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UPDATE: The Chief of Staff to President Ashraf Ghani has taken to his Twitter account to urge the people of Kabul, ‘Please don’t worry. There is no problem. The situation of Kabul is under control.’ Follow our LIVE blog for all the latest updates: http://aje.io/canptv pic.twitter.com/301Gf4bqGe

Taliban leadership release statement saying they have instructed their forces not to cross the gates of Kabul and take the city by force: “Negotiations are underway to ensure that the transition process is completed safely and securely." LIVE updates: http://aje.io/canptv pic.twitter.com/x0F4fXY5sL

UPDATE: Taliban source has confirmed to Al Jazeera that the group has entered Kabul. “He said that the leadership is asking everybody to be calm, that they come with a message of peace,” said Al Jazeera’s Charlotte Bellis, from Kabul. LIVE updates: http://aje.io/canptv pic.twitter.com/f3RVpAO6a2

Suhail Shaheen, Taliban’s international media spokesman, told Al Jazeera that the group has not just yet entered Kabul city and is counting on the government’s cooperation for the peaceful transfer of power. Follow our LIVE blog for the latest updates: http://aje.io/canptv pic.twitter.com/eUfAR0OICm

UPDATE: Afghanistan will have a “peaceful transfer of power” to a transitional gov't, says Afghan Interior Minister Abdul Sattar Mirzakwal http://aje.io/ft6puj pic.twitter.com/ossvOMnNcq

A source close to President Ashraf Ghani has denied reports that he has fled the country, saying the president spent most of the morning in the garden of the ARG Presidential Palace with the first lady. Follow our LIVE blog for the latest updates: http://aje.io/canptv pic.twitter.com/BuUXYLYieQ

Germany’s army is sending A400M transport aircraft to Kabul with 30 paratroopers each on board to evacuate embassy staff and their Afghan helpers as Taliban fighters surround the Afghan capital, local media reported. LIVE updates: http://aje.io/canptv pic.twitter.com/FQuJYyEdeb

"Pakistan will continue to support the efforts for political settlement. We hope all Afghan sides will work together to resolve this internal political crisis.” - Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri, Pakistan foreign ministry spokesman. LIVE updates: http://aje.io/canptv pic.twitter.com/zUMyM4iw5t

“We are talking and awaiting a peaceful transfer" Taliban ready to take Afghan capital https://aje.io/7qrdz2 pic.twitter.com/EvOf45IyyU

UPDATE: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has left Afghanistan for Tajikistan, a senior interior ministry official told Reuters news agency. LIVE updates: https://aje.io/3czmab pic.twitter.com/p4TgSvkoQ4

Taliban fighters surrounded Afghanistan’s capital Kabul as the world waited to see what negotiations around a transfer of power would result in — in pictures https://aje.io/p54fuw pic.twitter.com/XYcfLO7j0p

Pakistan says it is ‘closely following’ situation in Afghanistan, while its embassy is open and ‘offering assistance’ to those seeking consular help or visas https://aje.io/7bbmje pic.twitter.com/Q1HiAt29Od

Afghanistan is among the top 40 most populated countries in the world. Here are 10 maps to help you understand the South Asian country https://aje.io/u64f9w pic.twitter.com/QzA6FvxCQX

UPDATE: Taliban enters Afghan presidential palace in Kabul after President Ghani leaves Afghanistan. LIVE updates: https://aje.io/qmhvtv pic.twitter.com/fdtbtCj5jn

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said he left the country in order to avoid bloodshed, as the Taliban entered the presidential palace in Kabul. Follow our LIVE blog for the latest updates: https://aje.io/ae8w6e pic.twitter.com/trXE4wB8HF

Taliban fighters have entered Afghanistan’s presidential palace hours after President Ashraf Ghani fled the country — in pictures https://aje.io/jhsyub pic.twitter.com/sqUZGdssMr

Armed Taliban fighters have entered Afghanistan’s presidential palace in Kabul hours after President Ashraf Ghani fled the country. LIVE updates: https://aje.io/3yjpw3 pic.twitter.com/oPIGxxKT1V

Here is an animated map showing how and when the Taliban captured 26 out of Afghanistan's 34 provincial capitals. https://aje.io/3bw5y5  pic.twitter.com/cFwzMbJB3Q