U.S. defense chief arrives in Kabul

said.

President Joe Biden said last week in an ABC News interview that it will KABUL, AFGHANISTAN >> be “tough” for the U.S. to U.S. Defense Secretary meet a May 1 deadline to Lloyd Austin withdraw troops from Afghanistan. arrived But he said that Sunday in if the deadline, which is Kabul on laid out in an agreement his first between former President trip to Afghanistan Donald Trump’s administration and the Taliban, is as Pentagon extended, it wouldn’t be by chief, a “lot longer.” amid swirling In response, the Taliban questions on Friday warned of consequences about how long if the U.S. doesn’t American troops will remain meet the deadline. in the country. Suhail Shaheen, a member

State-owned Radio and of the Taliban negotiation Television Afghanistan team, told reporters and popular TOLO Television that if U.S. troops stay reported Austin’s beyond May 1, “it will be arrival in Kabul from India. a kind of violation of the He met with senior Afghan agreement. That violation government officials, would not be from our including President Ashraf side . ... Their violation will Ghani. have a reaction.”

According to the Washington Austin met with Ghani Post, which was and, according to a statement among the small group of released by the presidential U.S. media traveling with palace, both sides him, Austin said senior condemned the increase in U.S. officials want to see violence in Afghanistan. “a responsible end to this There was no mention of conflict” and “a transition the May 1 deadline. to something else.” Washington is reviewing

“There’s always going to the agreement be concerns about things the Trump administration one way or the other, but signed with the Taliban I think there is a lot of last year and has energy focused on doing been stepping up pressure what is necessary to on both sides in the bring about a responsible protracted conflict to find end and a negotiated settlement a swift route to a peace to the war,” Austin agreement.