While the security situation in Afghanistan has remained stable since the Taliban takeover in August, the country is now facing economic and humanitarian challenges, with its people longing for a better life and the new Government calling for international assistance.

There has been no major security incident or armed clashes since August 15 when Taliban took over 33 of the country’s 34 provinces, except a deadly suicide bomb blast and shooting outside the Kabul International Airport, which killed over 170 Afghan civilians and 13 US soldiers, while injuring nearly 200 others, Xinhua news agency reported.

On September 6, the Taliban announced that its fighters had captured Panjshir, the only province that had remained out of the group’s control, days after sporadic clashes were reported in the mountainous province.

There were no civilian casualties during the fighting in Panjshir, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said, adding that electricity and internet service would resume in the province soon.

No major clashes have been reported in Panjshir since then, although the so-called National Resistance Front of Afghanistan led by Ahmad Massoud, the son of former anti-Taliban leader Ahmad Shah Massoud, has denied the Taliban’s claim of capturing Panjshir.

“The war is over, and insecurity and fighting are not a concern among the Afghans anymore,“ Mujahid said.

Afghanistan would soon have a regular army to defend the country, Taliban’s army chief of staff Qari Fasihuddin said Wednesday.

“Afghanistan would have a regular, disciplined and strong army in near future to defend and protect the country and consultations in this field continue,“ Fasihuddin said at a gathering in Kabul, adding members of the proposed army would be well-trained and disciplined to defend and protect Afghanistan.