The Taliban held mock funerals for American, British, French and NATO forces today as thousands turned out on the streets of major cities to celebrate the end of the west's 20-year war.
Coffins draped with the US, UK and French flag as well as NATO's insignia were paraded through the streets of Khost by crowds flying the Taliban's emblem - just two weeks after anti-Taliban protests in the same city.
In Kandahar - a traditional stronghold of the Islamists - thousands also turned out waving white Taliban flags to celebrate what the group is referring to as its 'independence day', hours after the final American troops boarded an evacuation flight out of the country.
It comes after celebratory scenes in Kabul overnight, where fireworks exploded and gunfire rattled through the air moments after the final US jet departed.
Speaking from the runway at Kabul airport this morning - and surrounded by Taliban special forces units dressed head to toe in American gear - spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid hailed the 'victory' over western forces.
'It is an historical day and an historical moment.... we liberated our country from a great power,' he added, saying the last 20 years should serve as a 'big lesson for other invaders [and] a lesson for the world.'
But as the Taliban and Afghans celebrated, recriminations began in the UK - with critics rounding on Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and calling for his resignation over the shambolic withdrawal which began while he was on holiday in Crete.
But Mr Raab hit back, accusing his detractors of 'buck passing' and giving 'deeply irresponsible' briefings to the press while the Kabul evacuation was still underway, while denying reports that the ISIS-K suicide bombing which struck the airstrip was made more deadly because of British evacuation plans.
He was forced to admit, however, that Britain had left 'hundreds' of UK nations stranded in the country and fearing for their lives, and was unable to give a 'definitive' figure on the number of Afghans who were abandoned having been promised sanctuary in Britain.
'It's very difficult to give you a firm figure,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. 'I can tell you that for UK nationals we've secured since April over 5,000, and we're in the low hundreds (remaining).'
He spoke as Sir John Sawers, a former head of MI6, warned that Taliban victory in Afghanistan will 'inspire' other terrorist groups to launch attacks on the west while at the same time hurting the west's ability to stop them.
The Taliban were certainly keen to present their take-over of the country as a military victory today, parading special forces soldiers dressed head to toe in western gear at Kabul airport while senior leaders posed in front of captured aircraft.
Fake coffins draped with the British, American, French and NATO flags were paraded through the streets of Khost in Afghanistan today as the Taliban celebrated the end of western 'occupation'
Thousands of people turned out to watch the fake procession, some holding white Taliban flags (right), as the Islamists celebrate 'victory' over western forces
Hundreds of people also took to the streets of Kandahar, a traditional stronghold for the Taliban, waving the white Islamist flag as they celebrated the western withdrawal from Afghanistan
Crowds gather in Kandahar, in southern Afghanistan, to celebrate after the last US evacuation flight left their country
Badri 313 units post for the cameras at Kabul airport today, carrying American-made rifles and wearing US military gear
Taliban Badri special force fighters pose with American-made weapons under their white flag at Kabul airport today
Taliban Badri special force fighters take a position at the airport in Kabul after taking over security from US forces
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid (centre right) speaks to journalists at Kabul airport in front of a line of Badri 313 'special forces' troops armed with US weapons, and in front of a captured American C-130 plane
Taliban 'special forces' soldiers display their newly-captured weapons and gear during a press conference at Kabul airport
Taliban 'special forces' troops - known as Badri 313 units - stand guard at Kabul airport on Tuesday morning after retaking it from American forces overnight
A Taliban fighter poses in the cockpit of a C-130 Hercules transport plane that was left behind during the evacuation
An A-29 attack plane is surrounded by kit left behind by western forces as they retreated from Kabul airport
A-29 attack planes which appear largely intact are seen alongside a huge amount of western body armour and tactical helmets left behind by retreating troops
A Taliban fighter walks past an aircraft and an assortment of other military and civilian vehicles at the airport in Kabul
Zabihullah Mujahid, the group's chief spokesman, addressed the media from the tarmac, bidding 'congratulations to Afghanistan' while adding: 'This victory belongs to us all.'
Calling the day a 'big lesson for other invaders and for our future generation,' he then told gathered journalists: 'It is an historical day and an historical moment. We are proud of these moments, that we liberated our country from a great power'.
Hundreds of American and British citizens were left behind when the last US evacuation plane took off late Monday, along with thousands of Afghans who helped western troops on a promise of sanctuary that was ultimately broken. Many now fear for their lives.
Mujahid insisted today that Taliban security forces will be 'pleasant and nice' to those left behind, despite reports already emerging of summary executions and persecution against women reminiscent of the Taliban of old.
Meanwhile at Bagram air base, the former stronghold of western forces, its new Taliban commander was boasting of having 'beaten' America using little more than Kalashnikov rifles while saying the airfield will now be 'a base for jihad for all Muslims'.
Speaking to The Times, 35-year-old Maulawi Hafiz Mohibullah Muktaz said: 'Never in our wildest dreams could we have believed we could beat a superpower like America with just our Kalashnikovs.
'When you do jihad all doors open, we defeated America with our faith and our guns and we hope now that Bagram can be a base for jihad for all Muslims
'For any foreign power considering attacking Afghanistan then look at Bagram now and learn your lesson well before embarking on foolish endeavour. See the West's mighty technology humbled here by mujahidin.
'In 15 years as a mujahid fighting the Americans I wondered often if I may fail or die. Yet here is proof of the power of faith and God and jihad. On the back of victory I hope we can use Bagram as a place to spread jihad further into the region and Muslim world.'
Reflecting on America's withdrawal from the other side of the conflict, head of U.S. Central Command General Frank McKenzie said on Monday night: 'There's a lot of heartbreak associated with this departure.
'We did not get everybody out that we wanted to get out. But I think if we'd stayed another 10 days, we wouldn't have gotten everybody out,' he insisted.
At the same time the US released a night-vision image of Major General Chris Donahue, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, who was the last soldier to board a plane out of the country.
All eyes will now turn to how the Taliban handles its first few days with sole authority over the country, with a sharp focus on whether it will allow other foreigners and Afghans to leave.
Reports suggest many are already fleeing through Pakistan to the east and Iran to the west. The US and UK are still working on arrangements to allow people to be evacuated from these neighbouring countries.
More than 123,000 people were evacuated from Kabul in a massive but chaotic airlift by the United States and its allies over the past two weeks, but tens of thousands who helped Western nations during the war were left behind.
A contingent of Americans, estimated by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken as fewer than 200, and possibly closer to 100, wanted to leave but were unable to get on the last flights.
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab put the number of UK nationals in Afghanistan in the low hundreds, following the evacuation of some 5,000.
Hekmatullah Wasiq, a top Taliban official, said today that 'Afghanistan is finally free.'
'The military and civilian side (of Kabulairport) are with us and in control,' he said. 'Hopefully, we will be announcing our Cabinet. Everything is peaceful. Everything is safe.
Wasiq also urged people to return to work and reiterated the Taliban pledge offering a general amnesty. "People have to be patient," he said. "Slowly we will get everything back to normal. It will take time."
Taliban spokesman Mujahid also addressed the gathered members of the Badri unit. "I hope you be very cautious in dealing with the nation," he said.
"Our nation has suffered war and invasion and the people do not have more tolerance." At the end of his remarks, the Badri fighters shouted: 'Allahu Akbar' or "God is greatest!"
In an interview with Afghan state television, Mujahid also discussed restarting operations at the airport, which remains a key way out for those wanting to leave the country.
"Our technical team will be checking the technical and logistical needs of the airport," he said. "If we are able to fix everything on our own, then we won't need any help.
'If there is need for technical or logistics help to repair the destruction, then we might ask help from Qatar or Turkey.' He didn't elaborate on what was destroyed.
While the international community appears to have accepted the reality of Taliban rule, the UK and US remain willing to take on Islamic State, also known as Daesh.
British forces are prepared to launch air strikes to target so-called Islamic State terrorists in Afghanistan, the head of the RAF indicated as the US-led military presence in the country came to an end.
The group's Afghan offshoot, Isis-K, carried out the bloody attack on Kabul airport in the final days of the evacuation effort which killed two Britons and the child of a British national, along with 13 US service personnel and scores of Afghans.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the global coalition against the terrorist group was ready 'to combat Daesh networks by all means available, wherever they operate'.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston indicated the RAF could strike Isis-K targets in Afghanistan.
'Ultimately what this boils down to is that we've got to be able to play a global role in the global coalition to defeat Daesh, whether it's strike, or whether it's moving troops or equipment into a particular country, at scale and at speed,' he told the Daily Telegraph.
'If there's an opportunity for us to contribute I am in no doubt that we will be ready to - that will be anywhere where violent extremism raises its head, and is a direct or indirect threat to the UK and our allies.
'Afghanistan is probably one of the most inaccessible parts of the world, and we're able to operate there.'
The attack on Kabul airport on Thursday has led to a transatlantic blame game, with US sources indicating the gate that was attacked was kept open to facilitate the British evacuation.
According to leaked Pentagon notes obtained by Politico, Read Admiral Peter Vasely, the commander of US forces in Afghanistan, had wanted to close Abbey Gate but it was kept open to allow UK evacuees into the airport.
A Taliban fighter takes a picture of a damaged MD 530 helicopter that was abandoned at Kabul airport by retreating troops
An American MRAP vehicle is pictured at Kabul airport alongside other armoured vehicles after falling into Taliban hands
A Russian Mi-17 helicopter is pictured alongside Taliban fighters after it was seized from retreating western troops
American-made ammunition left behind by retreating forces has now been picked up by the Taliban
A transport plane with the propeller removed is examined by Islamist fighters at Kabul airport this morning
Badri special force fighters climb up on a vehicle at the airport in Kabul after the US pulled all its troops out of the country
Planes, helicopters and vehicles left behind by western forces have now fallen into the hands of the Taliban
Taliban forces flying their flag drive down the runway at Kabul airport in an American Humvee after troops withdrew
Taliban fighters inspect a US Humvee at the airport in Kabul, after seizing a huge number of vehicles from western forces
Britain and America officially ended their military presence in Afghanistan late last night with the final US troops flying out from Kabul's airport. Pictured: Taliban fighters from the Fateh Zwak unit, wielding American supplied weapons, equipment and uniforms, storm into the Kabul International Airport
The US Army then released a nightvision image of Major General Chris Donahue, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, the last U.S. soldier to leave Afghanistan as the Pentagon announced the last American forces left Kabul airport 24 hours ahead of schedule
Taliban Badri special force fighters arrive at the airport in Kabul after the US pulled all its troops out of the country
Taliban forces cross the tarmac at Kabul airport, carrying the group's white flag in front of press cameras
Members of the Taliban Badri 313 military unit walk past a torn down banner featuring a picture of late Afghan Mujahideen leader Ahmed Shah Massoud at Kabul airport
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