In series of mistakes, US said to have exaggerated military's numbers, introduced high-tech methods and systems beyond troops' capabilities, ignored high defection rate

Many fear extremists will roll back two decades of rights gains for woman and ethnic minorities while stifling freedoms and punishing those who worked with foreign powers

Al-Qaeda and others may now be able to swiftly regroup and pose threat, US officials warn, as senior Hamas member says Taliban victory a 'lesson for all oppressed peoples'

Helicopters whisk diplomats from US and other NATO countries to airport, but fate of translators and others in most danger for helping foreign forces unclear

Al Jazeera airs footage of Islamist fighters inside the palace, as Canada shuts its embassy and Germany begins evacuating diplomatic staff

Spokesman says group will enter talks on forming 'inclusive Islamic government'; chaos grips capital as Westerners, Afghanis attempt to flee

US sends forces to evacuate some embassy personnel after the Taliban seizes control of most of Afghanistan in less than a week

Interior minister says transfer will be 'peaceful'; Afghan troops surrender at Bagram air base; American University employees burn documents to prevent identification of students

Militants are not known to have pilots or technical personnel needed to fly aircraft; Russian choppers also seen in footage; not clear if any of the helicopters are airworthy

Helicopters land at US Embassy; group has swept through the country, regaining control of wide swaths within days; American officials burn sensitive documents