#DoNotChangeNationalFlag social media campaign gathers pace among Afghans (VIDEO)

Kabul: As Afghanistan under the shadow of the Taliban celebrates the 102nd anniversary of its independence on Thursday, a social media campaign has caught on with many voicing support for the national flag and many in favour of the Taliban flag.

The campaign #DoNotChangeNationalFlag saw many support the red, green and black national flag, which has been removed by the Taliban across the country and replaced with the white flag of the fundamentalist group.

On Thursday, protesters in Kabul waved the national flag and chanted “Long Live Afghanistan”.

Independence day protest in #kabul. Women and girls, men and boys screaming LONG LIVE #Afghanistan OUR NATIONAL FLAG IS OUR IDENTITY! They marched past #Taliban with some Talibs screaming back at protestors, waving their guns at them but finally the protestors passed. pic.twitter.com/yutJcmstAP

— Jordan Bryon (@jordan_bryon) August 19, 2021

Separately, in Kabul, many youth sported white bandanas with the Taliban banner.

The Taliban white banner has the writing in Arabic “La ilah ila Allah, Mohammad rasoul Allah” (There is no god but God and Muhammad is God’s messenger), according to some websites.

Scenes of Afghan people waving the national flag were posted on social media from a number of places.

#AFGHANS NEVER GIVE UP! the #Taliban fired on protestors this morning, beat some up and sent the women home. Despite this the men have a 200m flag which they're marching through the streets shouting LONG LIVE #AFGHANISTAN! pic.twitter.com/BvgV0fA5FT

— Jordan Bryon (@jordan_bryon) August 19, 2021

Some videos and pictures showed Afghan men climbing poles to hoist the national flag.

Afghans doing flag “satyagrah” in different parts of their country.

Countries like China trying to pass Taliban takeover as “will of the people.” pic.twitter.com/mbeVPQzJnu

— Yusuf Unjhawala(@YusufDFI) August 19, 2021

Many twitterati in support of the national flag, said “I love Afghanistan, I love my flag”, while those in support of the Taliban flag, said “Love this flag ...representative of Islamic state Afghanistan”.

Separately, Abdullah Abdullah, chairman of the Supreme National Reconciliation Council, and former President Hamid Karzai met with Pakistani Ambassador Mansour Ahmad Khan on Thursday.

“The current situation in the country and the inclusive political process with national and international legitimacy were discussed at the meeting,” Karzai posted on Twitter.

The Taliban on Thursday declared the formation of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, on the occasion of the 102nd anniversary of the country’s independence.

The announcement was made by Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Muhaid on his Twitter account.

“Declaration of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan on the occasion of the 102nd anniversary of the country's independence from British rule,” he posted.

The Taliban took over the country on Sunday, leading to President Ashraf Ghani fleeing Kabul. 

Three people killed after Taliban target car covered with Afghan flags in Kunar

Three people got killed after the Taliban members shelled a car covered in national Afghan flags in the Kunar province on Thursday, a source told Sputnik.

And they have killed 2 Afghans in this vehicle in Kunar today, just because the vehicle carried the Afghan national flag. The int'l community is watching us with a deafening silence. @HRW @AfghanistanIHRC @UN @amnesty #RestoreAfghanFlag pic.twitter.com/uwUToyQfqz

— Noor Ullah Khan (?????) (@NoorHuramzai) August 19, 2021

The incident occurred in Asadabad, the provincial capital.

Four people killed in Taliban fire at independence day celebrations in Jalalabad

At least four people were killed when the Taliban opened fire to disperse a crowd at the celebrations of the Afghan Independence Day in Jalalabad, the capital of the eastern Nangarhar province, on Thursday, a source told Sputnik.

#Talibans shooting civilians for carrying Afg flag with themselves on the independence day of Afg in #Jalalabad #SanctionPakistan #SanctionTaliban #TalibanTakesOver #TalibanTakeover#TalibanDestroyingAfghanistan pic.twitter.com/usGHnG5PAe

— Afghan Malang (@AfghanMalang8) August 19, 2021

Three more people were seized hostage.(UNI)