Taliban insurgents have entered Afghanistan's capital Kabul after taking control of every other major city in the country.
President Ashraf Ghani has reportedly left the country for Tajikistan, according to an interior ministry official.
Militants are entering the capital from all sides, with the government on the brink of collapse.
The Taliban claims it is negotiating the "peaceful surrender" of its opponents and called on citizens not to flee.
The organisation's founder, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, is preparing to arrive in the country, a spokesman claimed today.
But the Afghan Presidential palace says it is still in control of the city, stating on Twitter that gunshots had been hard at several points today.
The President was earlier believed to be locked in emergency talks with a US peace envoy and top NATO officials.
Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen claimed the militants would protect the rights of women, as well as freedoms for media workers and diplomats.
He told the BBC "We assure the people, particularly in the city of Kabul, that their properties, their lives are safe.
"Our leadership had instructed our forces to remain at the gates of Kabul, not to enter the city.
"We are awaiting a peaceful transfer of power."
He said the Taliban expected this to happen in a matter of days.
Thousands of refugees have streamed into Kabul in recent days amid fears of violence in provinces seized by the Taliban following the withdrawal of international troops.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement that the group was in talks with the government for a peaceful surrender of Kabul.
The organisation said: "Taliban fighters are to be on standby on all entrances of Kabul until a peaceful and satisfactory transfer of power is agreed."
