Two died as anti-Taliban protests spread across Afghanistan

By Our Correspondent, with reports from Aljazera

At least two people were killed in Asadabad city when the Taliban opened fire as Afghans mark independence day. 

 People carry the national flag at a protest held during the Afghan independence day in Kabul, Afghanistan August 19, 2021 People carry the national flag at a protest held during the Afghan independence day in Kabul, Afghanistan August 19, 2021. 

At least two people have been killed after the Taliban opened fire at a crowd marking independence day in Asadabad leading to a stampede, witnesses told Al Jazeera.

 It was not immediately clear if the casualties were the result of the stampede or the shooting.

 Taliban made no immediate comment on the incident.

 In Jalalabad, Taliban fighters fired at people waving the Afghan flag during independence day celebrations, injuring a man and a teenage boy .

Al Jazeera’s Charlotte Bellis, reporting from Kabul, said: “There were some isolated protests linked to the flag in Kabul as well, with people, including women, walking down the streets past Taliban fighters waving the old flag and saying: ‘Our flag is our identity.'” 

Meanwhile, evacuations continue from Kabul’s airport. US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday he will keep soldiers in Afghanistan until every American is evacuated, even if that means going beyond his August 31 deadline.