How the Taliban have sparked chaos in Afghanistan as thousands try to escape

Girls have been pictured at school in Herat but few women have taken to the streets in Kabul since Afghanistan descended into chaos. See the photos.

Days after the Taliban’s stunning takeover of Afghanistan, some shops opened and the insurgents instructed government staff to return to work – though residents reacted cautiously and few women took to the streets.

On Tuesday local time, the Taliban vowed to bring in Sharia law at their first press conference since taking control of the presidential palace in the capital Kabul.

The group’s spokesman said they would respect women’s right but “within the framework of Islam”.

“We are going to allow women to work and study. We have got frameworks, of course. Women are going to be very active in the society but within the framework of Islam,” Zabihullah Mujahid said in Kabul.

Tens of thousands of people have tried to flee the country to escape the hard line stance, some fearing direct retribution for siding with the Western-backed government in power for the past two decades.

Shots were fired at Kabul’s international airport, where five people were killed in a stampede as a large crowd of Afghans swarmed a plane and tried to board it to escape.

Many were seen clinging on to aircraft as a plane took off before tragically falling when the plane was mid-air and plunging to their death.

See how the mayhem has unfolded below:

Schoolgirls attend class in Herat on August 17, following the Taliban stunning takeover of the country. Picture: AFP

A deserted road is pictured in Kabul on August 17. Picture: AFP

Women display an Afghan flag as they demonstrate in front of the Reichstag building, seat of the Bundestag lower house of parliament, in Berlin on August 17. Picture: AFP

Taliban fighters stand guard at an entrance gate outside the Interior Ministry in Kabul on August 17. Picture: AFP

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid looks on as he addresses the first press conference in Kabul. Picture: AFP

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, left, gestures as he arrives to hold the first press conference in Kabul on August 17. Picture: AFP

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, centre, leaves after addressing the first press conference in Kabul on August 17. Picture: AFP

A Taliban fighter holds an RPG rocket propelled as he stands guard with others at an entrance gate outside the Interior Ministry in Kabul on August 17. Picture: AFP

Military personnel board a Royal Air Force (RAF) Airbus A400M transport plane at RAF Brize Norton, southern England, on August 17. Picture: AFP

Indian Nationals prepare to board an Indian military aircraft at the airport in Kabul on August 17. Picture: AFP

Indian Nationals sit aboard an Indian military aircraft at the airport in Kabul on August 17 to be evacuated. Picture: AFP

This satellite image released by Maxar Technologies shows an overview of Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport as the chaos unfolds. Picture: AFP

This satellite image released by Maxar Technologies shows a traffic jam and crowds at Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport in Afghanistan. Picture: AFP

Crowds of people at the terminal, during the chaotic scene under way at Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport in Afghanistan. Picture: AFP

US air force flight Reach 871 carries 640 people escaping Afghanistan. Picture: Defenseone.com

People run on the tarmac at Kabul International Airport as a US military aircraft attempts to take off.

People run alongside a US military aircraft as it attempts to take off from Kabul International Airport.

Pictured on the account @LNajafizada: People trying to stow away in desperation.

A person appears to fall from a US air force plane as it takes off from Kabul Airport.

A person appears to fall from a US air force flight as it departs Kabul Airport.

Afghan people climb on to a plane as they wait at Kabul International Airport. Picture: AFP

Afghan passengers wait to depart at Kabul International Airport. Picture: AFP

US President Joe Biden delivers remarks about the situation in Afghanistan in the East Room of the White House. Picture: AFP

A Taliban fighter mans a machinegun as they patrol a street in Kabul. Picture: AFP

Taliban fighters stand guard in a vehicle along the roadside in Kabul. Picture: AFP

A Taliban fighter searches the bags of people exiting Kabul International Airport. Picture: AFP

Scene at Kabul airport as civilians try to board planes. Picture: Twitter/Ahmer Khan

Afghans crowd at the airport as US soldiers stand guard. Picture: AFP

Afghan people sit on the tarmac as they wait to leave Kabul International Airport. Picture: AFP

Afghan passengers wait to leave Kabul International Airport. Picture: AFP

US soldiers rest as Afghan people wait to leave Kabul after a stunningly swift end to Afghanistan's 20-year war. Picture: AFP

Taliban fighters stand guard along a street at the Massoud Square in Kabul. Picture: AFP

Taliban fighters stand guard along a roadside near the Zanbaq Square in Kabul. Picture: AFP

Traffic chaos as Afghani locals attempt to flee Kabul. Picture: Twitter

Members of the Taliban take control of the presidential palace in Kabul. Picture: Al Jazeera/ AFP

Members of the Taliban take control of the presidential palace in Kabul after Afghanistan's president flew out of the country. Picture: Al Jazeera/ AFP

French soldiers board an A400M Atlas at the Bricy Air Base, a French Air and Space Force base near Orleans as part of operation Apagan. Picture: AFP

A French military C130 aircraft landing at the French air base of Al Dhafra, in the UAE as part of operation Apagan. Picture: AFP

Air force and Army personnel board a waiting KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft at RAAF Base Amberley to support evacuation efforts in Afghanistan.

Equipment is loaded on to a waiting KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft at RAAF Base Amberley.

Air force and Army personnel board a waiting KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft at RAAF Base Amberley bound for the Middle East.

Screengrabs from Kabul International Airport as people flood the runway. Picture: Twitter

Members of the British Army, from 16 Air Assault Brigade, as they disembark from an RAF Voyager aircraft after landing in Kabul. Picture: AFP

Members of the British Army, from 16 Air Assault Brigade, as they disembark from an RAF Voyager aircraft after landing in Kabul. Picture: AFP

A US military helicopter is pictured flying above the US embassy in Kabul. Picture: AFP

Displaced Afghan women and children from Kunduz pray at a mosque that is sheltering them in Kabul, Afghanistan. Picture: Getty

Displaced Afghan women and children from Kunduz are seen sheltering at a mosque. Picture: Getty

Originally published as How the Taliban have sparked chaos in Afghanistan as thousands try to escape