He added that 17 border crossings with Afghanistan are open and people with valid documents can travel. Iftikhar said Pakistan always offered help and assistance to Afghanistan, adding that his country even offered assistance to the former Afghan government but it preferred India.

Pakistan is supporting efforts to fly humanitarian supplies into Afghanistan where medical stocks are dwindling and the airport in Kabul crippled by a terrorist attack

Long a target for militants, Hossaini made his escape from Afghanistan after learning that the Taliban "really hated" a recent story that he and a foreign journalist had covered.

Central Punjab Cricket Association chief Abdullah Khan Sumbal briefed the prime minister on domestic cricket with a special focus on school cricket.

If there is no peace in Afghanistan, there would be ungoverned spaces where terrorist groups could potentially find safe havens as before

We are consulting with all the regional countries to have a coordinated approach on the issue of not only the recognition but going forward what plans will have to be undertaken.

"It was a failure somewhere," General Frank McKenzie, the head of U.S. Central Command, told reporters hours after the attack

Total of 109,200 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan since Aug. 14, says White House spokeswoman

Any sustainable solution in Afghanistan must include Pakistan,” Senator Graham said, calling the region “very complicated” and the period “dangerous”.

"You will see him soon, God willing," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told reporters this week when asked about Akhundzada's whereabouts.

The head of US forces at the airport, Rear Admiral Peter Vasely, is in constant contact with the Taliban official overseeing security around the airport.

The United States has said recognition of any future Taliban regime would be contingent on it not allowing Afghan territory to be used as a base for terrorism and respect for human rights, particularly those of women.