“If the United States or Great Britain try to buy time to continue the evacuations from Afghanistan there will be consequences“. This was stated in an interview with Skynews by Suhail Shaheen, spokesman and member of the Taliban negotiating team, according to whom postponing the withdrawal would mean extending "the occupation and there is no need". If “the intention is to continue to occupy” Afghanistan “confidence will be broken and there will be a reaction“, the spokesman finally said bluntly.
The deadline for the withdrawal of troops set by the US president, Joe Biden, and by the European allies has expired The 31 August. However, there are pressures from Europe, and above all from France, Germany and the United Kingdom the limit is extended to allow for an orderly withdrawal of troops and the evacuation of civilians who have collaborated with the West and their families. People who could suffer heavy retaliation after the return to power of the Taliban and the exit from the scene of the NATO countries.
The American Vice President Kamala Harris, during the press conference with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, said that "right now we are singularly focused on the evacuation of American citizens, Afghans who have worked with us and Afghans who are vulnerable, including women and children". Harris said, answering a reporter's question about US efforts in Afghanistan.
It is scheduled for today, August 24, the British-led virtual G7. And it will be precisely in this context that, according to reports from the British media, the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson will try to convince Biden to postpone the withdrawal. The same request should come from France, where Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian spoke of the need for a "further postponement" of the deadline. In Germany, the head of diplomacy, Heiko Maas, instead declared that talks are underway "with the US, Turkey and other partners with the aim of allowing the airport to continue operating civilian operations to take people out" from the country.
However, on the eve of the summit, Washington confirmed its intention to complete the evacuation operations by the end of August.
