the group's co—founder and political chief, mullah abdul ghani baradar, has arrived in kabul. he is expected to form part of the new taliban—dominated government. he spent the last few years leading the taliban delegation at peace talks with the us in qatar. the taliban don't yet control the entire country. the panjshir valley, north of kabul, is once more a centre of resistance to their rule. anti—taliban forces claim to have retaken three districts in the north. back at the airport, time is running out for the evacuation. once it ends and the world's attention shifts elsewhere, many fear that life under the taliban is going to get a lot harder. frank gardner, bbc news. our correspondent, secunder kermani, is in kabul has been speaking to the afghans who hope to be evacuated. he says the situation at the airport still seems extremely tense. it is still very chaotic. i was speaking earlier on to one young afghan whose father had worked in the us embassy here for 20 years. they have been told to go to the airport, to be evacuated, tried for two days straight but were unable

mullah baradar arrived in afghanistan earlier this week, after 20 years in exile. he travelled first to kandahar, which is seen as the spiritual home of the taliban. although baradar isn't the taliban's supreme leader, he is one of its most visible figures. last year, he became the first taliban leader to communicate directly with a us president after having a telephone conversation with donald trump. we'll get more on that in a moment, but first this report from our correspondent secunder kermani in kabul. soldier shouting: get back! get the bleep back! get back! panic and chaos close to kabul airport. british soldiers guarding a secure compound for those being evacuated. british passport holders in the crowd, desperately trying to get through. this is my british passport. like this uber driver from west london. he's got kids. we are waiting. how long have you been here waiting? i came morning, five o'clock. still, i'm waiting here. in the last three days, i'm trying to go inside... and they won't let you into the hotel? yeah. even though the embassy has told you

mullah baradar arrived in afghanistan earlier this week, after 20 years in exile. he travelled first to kandahar, which is seen as the spiritual home of the taliban. although baradar isn't the taliban's supreme leader, he is one of its most visible figures. last year, he became the first taliban leader to communicate directly with a us president after having a telephone conversation with donald trump. we'll get more on that in a moment, but first our correspondent secunder kermani has the latest from kabul. soldier shouting: get back! get back! panic and chaos close to kabul airport. british soldiers guarding a secure compound for those being evacuated. british passport holders in the crowd, desperately trying to get through. this is my british passport. like this uber driver from west london. he's got kids. we are waiting. how long have you been here waiting? i came morning, five o'clock. still, i'm waiting here. in the last three days, i'm trying to go inside... and they won't let you into the hotel? yeah. even though the embassy has told you to come here? yeah,

mullah abdul ghani baradar is expected to join talks on establishing a new government. so far, britain has evacuated just under 2,500 people, but time is running out as fears grow for those not here, in hiding, worried for their lives. frankie mccamley, bbc news. as you just heard — a key figure at the kabul talks is the taliban co—founder, mullah abdul ghani baradar, our security correspondent frank gardner told us more about him. this is somebody who co—founded the entire movement back in 1994, along with mullah omar, his more famous brother—in—law, reportedly. so mullah baradar, he was born in afghanistan in 1968 and he co—founded a movement of islamic scholars started in the madrasahs. so taliban literally means students, it's plural for students. and they took over southern afghanistan in the mid—90s. initially they were very popular because at the time the country had gone from civil war, it was racked with corruption, as it has been recently, actually, but also by a lot of infighting between warlords. and there was then five years of pretty unpopula

let's start off with this latest development and mullah baradar. how significant is he within the whole story? significant is he within the whole sto ? , , u, significant is he within the whole sto? ,, story? very significant because he was very close _ story? very significant because he was very close to _ story? very significant because he was very close to the _ story? very significant because he was very close to the original - was very close to the original founder of the taliban back in 1994. he is a relative moderate compared to some of his more extreme colleagues. he spent eight years in prison in pakistan and he was only released in 2018. he has been instrumental in the peace talks you mention indo hop. he has been very much at the forefront of those. i think the big questions now are whether this second iteration of taliban rule in afghanistan is going to be different from the earlier one. —— doha. the public signs are that it will be. they're going to be less extreme. they are saying the things that people want to hear, the big quest

and your team and mullah baradar are _ them. and your team and mullah baradar are currently _ them. and your team and mullah baradar are currently in - them. and your team and mullah baradar are currently in doha, i baradar are currently in doha, waiting for a delegation to arrive in kabul? ., ., ., ., in kabul? yeah, all here indo half. is there another _ in kabul? yeah, all here indo half. is there another high-level i is there another high—level negotiation team coming from kabul to doha? i negotiation team coming from kabul to doha? ., �* ~ ., ., ., negotiation team coming from kabul| to doha?_ -- to doha? i don't know about that. -- all here in — to doha? i don't know about that. -- all here in doha. _ to doha? i don't know about that. -- all here in doha. you _ to doha? i don't know about that. -- all here in doha. you don't _ to doha? i don't know about that. -- all here in doha. you don't know i to doha? i don't know about that. -- all here in doha. you don't know if i all here in doha. you don't know if there is a team coming to discuss with you? there is a team comin

senior taliban figures, including the group's co—founder, mullah baradar, arrive in kabulfor talks about establishing a new government. thousands continue to crowd the perimeter at kabul airport, desparate to escape the taliban. greece has erected a aokm fence on its border with turkey amid wanings of many afghan civilians fleeing their country. there have been clashes between australian police and anti—lockdown demonstrators in sydney and melbourne animal welfare campaigners in the uk have welcomed new government proposals to stop puppy smuggling. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. the taliban's co—founder and head of its political wing, mullah abdul ghani baradar, is in kabulfor talks on forming a new afghan government. he's the most senior taliban leader now in afghanistan, and the man who signed the agreement with the united states that led to the american withdrawal. the taliban have promised an inclusive government for afghanistan. they say experts from the former government will be brought in for crisis management. other senior taliban leaders

mullah baradar�*s imput will be important. he is not the top man but very near to it. there are other people at the top. these people have been on the outside for 20 years. one has got a price on his head from the us. a bounty on his head. he is now in charge of securing kabul. that is the high echelons of taliban. but many people have pointed out that it is the discipline within the foot soldiers that could cause problems for the so—called taliban version two. how unified, disciplined is the taliban? who are they? they've been in incredibly effective fighting force. as soon as they found out that the us was leaving, that was it, that was a green light to them to accelerate their campaign and this will go down in military history as one of the most successful insurgent campaigns. it is desperately sad for all of those not only british people and others who fought and aid workers who helped afghanistan become a more progressive, fair and equitable place, which they now fear could be reversed, but also all those tens of thousands of afghans who have lost their lives tr

senior taliban figures — including the group's co—founder, mullah baradar — are in the afghan capital for talks about establishing a new government. a state of emergency has been declared in parts of new york state ahead of the forecast arrival of hurricane henri. anti—lockdown protests in australia turn ugly. more than 200 are arrested. hello, and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. i'm shaun ley. the us embassy in afghanistan is advising americans not to travel to kabul airport unless they've been instructed to do so because of "potential security threats" at the gates. thousands of people are still massed at the perimeter of the airport, anxious to board flights out of the country, and the crush of people in swealtering heat left some needing medical help from us troops. the bbc�*s security correspondent, frank gardner reports. crowds, chaos, confusion. the scene at kabul airport grows ever more volatile as thousands of afghans clamour to leave the country. gunfire. taliban fighters are guarding the outside of the perimeter, but even some people with valid

senior taliban figures — including the group's co—founder, mullah baradar — are in the afghan capital for talks about establishing a new government. the former britiah prime minister, tony blair, has launched a scathing attack on the us decision to pull out of afghanistan. the greek government builds a a0 kilometre fence on its border with turkey over concerns there'll be a surge in afghans seeking asylum. and a state of emergency is declared in parts of new york state ahead of the forecast arrival of hurricane henri. don't go to kabul airport. that's what americans hoping to leave afghanistan have been advised — unless instructed to do so. the state department said it wanted to avoid creating large crowds — and us defence officials have expressed concern about the possibility of attacks by islamic state militants. a week after the taliban seized power, their co—founder, mullah abdul ghani baradar, is in the capital for talks on forming a new government. our security correspondent, frank gardner reports. crowds, chaos, confusion. the scene at kabul airport grows ever more volati

senior taliban figures — including the group's co—founder, mullah baradar — are in the afghan capital for talks about establishing a new government. britain's former prime minister, tony blair, who sent troops into afghanistan 20 years ago, says the uk has a moral obligation to stay until those who wish to leave — have escaped. the greek government builds a a0 kilometre fence on its border with turkey over concerns there'll be a surge in afghans seeking asylum. and a state of emergency is declared in parts of new york state ahead of the forecast arrival of hurricane henri. hello and welcome to the programme. "don't go to kabul airport." that's what americans hoping to leave afghanistan have been advised — unless instructed to do so. the state department said it wanted to avoid creating large crowds — and us defence officials have expressed concern about the possibility of attacks by islamic state militants. a week after the taliban seized power, their co—founder, mullah abdul ghani baradar, is in the capital for talks on forming a new government. our security correspondent, fr

mullah abdul ghani baradar is expected tojoin talks on establishing a new government. so far, britain has evacuated just under 2,500 people, but time is running out as fears grow for those not here, in hiding, worried for their lives. let's speak to the shadow foreign secretary lisa nandy — who this evening has published a letter she's written to the foreign secretary — asking his to urgently step up the evacuation efforts from afghanistan. good to have you with us. what more specifically would you like to see the foreign secretary do? well, my office is in touch with hundreds of people at the moment many coming directly to me to my inbox and what's up and friends in afghanistan, raising many of the issues that your report is put out there. the fact that people are being beaten, shot at and it checkpoints people are being asked to carry documentation that links them to the united kingdom in order to prove their eligibility that is documentation that makes them a target for the child evaluate checking those documents. their makeshift camps that have sprung up by peo

the group's co—founder and political chief, mullah abdul ghani baradar, has arrived in kabul. he is expected to form part of the new taliban—dominated government. he spent the last few years leading the taliban delegation at peace talks with the us in qatar. the taliban don't yet control the entire country. the panjshir valley, north of kabul, is once more a centre of resistance to their rule. anti—taliban forces claim to have retaken three districts in the north. back at the airport, time is running out for the evacuation. once it ends and the world's attention shifts elsewhere, many fear that life under the taliban is going to get a lot harder. frank gardner, bbc news. our correspondent, secunder kermani is in kabul has been speaking to the afghans who hope to be evacuated. he says the situation at the airport still seems extremely tense. well, it's still very chaotic. i was just speaking earlier to one young afghan whose father worked for the american embassy for 20 years, they had been told to go to the airport to be evacuated, tried for two days straight, but were una

senior taliban figures, including the group's co—founder, mullah baradar, arrive in kabulfor talks about establishing a new government. greece has erected a aokm fence on its border with turkey amid wanings of many afghan civillians fleeing their country. there have been clashes between australian police and anti—lockdown demonstrators in sydney and melbourne. animal welfare campaigners in the uk have welcomed new government proposals to stop puppy smuggling. good afternoon. welcome to bbc news. the us embassy has advised its citizens not to travel to kabul airport until asked — due to security threats outside the gates — as countries continue to try to evacuate those who want to leave afghanistan. it comes amid panic and chaos outside the airport as people try to flee taliban rule — with images on social media showing soldiers dealing with bodies. the taliban's co—founder, and head of its political wing, mullah abdul ghani baradar, has arrived in kabul. he's joined other senior militants for talks to establish a new government. with the latest on the situation at kabul airport

will there be a delegation going to doha tomorrow to meet with mullah baradar? because there are a lot of rumours that he has arrived in kabul and the current president, ashraf ghani has handed power over to him. can you give our viewers some clarity on that, please? mullah baradar is here in doha, he has not gone to kabul, these are just rumours. there is also a lot of concern from women in afghanistan, in kabul, they have been writing to me, they have been texting me, they are concerned that you will reimpose the regime of the 90s back in afghanistan, where women could not go to school, where the girls could not go to school, they could not work. can you give us some clarity on what your plans that? we have taken already many...of the country, and also, many provinces of the country. there are hundreds of schools for girls in the west. there, the girl students are studying. they are there, there is no sanction on them, they are continuing their studies and they are going to schools, in the past. in herat, for example, women are telling me that when they arrive

the group's co—founder and political chief, mullah abdul ghani baradar, has arrived in kabul. he is expected to form part of the new taliban—dominated government. he spent the last few years leading the taliban delegation at peace talks with the us in qatar. the taliban don't yet control the entire country. the panjshir valley, north of kabul, is once more a centre of resistance to their rule. anti—taliban forces claim to have retaken three districts in the north. back at the airport, time is running out for the evacuation. once it ends and the world's attention shifts elsewhere, many fear that life under the taliban is going to get a lot harder. frank gardner, bbc news. our afghanistan correspondent secunder kermani is in kabul and has been speaking to the afghans who hope to be evacuated. he says the situation at the airport still seems extremely tense. well, it's still very chaotic. i was speaking earlier to one young afghan whose father worked for the american embassy for 20 years, they had been told to go to the airport to be evacuated, tried for two days straight, bu

there have not been any names, or we know is that mullah i names, or we know is that mullah baradar is the head, the face of the taliban group, so far in the negotiations he is a very senior leader, but who is going to be the key figures? back in kampl? that will be decided. —— three. there are the senior leaders who have been talking to the international community but if you look at the sequence of what is happening, it looks like the behind—the—scenes talks are happening, we saw the taliban on the gate this morning, on the outskirts this morning, and then we were talking about the transfer of power, the ministers, the taliban talking about it too, now we hear about present ghani leaving, so it looks in the next few days that we will see the telephone taking chance. —— resident ghani. will see the telephone taking chance. -- resident ghani. thank you for caettin chance. -- resident ghani. thank you for getting us — chance. -- resident ghani. thank you for getting us up _ chance. -- resident ghani. thank you for getting us up to — chance. -- resident ghani. thank you fo

mullah abdul ghani baradar is expected to join talks on establishing a new government. so far, britain has evacuated just under 2,500 people, but time is running out as fears grow for those not here, in hiding, worried for their lives. this evening the shadow foreign secretary lisa nandy published a letter she's written to the foreign secretary — she's asking him to urgently step up the evacuation efforts from afghanistan — and says there are safety concerns when trying to leave the country. my office is in touch with hundreds of people at the moment, many of them filtered through labour mps but also coming directly to me through my inbox, through whatsapp, through friends in afghanistan. raising many of the issues that your report hasjust put out there. you know, the fact that people are being beaten, shot at, turned back at checkpoints. the fact that people are being asked to carry documentation that links them to the united kingdom in order to prove their eligibility but that is the documentation that makes them a target for the taliban who are checking those doc

mullah abdul ghani baradar is expected tojoin talks on establishing a new government. so far, britain has evacuated just under 2,500 people, but time is running out as fears grow for those not here, in hiding, worried for their lives. today, one of the taliban's most prominent leaders, abdul ghani baradar, returned to afghanistan after years in exile. what do we know about him? (tx gfx)well, he was one of the four men who founded the taliban back in 1994, and became a lynchpin of the insurgency, after the taliban were toppled by the us—led invasion then, in 2010, he was captured in a joint us—pakistani raid. but he was released in 2018. it was hoped he would encourage the taliban to engage in peace talks with them. fast forward 2 years — and he signs a deal; not with the afghan government, but with the trump administration. it culminates in the withdrawal of us troops. we know what happens next. 0ur security correspondent frank gardner says there have been reports of taliban violence against afghan citizens there are a number of chilling and disturbing reports wh

as we've been reporting, the taliban's co—founder, mullah baradar, is in kabul for talks about forming a new government, but what form will this look like? and of course the taliban has promised they will have an inclusive government. earlier i spoke to vanda felbab—brown, who's an afghanistan expert at the brookings institution think tank in washington dc. i began by asking her how different the taliban are now from when they were last in power. that was in 2001. we are all watching _ that was in 2001. we are all watching to _ that was in 2001. we are all watching to see _ that was in 2001. we are all watching to see what - that was in 2001. we are all watching to see what real i that was in 2001. we are all - watching to see what real change they will have. i think one area we can have a degree of certainty is that many more members of factions and influential leaders of the taliban do not want to destroy the country's economy and do it in post—modern tea in the way that the taliban in the 1990s did, but where any facets of modernity were seen as problematic the source of afghani

will there be a delegation going to doha tomorrow to meet with mullah baradar? because there are a lot of rumours that he has arrived in kabul and the current president, ashraf ghani has handed power over to him. can you give our viewers some clarity on that, please? mullah baradar is here in doha, he has not gone to kabul, these are just rumours. there is also a lot of concern from women in afghanistan, in kabul, they have been writing to me, they have been texting me, they are concerned that you will reimpose the regime of the 90s back in afghanistan, where women could not go to school, where the girls could not go to school, they could not work. can you give us some clarity on what your plans for that? we have taken already many...of the country, and also, many provinces of the country. there are hundreds of schools for girls in the west. there, the girl students are studying. they are there, there is no sanction on them, they are continuing their studies and they are going to schools, they were going in the past. in herat, for example, women are telling me t

the group's co—founder and political chief, mullah abdul ghani baradar, has arrived in kabul. he is expected to form part of the new taliban—dominated government. he spent the last few years leading the taliban delegation at peace talks with the us in qatar. the taliban don't yet control the entire country. the panjshir valley, north of kabul, is once more a centre of resistance to their rule. anti—taliban forces claim to have retaken three districts in the north. back at the airport, time is running out for the evacuation. once it ends and the world's attention shifts elsewhere, many fear that life under the taliban is going to get a lot harder. frank gardner, bbc news. the foreign office says the uk has airlifted nearly 4,000 people out of afghanistan, since kabul fell last weekend. but others fearing for their lives, having worked with british forces, believe they should be airlifted out too. our correspondent, frankie mccamley, has been speaking to one man, whom we've chosen not to identify for his safety. this morning, 200 evacuees arrived at brize norton, following t

mullah baradar is a co—founder of the taliban and one of its most senior leaders. in other developments, military flights evacuating diplomats and civilians have re—started at kabul�*s airport. access to the airport is now controlled by the taliban — says the vice admiral sir ben key, who is in charge of the uk evacuation. britain aims to bring out between 6,000—7,000 people from afghanistan — and the us says it is planning to evacuate up to 9,000 passengers per day. pentagon spokesmanjohn kirby added that the taliban has not interfered with the us evacuation efforts out of kabul. local reports say the streets of kabul are quiet on the second full day of taliban rule. militants are out in force, manning checkpoints across the city. let's listen back to some of that press conference held by the taliban spokesman zabihullah mujahid — in which he tried to reassure the rest of the world that afghanistan will not be used as a base for spreading terrorism. translation: it is very - understandable the international community is expressing worries about the sec

baradar. if confirmed though it would be the highest—level contact between the us and the taliban since the militants took kabul on 15th august so what were they meeting to discuss. bob grenier is a career cia officer who served as the agency's top counter—terrorism official from 2004 to 2006. it is great to have you on the programme. i hope we have a long time to talk, because the president is due to appear soon. let's talk about this meeting in kabul. i can think of a long list of things he might want to discuss, but presumably, initially, he wanted to get a feel about whether a delay was possible. i get a feel about whether a delay was ossible. , , , . get a feel about whether a delay was ossible. , ,, . ., �*, possible. i suspect that's true. i think everybody _ possible. i suspect that's true. i think everybody is focused - possible. i suspect that's true. i think everybody is focused very | possible. i suspect that's true. i - think everybody is focused very much on a tactical situ

the first is one of the taliban's co—founders, and its political leader, mullah abdul ghani baradar. he was freed from prison in pakistan — at the request of the us — to lead peace talks. he is the taliban's most public face and has addressed the afghan people via social media. mullah mohammad yaqoob is the son of the taliban's co—founder mullah 0mar. he swiftly rose to prominence after his father's death in 2013, and oversees the group's military operations. and sirajuddin haqqani is both a deputy leader of the taliban, and leader of the offshoot haqqani network. it's known for its deadly bomb attacks on afghan and nato forces. joining me now is dr antonio giustozzi, who is a senior research fellow at the royal united services institute and afghanistan expert. thank you very much for being with us on bbc news. i suppose the obvious place to start, i reeled off a load of names which will mean probably not very much to a lot of people watching, and i have to hold up people watching, and i have to hold up the hem, in some cases with those names, that applies to me too. what can y

mullah abdul ghani baradar is expected to join talks on establishing a new government. as the world's attention focuses on people trying to leave the country, concern grows for those who are not the, many living in fear, wondering what will happen next. frankie mccamley, bbc news. meanwhile, there have been calls for the uk to lobby the us to extend its deadline at the end of august for withdrawing troops from afghanistan. the chair of the defence committee has told the bbc the window for evacuating people from the country was "closing quickly" unless us troops stayed at the airport in kabul. our political correspondent ione wellsjoins us. what is the worry? the main concern is that, at this _ what is the worry? the main concern is that, at this stage, _ what is the worry? the main concern is that, at this stage, august - what is the worry? the main concern is that, at this stage, august the - is that, at this stage, august the sist is that, at this stage, august the 31st is when president biden says he wants troops out of the country, and the us are not only securing t

mullah baradar. they are saying that they are making progress in forming a government in afghanistan. they are ensuring that security across the country

it comes as the taliban's political leader, mullah abdul ghani baradar, is reported to have flown in from qatar to the south—eastern city of kandahar, near the border with pakistan. 0n the ground the taliban gave a public declaration of a nationwide amnesty with a call for government workers to return to their jobs without fear. in other news, rescue work following the deadly earthquake which struck haiti on saturday has been hampered by heavy rains brought by tropical storm grace. more than 1,900 people are now known to have died in the seven point 2—magnitude quake.

mullah abdul ghani baradar, one of the movement founders, returned to kandahar last night, mobbed by supporters still celebrating their success. a moment to savour for the man seen last year signing a deal with the trump administration, which helped set the scene for this remarkable return to power. in kabul, an uneasy calm. taliban fighters everywhere cementing control over a city that has changed out of all recognition since they were last here. a place where, for all the country's many problems, people have dared to hope. translation: i urge the taliban to let the youth and _ women continue their studies so they will advance. we will develop and achieve more gains, more than what we have achieved in the past 20 years. many still want to leave. this was the scene this morning near the french embassy. for all the taliban's talk of reconciliation, many are scared, willing to speak but not be named. at the airport, evacuations continue, the operation gathering pace. the ministry of defence says it expects half a dozen flights to the uk in the next 24—hours. yesterday we got about 70

mullah abdul ghani baradar, one of the movement founders, returned to kandahar last night, mobbed by supporters still celebrating their success. a moment to savour for the man seen last year signing a deal with the trump administration, which helped set the scene for this remarkable return to power. in kabul, an uneasy calm. taliban fighters everywhere cementing control over a city that has changed out of all recognition since they were last here. a place where, for all the country's many problems, people have dared to hope. translation: i urge the taliban to let the youth and women - continue their studies so that we will advance. we will develop and achieve more gains, more than what we have achieved in the past 20 years. many still want to leave. this was the scene this morning near the french embassy. for all the taliban's talk of reconciliation, many are scared, willing to speak but not be named. at the airport, evacuations continue, the operation gathering pace. the ministry of defence says it expects half a dozen flights to the uk in the next 2li—hours. to the uk in the next

baradar. the two sides, the former two enemies are need to talk and the taliban governed afghanistan needs to stabilise because the last thing that poor country needs now is another 20 years of conflict. frank gardner, another 20 years of conflict. frank gardner. a — another 20 years of conflict. frank gardner, a security _ another 20 years of conflict. frank gardner, a security correspondent. thank you for being with me over the last hour. i know you will stay with me in the coming minutes. this is bbc world news, i'm matthew amroliwala. there's been a twin bomb attack with reports of gunfire outside kabul airport as western governments try to evacuate civilians from the city. initial reports point to a suicide bombing — it's thought at least 13 are dead, including children. the us government says there have been american casualties. it comes as thousands had still been gathering outside the airport — despite clear warnings of an imminent attack.

his deputies include mullah abdul ghani baradar — one of the co—founders of the taliban — who heads the political office in doha. the group's military commission is headed by mullah mohammad yaqoob, the son of the other taliban co—founder, the late mullah omar. sirajuddin haqqani heads the armed combat network, reportedly behind a series of suicide attacks and hostage taking. the un says estimates for the taliban's annual income range from $300 million to $1.6 billion a year, primarily from criminal activities, including drug production and trafficking. heroin, of course. the headlines on bbc news... desperate scenes at kabul airport, as hundreds try to leave afghanistan, following the taliban takeover of the capital. a minute's silence is held for the five victims of the plymouth shooting. and double jabbed people in england and northern ireland will no longer have to isolate, if they've come into contact with someone with covid. other news now — a minute's silence has been held in plymouth, to remember the five people shot dead on thursday. the home office is asking police forces