“The Islamic Emirate wants a good and diplomatic relationship with the Americans,” Zabihullah Mujahed, the Taliban’s main spokesman, told reporters on Tuesday from the Hamid Karzai International Airport, which was the last place under American control. Key Taliban leaders took a symbolic victory lap, walking across the tarmac to mark their victory.

“We highlight to every occupier that whoever sees Afghanistan with an evil eye will face the same fate as the Americans have faced,” he added. “We’ve never given up to pressure or force, and our nation has always sought freedom.”…

For the Taliban, lots of money is at stake: The International Monetary Fund on Aug. 19 cut off the group from using fund reserve assets just days before the nation was set to receive almost $500 million. One potential source of funds is China, which on Tuesday called on the world to help out the Taliban.

“China hopes that the international community should enhance collaboration and provide Afghanistan with necessary economic, livelihood and humanitarian assistance to help the country achieve peace and reconstruction,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Wang Wenbin said Tuesday in Beijing. He was responding to a question on whether Beijing would support the IMF allowing the Taliban government to access assets.