Washington [US], August 24 (ANI): The Biden administration on Monday (local time) said that it is aiming to evacuate all Americans from Afghanistan by August 31.
Responding to questions on the August 31 deadline, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters at a White House news conference that the final decision to extend the evacuation mission from the Kabul airport would be taken by President Joe Biden.
“Ultimately, it will be the President’s decision how these proceeds, no one else’s,” said Sullivan.
“The President believes we are making substantial progress. Dozens of flights, thousands — now tens of thousands of people evacuated from the country. We believe today will be an efficient and effective day and tomorrow and the next day as well. And as I said, he is taking this day by day and will make his determinations as we go,” Sullivan said.
August 31 was declared a deadline by the Taliban for the US troops to leave the country.
Since the Taliban took over Kabul and toppled the Afghan government more than a week ago, the US has scrambled to evacuate American citizens, Afghans who assisted the American military, and others who could face retribution from the terrorist group.
At the Pentagon, Defense Department Press Secretary John Kirby told reporters they have seen the public statements by the Taliban spokesman about their views on August 31. “I think we all understand that view,” he said.
“The goal is to get as many people out as fast as possible. And while we are glad to see the numbers that we got yesterday, we are not going to rest on any laurels. The focus is on trying to do this as best we can by the end of the month,” he said.
Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said Monday “the focus is on trying to do this as best we can by the end of the month,” though both administration officials didn’t rule out the possibility of staying longer if necessary.
President Biden has offered similar sentiments in recent days, claiming Friday he’s still assessing whether to stay beyond his August 31 deadline but believes he can “get it done by then.”
Meanwhile, the US allies want the deadline to be extended amid security threats and chaos in Kabul.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told reporters “additional time is needed”, while UK Defense Minister Ben Wallace hopes the US will extend its timeline “even by a day or two”.
During the Pentagon briefing today Joint Staff Deputy Director for Regional operations Army Major General William ‘Hank’ Taylor confirmed that 16,000 passengers left Kabul in the last 24 hours.
“As of this morning, within the last 24 hours, 25 US military C-17s, three U.S. military C-130 and then a combination of 61 chartered commercial and other military flights departed Kabul,” said Taylor.
“The total passenger count for those flights was approximately 16,000, of that number. The US military transported just under 11,000 personnel.”
Taylor also confirmed that five flights arrived at Dulles International Airport with approximately 1300 passengers. “At this time for military installations as well as Dulles International are receiving Afghans as they come into the United States,” he added.
‘Significant’ threat to US airlift operations in Afghanistan: Pentagon
The United States on Monday said that there are significant threats to the US airlift operation out of Afghanistan but their military is taking measures to mitigate them.
“The threat is significant as you know. I won’t get into details. We’re closely aligned to CENTCOM and other agencies on threat reporting and potential threat to airlift operations,” head of US Transportation Command General Stephen R. Lyons said during a press briefing on Monday.
“I would just say as we watch that, our crews are the best in the world. That machine, the C-17, is the best in the world, and I’m confident that we’re taking the right measures to mitigate the threat.”
Earlier on Monday, National Security Adviser (NSA) Jake Sullivan in a separate briefing said that the US is in talks with the Taliban on a daily basis and they are “consulting with the Taliban on every aspect,” including on the situation at Kabul airport.
Despite ongoing talks with the Taliban, NSA Sullivan added that US forces at the Kabul international airport continue to face a serious threat from the Islamic State terror group.
Since August 14, the US has evacuated and facilitated the evacuation of approximately 37,000 people. Since the end of July, it has relocated approximately 42,000 people.
Taliban had taken over Kabul on August 15 causing panic and apprehension among people.
Kabul has witnessed chaotic scenes over the past week with people rushing to the airport to flee the country. Many countries have also started evacuating their citizens and diplomatic personnel from war-torn country.
US has ‘no illusion about Taliban’, says NSA Sullivan
US President Joe Biden is not considering speaking to the representatives of the Taliban‘s leadership, said National Security Adviser (NSA) Jake Sullivan on Monday and added that the US has “no illusion” about the terrorist group.
“With respect to whether President Biden is likely to speak to the leadership of the Taliban, that is not in contemplation at this time,” Sullivan said during a White House press briefing.
This comment comes a day after Biden said that the Taliban is seeking legitimacy and have made promises but Washington will see whether “they mean or not”. “I don’t trust anybody,” he had said when asked whether he believes the Taliban or not.
Amid the ongoing evacuation efforts in Afghanistan, Sullivan today said the US is in talks with the Taliban on a daily basis and they are “consulting with the Taliban on every aspect,” including on the situation at Kabul airport.
Despite ongoing talks with the Taliban, NSA added that US forces at the Kabul international airport continue to face a serious threat from the Islamic State terror group.
The Joe Biden administration believes that the United States has time to get every American out of Afghanistan by the August 31 withdrawal deadline. “We believe that we have time between now and the (August) 31 to get any American out (of Afghanistan),” NSA Sullivan said.
The United States will continue to evacuate at-risk Afghans out of Afghanistan after US troops leave the country by the August 31 deadline, he added.
Answering a question on Biden’s view of the Taliban, Sullivan said, “of course, he does not (trust Taliban), none of us do. Because we have seen the horrific images from the last time they were in power; because of the way in which they have conducted this war; because we have seen that the fact they are responsible for the death of American men and women for two decades of war.”
“We have no illusion about the Taliban. From our perspective, we need to focus on the task at hand. We need to get thousands and thousands of people out of this country (Afghanistan),” he added.
More than two dozen US military flights evacuated approximately 10,400 people from Kabul in the last 24 hours. In addition, 61 US coalition aircraft evacuated 5,900 more people. (ANI)
