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Evacuees from Afghanistan disembark a Spanish military plane as part of their evacuation at Al Maktoum Internationa Dubai, United Arab Emirates, August 20, 2021. Ministry of Defense of Spain/Handout via REUTERS - 

World powers struggled on Friday (Aug 20) to hasten evacuations from Afghanistan after reports of Taliban reprisals, as US President Joe Biden insisted that the chaos following the American troop withdrawal had not diminished Washington's international credibility.

Facing a torrent of criticism at home and abroad for his handling of the withdrawal and the subsequent Taliban conquest of Afghanistan, Biden pledged that every American who wanted to would be evacuated, with about 13,000 flown out so far.

"I have seen no question of our credibility around the world from our allies," Biden said in a speech from the White House.

"We are united with our closest partners to execute the mission at hand," he said.

He said he could not promise what the final outcome would be in Afghanistan, where the United States has waged a 20-year war. But he promised to work with other countries to set "harsh conditions" for any cooperation or recognition of the Taliban, based on their human rights record.

"They're looking to gain some legitimacy, they're going to have to figure out how they're going to retain that country," he said. "And there's going to be some harsh conditions, strong conditions we're going to apply that will depend on ... how well they treat women and girls, how they treat their citizens."

Thousands of desperate Afghans clutching papers, children and some belongings thronged Kabul airport where gun-toting Taliban members urged those without travel documents to go home. In and around the airport, 12 people have been killed since Sunday, NATO and Taliban officials said.

Former government officials told harrowing tales of hiding from the group, as armed gunmen went from door to door. One family of 16 described running to the bathroom, lights off and children's mouths covered, in fear for their lives with the militants at their door.

"Those who may be in danger have no clear way out," UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesperson Shabia Mantoo said, urging neighbouring countries to keep borders open.

The speed with which the Islamist group conquered Afghanistan, as foreign troops were withdrawing, surprised even their own leaders and left power vacuums.

Biden reiterated his contention that the US-funded and -armed Afghan military had been expected to put up more of a fight.

"The overwhelming consensus was that they (the Afghan government forces) were not going to collapse ... they were not going to put down their arms and take off," Biden said.

The Taliban called for unity, asking imams at Friday prayers to persuade people not to leave. Residents in Kabul and four other cities said attendance was low, though prayers passed off without incident.

Washington has about 5,800 soldiers controlling the airport but acknowledged it does not have a grip on how many US citizens were in Afghanistan//CNA

British citizens and dual nationals residing in Afghanistan board a military plane for evacuation from Kabul airport on Aug 16, 2021, in this handout picture obtained by Reuters on Aug 17, 2021. (Photo: Ben Shread/UK MOD) - 

Several NATO countries pressed on Friday (Aug 20) for evacuations from Kabul to continue beyond the current US deadline of Aug 31 because so many people seeking safe passage following the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan are stuck outside the airport.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg described the situation outside Kabul airport as "very dire and difficult". Thousands of foreign nationals and people who may be under threat from the Taliban are desperately trying to get into the airport.

"The US has stated that the timeline ends on Aug 31, but several of our allies raised ... the need to potentially extend that to be able to get more people out," he said after an emergency meeting of NATO foreign ministers.

Although the deadline for the withdrawal of thousands of US troops who are crucial for securing Kabul airport is Aug 31, President Joe Biden said this week that they may stay longer to facilitate the evacuation of Americans.

More than 18,000 people have been flown out of Kabul since the Taliban took over the capital on Sunday, according to a NATO official.

Stoltenberg said that many of the 30 NATO nations had sent planes to evacuate vulnerable people, but there was more capacity on those aircraft than there were people ready to board them because of the chaos outside the airport.

He again urged the Taliban to allow the safe passage of all foreign nationals and Afghans seeking to leave.

The foreign ministers warned the Taliban not to let Afghanistan become a breeding ground for terrorism. The Islamist group was ousted from power in 2001 after a US-led invasion launched following the Sep 11 al Qaeda attacks on the United States.

"For the last 20 years, we have successfully denied terrorists a safe haven in Afghanistan from which to instigate attacks," the ministers said in a statement after their virtual meeting.

Stoltenberg said earlier this week NATO had "capabilities to strike terrorist groups from a distance" if militant groups try to re-establish themselves in Afghanistan and plan attacks against allied countries.

After almost two decades, NATO this summer completed military operations in Afghanistan and withdrew most troops from the country following Biden's decision to end the war.

The alliance still has a diplomatic representation in Kabul. Headquartered in Brussels, it also serves as a forum to coordinate national measures in Afghanistan, such as the evacuation of citizens//CNA

Indonesian Vice President Ma'ruf Amin delivering a keynote address at the Congress of All-Indonesian Islamic Health Efforts Council (MUKISI) online here on Saturday (21/8/2021) - 

The COVID-19 pandemic has impelled several health facilities, including hospitals, to improve their quality of health services to the community via various innovations, Indonesian Vice President Ma'ruf Amin stated.

The vice president made the statement while delivering a keynote address at the Congress of All-Indonesian Islamic Health Efforts Council (MUKISI) online here on Saturday.

"I think the pandemic has exerted tremendous pressure on healthcare. However, this pressure also encourages hospitals to create innovations to improve their quality of health services," the vice president stated from his official residence.

Apart from enhancing their quality of health services, hospitals also create various innovations to realize sharia-certified health services in Indonesia.

The vice president is optimistic that all hospitals would maintain their quality of services and safeguard all health workers from contracting COVID-19.

"Despite increasing burden on hospitals during the pandemic, I am optimistic that they would continue to maintain their quality and continue to protect their health workers, who are at the forefront in providing health services during the pandemic," he remarked.

Amin praised MUKISI and all sharia hospitals in Indonesia for treating COVID-19 patients in accordance with Islamic values.

"I would like to thank MUKISI and praise them and all other sharia hospitals that remain committed to treating COVID-19 patients by implementing Islamic values, maqashidul sharia al Islamiyah, which is the goal of Islamic sharia," he emphasized.

These sharia principles encompass upholding the patient's faith through a spiritual approach, spiritual strengthening through good religious guidance, saving the patient's life by offering the best health services according to procedures, and providing good advice on health issues//ANT

People walk past a closed restaurant, as restaurants were forced to close for four weeks, after a Belgian federal government decision in order to tackle a surging second wave COVID-19 in the country, in Brussels, Belgium Oct 19, 2020. (Photo: REUTERS/Francois Lenoir) - 

Belgium will scrap COVID-19 restrictions on restaurants and cafes, allowing them to operate under their usual hours as part of the government's reopening plan and as more than two-thirds of the population have been vaccinated.

But the measures, which will take effect on Sep 1, will not apply to Brussels, home to the European Commission, the European Parliament and NATO, because of the low vaccination rate in some parts of the city.

Prime Minister Alexander De Croo urged Belgians who have yet to get their jabs to do so as soon as possible, adding that vaccination would be mandatory for healthcare workers.

"Today, more than eight out of 10 adults are fully vaccinated. We can now take this further step," he told a news conference.

While there will be no limits on the number of people sitting together at a table and no social distancing curbs, restaurant diners and cafe goers will still have to wear masks.

Restrictions and mask wearing requirements will be scraped for indoor events with up to 200 people and up to 400 for outdoor events. Events exceeding those numbers will only be open to people who have been vaccinated and have a negative virus test or have recovered from the virus.

Discotheques and dance halls will be allowed to re-open on Oct 1.

Seventy-two per cent of the population have received at least one jab of vaccines compared with 62 per cent of young people between 12-17 years, according to figures released by authorities on Friday. Belgium has 1.16 million confirmed cases, 25,312 deaths and 77,129 patients admitted to hospitals, the data showed//CNA