In a televised address to the White House on Friday, the president of the United States said withdrawing from Afghanistan was the most difficult decision in history.
“I can’t say anything about the final outcome of the emergency evacuation from Kabul airport,” Biden said.
He added that the United States was in contact with Taliban leaders in Doha and Afghanistan and all allies, including NATO. At the same time, NATO cooperated with allies on the evacuation operation from Kabul airport.
President Biden said the evacuation from Kabul was the most difficult airlift operation, with US forces evacuating 13,000 people from Afghanistan since August 14.
“Our goal was to eliminate al-Qaeda from Afghanistan. That goal has been achieved and there is no need to stay in Afghanistan,” he said.
The US president said the situation in Afghanistan had not tarnished the image of the United States and that no ally had questioned the US decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan.
He said thousands of people had been evacuated from private charter flights with the help of the US government and that those Americans who wanted to return would be repatriated.
