Washington: President Joe Biden ruled out any change in the US plan to withdraw his troops from Afghanistan despite the Taliban gaining increasing control of large parts of the war-torn country, saying Afghan leaders should come together and fight for themselves and their nation .
President Biden ordered in April that all U.S. troops withdraw from Afghanistan by September 11 to end America’s longest war.
The Pentagon’s major task of removing service members and equipment from Afghanistan is nearing completion and the U.S. military mission is due to end by August 31.
“No,” Biden told reporters in the White House on Tuesday when asked if his current plan to withdraw troops could change at all.
‘Look, we’ve spent more than a trillion dollars over 20 years. We have trained and equipped more than 300,000 Afghan forces. Afghan leaders must come together. We have lost thousands – killed and injured – thousands of American personnel. They must fight for themselves, fight for their nation, “he claimed.
The United States – I will insist that we continue to meet our commitments to provide close air support, to ensure that their air force is functioning and workable, to provide their forces with food and equipment and to to pay their salaries. But they must want to fight. “They were more than the Taliban,” Biden said.
As US troops withdrew from Afghanistan, the Taliban made incredible strides on the battlefield, despite the large number of them by the Afghan army.
The Taliban seized five provincial Afghan capitals over the weekend.
Biden said the Afghans were beginning to realize that they needed to come together politically at the top.
“But we will continue to fulfill our commitment. But I do not regret my decision, “he said.
Earlier, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters that the US went to Afghanistan to do justice to those who attacked them on September 11, to disrupt terrorists trying to use Afghanistan as a safe haven. to attack the USA.
“We achieved these goals a few years ago,” she said.
“We are now judging the threat against our homeland, it is his responsibility as commander – in – chief to focus on, as one where the threat comes from outside Afghanistan,” she added.
The president called for a clear assessment and an overview of his team on its possible implications, she said.
“He asked them not to cover it. He asked them to explain specifically and clearly what the consequences could be, “she added.
“I will also note that we have provided a lot of help and assistance to the Afghan national security forces and also proposed a significant amount of funding in the 2022 budget request for $ 3.3 billion for the Afghan security forces,” she said.
‘So, he’s made a decision as commander – in – chief. These are difficult decisions to make. He did this because after 20 years of war, it was time to bring home our troops – our men and women. And we will continue to be partners and supporters of their efforts on the ground, ”said Psaki.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Monday that while the Biden administration plans to continue air support, the U.S. military can do little more.
“We will certainly support from the air, where and when possible, but it is not a substitute for leadership on the ground, it is not a substitute for political leadership in Kabul, it is not a substitute for the use of the capabilities and capacity that we know they do not have, “Kirby said.
Source: Telangana Today