Taliban Smash Wine Bottles, Destroy Children's Books After Taking Over Norway Embassy

The Taliban have taken over the Norwegian embassy in Kabul and took to smashing wine bottles and destroying children's books at the establishment.

"Guns apparently are less dangerous"

Norwegian ambassador to Iran Ambassador Sigvald Hauge wrote on Twitter on Wednesday that the Taliban ¡°say they will return it to us later¡± and added ¡°but first wine bottles are to be smashed and children's books destroyed.¡±

Norway vacated its diplomatic post in the Afghan capital with the help of fellow Scandinavian neighbour Denmark before the Taliban took over the city.

Taliban has now taken over the Norwegian Embassy in Kabul. Say they will return it to us later. But first wine bottles are to be smashed and childrens¡¯ books destroyed. Guns apparently less dangerous. Foto: Aftenposten, Norway pic.twitter.com/0zWmJXmQeX

¡ª Ambassador Sigvald Hauge (@NorwayAmbIran) September 8, 2021

Earlier, the Taliban had said that they would not interfere with the diplomatic establishments of foreign nations, including embassies.

The Taliban are now forming the government in Afghanistan that is likely to be led by Hibatullah Akhundzada. Taliban's hardline interim government includes specially designated global terrorist Sirajuddin Haqqani as the acting interior minister.

Reddit

Norway forced to halt evacuation of its citizens

Last month, Denmark and Norway had announced that they are closing their embassies in Kabul and evacuating their staff as the security situation worsened in Afghanistan.

"We have decided to temporarily close our embassy in Kabul," Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod told journalists. Norway's Foreign Minister Ine Soreide later said it would also shut its embassy and evacuate Norwegian diplomats, local employees and their close relatives.

AP

However, Norway was forced to halt the evacuation drive of its remaining citizens from Afghanistan's capital.

Taliban to allow 200 Americans, foreigners to fly out

The Taliban have now agreed to allow 200 Americans and other foreigners who are still stranded in Afghanistan on charter flights from Kabul after the US troops exited the country.

AFP

The departures will be among the first international flights to take off from Kabul airport since the Taliban seized Kabul in mid-August, triggering the chaotic US-led evacuation of 124,000 foreigners and at-risk Afghans.