Britain Fails To Convince US To Stay In Afghanistan Beyond August 31
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
(Worthy News) – In a significant concession to Afghanistan’s new Islamist Taliban rulers, the U.S. said Tuesday it would not extend the deadline for evacuations beyond August 31.
Speaking to reporters, Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson quoted U.S. President Joe Biden saying, “it was difficult for the West to impose its values on Afghanistan.”
Johnson’s comments followed a Group of Seven (G7) virtual meeting about Afghanistan, where thousands of evacuees remain trapped.
U.S. allies have made clear it was unlikely that everyone eligible for evacuation could leave the country in time.
The Taliban had already said it would not accept an extension of a U.S. withdrawal to allow more evacuations beyond August 31.
Staying longer would be regarded as “an occupation” and “provoke a reaction,” a Taliban spokesman warned.
G7 leaders reportedly agreed to develop a roadmap to engage with the Taliban amid concerns about reported human rights abuses.
But President Biden resisted British and other G7 attempts to extend the August 31 deadline for withdrawal, according to Reuters news agency citing a senior US official.
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