Poverty, lack of food and resources awaits as Taliban assumes power

The Taliban celebrated the withdrawal of US-led NATO forces after 20 years of war, but for millions of Afghans, life remains difficult and insecure in a crumbling economy.

The Taliban, which has taken control of the country for the second time, celebrated its victory, saying that Afghanistan is finally a "free and sovereign" nation.

US President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan was the best available option to stop the country's longest military campaign.

Government workers have not been paid for months, and banks are no longer functional as the country was cut off by international financial institutions after the Taliban took over the country on 15 August.

More than half a million Afghans have been internally displaced due to months of deadly fighting between Taliban fighters and government troops.

UN chief Antonio Guterres on Tuesday warned of a looming "humanitarian catastrophe", adding that basic services were threatening to "completely" collapse.

Charles Stratford, Al Jazeera's correspondent, said there were growing concerns about the formation of a new government in Afghanistan and how the Taliban intend to deal with the country's ill-fated economy.

There are huge questions about governance in terms of service delivery and the management of a thriving economy," said Stratford, Kabul report.

He pointed out that the decision - by some international institutions, such as the Wordbank and the IMF - to pay aid to freeze the country represents another major obstacle for the Taliban.

On Wednesday, Afghanistan's central bank board member asked US President Joe Biden and the IMF to release funds for the country. The United States raised nearly $ 9.5 billion in assets owned by the Afghan central bank last month.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the US military interference in Afghanistan had achieved nothing but disaster and loss of life on all sides and showed that it was impossible for foreign values ​​to disappear on other nations.

"US forces have been present in this territory for 20 years and have been trying for 20 years ... to civilize the people who live there, to break their own norms and living standards in the broadest possible sense of the word, even if it is about the political organization of society, "Putin said.

"The result is only tragedy and loss of life for those who have done it, the United States, and even more so for those who live on the territory of Afghanistan. The result is zero, if not negative all around."