U.S. moves diplomatic mission from Kabul to Qatar

All American diplomats left Kabul and the United States has suspended its diplomatic presence in Afghanistan, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday, hours after the U.S. military completed its withdrawal from the country. After 20 years of war, Blinken said Washington had shifted its diplomatic presence from Kabul to Doha, the Qatari capital where the Taliban has a political office."Our troops have departed Afghanistan," Blinken said in a wide-ranging address on policy toward Afghanistan. "A new chapter of America's engagement with Afghanistan has begun.” "It's one in which we will lead with our diplomacy. The military mission is over; a new diplomatic mission has begun." Blinken said the United States, in cooperation with allies and partners, will continue a “relentless” effort to help Americans, foreign nationals, and at-risk Afghans depart either overland or by flight once the Kabul airport re-opens.He said less than 200 U.S. citizens remained in the country -- but likely closer to just 100 -- and wanted to leave.

Earlier,the United States military has said that it is investigating the reported killing of nine Afghan civilians after it conducted an airstrike on Sunday. US Central Command said in a statement that the strike targeted a vehicle carrying at least one person associated with the Afghan branch of the Islamic State group. It said, there were a number of substantial and powerful subsequent explosions after the strike hit the car that was being targeted.The US has been on high alert since a suicide bomber killed more than 169 civilians and 13 US troops outside the airport last Thursday.
Meanwhile, a US anti-missile system on Monday intercepted multiple rockets flying over the capital towards the airport. The White House said, operation is continuing uninterruptedly at the airport in Kabul after a rocket attack. The Afghanistan capital Kabul was rocked by a series of rocket attacks on Monday. According to reports, the attacks in the vicinity of Kabul airport were intercepted by US Missile Shield. These attacks have come barely a day before the US deadline to complete it's withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. The US pullout will bring curtains to the two decade long military conflict.Meanwhile, Islamic State-Khorasan Group has claimed responsibility for the rocket attacks on Kabul airport today. The claim of responsibility was carried by the militant group's media arm, the Aamaq news agency.

U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandihas said, the Afghan people need governments, humanitarians and ordinary people to stay with them and stay the course. In a statement, he said, the international community must meet the critical humanitarian needs in Afghanistan and in countries around the region with robust and urgent response.