The Taliban and Afghan government officials were in negotiations for a peaceful transfer of power on Sunday after fighters encircled the capital Kabul.
Taliban troops surrounded Afghanistan’s seat of power but promised not to attack as handover talks were under way.
The group said it has instructed its fighters to refrain from violence and offer safe passage to anyone wishing to leave Kabul.
“Until the completion of the transition process, the responsibility for the security of Kabul is with the other side (the Afghan government),” a spokesman for the group said in a tweet.
The Afghan government soon after signalled there were negotiations underway to avoid bloodshed in Kabul, and to give the Taliban control.
