Panic grips Afghanistan as Taliban enters Kabul

Making rapid advancement across Afghanistan, the Taliban forces on Sunday entered Kabul and stated that they were awaiting a peaceful transfer of power. In pic, Taliban forces patrol Herat, west of Kabul. (Reuters)

Stirring panic across the national capital, the US government sent its troops to ensure safe evacuation of its officials at the US Embassy. In pic, a US Chinook helicopter flies over the city of Kabul, Afghanistan. (AP)

Wisps of smoke could be seen near the embassy's roof as diplomats urgently destroyed sensitive documents, according to two American military officials. (AP)

Hundreds gathered in front of private banks trying to withdraw their life savings, as some ATMs stopped distributing cash. (AP)

Negotiators on both the government and Taliban’s side have assured the public that Kabul will remain secure and the lives of the citizens will not be harmed. In pic, members of Taliban drive through Herat. (AP)

However, the fear of Taliban’s brutal rule that could essentially eliminate women’s rights has prompted several residents to flee the country. In pic, people arrive at the Friendship Gate crossing point at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border town of Chaman, Pakistan. (Reuters)

With the Taliban gaining control of all major provinces of Afghanistan, residents had sought safety in Kabul. In pic, passengers walk out from the domestic terminal at Hamid Karzai International Airport, in Kabul. (AP)

Several internally displaced citizens had set up tents at a public park in Kabul. Now, their future remains uncertain. (AP)

Taliban’s tightening grip over the country, despite the hundreds of billions of dollars spent by the US and NATO over nearly two decades to build up Afghan security forces, has shocked the world. (Reuters)

The Taliban, as they had entered Afghanistan's capital Kabul, issued a formal declaration that they did not intend to conduct a witch-hunt against those with the Islamic Republic Government and waited for the completion of a ‘transition process’. (AP Photo/Zabi Karimi)

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, in a Facebook Post, said that he had left the country to avoid bloodshed as the Taliban was entering the capital Kabul. (AP Photo/Zabi Karimi)

On Taliban entering the Presidential Palace, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said, “The Taliban won victory in the judgment of sword and gun and they have responsibility to protect the honour, prosperity and self-respect of our compatriots.” (AP Photo/Zabi Karimi)

This is the first time since their ouster 20 years ago in the wake of the 9/11 strikes that Taliban fighters have entered Kabul — they first seized the Capital in 1996. Late at night, fighters in pickups and SUVs did victory rounds in the heart of Kabul. (AP Photo/Zabi Karimi)