Afghan withdrawal best decision: Biden
President Joe Biden vigorously defended the chaotic withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan after nearly 20 years of conflict, describing it as the “best” and the “right” decision for America which ended an era of major military deployments to rebuild other countries.
In his address to the nation from the White House , Biden said there was no reason to continue in a war that was no longer in the service of the “vital national interest” of the American people. “My fellow Americans, the war in Afghanistan is now over,” Biden said.
“I give you my word: With all of my heart, I believe this is the right decision, a wise decision, and the best decision for America,” he said. Biden’s address to the nation came just 11 days before the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Biden said the real choice in Afghanistan was “between leaving and escalating.” “I was not going to extend this forever war, and I was not extending a forever exit,” he said. “We succeeded in what we set out to do in Afghanistan over a decade ago. And we stayed for another decade. It was time to end this war,” he said.
Crowds looking to flee Afghanistan flocked to its borders while long queues formed at banks on Wednesday, as an administrative vacuum after the Taliban’s takeover left foreign donors unsure of how to respond to a looming humanitarian crisis.
The Islamist militia focused on keeping banks, hospitals and government machinery running after the final withdrawal of US forces on Monday brought an end to a massive airlift of Afghans who had helped Western nations during the 20-year war. With Kabul’s airport inoperable, private efforts to help Afghans fearful of Taliban reprisals focused on arranging safe passage across the land-locked nation’s borders with Iran, Pakistan and central Asian states.
At Torkham, a major border crossing with Pakistan just east of the Khyber Pass, a Pakistani official said: “A large number of people are waiting on the Afghanistan side for the opening of the gate.”
Thousands also gathered at the Islam Qala post on the border with Iran, witnesses said.
“I felt that being among Iranian security forces brought some kind of relaxation for Afghans as they entered Iran, compared with the past,” said one Afghan among a group of eight that crossed over. More than 123,000 people were evacuated from Kabul in the US-led airlift after the Taliban seized the city in mid-August, but tens of thousands of Afghans at risk remained behind.
Germany alone estimates that between 10,000 and 40,000 Afghan staff still working for development organisations in Afghanistan have a right to be evacuated to Germany if they feel endangered. The Taliban is talking with Qatar and Turkey over how to run Kabul’s airport, according to French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, but it could take days or weeks to finalise those negotiations.
UK in talks with Taliban for evacuations as it launches Operation Warm Welcome
The UK government is in talks with the Taliban to secure safe passage for remaining British
nationals and eligible Afghan evacuees and has launched “Operation Warm Welcome” for refugees from Afghan. The talks, involving UK officials and “senior” Taliban members, are said to be taking place in Doha, Qatar, and additionally, Britain is also sending 15 “crisis response specialists” to neighbouring Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to assist British diplomats in their work to allow people to reach the UK via third countries.
The focus is on helping UK nationals, interpreters and other Afghans who were employed by the UK.