KABUL – The Taliban warned yesterday there would be “consequences” if the United States and its allies try to remain in Afghanistan beyond next week, as Washington ramped up its efforts to evacuate tens of thousands of people desperate to flee.
Thousands of troops have poured back into the country to oversee the chaotic airlift of foreigners and Afghans from the Kabul airport, and pressure is mounting on US President Joe Biden to extend an August 31 deadline for full withdrawal.
Biden and his Group of Seven counterparts – several of whom are pushing him to leave soldiers at the airport to keep it open – will meet today, with coordination on Afghanistan and how to handle the hardline Islamist Taliban atop the agenda.
“The goal is to get as many people out as fast as possible,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters yesterday.
“The focus is on trying to do this as best we can, by the end of the month.”
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters that the White House believes it can get all Americans out by the deadline – but insisted the large majority of those being evacuated each day were Afghan nationals.
So far, the Taliban have shown no willingness to compromise.
Spokesman Suhail Shaheen told Sky News that any foreign military presence beyond the agreed deadline would be “extending occupation”.
“If the US or United Kingdom were to seek additional time to continue evacuations – the answer is no... there would be consequences,’ he said.
The Taliban are currently working on forming a government, but two sources within the movement said there would be no announcements on a cabinet until the last US soldier has left Afghanistan. – AFP, August 24, 2021
