*US draws flak from opponents and allies for messy pullout
Thousands of civilians desperate to flee Afghanistan thronged Kabul airport on Monday after the Taliban seized the capital, prompting the United States to suspend evacuations as it came under mounting criticism at home and abroad over its pullout.
Crowds converged on the airport seeking to escape, including some clinging to a US military transport plane as it taxied on the runway.
US troops fired in the air to deter people trying to force their way on to a military flight evacuating US diplomats and embassy staff, a US official said.
Five people were reported killed in chaos at the airport. A witness said it was unclear if they had been shot or killed in a stampede.
A US official said two gunmen had been killed by US forces there.
The Taliban's rapid conquest of Kabul follows US President Joe Biden's decision to withdraw US forces after 20 years of war that cost billions of dollars.
The speed at which Afghan cities fell in just days and fear of a Taliban crackdown on freedom of speech and women's rights have sparked criticism.
Biden, who said Afghan forces had to fight back against the Islamist Taliban, was due to speak on Afghanistan late yesterday evening after returning from the presidential retreat at Camp David.
He is facing a barrage of criticism from opponents and allies, former government officials and even his own diplomats over his handling of the US exit, pulling out troops and then sending back thousands to help with the evacuation.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled on Sunday as the Islamist militants entered Kabul virtually unopposed, saying he wanted to avoid bloodshed.
The United States and other foreign powers have rushed to fly out diplomatic and other staff, but the US temporarily halted all evacuation flights to clear people from the airfield.
Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said US forces were working with Turkish and other international troops to clear Kabul airport to allow international evacuation flights to resume.
He said several hundred people had been flown out so far.
Suhail Shaheen, a spokesperson for the Taliban, said in a message on Twitter that its fighters were under strict orders not to harm anyone.
"Life, property and honour of no one shall be harmed but must be protected by the mujahideen," he said.
Mohammad Naeem, spokesman for the Taliban's political office, told Al Jazeera TV the form of Afghanistan's new government would be made clear soon.
Hekmatyar, Karzai to meet Taliban
Islamic Party leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar said he is heading to Doha today to meet with the Taliban delegation, accompanied by former Afghan President Hamid Karzai and head of the High Council for National Reconciliation, Abdullah Abdullah, the Al Jazeera news channel reported on Monday.
US troops fired in the air to deter people trying to force their way on to a military flight evacuating US diplomats and embassy staff, a US official said.
Five people were reported killed in chaos at the airport. A witness said it was unclear if they had been shot or killed in a stampede.
A US official said two gunmen had been killed by US forces there.
The Taliban's rapid conquest of Kabul follows US President Joe Biden's decision to withdraw US forces after 20 years of war that cost billions of dollars.
The speed at which Afghan cities fell in just days and fear of a Taliban crackdown on freedom of speech and women's rights have sparked criticism.
Biden, who said Afghan forces had to fight back against the Islamist Taliban, was due to speak on Afghanistan late yesterday evening after returning from the presidential retreat at Camp David.
He is facing a barrage of criticism from opponents and allies, former government officials and even his own diplomats over his handling of the US exit, pulling out troops and then sending back thousands to help with the evacuation.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled on Sunday as the Islamist militants entered Kabul virtually unopposed, saying he wanted to avoid bloodshed.
The United States and other foreign powers have rushed to fly out diplomatic and other staff, but the US temporarily halted all evacuation flights to clear people from the airfield.
Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said US forces were working with Turkish and other international troops to clear Kabul airport to allow international evacuation flights to resume.
He said several hundred people had been flown out so far.
Suhail Shaheen, a spokesperson for the Taliban, said in a message on Twitter that its fighters were under strict orders not to harm anyone.
"Life, property and honour of no one shall be harmed but must be protected by the mujahideen," he said.
Mohammad Naeem, spokesman for the Taliban's political office, told Al Jazeera TV the form of Afghanistan's new government would be made clear soon.
Hekmatyar, Karzai to meet Taliban
Islamic Party leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar said he is heading to Doha today to meet with the Taliban delegation, accompanied by former Afghan President Hamid Karzai and head of the High Council for National Reconciliation, Abdullah Abdullah, the Al Jazeera news channel reported on Monday.
