The Taliban have fired shots into the air in Kabul to disperse hundreds of people who had gathered at several rallies in the latest signs of defiance by Afghans.
At least three rallies were held across Kabul in a show of resistance that would have been unthinkable during the Taliban's last stint in power - when people were publicly executed and thieves had their hands chopped off.
The crowd held up banners and chanted about their frustrations with security, free passage out of the country and alleged meddling by Pakistan - which historically has close ties with the Taliban leadership. Another protester, Zahra Mohammadi, a doctor from Kabul, said: "We want Afghanistan to become free. We want freedom."
The Taliban told the United States that "they will let people with travel documents freely depart", Blinken told a news conference in Doha where he and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin met their Qatari opposite numbers.
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