By The Associated Press
President Joe Biden has decided not to extend his August 31 deadline to complete the evacuation of Americans and Afghan allies from Afghanistan, a government official announced Tuesday as quoted by the news agency The Associated Press.
The decision was made a day after CIA director William J. Burns held a hitherto secret meeting in Kabul with a Taliban leader, Abdul Ghani Baradar, various US media reported on Tuesday.
Biden finally chose to complete the US mission in Afghanistan next Tuesday, a deadline he set long before the Taliban seized power on August 15, after consulting with his National Security team and assessing the risks of keeping forces on the ground. beyond the deadline.
Taliban fighters stand guard outside Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport.Rahmat Gul / AP
The president asked his National Security team for contingency plans in case a situation arises that makes it necessary to slightly extend the planned period, according to the member of the Government.
The United States intensified the air transport of evacuees from Afghanistan in the last 24 hours, reaching its highest level. Biden had considered extending the self-imposed deadline, taking into account continued security threats from extremist groups in the Afghan capital, Taliban resistance to an extension, and the prospect that not all Americans and Afghan allies at risk can be evacuated between now and next Tuesday.
America's European allies, as well as U.S. lawmakers, veterans groups, and refugee organizations urge Biden to continue evacuations for as long as necessary to remove all foreigners, Afghan allies, and other civilians running the greater risk staying in a Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
[USA. warns of threats against Kabul airport as thousands wait to flee Afghanistan]
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid assured Tuesday at a press conference in Kabul that his organization will not accept "any extension" of the deadline.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday that the US military will need "at least several days" to fully withdraw its several thousand troops and their equipment from Kabul.
In addition, he stated that the commanders continue to aspire to leave before August 31 and reiterated that there is enough time to remove all Americans, but was less specific in terms of completing the evacuation of all Afghans at risk.
[The war in Afghanistan "is an absolute failure", says a veteran before the new advance of the Taliban]
"We believe we have the ability to get it done by the end of the month," he said, referring to the unknown number of US citizens who want to leave.
Allies of the United States and other countries are also conducting evacuations, and they would have to shut down their operations and leave before US troops do.
CIA Director William Burns testifies during the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, February 24, 2021.Tom Williams / Pool via REUTERS
The decision is also known hours before the leaders of the G-7 (made up of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Japan) hold a summit to analyze the situation in Afghanistan;
and when the president, Joe Biden, must decide whether to extend the date of evacuations beyond August 31 despite Taliban threats that there would be "consequences" if the "red line" is crossed.
Britain, France and Germany have vehemently voiced their grievances over the chaotic US withdrawal, pressing Biden to extend evacuations to ensure that all foreign nationals and Afghans who worked for or supported the US leave the country. US-led NATO operations since 2001.
"The British position is that we want to stay longer if possible," declared its defense secretary, Ben Wallace.
However, he admitted that the 1,000 British soldiers stationed at Kabul airport will not be able to continue the operation when the much larger American contingent departs.
F-18 fighter jets fly over Kabul as a security measure for US evacuation
Aug. 19, 202101: 42
However, Biden's National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan expressed confidence that the United States will be able to evacuate all of its citizens in Kabul before the end of the month.
Even so, he did not rule out that Biden would end up extending the operation, pointing out that the government maintains "direct" daily contacts with the Taliban.
A group of Taliban patrols a neighborhood in Kabul.Rahmat Gul / AP
["Blood on their hands": Republicans criticize Biden while Kabul remains at the mercy of the Taliban]
Around 21,600 people have already been evacuated from Afghanistan.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Monday that the increased pace of evacuations is due in part to coordinating with Taliban commanders to gain civilian access to the airport.
"Up to now, and going forward, it requires constant coordination and misconfliction with the Taliban," Kirby explained, "what we've seen is that this misconfliction has worked well in terms of allowing access and flow, as well as downsizing. general of the crowds outside the airport. "