US President Joe Biden has defended his decision to withdraw military forces from Afghanistan, saying that US operations will end on 31 August.
The fourth US president to oversee the war also defended the speed of the US withdrawal, saying it saved lives.
Mr Biden’s speech comes because the Taliban militant group continues to seize territory round the country.
US forces have fought in Afghanistan for nearly 20 years, following the fear attacks of 11 September 2001.
Earlier this year, Mr Biden set a 11 September 2021 goal of withdrawing all US troops.
Donald Trump had agreed with the Taliban to tug out US troops by May 2021, but that deadline was pushed back by Mr Biden after he took office in January.
“Just another year of fighting in Afghanistan isn’t an answer ,” Mr Biden said during a White House speech, “but a recipe for fighting there indefinitely.”
He also denied that a Taliban takeover is “inevitable,” saying that the Taliban force of roughly 75,000 fighters is not any match for the 300,000 Afghan security forces.
Even after the entire pull out is complete, the US is predicted to stay 650 to 1,000 troops in Afghanistan to protect the US embassy, Kabul airport, and other key government installations.
Recent polls have shown broad US support for leaving Afghanistan, with Republican voters more sceptical of the choice to withdraw.
Mr Biden also said that efforts are being made to urge translators, interpreters and other Afghans that worked with the United States government out of the country. He said 2,500 special immigrant visas are issued to permit them to return to the US , but only half have come thus far .
He was at pains to mention support for Afghanistan wouldn’t stop, but even more adamant that both Afghan politicians and security forces had the capacity to stop a Taliban takeover. “Will they be doing it?” he asked.
That’s what Afghans have asked – repeatedly – within the midst of continuous disarray and disunity in Kabul, and therefore the dramatic Taliban advance within the districts.
The president’s emphasis on speaking out for ladies and girls isn’t heard in districts already under Taliban control where they are not getting to school.
As a president who’s known to review all the scenarios, he made it clear “it’s highly unlikely” there’ll be a unified government, and not much the US could do, or should do, if Kabul collapses. That’s up to Afghans – and therefore the countries nearby .
