Despite US claims that they have been training and strengthening the country's military and administration during the last decade or so, it took about a fortnight for the Taliban to regain control of the whole of Afghanistan.

Now almost 20 years after 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, the Taliban has effectively seized control of the country while the American-led occupiers are rushing to escape.

The international community has reacted to the Taliban takeover of the Afghan capital with some politicians, including those in the West, criticizing the outcome of their 20 year presence in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan’s runaway, former president Ashraf Ghani vows to return to the country and demand “justice” for Afghans, a few days after he fled just as advancing Taliban militants arrived at the gates of the capital, Kabul, to complete a takeover of the country.

The UAE Foreign Ministry said the country had welcomed Ghani and his family on humanitarian grounds.

Several countries, entities and personalities have been reacting to the Taliban takeover following the United States’ abrupt military withdrawal.

Beijing calls on the Taliban to keep its promises of an inclusive government and ensure the safety of Afghans and foreign citizens.

The meeting between Zarif and Yong came less than 24 hours after the Taliban laid siege to Kabul, forcing the sitting Afghan president Ashraf Ghani to flee to an undisclosed location.

The US-backed Afghan leader’s over-reliance on Washington and failure to mobilize Afghans were some of the miscalculations that prematurely ended his innings in power.

The Taliban militant group overruns the presidential palace in the Afghan capital Kabul.