Afghan leader addresses nation as Taliban advance

As the UK begins evacuating embassy staff, the impact is reportedly being felt by Afghans with ties to British universities.

In a tweet, former International Development Secretary Rory Stewart says Afghans with scholarships from the UK government are now being denied visas.

He's shared a screenshot of a letter, allegedly from the UK foreign office, informing an Afghan student that the embassy was now "unable to administer" the programme.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has not immediately responded to requests for comment by the BBC.

The Chevening Scholarship, funded by the foreign office, provides funding for international students to study at British universities.

Afghan journalist Anisa Shaheed is one of many women who fear their freedom to work and study will be curbed again if the Taliban come to power.

Shaheed was named journalist of the year by Afghanistan's Free Speech Hub network in April.

She tells BBC Monitoring what it’s like working in a field and country dominated by men, and what she hopes for Afghanistan's future.

Australian troops are set to evacuate the country's nationals from Afghanistan, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

The air force could arrive in Kabul in the coming days, it is reporting, and the evacuation will be co-ordinated with the arrival of US and UK troops.

It is thought that those to be flown out will include diplomats, as well as customs and immigration officials. Interpreters and contractors who served alongside Australian troops could also be evacuated.

The BBC's Yalda Hakim has been sharing photographs she received from people within Afghanistan trying to leave Kabul on Saturday.

Qatar's Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, met the head of the Taliban's political bureau on Saturday to follow up on peace talks.

"The foreign minister urged the Taliban at the meeting to let up the escalation and to ceasefire," a statement on the Qatari government's website added.

American forces have carried out air strikes on Kandahar airport, according to local journalist Bilil Sarwary. "Scores of Taliban fighters" have been killed, he says, quoting security sources and a doctor at a local hospital.

The militant group took control of Kandahar, Afghanistan's second-largest city, on Friday. It is major prize for the Taliban because of its international airport, agricultural and industrial output.

BBC/Elaine JungCopyright: BBC/Elaine Jung

Work days for midwife Nooria Haya regularly included meetings and discussions with male doctors. They decided on treatments for locals and the priorities for the public clinic she works in.

But recently, the 29-year-old found out that meetings between male and female staff were prohibited. It was the first order the Taliban gave them when the group took control of Ishkamish, in Takhar province.

"Suddenly most freedoms have been taken away from us," Haya. "It is so hard. But we have no other option. They are brutal. We have to do whatever they say. They are using Islam for their own purposes. We are Muslims ourselves, but their beliefs are different."

Read more here.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

As the Taliban continue to make sweeping territorial gains in Afghanistan, the message from their officials and social media activists is that a sense of normality is now returning to the provinces in the group's control.

Taliban messaging regularly conveys to Afghans that the militants do not harm security personnel if they voluntarily surrender and that the movement works for all people irrespective of their ethnicity.

This messaging seems to be aimed at encouraging soldiers to surrender ahead of a Taliban assault.

It also appears to be attempting to dispel reports that the group executes captives and that girls have been taken away for marriage to Taliban fighters.

The group has not been observed to say much about its stance on women's education, work or dress code, nor any mention of election as a means of a future government.

Read more:

• Afghans living under Taliban lament loss of freedoms
• ‘World silently watches this war against women’

BBCCopyright: BBC

Britain should consider launching a humanitarian aid operation to alleviate the growing refugee crisis in Afghanistan, a former head of the British Army has said.

Lord Dannatt said the country was facing a "tragedy in the making" with a growing humanitarian crisis centred on the capital, Kabul.

"It is okay to extract our British citizens. What about mounting a humanitarian operation in Kabul to look after some of the refugees, to build some camps, bring in some humanitarian supplies?" he told BBC Breakfast.

"At least let's show to the Afghan government we are not completely abandoning them and that we still stand side by side with them. It is quite possible to do that," he said.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

In case you're just joining us, here are some of today's biggest developments:

• The Taliban now control most of northern Afghanistan and half of its regional capitals
• In a brief public address, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has said he would not let the "imposed" war "cause more deaths" - but gave no details of his plan to achieve this
• The Taliban are inching close to the capital Kabul - there is heavy fighting in Maidan Shar, a regional capital just 40km (25 miles) away
• A local official has told AP news agency that the Taliban are now in Char Asyab district - just seven miles away
• There are also clashes in Mazar-e-Sharif - the only major city still under government control in the north

• US troops have started arriving in Kabul to help evacuate staff from its embassy. Six hundred British military personnel are also on their way

The Taliban have made rapid territorial gains in Afghanistan the past few weeks, and there are increasing concerns about what this means for those under their rule.

BBC Afghanistan Correspondent Secunder Kermani was given rare access to newly captured Taliban territory in the north of the country – where militants are fighting with security forces in the city of Mazar-e-Sharif - previously an anti-Taliban stronghold.

A local lawmaker has told AP news agency that the Taliban have reached Char Asyab district, just seven miles (11km) south of the capital, Kabul.

The BBC has not been able to independently verify this.

If confirmed by the government, it is the closest they have advanced so far, and is another blow to Afghan forces, who are fighting to keep the Taliban away from Kabul.

Here's a map of the areas currently held by government and Taliban forces:

BBCCopyright: BBC

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

The last time the Taliban took control of Kabul was in 1996. It came after four years of civil war in Afghanistan.

Insurgents seized control of the city, with Taliban flags flown from government offices.

One of their first moves was to publicly execute former President Mohammad Najibullah.

Under the insurgents’ rule, women were banned from work and girls were not allowed to attend school. Women had to cover their face and be accompanied by a male relative outside their homes.

Punishments such as stoning to death and amputations were introduced.

Images showing members of the British armed forces heading to Kabul to help evacuate UK nationals and other eligible staff have been released by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Some 600 troops are being deployed to help as part of Operation Pitting.

The UK is urging all citizens to leave the country immediately due to the "deteriorating security situation" and is offering assistance.

MoD Handout via PACopyright: MoD Handout via PA

MoD Handout via PACopyright: MoD Handout via PA

MoD Handout via PACopyright: MoD Handout via PA

ARG Facebook pageCopyright: ARG Facebook page

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani gave a brief and sombre public address a short time ago.

"As your president, my focus is on preventing further instability, violence and displacement of my people," he told the Afghan people.

"In the current situation, the remobilisation of our security and defence forces is our top priority, and serious steps are being taken in this regard," he added.

Mr Ghani said he would not let a war that was "imposed" on people "cause more deaths," and praised the "courageous" security forces who have been trying to defend the cities from the Taliban.

The speech came amid speculation by some that Mr Ghani may have been about to announce his resignation.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Thousands of civilians fled to the relative safety of Kabul, Afghanistan's capital, as the Taliban took control of city after city.Now the militants are closing in there, too, and there have been reports of US airstrikes on Taliban positions at the gates of Kabul province.

The latest US intelligence assessment suggests they could try to advance on the city within 30 days.

Their string of captures across the country over the past week have been lightening fast.

Yesterday the Taliban captured Pul-e-Alam, capital of Loghar province, 80km (50 miles) from Kabul.

Even closer - violent clashes have broken out in Maidan Shar, a provincial capital just 40km (25 miles) from Kabul.

The Taliban now control about half of Afghanistan's regional capitals after seizing some of its most important centres, including the country's second-largest city Kandahar.

The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres says the situation in Afghanistan is spinning out of control and civilians would pay the highest price if the conflict continued.

Taliban frontline commanders and foot soldiers told the BBC they were determined to re-impose their version of Sharia law, which would include stoning for adultery, amputation of limbs for theft and preventing girls from going to school beyond the age of 12.

Read more:

• The people fleeing the north for safety in Kabul
• Afghans living under Taliban lament loss of freedoms