U.S. President Joe Biden and other Group of 7 leaders spoke at a conference call Tuesday as several major industrialized democracies were pushing Washington to suspend the current Afghanistan withdrawal deadline. August 31, and the US military presence is extended.
In a partial show of unity, G7 leaders agreed on the conditions for recognizing and dealing with a future Afghan government led by the Taliban, but there was a palpable disappointment because Biden could not be persuaded to extend the US operation at Kabul airport to ensure that tens of thousands of Americans, Europeans, third-country nationals and at-risk Afghans can be evacuated.
The virtual gathering of leaders from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States served not only as a golden brooch to the 20 years of Western involvement in Afghanistan that began as in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, but it was also a resigned recognition by the European powers that the United States commands.
“Our immediate priority is to ensure the safe evacuation of our citizens and Afghans who have partnered with us and helped our efforts for the past 20 years, and to ensure a safe exit from Afghanistan,” the leaders in a joint statement that did not address precisely how they would ensure a safe and continuous exit without any military presence.
In the future, leaders said they would “judge the Afghan parties for their actions, not their words,” echoing the Taliban’s statements not to return to the strict form of Islamic government they had when they occupied. power for the last time since 1996 until the US-led invasion that ousted them in 2001.
“In particular, we reaffirm that the Taliban will be responsible for their actions to prevent terrorism, on human rights in particular those of women, girls and minorities, and on the pursuit of an inclusive political agreement in Afghanistan,” they said. the leaders. “The legitimacy of any future government depends on the approach it takes now to meet its international obligations and commitments to ensure a stable Afghanistan,” they noted.
The virtual meeting, hosted by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, comes amid widespread discontent among some of the U.S.’s closest allies over how Biden has handled the military withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Prior to the conference call, British Secretary of Defense Ben Wallace doubted that Biden would agree to postpone the date of the US withdrawal. Taliban spokesman Zabihulá Mujahid said on Tuesday that his group would not accept “any extension” of the term.
“I wish we had more time, but I think it’s unlikely right now,” Wallace told BBC News. “We have to make plans thinking August 31st will be the last moment, but every day we get after that would be a big plus.”
Biden spoke with G7 leaders for several minutes at the start of the virtual meeting, which lasted less than an hour, according to the White House.
Also present at the G7 virtual summit were European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and the Secretary-General of the European Commission. NATO, Jens Stoltenberg.