Afghan President Flees The Country As The Taliban Enters Kabul

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled the country as Taliban fighters entered the capital of Kabul as the group continues its rapid advance to retake the country. Taliban negotiators are making their way to the presidential palace to prepare for a 'transfer' of power.

Afghani officials blasted Ghani for leaving and plan work with the Taliban "to prevent chaos and reduce the suffering of the people."

"The fact that the former Afghan president left the country and put the people and country in such a bad situation, God will hold him accountable, and the people of Afghanistan will also judge him [for doing so]," the Afghan Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah said in a prerecorded statement.

"Once again, I request patience for you and may God help you and be with you, and that these difficult days pass and a solution is realized for the peaceful living of the Afghan people," Abdullah added.

The Taliban has been rapidly advancing across Afghanistan since U.S. forces began to leave the country. They have met minimal resistance from Afghan forces and claimed they entered Kabul after hearing reports that security forces had left their posts.

"We are hearing crackles of gunfire here and there, but there are not reports of... street-to-street fighting or Afghan security forces amassing in specific areas in order to prevent their entry. As far as we are aware, and it is dark here, so we are not able to go around and witness these events, they are moving gently across the city," CNN reporter Paton Walsh said.

As the Taliban advances through Kabul, U.S. troops were helping evacuate staff from the U.S. Embassy. U.S. citizens trying to flee the country were asked to shelter in place as the fighting had broken out at the Kabul airport.

Other countries are also sending soldiers to help evacuate their citizens from the country.

The Taliban also captured Bagram airbase, which was previously run by the U.S. The base was also used as a prison and housed over 5,000 inmates from the Taliban and ISIS.