Taliban deploys special forces at Kabul airport after US evacuation: spokesman

KABUL - The Taliban deployed special forces at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Afghanistan's capital Kabul early Tuesday, hours after the last US forces were evacuated from the airport, a Taliban spokesman confirmed.

The Taliban's Badri special forces have been deployed at Kabul airport. "Security and safety is ensured in the airport," spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told reporters at the airport on Tuesday.

Aug 31 is the deadline set by US President Joe Biden for the withdrawal of US troops from the Central Asian country.

"We are ready to secure the airport. Everything will be backed to normal soon. The US forces have left a lot of mess at the airport. It is a technical issue and will take time to be solved, and the efforts are underway to restart commercial flights as soon as possible," Mujahid said.

He said Afghanistan has become "completely free and independent" after the US withdrawal.

The Taliban intended to have economic and trade ties with all countries including the United States, Mujahid said, adding "every country can have good relations and ties with Afghanistan."

The final evacuation flight was conducted by the US military on the last hours of Monday night, airlifting the last US troops and non-military personnel back home one day before the Aug 31 deadline.