Home ›› 31 Aug 2021 ›› World Biz
The United States has suspended its diplomatic presence in Afghanistan and will conduct its operations out of Qatar, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday.
Washington will press ahead with its "relentless" efforts to help people leave the country, even after its troops have pulled out, he added.
Blinken’s statement, issued after the departure of the last US plane, helped Western nations and left behind thousands of Afghans who may have been eligible for evacuation.
The operation ended before the Tuesday deadline set by President Joe Biden, who has been receiving intense criticism of Afghanistan’s treatment from both Democrats and Republicans since the Taliban made rapid progress and hijacked Kabul earlier this month.
After ignoring the screams from reporters in his remarks, Blinken conducted Afghan diplomacy, including consular operations and humanitarian assistance from Doha, the capital of Qatar, and Ian, the deputy secretary of the US delegation.
A new chapter in America’s involvement with Afghanistan has begun. Blinken said,” It’s a diplomatic leader, “said” helping Americans, foreigners, and Afghanistan leave Afghanistan if they choose. To that end, we will continue to make constant efforts. “
He said more than 100 Americans were believed to remain in Afghanistan, who still wanted to leave, but Washington was trying to determine the exact number of them. More than 6,000 Americans have been evacuated.
More than 122,000 people have flowed out of Kabul since August 14, the day before the Taliban, which contained al-Qaeda militant groups accusing the attacks on New York and Washington in 2001, regained control of the country.
After the departure of the United States and the takeover of the Taliban, Blinken said the fate of Kabul Airport remained uncertain as it was a major gateway to other parts of the world.
“There is no illusion that this will be easy or quick,” he said.
