US President Joe Biden has defended his decision to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan – a move which led to Taliban militants returning to power.
Staying longer was not an option, said Biden in an address to the nation, a day after the end of a 20-year US presence I AfghanBiden praised troops for organising an airlift of more than 120,000 people wishing to flee the Taliban regime. The Islamist group has been celebrating what they call a victory.
There has been wide criticism for Biden – in the US and by his allied – over the abrupt manner of the US withdrawal, which led to the unexpected collapse of the Afghan security forces US troops had trained and funded for years.
Taliban militants were able to reclaim control of the whole country within 11 days – finally entering the capital, Kabul, on August 15.
Biden deployed nearly 6,000 troops to seize control of the airport to co-ordinate the evacuation of US and allied foreign nationals and local Afghans who had been working for them.
Thousands of people converged on Kabul International airport hoping to be able to board one of the evacuation flights.
