Afghanistan: Joe Biden defends withdrawal of troops, says ‘nation-building’ was never US’ mission

United States President Joe Biden on Monday defended his decision to withdraw the country’s forces from Afghanistan, but added that the situation unfolded “more quickly than we had anticipated”.

His statement came two days after the Taliban seized Afghanistan on Sunday evening, ending a 20-year war. They made rapid advances through the country amid the withdrawal of foreign troops. Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani left the country on Sunday, reportedly for neighbouring Tajikistan.

The Taliban’s takeover has led to a humanitarian crisis, with thousands of people desperate to flee the country thronging Kabul airport. Biden has faced sharp criticism for the manner in which the US withdrawal was implemented.

Responding to the criticism, Biden said on Monday that the US’ mission in Afghanistan was never supposed to have been nation-building. “Our only vital national interest in Afghanistan remains today what it has always been: preventing a terrorist attack on American homeland,” he said.

Happening Now: President Biden delivers remarks on Afghanistan. https://t.co/8jAe8PoUB9

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 16, 2021

Biden said that he stood squarely behind his decision to withdraw troops from the country. “After 20 years, I’ve learned the hard way that there was never a good time to withdraw US forces.”

The US president criticised Afghanistan’s political leaders and military for giving in to the Taliban….

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