ICRC: Afghanistan situation 'could go either way'

A top manager at the International Committee of the Red Cross on Monday said the organization was "determined to stay" in Afghanistan after the Taliban's takeover.

The Taliban enforced their rule over the capital Kabul after a lightning advance across the country that took just over a week to dethrone the country's Western-backed government.

There were no major reports of abuses or fighting, but many residents stayed home and remained fearful after the insurgents' advance saw prisons emptied and armories looted.

Robert Mardini, director-general of the International Committee of the Red Cross, said the need for humanitarian work in the country was "more pressing than ever".

He said he had 1,800 worker in the country who were "motivated and determined to help".

"We are confident because we have had a very consistent dialogue with the Taliban at the leadership level, but also at the local leadership levels, which, of course, is absolutely critical to be able to carry out humanitarian operations in areas that they used to control," he said.

The takeover has threatened to erase 20 years of Western efforts to remake Afghanistan that saw tens of thousands of Afghans killed as well as more than 3,500 U.S. and allied troops.

The initial invasion in 2001 drove the Taliban from power and scattered al-Qaida, which had planned the 9/11 attacks while being sheltered in Afghanistan.