Taliban won’t extend August 31 deadline for US to complete evacuation of Afghanistan

One of the Taliban spokespersons, Suhail Shahin, warned on Monday that there will be “consequences” if the United States and other foreign countries do not complete the withdrawal and evacuations from Afghanistan by August 31, the deadline set by US President Joe Biden.

In addition, two sources from the extremist group confirmed to Reuters that they would not extend the deadline for the forces to leave Afghanistan, although they also clarified that no foreign government or senior official had contacted them. Taliban to discuss the matter.

In an interview with Sky News, Shahin indicated that August 31 “is a red line”, a date that is approaching as countries attempt to evacuate by forced marches and Biden considers that American troops are leaving the Asian country after that date.

“Biden announced that on August 31, he would withdraw all of his military forces.Shahin influenced, who remarked that if the president extends the mandate “it means that there is an extension of the occupation when there is no need”. “If the US or UK is asking for more time to continue with the evacuations, the answer is no. Or there will be consequences“He added.

Shahin’s remarks also come as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked Biden to extend the deadline to leave Afghanistan, an extension aimed at driving as many people out of the country as possible after the Taliban seized of power in the country.

Meanwhile, scenes of desperation at Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport continue to unfold. Several people had already lost their lives in unclear circumstances outside the airport, where costly evacuation operations continue. Faced with these difficulties, Biden opened the door to follow up beyond August 31.

“Talks are underway between us and the military about an extension. We hope we don’t have to prolong it, but there will be discussions, I guess, on the state of the evacuation process.“, He assured Sunday evening.

Since taking power in Afghanistan on August 15, the Taliban have tried to convince the population that their regime will be less brutal than the previous one, between 1996 and 2001. But their promises do not stop the will of thousands of people. to flee the country.

The United States has already evacuated around 30,300 people since August 14the White House, which hopes to eliminate 15,000 Americans and also around 50,000 to 60,000 Afghans, announced Sunday. Western countries have displaced thousands more.

The day before, European Union (EU) foreign minister Josep Borrell has ruled “impossible” to evacuate all people before August 31, in an interview with the AFP.

To bolster the evacuation, Washington ordered six major commercial airlines to bring evacuees from Kabul who are at US bases in the Gulf and Europe to the United States.

Although the withdrawal from Afghanistan raises fears among other allies of the United States, its vice-president Kamala Harris on Monday promised, visiting Singapore, a “lasting commitment” of his country in Asia.

The threat of ISIS-K

The Islamic State group (ISIL) – which has long declared its willingness to attack the United States and its interests abroad – has been operating in Afghanistan for several years, leading waves of horrific attacks, especially against the Shiite minority.

The group has been the target of repeated US airstrikes in recent years, as well as attacks by the Taliban. However, officials claim that Fragments of the group remain active in Afghanistan, and the United States fears it may recover more broadly as the country falls under Taliban rule.

As spokespersons for the US Department of Defense confirmed to CNN, the Islamist wing known as ISIS-K is behind the blockade of the evacuation operation in Kabul. The militiamen have been seeking for at least two years to revive the caliphate, based in Afghanistan without having formed an alliance with the Taliban.

The strategy to avoid an attack is an essential part of the operation, even if it is believed that an attack would not be immediate. However, in the face of the prospect of its extension in time due to the number of people to be evacuated and the poor disposition of the Taliban, who also do not control ISIS-K, the concern of the American authorities is growing.

(With information from Europa Press, AFP and Reuters)

KEEP READING: