The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, has urged Western nations to halt deportations of Afghan citizens following the Taliban takeover.

Several European countries - including Germany and the Netherlands - had already announced last week they were suspending deportations as the Taliban seized large swathes of the country.

But a number of other EU countries had pledged to continue with deportations. Last week Austria warned the European Commission against preventing the removal of rejected Afghan asylum seekers arriving in Europe, despite the Taliban's advances.

Mr Grandi said it was also important that Afghanistan's neighbours, particularly Iran and Pakistan, keep their borders open to give an escape route to Afghans with genuine fears for their safety under Taliban rule.

A major resettlement programme might be needed in the long term, Mr Grandi said.

It is estimated that 550,000 Afghans have been have been uprooted within the country since January, though the number crossing international borders appear to be limited so far.