Watching in the uk or around the world. We start with breaking news. Taliban fighters have reached the afghan capital, kabul. Some reports say theyve begun entering the city. But a spokesman for the militants said theyd been told to wait. The afghan president ial palace has tweeted that gunshots have been heard at a number of points around kabul. These Pictures Filmed By The Bbc In Kabul show people attempting to leave the city. The taliban says negotiations are taking place to ensure a peaceful transition of power. Us and british troops have been arriving in Afghanistan to evacuate diplomatic staff from their embassies. Earlier, thousands of afghans in the capital were seen trying to withdraw their savings from atms as fear gripped the capital. Overnight, the insurgents seized the eastern city of jalalabad. Local leaders handed it over without a fight according to reports. It means the taliban can secure the roads that connect Afghanistan to pakistan further consolidating their grip on power. Lets speak to our South Asia Correspondent anbarasan ethirajan. This bill is a frightening shocking and surprising situation. I have been speaking to residents Of Kabul, thatis been speaking to residents Of Kabul, that is not what they thought would happen. The that is not what they thought would ha en. , that is not what they thought would ha en. , that is not what they thought would ha en. , happen. The change has happened so cuickl , happen. The change has happened so quickly. Even happen. The change has happened so quickly, even people happen. The change has happened so quickly, even People Cant quickly, even People Cant understand what is going on, even to comprehend. Every day and is moving faster than people could think. I was speaking to one of my colleagues a short while ago, he said things were changing so rapidly, they could not even understand what is going on here. A lot of rumours and fear and confusion. Many people blame the government for not coming out and taking the leadership and clearing these doubts, because it involves these doubts, because it involves the lives of millions of people. As we were on air a couple of hours ago, a lot of reports of the taliban near kabul, as we made very clear they did not enter the city, the fighters were coming from outside. They were seen on the outskirts of the city. Another interior Ministry Spokesperson also confirmed to their bbc colleagues In Kabul that they did not enter the city, because this can create a lot of panic among people. But the whole political situation is confusing for people. People are standing outside the banks, trying to withdraw their savings. Many people trying to leave the country, scrambling to get visas in foreign embassies. I saw pictures on social media. And people are trying to store food. A colleague told me, a Taxi Driver was burning his family and said to buy three bags of flour and keep them at home because they dont know what is going to happen. Was phoning his family. People complaining about why the government is not coming out and clearing up the situation. At this point they should have come out. Indeed, lets talk about the panic for a moment. Indeed, lets talk about the Panic Fora moment. I indeed, lets talk about the panic for a moment. Ispoke indeed, lets talk about the panic for a moment. I spoke to residents Of Kabul who said the taliban had entered the centre of the city, and we later heard, as yOu Say, people trying to withdraw money, so much panic at the bank that the guards had to shoot to push people back. So The Fear is constantly that the taliban are here. The fear is constantly that the taliban are here. ,. ,. , taliban are here. That is what many eole taliban are here. That is what many peeple should taliban are here. That is what many people should be taliban are here. That is what many people should be careful taliban are here. That is what many people should be careful about, taliban are here. That is what many| people should be careful about, with what we have seen. If yOu Say the taliban have entered the city, it will create panic. As we know, as of now, after speaking to my colleagues, they were only seen on the outskirts. They were also not in an aggressive posture, according to another colleague. So we have to understand, there are talks going on as we speak, both in the president ial palace and in doha, the Interior Minister of Afghanistan has issued a video saying there are talks about a peaceful transfer of power, a transitional government. Quite a dramatic statement coming out from a senior government officials. We have still not heard from the president ial palace, so im only giving you what the Interior Minister has been saying. That means president Ashraf Ghani and this government are leaving, they are now talking about a transitional government, who will be in the transitional government, this government is not going to exist, according to the Interior Ministers statement, in his video carried widely on local media as well. So The End seems to be quite near, and The End seems to be quite near, and the Taliban Spokesman made it very clear. In fact, the Taliban Spokesman made it very clear. Infact, one the Taliban Spokesman made it very clear. In fact, one of the spokespersons was saying that Pallor Fighters were instructed to stay At The Gates Of Kabul and not enter the city, on the outskirts, until the transition takes place. That taliban fighters. If you look at their statement, they are making it very clear, talks are going on, stay back, dont do anything. As we speak, in the next hour probably we will get more detailed. Lots of speculation about what will happen to president Ashraf Ghani and others, because things are changing rapidly. But as we speak, there is no news of any fighting inside kabul city, and many offices and shops have been closed. Yes, people are worried, a lot of Confusion And Fear. , ~ worried, a lot of Confusion And Fear. ~ ,. , worried, a lot of Confusion And Fear. , ~ ,. , worried, a lot of Confusion And Fear. ~ ,. Worried, a lot of Confusion And Fear. , ~ ,. , fear. Thank you very much for oininu fear. Thank you very much for joining us Haroun Rahimi is Assistant Professor of law at the american university of Afghanistan In Kabul. Hejoins me now from istanbul. Tell me what you are thinking and feeling. Tell me what you are thinking and feelina. , tell me what you are thinking and feelina,. , i. Tell me what you are thinking and feelina,. ,. Tell me what you are thinking and feelina. ,. ,. ,. , feeling. Just to give you an update, eole on feeling. Just to give you an update, peeple on both feeling. Just to give you an update, people on both sides feeling. Just to give you an update, people on both sides are feeling. Just to give you an update, people on both sides are telling feeling. Just to give you an update, i people on both sides are telling me that president Ashraf Ghani has resigned. A photo has emerged from no harm. According to sources on both sides, the report on these sources, they say the head of the interim government has been confirmed, and the Supreme Leader of the taliban will appear in kandahar very soon. The national Security Forces will remain In Kabul. The ministerjust appeared in a video and said they will be in charge of security for now. But security is so chaotic. Kabul is the home to 5 Million people, a lot of people with guns, a lot of people with a lot to lose, a lot of people with armoured vehicles. In good days, they would not care about traffic laws. Today they are afraid what will happen to them when the government is gone. So a lot of people will be getting out and i imagine there will be a lot of chaos. Government forces may not hold together as strongly as many hoped, because even though amnesty is promised, how credible those promises are and how they are perceived remains a question. There are a lot of perceived remains a question. There are a lot of concerns, perceived remains a question. There are a lot of concerns, and perceived remains a question. There are a lot of concerns, and to perceived remains a question. There are a lot of concerns, and to pick are a lot of concerns, and to pick up are a lot of concerns, and to pick up on what yOu Said earlier, we have to be very careful about the rumours circulating about the man who has turned up In Kabul. Sources are saying a delegation is going to go hard tomorrow. A lot of confusion about how the process is currently unfolding. Pictures are emerging, we have to be careful about the information coming out. So we have no verification on that. We are hoping to speak to the taliban spokesperson very soon on the programme, so hopefully we can get some clarity on the things you are talking about. Because as yOu Say, there is confusion, there is panic, there is confusion, there is panic, there is confusion, there is panic, there is concern, and everyone i am speaking to In Kabul are saying that the taliban are in their neighbourhood, but the taliban have issued a statement saying they are not letting their fighters in. Issued a statement saying they are not letting theirfighters in. fine not letting their fighters in. One thin , the not letting their fighters in. One thing, the taliban not letting their fighters in. me thing, the taliban were In Kabul, not letting their fighters in. Iez thing, the taliban were In Kabul, it was not free of taliban. The Defence Ministry said that the attacks and the retaliation to the air strikes, that was the statement. They have soldiers In Kabul, they are there. Also there is a lot, as yOu Said, of chaos, and a lot of gunmen In Kabul. They dont have to be taliban, but if they appear like that to the people, the psychological impact. The taliban have instructed their soldiers, i am sure you heard the Voice Message supposedly coming from the military commander, telling them not to enter kabul. That is true, but also in terms of what i feel right now, i think we are at a big moment. Many of your audience may not remember, but Afghanistan was like this not long ago. 20 years ago, the us toppled the taliban government and there was a confluence in germany, the defeated caravan was excluded and the government was formed with the exclusion of the taliban. A conference in germany. It seems we are headed for that kind of situation again. If the president Transfers Power and there is no neutral entity that can be credible in terms of facilitating an inclusive government, and the taliban choose to use the military upper hand to exclude elements from the interim government and have their own definition of what is included in the government, who will be included, if they go down that path, we will be repeating the mistake from germany on the exclusion of the taliban. Indeed, and to pick exclusion of the taliban. Indeed, and to pick up exclusion of the taliban. Indeed, and to pick up on exclusion of the taliban. Indeed, and to pick up on some exclusion of the taliban. Indeed, and to pick up on some of exclusion of the taliban. Indeed, and to pick up on some of your. And to pick up on some of your points, i mean, they are currently in places like herat, and we are already hearing that university students, 3 Million students being told to go back home and wait, that they dont have orders about what to do next in terms of the university. So a lot of concern when people In Kabul look at what is happening in places like herat and kandahar, with people being pushed out of work and school, especially women. Absolutely, that is absolutely true. In terms of what a taliban government would look like, the reports show a variation. Some credible reports, Eyewitness Reports Show Mistreatment of women, harsh punishment, women being targeted for how they look. And at times, women being denied, being told to go to home from work and their place of education. Some are said to be temporary measures. 0ther education. Some are said to be temporary measures. Other times, education. Some are said to be temporary measures. 0thertimes, it isjust temporary measures. 0thertimes, it is just what they are telling people. 0ther is just what they are telling people. Other places they are saying it is temporary measures and they will make decisions and they are still committed to womens education. It doesnt clarify anything, but when we talk about shari law, they talk about a collection of opinions, and there is a great variety. A lot of opinions that diverged on many of those issues, as you may know. What is important at this point, it is a critical moment. If taliban refused to include Antique Taliban elements in the government because they have the upper hand, because they have the upper hand, because they can, in the same way the us could exclude taliban in germany, because the taliban were defeated. Lets not kid ourselves, at this point it is a complete defeat and the taliban have prevailed militarily. As to how we got here, thats a different question, but they have prevailed militarily so they have prevailed militarily so they can exclude other elements. That will risk international and domestic criticism. I believe it will lead us to a place like this again. The exclusion of the taliban led to them is re emerging because they had no way to participate in politics, they had no way to be part of the government because they were excluded. If taliban do the same thing, we risk being at this moment one more time on a vicious cycle. Afghanistan finding itself in the same position. Haroun rahimi, thank you very much. Parliament is to be recalled, what can you tell us . In parliament is to be recalled, what can you tell us . Can you tell us . In the last few minutes we can you tell us . In the last few minutes we have can you tell us . In the last few minutes we have been can you tell us . In the last few minutes we have been told can you tell us . In the last few minutes we have been told by| can you tell us . In the last few| minutes we have been told by a downing Street Source that mps will be recalled this week to discuss the situation. We dont know exactly the timing, how long they will be sitting for. A number of mps have called for this in recent days. As the situation has escalated. We have also been told there have been discussions over the past few days with Opposition Leaders and the speaker about this happening. Its possible that mps could return to westminster as early as tuesday to discuss the deepening crisis. {iii discuss the deepening crisis. Of course, there are Evacuation Plans taking place at the moment, so they have multiple things happening that they need to deal with, especially to get those people back into the uk from Afghanistan. From Afghanistan. Yeah, and we are obviously pushing from Afghanistan. Yeah, and we are obviously pushing hard from Afghanistan. Yeah, and we are obviously pushing hard for from Afghanistan. Yeah, and we are obviously pushing hard for an from Afghanistan. Yeah, and we are | obviously pushing hard for an update on what is happening with the Uk Embassy staff in Afghanistan, and because those people who have worked and have relationships with the uk in Afghanistan. They must be very concerned at the moment. Two areas that mps will want to talk about, one, happens to Uk Nationals there, embassy staff, those people associated with embassy staff. But also about the border situation, and what it means for the world. Interesting to hear the likes of tobias ellwood, very senior conservative mp, chair of the commons defence committee, saying this is basically a catastrophe, the moment for britain to step forward, he says. And another very senior conservative mp, tom tugendhat, the chair of the foreign affairs committee, saying, this is the biggest single Policy Disaster since the suez so this week mps will be debating what extra moves of the government might make. We debating what extra moves of the government might make. Debating what extra moves of the government might make. We can speak to labours shadow government might make. We can speak to labours shadow foreign to labours shadow foreign secretary, lisa nandy. I suppose much of the world has watched in horror as province after province has fallen to the taliban. And now they are At The Gates Of Kabul. We understand they will not enter kabul until there is some kind of peaceful settlement. But what does this actually say about the international Communitys Commitment to Afghanistan . Communitys commitment to Afghanistan . Well, its been a catastrophic Afghanistan . Well, its been a catastrophic miscalculation. I Afghanistan . Well, its been a i catastrophic miscalculation. That Afghanistan . Well, its been a catastrophic miscalculation. That is absolutely clear. The uk and the united states both overestimated the capacity of the afghan government to hold off the taliban and underestimated the capacity of the taliban to advance through the country. That has been clear for days, as we have watched city after city, town after town, village after Village Fall to the taliban. It Beggars Belief in the face of all that that the government has been so slow to respond. It is possible the Prime Minister has now agreed he will make moves to recall parliament, but what we need to hear now is an actual strategy from the government for what they are going to do in response to this. Was there ever a strategy . To do in response to this. Was there ever a strategy . A to do in response to this. Was there ever a strategy . A lot to do in response to this. Was there ever a strategy . A lot of to do in response to this. Was there ever a strategy . A lot of people to do in response to this. Was there ever a strategy . A lot of people are| ever a strategy . A lot of people are asking was there ever a strategy over the last two decades . Well, there have over the last two decades . Well, there have been over the last two decades . Well, there have been a over the last two decades . Well, there have been a series over the last two decades . Well, there have been a series of over the last two decades . Well, | there have been a series of Policy Mistakes over a long period of time. Starting at the very start of Britains Entry into Afghanistan, when we rightly wanted to go in and degrade the capability of alqaeda. But we underestimated how much that would rest on establishing a stable and secure and inclusive government in Afghanistan, which proved to be a far harder task than anyone imagined. 0verthe far harder task than anyone imagined. Over the years, there have been a series of mistakes made which have led us here. But we accept that what is happening now in Afghanistan is inevitable, there are things that we can and must do. Inaudible. Evacuating britons and the afghans who have supported us over the last 20 years. They will lose their lives if the government doesnt stop dragging its feet. There were people struggling to get out to who i have beenin struggling to get out to who i have been in touch with. Interpreters and journalists who have helped us. They will. Inaudible. An appalling state if we dont deal with this in the next few hours. And deal with the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Indeed, the interpreters in britain and the united states, they have an absolute sense of Abandonment And Betrayal in all of this. The sense of Abandonment And Betrayal in all of this. ,. ,. , all of this. The treatment of those Eo Le all of this. The treatment of those people who all of this. The treatment of those people who stood all of this. The treatment of those people who stood with all of this. The treatment of those people who stood with us all of this. The treatment of those people who stood with us over all of this. The treatment of those | people who stood with us over the past few decades has been shameful from the uk government. Even in the last 48 hours, the Home Secretary has been sending mixed messages. There was a report that said she was reluctant to grant sanctuary to some of those people because of the message it would send to other refugees around the world. This is not who we are as a country. They have stood with our british forces and supported us to get the word out. Inaudible. We owe it to them and ourselves and the idea of what a Global Britain stands for, to support them. And we owe it to the afghan people to make good on the promise of an inclusive, safe and secure afghan state. Iirruiliidi safe and secure afghan state. Which means we need safe and secure afghan state. Which means we need to safe and secure afghan state. Which means we need to reverse safe and secure afghan state. Which means we need to reverse the safe and secure afghan state. Wi cri means we need to reverse the aid cuts, we have cut the aid to Afghanistan by 77 over the last few years. We need to come forward with a package, a plan to support people right now, and we need to work with our allies and partners in the region to adjust to the new reality. That is what i want to hear from the Prime Minister this week. Lisa nandy, Labour Shadow foreign secretary, thank you very much for joining us. Now our Afghanistan correspondent in Afghanistan. Give us a sense of the mood In Kabul. It has been a mood of Confusion And Fear today, as you have been reporting. The taliban have moved ever closer to the centre of the city. A report from a Taliban Spokesman saying, giving instructions to fighters, not to cross the city gates. It seems there were some incidents of shooting, bullets being fired around the city. Much of it gave rise to a sense of panic. Some of that seems to have been not carried out by the taliban, but by members or politically influential families who are trying to get themselves into secure positions. That has added to the sense of pandemonium. In the past few days, a run on the banks, people trying to take out their savings, not sure what will happen. There are two real concerns people have. One, of course, what life would be like under some kind of taliban interim government if that is what emerges here. And the other more immediate concern for people, will there be a fierce, deadly, protracted, bloody fight for control of this city . The taliban in a Statement Today saying they do not want that to happen. They only want to take control Of Kabul through some kind of negotiation. The acting Interior Ministerfor the negotiation. The acting Interior Minister for the government said negotiations are under way. Everyone is waiting to find out exactly what that means, and what kind of result it will lead to, at the moment a period of deep uncertainty. Uncertainty as well as rumours. We are hearing all morning things like the fact that the taliban have entered the centre Of Kabul, and some sources saying they heard gunshots in the middle Of Kabul, and a track that was just because there was a mad scramble at the bank to get money out. People are absolutely concerned im not sure whether they have safe passage out. Do you know if people who want to leave camp . Taliban have announced that their fighters should not enter the city, they have said the evacuation should be allowed to continue. As you know, thousands of extra american and british forces have been sent in to help evacuate their citizens, and people they are granting Immigration Status to. That process is ongoing and it is anticipated it will last to The End of this month. My sources have told me that taliban are not likely to make a push on the city until that process is done. Yet again, we have seen events on the ground moving much faster than anyone anticipated. That Evacuation Process is being accelerated massively at the moment. So now we are seeing from the taliban, instructions from their own leadership, their own forces, to hold back and not enter the city, because i think the taliban realise this is a crucial moment. If they go in and they are responsible for mass bloodshed, they will be seen very much as a pariah group. They want, it seems, a degree of international legitimacy, so at the moment they are trying to focus on arranging some kind of negotiated surrender. And it will really be a surrender rather than a genuine negotiation with the government, because the Governments Position is really untenable at this stage. In control of no major cities anywhere in the country. Unprecedented and almost unthinkable scenes, talking about the collapse of the country in the space of under two weeks, really. Very much so. Thanks for those updates and your reporting, and stay safe. Lets speak to the former Uk Ambassador to Afghanistan, so nick kay. We have met In Kabul, we have spent time talking about Afghanistan over the years. What went wrong . Yes, thank you very much and congratulations to your reporter for his amazing reporting coming out of Afghanistan in the past weeks. Personally, i hang my head in shame. The Words-betrayal'>Words Betrayal and abandonment, i think you used earlier. And that is what afghans feel, my afghan colleagues and friends, afghans who have worked hard to build a modern Afghanistan, worked hard as reliable allies and partners for us over the years. And i hang my head in shame. They will be time and importance to learn lessons and look back and really understand what has gone wrong. But in the short term, i think the focus is very much our two hour, as your reporter said. At the moment, there isjust a small sense of cautious optimism that the bloodbath, the Bloody Fight For Kabul is going to be avoided and there will be a relatively peaceful transition of some sort. And the Safe Passage Of Notjust foreign staff and diplomats, but also those who have worked for us, interpreters and others who have loyally served, is going ahead and will be allowed to go ahead. Let us hope that is all true. ,. , ~ , true. Indeed, very much though. As Ou Sa , true. Indeed, very much though. As yOu Say. A true. Indeed, very much though. As yOu Say. A lot true. Indeed, very much though. As yOu Say. A lot of true. Indeed, very much though. As yOu Say, a lot of uncertainty. True. Indeed, very much though. As yOu Say, a lot of uncertainty. I true. Indeed, very much though. As yOu Say, a lot of uncertainty. I am l yOu Say, a lot of uncertainty. I am speaking to interpreters and journalists who work for britain and the united states, and they tell me they have heard nothing. There is no message of support or help, they are not sure what is going to happen next. ~ ,. ,. , next. Like you, i have frequent upsetting next. Like you, i have frequent upsetting calls next. Like you, i have frequent upsetting calls and next. Like you, i have frequent upsetting calls and whatsapp i upsetting calls and whatsapp messages from afghans who are facing real fears and dangerous situations. I know colleagues will be working Day And Night to try to resolve and to get as many people to safety as possible, and that is going ahead, and from what your reporter said also, the taliban have said this should be allowed to happen. But i think our attention increasingly turns to this new reality that has leapt upon us at breakneck speed, a reality in which there is an Afghanistan in which the taliban play a dominant, is not the dominant role. It is time now to start setting out a very clear expectations of what the taliban need to do to be respectable members of the international community providing governance and services that their people in a way that their people are feeling represented, feeling happy and having their rights and freedoms respected a whole list of measures that we will be needing to watch and judge the taliban by their actions, not by their Words. Not by their Words. Indeed, Thank Ou Ve not by their Words. Indeed, thank you very much not by their Words. Indeed, thank you very much were not by their Words. Indeed, thank you very much were joining not by their Words. Indeed, thank you very much were joining us. I not by their Words. Indeed, thank i you very much were joining us. Lets speak to 0llie bradbury, former captain with the yorkshire regiment. Thank you forjoining us on the programme. As we watched city after city, province of the province. The taliban, tell me what was going through your head. Just Disbelief And Shock through your head. Just Disbelief And Shock i through your head. Just Disbelief And Shock. Ijust through your head. Just Disbelief And Shock. Ijust cant through your head. Just Disbelief And Shock. Ijust cant quite and shock. Ijust cant quite comprehend how quickly Afghanistan has fallen. 0f Comprehend how quickly Afghanistan has fallen. Of course, you dont draw on those memories, those people you knew, the promises you made, and complete disbelief, really, in why recent decisions have been made. The Human Cost that will result from them. ~ ,. , ~ Human Cost that will result from them. ~ ,. ,. , Human Cost that will result from them. ~ ,. , them. When i speak to people In Kabul them. When i speak to people In Kabul. They them. When i speak to people In Kabul, they talk them. When i speak to people In Kabul, they talk about them. When i speak to people In Kabul, they talk about abandonment and portrayal, those are the two Words i continue to hear, over and over. ~ y Words i continue to hear, over and over. ~ , Words i continue to hear, over and over. , over. Absolutely. It is shocking. Britain has over. Absolutely. It is shocking. Britain has a over. Absolutely. It is shocking. Britain has a lot over. Absolutely. It is shocking. Britain has a lot of over. Absolutely. It is shocking. Britain has a lot of history over. Absolutely. It is shocking. Britain has a lot of history in britain has a lot of history in Afghanistan. Sadly, this is another shameful chapter in that story. But right now, i had to ask, and i hope our country is asking, what can it do that is right in the moment right now . And i know that veterans will be thinking that means getting interpreters and other key contractors working closely with the british government, particularly in sensitive areas, for which they will be given no quarter by the taliban, we must get them out by any means possible. That includes a lot of cases initially rejected among our Military Interpreters who have cases pending, lets quickly signed them off and get them out as swiftly as we can. 5 off and get them out as swiftly as we can. � ,. Off and get them out as swiftly as we can. ~ ,. ,. ,. , off and get them out as swiftly as wecan. A. , off and get them out as swiftly as we can. � ,. ,. ,. , 4 we can. As a veteran, do you think, what was the we can. As a veteran, do you think, what was the point we can. As a veteran, do you think, what was the point of we can. As a veteran, do you think, what was the point of the we can. As a veteran, do you think, what was the point of the last we can. As a veteran, do you think, what was the point of the last two l what was the point of the last two decades . I do. What was the point of the last two decades . I do. ~. ,~. , decades . I do. When we were asked to no in decades . I do. When we were asked to go in there. Decades . I do. When we were asked to go in there. I decades . I do. When we were asked to go in there. Iwas decades . I do. When we were asked to go in there, i was a decades . I do. When we were asked to go in there, i was a young decades . I do. When we were asked to go in there, i was a young soldier go in there, i was a young soldier in 2001, i did two military tours, and after the army i returned to live there for another two years. Yeah, you really do have to ask, what on earth have we achieved . I dont agree with the Prime Ministerscomments the other day. If we do not now do what we can to alleviate the humanitarian cost, then, you know, i really do struggle to question the sacrifices that were made and whether they were of any value whatsoever. It is notjust our sacrifices, its amongst the international Military Community or cause, and the afghan people in particular who have borne the heaviest cost in this. Here isa here is a man talking about his concerns here is a man talking about his concerns only agut i think we have been concerns only agut i think we have been quite concerns only agut i think we have been quite vocal about the