town of Hairatan and Uzbekistan.

Two influential militia leaders supporting the government - Atta Mohammad Noor and Abdul Rashid Dostum - also fled. Noor said on social media that the Taliban had been handed control of Balkh province, where Mazar-i-Sharif is located, due to a "conspiracy".

In a statement late on Saturday, the Taliban said its rapid gains showed it was popularly accepted by the Afghan people and reassured both Afghans and foreigners that they would be safe.

The Islamic Emirate (Taliban) "will, as always, protect their life, property and honour and create a peaceful and secure environment for its beloved nation," it said, adding that diplomats and aid workers would also face no problems.

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2021-08-15 03:49:42Z
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Afghan government seeks to hold last strongholds as Taliban extend capture of cities - CNA

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1. Afghan government seeks to hold last strongholds as Taliban extend capture of cities  CNA
2. Taleban capture major Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif, draw closer to Kabul  The Straits Times
3. Why China and Russia might find common security ground in Afghanistan  South China Morning Post
4. Taliban take Mazar-i-Sharif and approach Kabul, Biden sends more troops  Yahoo Singapore News
5. Afghan President appeals for help as Taleban nears Kabul  The Straits Times
6. View Full coverage on Google News

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2021-08-14 23:30:06Z
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