The Taliban are on the brink of regaining control of Afghanistan after advancing on capital Kabul this morning.
In recent days the Islamist group, which had been pushed back by two decades of foreign military intervention, has taken control of all other major cities in the country.
It says it is seeking the "peaceful surrender" of the government, with the organisation's founder, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, said to be set to arrive in the country.
Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani is believed to be locked in emergency talks with a US peace envoy and top NATO officials.
In the UK, Boris Johnson is expected to recall Parliament in the coming week to discuss the crisis.
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.
This week US President Joe Biden continued to withdraw troops fromKabul, telling White House reporters: "They've got to fight for themselves."
What do the Taliban want to achieve?
The Taliban formed in the 1990s during the civil war in Afghanistan - the group was mainly made up of conservative muslims from Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Their aim was to create an islamic government that would enforce a strict Islamic law and help keep the lawless cities of Afghanistan in check.
The group seized the capitol Kabul in 1996 and started enforcing their own strict interpretation of Islamic law.
Women were forbidden to attend school and work, people were not allowed to enjoy music or watch films - and only certain types of clothing and facial hair were permitted during this time.
After 9/11, George Bush's government forced the Taliban from power, but this only stoked the fire of further civil wars. The Taliban wanted the western powers to leave their country.
Since then, peace negotiations have been largely futile and the Taliban continue to see themselves as an insurgency that is fighting an illegitimate government - they believe they are the resistance that will help return Afghanistan to a pure islamic society.
As US troops and NATO soldiers leave the country, there have been a wave of activist and journalist assassinations that people are blaming on the Taliban.
Who provides arms to the Taliban?
It's thought that the Taliban receive international funding from Pakistan and Iran, however both countries deny this.
Foreign funding aside - the Taliban are a highly developed organisation.
The leader, Haibatullah Akhundzada oversees many departments, including education and healthcare, and they have their own tax collection system.
With over 85,000 full time fighters, the Taliban occupy many of the major roads and highways and they control over 1/5 of Afghanistan's districts.
Their control in the country has made them rich and it's believed that they make close to $1.5 billion a year.
In addition to their control, they have always made money in the drugs trade, growing opium poppies. Last year they made millions mining natural resources and producing methamphetamine.
Are the Taliban popular in Afghanistan?
According to a major public opinion study conducted by the Asia foundation in 2018 - 85% of Afghans had no sympathy for the Taliban.
Many Afghans are concerned about the types of laws they will enforce and the repercussions this will have on women in particular.
The Taliban have a very strong presence in over half the districts in Afghanistan and are a part of everyday life for many civilians. They even have their own Sharia court - which is often used by many Afghans who have no other alternative justice system.
Nonetheless, civilians remain worried about the future of the country as it's hard to predict what the Taliban would do should they gain power.
What happens if Taliban capture Afghanistan?
International experts and local Afghans remain unsure what will happen if the Taliban capture the country.
Some worry that they will tear up the constitution that protects basic human rights, whilst other worry that they will limit Women's rights again.
There are some places under Taliban control where girls are allowed to go to school - but this is rare.
The Taliban recently said that they would build a state where women had the right to education, however this remains to be seen.
One of the major fears is that the country will become a training ground for terrorism once again.
The Taliban say they aim only to implement an "Islamic government" and will not pose a threat to any other country.
But many experts warn that the Taliban and al-Qaeda are inseparable, with the latter's fighters heavily embedded and engaged in training activity.
