With the Taliban's first major international press conference coming to an end, The New Arab is signing off for today's live coverage from Afghanistan. 

Continue to check our site for all major developments.

Have a good evening. 

Highlights of the Taliban's first press conference, convened by Zabiullah Mujahid:

- Congratulated the Afghan people on their "emancipation", stating that "freedom and independence is the legitimate right of every nation"

- No foreign forces or territories will be allowed to use Afghanistan for attacks

- The Taliban have offered amnesty to all members of the international community, including the United States, and that "nobody will be harmed" and no "grudges will be borne". 

- "Women will be very active in society, but within the framework of Islam"

Defiant Afghan former Vice President vows new fight with Taliban: 

Afghanistan's defiant former vice president made one thing clear as the Taliban seized control of the capital following the collapse of his government - he will not surrender.

It appears Amrullah Saleh has retreated to the country's last remaining holdout: the Panjshir Valley northeast of Kabul.

"I won't dis-appoint millions who listened to me. I will never be under one ceiling with Taliban. NEVER," he wrote in English on Twitter on Sunday, before going underground.

Read the full article below:

Afghan media defiant as Taliban representative interviewed by woman anchor: 

Afghanistan’s TOLO News has resumed broadcasting with female presenters on-screen amid a climate of fear for women journalists working under Taliban rule.

In scenes unthinkable two decades ago, a Taliban media representative was interviewed by woman journalist Beheshta Arghband about security in the capital and reports of lootings in residents' homes.

Read the full article below.

Islamic Party leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar said he is heading to Doha on Tuesday to meet with the Taliban delegation, accompanied by former Afghan President Hamid Karzai and head of the High Council for National Reconciliation, Abdullah Abdullah, the Al Jazeera news channel reported on Monday.

The New Arab has received reports that prominent Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahib will make a first appearance to international media later today.

Mujahib is considered to be a shadowy figure within the Talib establishment, with his appearance a key turning point in Taliban-international communication

Russia praise "positive signals" from Taliban, as Taliban attempt to reassure a "very nervous" Afghan population of its legitimacy.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has also called on all ethnic groups to convene to discuss the breakdown of order in the country, and how best to solve Afghanistan's ensuing crises. 

Local Afghani news outlet Pajhwok News has reported that there have been air strikes in Kabul's Deh Sabz district. These air strikes are likely to have been US-ordered. 

In the Jordanian capital Amman, Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said that Turkey is in talks with all sides in Afghanistan, including the Taliban. 

Cavusoglu commented that he is heartened by the Taliban's comments that they would protect the diplomatic mission in Afghanistan, including the safety of Turkish nationals, yet these would need to be shown in their actions. 

President Joe Biden defended the US pullout from Afghanistan on Monday evening, saying he stood by the policy and that it was time to leave after 20 years of conflict.

"I am president of the United States of America and the buck stops with me," Biden said in a much-awaited televised address from the White House, after several days of silence on the momentous developments.

As scenes of mayhem unfolded in the Afghan capital, Biden said he was "deeply saddened" by the turn of events - and promised to "speak out" on the rights of women now facing a return to Taliban rule.

But he was steadfast in insisting he did not regret pulling out America's troops - despite a torrent of criticism of the chaotic end to two decades of US-led military intervention.

"I stand squarely behind my decision," Biden said. "After 20 years, I've learned the hard way that there was never a good time to withdraw US forces." 

Qatar said on Monday it was doing its utmost to help evacuate diplomats and foreign staff in international organisations seeking to leave Afghanistan.

Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, whose country has been playing a key role in trying to reach a political settlement in Afghanistan, told a news conference in Amman that Doha was also seeking a peaceful transition after the withdrawal of U.S. troops.

 The Taliban declared an “amnesty” across Afghanistan and urged women to join its government on Tuesday, trying to calm nerves across a tense capital city that only the day before saw chaos at its airport as people tried to flee their rule.