As many countries keep a close watch on the fast changing situation in Afghanistan, the United Nations (UN) held an emergency Security Council meeting. The UN secretary-general called for efforts to prevent the country from again becoming a safe haven for terrorists. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said China has encouraged the Taliban to pursue a moderate religious policy and hopes that the new Afghan government can make a clean break with terror-linked forces. U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday stood by his decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan, saying foreign forces could not defend a nation whose leaders "gave up and fled."

Meanwhile, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi exchanged views with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken over the phone on the Afghan situation. Wang reiterated China's stance that facts have once again proven that mechanically copying a foreign model cannot be fit for a country with a completely different history, culture and national conditions. Blinken did thank China for participating in the Doha talks with the Taliban. Both sides agreed to go on with close consultations. How did the situation in Afghanistan rapidly devolve into what it is today? What is the full impact of U.S. policy and actions in Afghanistan in the past two decades? On that, Tian Wei talked to an American scholar, Jeffrey Sachs, professor and director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University.