The streets of the Afghan city of Khost have seen a procession of coffins draped with the US, UK and French flags. Some of the coffins have NATO’s insignia and crowds in their thousands attended the parade. The Taliban led celebrations happened hours after the last US plane left Kabu airport.
In the Taliban stronghold of Khandahar, thousands lined the streets as Taliban members waved white flags to celebrate what the group is referring to as its “independence day”.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid hailed the Islamist group’s “victory” over western forces as he stood on the runway at Kabul airport.
The spokesman was surrounded by Taliban “special forces” who were clad in American military hardware such as flak jackets and night-vision goggles.
He said: “It is an historical day and an historical moment.
“We liberated our country from great power.
“This is a big lesson for other invaders and a lesson for the world.”
US President Joe Biden said in a statement: “It was the unanimous recommendation of the Joint Chiefs and of all of our commanders on the ground to end our airlift mission as planned.
“Their view was that ending our military mission was the best way to protect the lives of our troops.
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These commitments include allowing safe passage for Americans still in Afghanistan.
Mr Sullivan said: “It’s going to be up to them and we will wait and see by their actions how we end up responding in terms of the economic and developmental assistance.”
The US aid will not go directly to the Taliban, but will flow through “international institutions”.
Mr Sullivan’s proposal to extend aid to Taliban controlled Afghanistan was criticised by US Republicans.
US Senator Marsha Blackburn, a Tennessee Republican, tweeted: “First, we armed the Taliban with over $80 billion in US equipment.
“Now we’re considering giving them more aid?”