Biden calls on Afghans to 'decide their future' as withdrawal nears end
U.S. President Joe Biden met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his former political foe, Abdullah Abdullah, on Friday at the White House where he called on Afghans to choose the continuing future of their country as the last U.S. troops finish off after twenty years of war and government forces battle to repel Taliban advances.
Biden, seated beside Ghani and Abdullah in the Oval Office, called them "two old friends" and said U.S. support for Afghanistan had not been ending but will be sustained regardless of the U.S. pullout, Reuters reported."Afghans will have to decide their future, what they need," said Biden, saying the "senseless violence has to stop."
Ghani said Afghan security forces had retaken six districts on Friday. He said he respected Biden's decision and that the partnership between your USA and Afghanistan is entering a new phase.
"We are determined to have unity, coherence," he said.Speaking with reporters following the meeting, Ghani said the United States' decision to withdraw troops was a sovereign one and it had been Kabul's job to "manage consequences."
He added that Biden had evidently articulated that the U.S. embassy would continue to operate and security aid would continue and in some cases move on an accelerated scheduleAbdullah said in a Reuters interview following the Biden meeting that stalled intra-Afghan talks on a political settlement to decades of strife should not be abandoned unless the insurgents themselves grab.
"I think we shouldn't shut the door unless it's completely shut by the Taliban," Abdullah said. "We can't say no to talks despite too little progress or regardless of what's happening on the floor." read more The Oval Office meeting could possibly be as valuable to Ghani for its symbolism for any new U.S. help since it will be observed as affirming Biden's support for the beleaguered Afghan leader as he confronts Taliban gains, bombings and assassinations, a surge in COVID-19 cases and political infighting in Kabul.
