Washington: US President Joe Biden on Thursday defended the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, saying it was not inevitable that the country would fall to the emboldened Taliban, and confirmed the US exit would be completed by August 31.
But he also admitted that, nearly 20 years after American forces toppled the Taliban regime in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, it was highly unlikely Kabul would be able to control the entire country.
The US military has achieved its goals in Afghanistan - killing Osama bin Laden, degrading Al Qaeda and preventing more attacks on the United States, Biden said in a White House speech.
Biden says Kabul s fall to Taliban not inevitable as fighting rages
Published On 09 July,2021 07:28 am
Joe Biden on Thursday confirmed the US exit from Afghanistan would be completed by August 31.
WASHINGTON (AFP) - Joe Biden on Thursday defended the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, saying it was not inevitable that the country would fall to the emboldened Taliban, and confirmed the US exit would be completed by August 31.
But he also admitted that, nearly 20 years after American forces toppled the Taliban regime in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, it was highly unlikely Kabul would be able to control the entire country.
Fall of Kabul to Taliban not inevitable, says Joe Biden
By
Taliban welcome Biden s speech.
Biden says US forces to leave Afghanistan by August 31. I will not send another generation of Americans to war in Afghanistan, says Biden.
US President Joe Biden Thursday defended America s decision to leave Afghanistan, rejecting the notion that the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban was inevitable .
Related items
However, the US president did admit that it was highly unlikely that a unified Afghan government would control most of the territory. His remarks came as the US and foreign forces leave Afghanistan, with the Taliban seizing key districts of the country with every passing day.
Kabul sends in commandos as Taliban surround Afghan city
Published On
Afghan commandos battled the Taliban for control of a provincial capital Thursday.
HERAT (AFP) - Afghan commandos battled the Taliban for control of a provincial capital Thursday as the president insisted they had the capacity to defeat the insurgents even with a complete US troop withdrawal likely just days away.
Plumes of smoke billowed over Qala-i-Naw as fighting raged for a second straight day in the capital of Badghis province, with residents either fleeing the city or barricading themselves in their homes.
With the US pullout 90 percent complete according to the Pentagon, the insurgents have launched a blistering campaign to capture new territory, and fears are mounting that Afghan forces will collapse without vital American air support.
Biden says Taliban takeover of Kabul is not inevitable
US President Joe Biden. File photo
US President Joe Biden Thursday ruled out a complete takeover of Kabul by the Taliban, saying it was not inevitable.
However, the US president did admit that it was highly unlikely that a unified Afghan government would control most of the territory. His remarks came as the US and foreign forces leave Afghanistan, with the Taliban seizing key districts of the country with every passing day. The US military has achieved its goals in Afghanistan killing Osama bin Laden, degrading Al-Qaeda and preventing more attacks on the United States, Biden said in a White House speech.