The Biden administration is under increasing pressure to expand the presence of U.S. troops in Afghanistan to help evacuate all U.S. citizens and Afghan allies, although it risks increasing the number of U.S. troops. tensions with the Taliban.
President Biden
Joe BidenHenri went into tropical depression when it rains in northeastern Britain to urge G7 leaders to consider adopting sanctions against the Taliban – report five lawmakers who will have to monitor the House’s budget vote MORE has already pledged to stay beyond Aug. 31 to evacuate the remaining Americans, but added Sunday that it is considering whether to extend the deadline to evacuate thousands more people, including Special Visa applicants. of Afghan Immigrant (SIV) and their families.
The UK has said it wants the military mission to be extended until September if circumstances allow. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to Biden on Monday and the two leaders will take part in a virtual call on Tuesday between the leaders of the Group of Seven.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, too they told reporters on Monday, France believes it is necessary for the U.S. to extend the Aug. 31 deadline to evacuate U.S. citizens and their Afghan allies, according to Le Parisien.
On Monday, 10,900 people were evacuated on U.S. and coalition flights, according to the White House. The U.S. has evacuated or facilitated the evacuation of 48,000 people since Aug. 14.
But the administration still does not know exactly how many Americans remain in Afghanistan, estimating that the figure will be thousands. With only one week left for Biden’s previous self-imposed deadline, administration officials are increasingly recognizing the possibility of a longer stay to complete the evacuation efforts of all those who want to leave.
“We are in daily talks with the Taliban through both political and security channels,” the White House national security adviser said. Jake Sullivan
Jake Sullivan National Security Adviser does not rule out sending more US troops to Afghanistan Show Sunday: Afghanistan’s collapse in the spotlight he told reporters on Monday, who did not want to go into details.
“We are also consulting closely with our allies and partners on the issue of evacuation and its progress,” Sullivan said. “It simply came to our notice then. We believe we are making tremendous progress. “
A Taliban spokesman said the U.S. would cross a “red line” if it keeps troops in Afghanistan beyond Aug. 31.
“If they expand it, it means that they expand employment. … It will create mistrust between us, “Suhail Shaheen told Sky News in an interview.” If they intend to continue the occupation, it will provoke a reaction. “
Sullivan on Monday left the idea that the Taliban’s statements would influence Biden’s decision on whether to keep troops in Afghanistan.
“Ultimately, it will be the president’s decision how this happens, no one else,” Sullivan said when asked if the White House believes any agreement is needed with the Taliban to extend the U.S. presence until September.
Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said the military remains focused on completing the operation by the end of the month, but said Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin
Lloyd AustinBritain urges G7 leaders to consider sanctions against Taliban: denounces interpreter’s daughter trampled at Kabul airport: reports on Sunday: Afghanistan’s collapse in the spotlight and the joint chairman of the chiefs of general cabinet. Mark Milley
Biden officials offer lawmakers details on challenges with Afghan evacuation efforts U.S. diplomats warned Blinken that July could fall to Taliban: report MORE would provide recommendations to Biden to extend the deadline if necessary.
Kirby also said the U.S. would “absolutely” consult its allies and partners on any decision.
Several administration officials said Monday that the United States would continue to expel Afghans at risk from the country after military forces marched.
Biden initially announced in April that it would end U.S. involvement in Afghanistan on the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. He announced last month that all U.S. forces would withdraw before August 31, although the mission effectively ended in early July when forces left Bagram airfield.
Some experts suggested that the August 31 date is no longer relevant, as the United States has increased the number of troops in recent weeks to aid the evacuation effort. Biden inherited about 2,500 soldiers in the country when he took office, but those forces grew to about 6,000 after reinforcements were sent to the region in recent weeks.
“This August 31 appointment is nothing more than an aspiration. There is no agreement we made with the Taliban. This should in no way be a deadline,” said retired Lt. Col. Daniel Davis, who deployed twice in Afghanistan.
Added to the pressure on Biden are calls from lawmakers, human rights organizations and veterans’ groups to ensure that all Afghan allies who helped in the war effort over the past two decades can leave the country. safely, as they face threats of retribution. of the Taliban.
Rep. Susan Wild
Susan Wild: Anti-abortion group targets Democrats before 2022 Overnight healthcare: Fauci clashes with Paul – again | New York reaches .1B agreement with opioid distributors | The Delta variant accounts for 83 percent of U.S. COVID-19 cases. An abortion rights advocacy group endorses 12 House Democrats ahead of interim MORE (D-Pa.), A member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, wrote a bipartisan letter to Biden on Monday asking him to extend the military operation beyond August 31 and start talks with the NATO on the cession of Kabul airport to a NATO force to continue the evacuations of Afghans who want to flee the country.
AMVETS, VoteVets, Human Rights First and Common Defense sent a separate letter to the White House, signed by about 30 groups, urging the safe evacuation of Afghan allies.
“I would like to see a clear commitment to stay until people at risk are evacuated,” said Andrea Prasow, deputy director of Human Rights Watch in Washington, which was not one of 30 groups. “I think it’s really essential that the U.S. goal is to stay until vulnerable people are evacuated, whatever the date.”
Prasow and others say the administration needs to provide more clarity on which people at risk, beyond Americans, green card holders and SIV applicants and their families, are eligible for evacuation.
“It looks like physical access to the airport problem is improving, I wouldn’t say it has been resolved,” Prasow said. “This part is getting better, but there are people who don’t have flights, they don’t have visas, they don’t know what state they will have when they get anywhere.”
Updated at 6:18 p.m.