<b>Follow the latest updates on Afghanistan </b><a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/asia/2021/08/15/afghanistan-live-updates-taliban-kabul/" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a><b>.</b> At least four people were killed in Afghanistan's eastern city of Asadabad, on the border with Pakistan, at an Independence Day rally after <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/asia/2021/08/18/who-are-the-taliban-and-what-is-happening-in-afghanistan/" target="_blank">the Taliban</a> shot at civilians there and a stampede ensued. It was unclear whether the deaths resulted from the panic or the gunfire. August 19 marks the day in 1919 when <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/asia/2021/08/18/taliban-in-afghanistan-who-is-in-charge/" target="_blank">Afghanistan</a> became a sovereign nation and took full control over its foreign affairs from British rule. Three people were killed on Wednesday at <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/asia/2021/08/18/taliban-shoot-at-crowds-of-protesters-in-jalalabad/" target="_blank">a similar event in Jalalabad</a> and in several other places across the country, as Afghans waved the national flag, local media reported. Protests against <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/2021/08/18/taliban-takeover-in-afghanistan-triggers-mix-of-celebration-and-concern-in-pakistan/" target="_blank">Taliban rule</a> after their takeover of the country and the capital, Kabul, continued across <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/afghanistan/" target="_blank">Afghanistan</a>. Droves of people filled the tarmac at Kabul's airport on Sunday in an attempt to leave the country. At least 12 people were killed. First Vice President Amrullah Saleh supported the protesters. "Salute those who carry the national flag and thus stand for dignity of the nation," he wrote on Twitter. <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/asia/2021/08/18/ashraf-ghani-left-afghanistan-with-salwar-kameez-and-one-waistcoat-but-plans-to-return/" target="_blank">President Ashraf Ghani</a> left the country on Sunday after the <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/asia/2021/08/15/afghan-president-ashraf-ghani-leaves-the-country-as-taliban-forces-enter-kabul/" target="_blank">Taliban takeover of Kabul</a>, landing in <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/asia/2021/08/18/uae-says-afghanistans-president-ashraf-ghani-in-the-country/" target="_blank">the UAE on Wednesday</a> with his family. Mr Ghani said he departed to "prevent bloodshed". On Thursday, Mr Saleh called himself the country's "legitimate caretaker president". The Taliban were removed from power by a US-led coalition in 2001 for harbouring Osama bin Laden, the terrorist wanted in connection with the September 11, 2001 attacks on US soil. The group took over <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/asia/2021/08/16/afghan-armys-collapse-was-years-in-the-making-say-experts/" target="_blank">Afghanistan</a> in 1996 and enforced a hardline interpretation of Islamic law, or Sharia, preventing women from completing their education, staging public executions and banning music and television. They have since attempted to re-brand as a more progressive group and vowed to give women more rights, within the framework of their understanding of Sharia. The future of Afghanistan is in the balance as a new leader has yet to be named and a power struggle between Mr Ghani's internationally backed government and the Taliban continues.