Aug 31, 2021: In a press conference from Kabul airport, the Taliban have hailed the departure of US troops after nearly 20 years of occupation, calling their departure a “historic moment” and declaring that the country is now a “free and independent nation”.

Speaking to reporters at Hamid Karzai International Airport on Tuesday, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said his group’s victory “belongs to all of us”.

“We have no doubt that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is a free and independent country,” he said.

He also promised that Afghanistan would maintain “working diplomatic relations” with the West and vowed that Afghans would “protect our freedom, liberty and Islamic values.”

Earlier, the head of US Central Command, Marine General Frank McKenzie, announced that the last US troops sent to evacuate American citizens and Afghans who want to escape the Taliban would arrive just before midnight, have left Kabul.

“We did not get everybody out that we wanted to get out. But I think if we stayed another 10 days, we would not get everybody out that we wanted to get out. And there still would have been people disappointed. It’s a tough situation.”

President Joe Biden set August 31 as the deadline for his resignation earlier this year.

Meanwhile, with its growing investment in Afghanistan, its “massive investment” in Pakistan, as well as its geopolitical interests at stake, China has made progress in the region since the withdrawal of US troops from Kabul and is watching the group closely.

According to Beijing, the country wants to give the Taliban “a place to prove itself”, while urging Washington DC to play its part in “cleaning up the mess” after the evacuation.

Kabul residents woke up early on Tuesday under full control of the Taliban after the complete withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan.

According to Al Jazeera correspondents, the atmosphere in the capital is calm after a late night of celebrations.

On the other hand, in the first statement since the pull out, US President Joe Biden defended his decision to stick to Tuesday’s deadline for the withdrawal of US troops. “The world will remind the Taliban to keep its promise to allow a safe passage for those who want to leave Afghanistan,” he said.

“Now, our 20-year military presence in Afghanistan is over,” said Biden, who thanked the US military for the dangerous withdrawal. He plans to address the American people on Tuesday afternoon.

Biden also said the US had long since achieved its goal of ousting the Taliban in 2001, who the US believed were harboring al-Qaeda militants who had masterminded the 9/11 attacks on the United States.

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