Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State: “The military mission in Afghanistan is over, the diplomatic mission has started”

The United States suspended diplomatic presence in Afghanistan and moved embassy operations to Doha, QatarSecretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Monday.

However, Washington will continue to “help” American citizens who wish to leave the country after the final withdrawal of American troops, he stressed.

In a televised statement just hours after the departure of the last evacuation flights from Kabul, Blinken said a small number of US citizens, “less than 200” and probably over 100, remained in Afghanistan..

In addition, Blinken said the United States would “work” with the Taliban if it kept its promises.

“Every step we take will be based not on what the Taliban government says, but on what it does to fulfill its commitments.Blinken said, stressing that they must win “all legitimacy and support” from the international community.

This Monday, the last American soldier left Afghanistan, leaving the country in the hands of the Taliban, his 20-year-old enemies, at the end of the longest war in American history.

“The last C-17 plane took off from Kabul airport on August 30At 19:29 GMT, General Kenneth McKenzie said at a press conference.

Commander of US military forces on the ground in Afghanistan and Ambassador in Washington they were the last to board the last evacuation flight, the head of the US central command said.

“The last plane to leave was General Chris Donahue, the commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, and my land force commander there.McKenzie told reporters from the Pentagon.

“And he was accompanied by Ambassador Ross WilsonHe added. McKenzie said they were the last on the ground at Kabul airport.

On the other hand, the White House issued a statement with the first message of Joe Biden after the official end of the longest war in which the United States has been involved.

“I want to thank our commanders and the men and women who serve under them for carrying out the dangerous withdrawal from Afghanistan as planned – in the early hours of August 31, Kabul time – without further loss of American life. Over the past 17 days, our troops have performed the largest airlift in U.S. history, evacuating more than 120,000 American citizens, citizens of our allies and United States Afghan allies. They did so with unparalleled courage, professionalism and determination. Today our 20-year military presence in Afghanistan is over», Assured the president.

Meanwhile, the Democrat added that on Tuesday he will address the nation “about my decision to not to extend our presence in Afghanistan beyond August 31 ”.

(With information from AFP)

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