Live UpdateFrom the Liveblog of Sunday, August 15, 2021

Afghan leaders form council to coordinate transfer of power to Taliban

By AP 15 August 2021, 7:08 pm Edit

Afghan leaders have created a coordination council to meet with the Taliban and manage the transfer of the power, after the religious militia’s lightning offensive sweeps to the capital, Kabul.

In a statement posted on social media by former president Hamid Karzai, he says the body will be led by the head of the High Council for National Reconciliation, Abdullah Abdullah, as well as the leader of Hizb-e-Islami, Gulbudin Hekmatyar, and himself.

The statement says the move is “to prevent chaos and reduce the suffering of the people,” and to manage peace and a “peaceful transfer.”