Joe Biden mentioned US forces have airlifted 13,000 folks out of Afghanistan since August 14. (File)
Washington:
US President Joe Biden mentioned Friday he couldn’t assure the result of emergency evacuations from Kabul, calling it one of the vital tough airlift operations ever, however added he would mobilize “each useful resource” to repatriate Individuals.
“This is among the largest, most tough airlifts in historical past,” Biden mentioned in a televised handle from the White Home, highlighting the harmful parts of coordinating a mass evacuation whereas being surrounded by Taliban forces, who took over the Afghan capital on Sunday.
“I can’t promise what the ultimate consequence will likely be, or… that it is going to be with out threat of loss,” he mentioned of the chaotic exit from Afghanistan after practically 20 years of battle and rebuilding.
“However as commander in chief, I can guarantee you that I’ll mobilize each useful resource vital” to conduct a radical evacuation, Biden added.
“Let me be clear: Any American who needs to return residence, we’ll get you residence.”
The president mentioned US forces have airlifted 13,000 folks out of Afghanistan since August 14, and 18,000 since July, with 1000’s extra evacuated on non-public constitution flights facilitated by the US authorities.
Earlier this yr, Biden — constructing on his predecessor Donald Trump’s 2020 name for a withdrawal from Afghanistan — imposed a deadline of August 31 for a full exit.
Requested whether or not he might get all Individuals out by that quickly approaching date, Biden mentioned he aimed to, however warned he wouldn’t second guess the judgment of army commanders on the bottom.
“I believe we will get it carried out by then, however we’ll make that judgment as we go,” he mentioned.
Biden mentioned this week he had believed it was inconceivable to go away Afghanistan “with out chaos ensuing” — a state of affairs that has performed out in current days with 1000’s of Afghans, together with many who labored as translators or in any other case aided US operations, crowding exterior the gates of Kabul airport.
He additionally mentioned his administration has been in “fixed contact” with the Taliban to coordinate and facilitate the protected evacuation of US personnel.
With the haphazard retreat making world headlines, Biden careworn he has seen “no query of credibility from our allies around the globe” relating to the conduct of the American withdrawal, including US forces have been in shut operational contact with NATO on the evacuation operation.
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