World powers are still reeling a day after Taliban insurgents stormed Kabul’s presidential palace. The airport in the city has become the last US-controlled zone.
On Monday, the United States and the rest of the international community hurried to respond to the Taliban’s stunning takeover of Kabul the day before.
Military planes from the United States, Germany, and other countries took part in evacuation operations at Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA), when Westerners and Afghans alike attempted to flee the Taliban’s onslaught.
Statements of support with the Afghan people, condemnation of the Taliban, and cautions concerning those who could seek asylum from the new ultraconservative Islamist rule were issued by world leaders.
On Monday, US President Joe Biden gave a press conference to respond to harsh critiques of his administration’s handling of the US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.
He reiterated that his determination to go ahead with the withdrawal — announced first by former President Donald Trump — was the “right decision.”
“I stand squarely behind my decision. After 20 years, I learned the hard way that there was never a good time to withdraw forces,” Biden said.
However, he placed the blame for the collapse of the Afghan government on its leaders and the lack of willingness of Afghan forces to fight the Taliban.
The president also tasked US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken with allocating $500 million (€425 million) to provide for the “unexpected urgent refugee and migration needs of refugees, victims of conflict, and other persons at risk as a result of the situation in Afghanistan.”
