As America's longest war came to an end, Afghanistan saw its first day without US troops on the ground in nearly two decades. The departure occurred after a tense final day of a desperate operation to evacuate tens of thousands of Americans and Afghans who had aided the US-led war effort — a mission that resulted in the deaths of dozens of Afghans and 13 US troops in an attack.
As the remaining US military flew out of Afghanistan, Taliban fighters took control of Kabul's airport. The US withdrawal was a tense situation for Afghans, whose lives have been at risk because they cooperated with US or allied forces, putting an end to weeks of frantic efforts to win a coveted position on a US evacuation flight.
Radio Islam International interviewed Ali Latifi, a renowned journalist in Afghanistan.