• British nationals and Afghan evacuees arrive on a flight from Afghanistan at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, England.
    British nationals and Afghan evacuees arrive on a flight from Afghanistan at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, England.
  • People reunite after a Lufthansa plane transporting evacuees from Kabul, Afghanistan, lands in Frankfurt, Germany.
    People reunite after a Lufthansa plane transporting evacuees from Kabul, Afghanistan, lands in Frankfurt, Germany.
  • An aircraft of Danish DAT airline that transported evacuees from Afghanistan arrives at Copenhagen Airport.
    An aircraft of Danish DAT airline that transported evacuees from Afghanistan arrives at Copenhagen Airport.
  • A passenger gives a thumbs up through the window of a plane that had arrived from Afghanistan at RAF Brize Norton air base in England.
    A passenger gives a thumbs up through the window of a plane that had arrived from Afghanistan at RAF Brize Norton air base in England.
  • People evacuated from Afghanistan pose in front of a German Bundeswehr airplane after arriving at the airport in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
    People evacuated from Afghanistan pose in front of a German Bundeswehr airplane after arriving at the airport in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
  • People disembark from a Lufthansa aircraft arriving from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, that landed in Frankfurt, Germany. On board were about 130 people that were evacuated from Afghanistan.
    People disembark from a Lufthansa aircraft arriving from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, that landed in Frankfurt, Germany. On board were about 130 people that were evacuated from Afghanistan.
  • People walk with their bags upon arrival at Frankfurt Airport, Germany, after being evacuated from Kabul.
    People walk with their bags upon arrival at Frankfurt Airport, Germany, after being evacuated from Kabul.
  • People walk across the tarmac after alighting from a plane from Afghanistan at RAF Brize Norton air base in England.
    People walk across the tarmac after alighting from a plane from Afghanistan at RAF Brize Norton air base in England.
  • People among the first evacuees from Kabul hug as they arrive at Frankfurt International Airport, Germany.
    People among the first evacuees from Kabul hug as they arrive at Frankfurt International Airport, Germany.
  • The second Czech evacuation aircraft from Kabul, with 87 passengers on board, stands at the Prague-Kbely airport, Czech Republic, after landing on Tuesday.
    The second Czech evacuation aircraft from Kabul, with 87 passengers on board, stands at the Prague-Kbely airport, Czech Republic, after landing on Tuesday.
  • A family arrives at Frankfurt Airport, Germany.
    A family arrives at Frankfurt Airport, Germany.
  • People who have been evacuated from Afghanistan arrive at Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport in Paris, France.
    People who have been evacuated from Afghanistan arrive at Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport in Paris, France.

Four people killed in shooting and stampede in Afghan city


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At least four people were killed in Afghanistan's eastern city of Asadabad, on the border with Pakistan, at an Independence Day rally after the Taliban shot at civilians there and a stampede ensued.

It was unclear whether the deaths resulted from the panic or the gunfire.

August 19 marks the day in 1919 when Afghanistan became a sovereign nation and took full control over its foreign affairs from British rule.

Three people were killed on Wednesday at a similar event in Jalalabad and in several other places across the country, as Afghans waved the national flag, local media reported.

Protests against Taliban rule after their takeover of the country and the capital, Kabul, continued across Afghanistan.

Droves of people filled the tarmac at Kabul's airport on Sunday in an attempt to leave the country. At least 12 people were killed.

First Vice President Amrullah Saleh supported the protesters.

  • Kabul residents riding a bicycle celebrate as Northern Alliance fighters enter the Afghan capital in November 2001 after the collapse of Taliban rule.
    Kabul residents riding a bicycle celebrate as Northern Alliance fighters enter the Afghan capital in November 2001 after the collapse of Taliban rule.
  • Fighters from the Afghan opposition Northern Alliance celebrate the withdrawal of the Taliban in November 2001.
    Fighters from the Afghan opposition Northern Alliance celebrate the withdrawal of the Taliban in November 2001.
  • Northern Alliance fighters sing patriotic songs as they enter the capital Kabul in November 2001.
    Northern Alliance fighters sing patriotic songs as they enter the capital Kabul in November 2001.
  • A French soldier, part of the International Security and Assistance Force, stands on a boulder overlooking Kabul during a patrol in August 2002.
    A French soldier, part of the International Security and Assistance Force, stands on a boulder overlooking Kabul during a patrol in August 2002.
  • Joe Biden, a US senator at the time, meets a female student at Ariana High school in January 2002, during a visit to Kabul.
    Joe Biden, a US senator at the time, meets a female student at Ariana High school in January 2002, during a visit to Kabul.
  • A member of the Taliban stands guard as people walk to the entrance gate of Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul on Sunday.
    A member of the Taliban stands guard as people walk to the entrance gate of Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul on Sunday.
  • Taliban fighters take control of the Afghan presidential palace in Kabul after President Ashraf Ghani fled the country on Sunday.
    Taliban fighters take control of the Afghan presidential palace in Kabul after President Ashraf Ghani fled the country on Sunday.
  • A crowd of Afghans on the tarmac of Kabul's airport as they try to flee the country in August.
    A crowd of Afghans on the tarmac of Kabul's airport as they try to flee the country in August.
  • Taliban fighters ride on a truck through Kabul on Sunday.
    Taliban fighters ride on a truck through Kabul on Sunday.
  • Members of the Taliban stand guard outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport as people try to flee the country.
    Members of the Taliban stand guard outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport as people try to flee the country.

"Salute those who carry the national flag and thus stand for dignity of the nation," he wrote on Twitter.

President Ashraf Ghani left the country on Sunday after the Taliban takeover of Kabul, landing in the UAE on Wednesday with his family.

Mr Ghani said he departed to "prevent bloodshed".

On Thursday, Mr Saleh called himself the country's "legitimate caretaker president".

The Taliban were removed from power by a US-led coalition in 2001 for harbouring Osama bin Laden, the terrorist wanted in connection with the September 11, 2001 attacks on US soil.

The group took over Afghanistan in 1996 and enforced a hardline interpretation of Islamic law, or Sharia, preventing women from completing their education, staging public executions and banning music and television.

They have since attempted to re-brand as a more progressive group and vowed to give women more rights, within the framework of their understanding of Sharia.

The future of Afghanistan is in the balance as a new leader has yet to be named and a power struggle between Mr Ghani's internationally backed government and the Taliban continues.

Updated: August 19, 2021, 10:18 AM