Any attack by the Taliban on American forces or attempts to disrupt evacuation operations at Kabul airport in Afghanistan will be met with a “swift and forceful response,” according to US President Joe Biden. In addition, Biden stated that his administration is maintaining a “laser focus on the counterterrorism mission,” as well as close coordination with regional allies. The United States is also looking for any possible terrorist threat at or near the airport, including from Islamic State affiliates in Afghanistan.
“We made clear to the Taliban that any attack, any attack on our forces or disruption of our operations at the airport will be met with a swift and forceful response,” Biden told reporters at a White House news conference. “I’ve said all along, we’re going to retain a laser focus on our counterterrorism mission, working in close coordination with our allies and our partners and all those who have an interest in ensuring stability in the region.”
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken met with Nato allies on Friday, according to Biden, to discuss strategies to prevent Afghanistan from being used as a base for terror attacks against America and its allies. Over the last few days, the US president has spoken with his counterparts in the United Kingdom, Germany, and France about this.
“We all agreed that we should convene, and we will convene the G7 meeting next week, a group of the world’s leading democracies so that together we can coordinate our mutual approach, our united approach on Afghanistan moving forward,” he said.
Biden once again reiterated his defence behind the troop withdrawal in Afghanistan, claiming that the US finished its “mission” in the country after eliminating the al Qaeda outfits there.
“Look, let’s put this thing in perspective here,” the US president said. “What interest do we have in Afghanistan at this point with al Qaeda gone? We went to Afghanistan for the express purpose of getting rid of al Qaeda in Afghanistan as well as getting Osama bin Laden, and we did.”
“You’ve known my position for a long, long time,” Biden continued. “It’s time to end this war. The estimates of the cost of this war over the last 20 years range from a minimum of $1 trillion to a think tank at one of the universities saying $2 trillion. That somewhere between $150 million a day and $300 million a day.”
