For the first time since the end of 2001, Afghans are starting over without a U.S. military presence in their country.

And, as the Taliban consolidates its power and sets about forming a new government, a spokesman for the group offered assurances Tuesday to those concerned about how they will rule. 

CGTN correspondent Zmaryalai Abasin reports for Kabul.

To discuss what’s next for Afghanistan:

• Omar Samad is a former Afghan ambassador to France and Canada.
• Michael O’Hanlon is a senior fellow and the director of research in foreign policy at the Brookings Institution. 
• Mohammad Naciri is regional director of UN Women for Asia and the Pacific.
• Qinduo Xu is a senior fellow at the Pangoal Institution and host of CGTN’s Dialogue Weekend.

For more:

Biden calls Afghanistan withdrawal a ‘success’: ‘I was not going to extend this forever war, and I was not extending a forever exit’ https://t.co/OS6Dt2cqIA

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) August 31, 2021

The Taliban says Afghanistan is a “free and sovereign” nation as it hails the exit of US troops after 20 years of occupation.

Taliban fighters on Tuesday took charge of Kabul’s airport as last US soldiers flew out https://t.co/WhsuLBDxmX

🔴 Follow this thread for the latest ⤵ pic.twitter.com/wzqLe1QFPU

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) August 31, 2021

Less than 40% of Americans approve of President Joe Biden's handling of the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, and three quarters wanted U.S. forces to remain in the country until all American civilians could get out, a Reuters/Ipsos poll said https://t.co/U1Sn8KkDLM pic.twitter.com/YCbu1c8U6N

— Reuters (@Reuters) August 31, 2021