The Taliban ruled the country under the name of the “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan” from 1996 to 2001.

The group was ousted by US-led forces following the 9/11 attacks in November 2001.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani and his immediate team have left the country for Tajikistan, according to Afghan government sources.

Ghani said that he left the country in order to avoid bloodshed. (ILKHA)