Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov slams the EU foreign policy chief's recent remarks about Afghanistan, saying it is regrettable that the bloc is more concerned about Moscow and Beijing supposedly taking control of the situation in the conflict-ridden country rather than the future of the nation itself.

Russian President Putin denounces the West’s policy of sending people who have been evacuated from Afghanistan to countries near Russia, saying he doesn’t want the militants to sneak into the region under the guise of refugees.

Several people are reportedly killed in Afghanistan's northeastern city of Asadabad when members of the Taliban fire on people waving the national flag at an Independence Day rally and spark a stampede.

As the political and security uncertainty in Afghanistan remains far from resolved following the Taliban takeover, world countries are weighing their diplomatic options in dealing with the militant group.

The takeover of the Afghan capital Kabul by the Taliban has put into perspective the West’s 20-year-long war in the country.

Here is the latest top stories from Press TV on August 16, 2021.