Biden to adhere to Aug. 31 deadline for evacuations

— Sharply divided leaders of the Group of Seven industrialized democracies clashed Tuesday over President Biden’s insistence on withdrawing from Afghanistan by Aug. 31 in the face of the Taliban takeover of the country.

“The president conveyed that our mission in Kabul will end based on the achievement of our objectives,” the White House said in a statement, adding that Biden had told his counterparts that “we are currently on pace to finish by August 31st.”

In a partial show of unity, G7 leaders agreed on conditions for recognizing and dealing with a future Taliban-led Afghan government, but there was palpable disappointment Biden could not be persuaded to extend the U.S. operation at the Kabul airport to ensure that tens of thouWASHINGTON sands of Americans, Europeans, other thirdcountry nationals and all at-risk Afghans can be evacuated.

The virtual meeting of the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the U.S. served not only as a bookend to the West’s 20-year involvement in Afghanistan that began as a response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks but also a resigned acknowledgment from European powers that the U.S. calls the shots.

“Our immediate priority is to ensure the safe evacuation of our citizens and those Afghans who have partnered with us and assisted our efforts over the past twenty years, and to ensure continuing safe passage out of Afghanistan,” the leaders said in a joint statement that did not address precisely how they would guarantee continuing safe passage without any military presence.

Going forward, the leaders said they would “judge the Afghan parties by their actions, not words,” echoing previous warnings to the Taliban not to revert to the strict Islamic form of government that they ran when they last held power from 1996 until the U.S.-led invasion that ousted them in 2001.

“In particular, we reaffirm that the Taliban will be held accountable for their actions on preventing terrorism, on human rights in particular those of women, girls and minorities and on pursuing an inclusive political settlement in Afghanistan,” the leaders said. “The legitimacy of any future government depends on the approach it now takes to uphold its international obligations and commitments to ensure a stable Afghanistan.”

The White House noted that the risk of an attack from ISIS or other terrorist groups increases each day the American troops stay at the airport. Biden told the leaders that completing the mission by Aug. 31 depends on continued coordination with the Taliban, including continued access for evacuees to the airport.

Ahead of the meeting, British defense secretary Ben Wallace said he was doubtful that Biden would agree to extend the deadline. And Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on Tuesday said his group would accept “no extensions” to the deadline.