Biden defended the decision Tuesday, telling reporters at the White House that there is a “growing risk of an attack” by ISIS-K—an Afghanistan affiliate of the terrorist organization.
“Every day we’re on the ground is another day we know that ISIS-K is seeking to target the airport and attack both U.S. and allied forces and innocent civilians,” the president said.
The president’s comments came after he met with G7 leaders to discuss the crisis in Afghanistan. Attendees included U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and others.
Biden said that the leaders ended the conversation with a clear statement to stay united and “locked at the hip in terms of what we have to do.”
He also said the U.S. and its European allies agreed that the legitimacy of any future government depends on whether it upholds international obligations, including to prevent Afghanistan from being used as a safe haven for terrorism.
Several of Europe’s leaders, as well as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, had urged Biden Tuesday to extend the evacuations deadline past the end of the month.
But the Taliban have threatened consequences if Biden’s original withdrawal date isn’t met.
“It’s a red line,” Suhail Shaheen, an official spokesperson for the militant group, told Sky News. “President Biden announced that on 31 August they would withdraw all their military forces. So, if they extend it that means they are extending occupation while there is no need for that.”
Biden has sent thousands of additional soldiers to Afghanistan to evacuate American citizens and allies after the Taliban seized control of Kabul on August 15. He announced Tuesday that more than 70,000 people have been evacuated since the militant group took over the capital.
“These numbers are a testament to the efforts of our brave service women and men, to our diplomats from the ground in Kabul and to our allies still standing with us,” Biden said.
But he noted that the completion of the withdrawal by August 31 depends on the Taliban cooperating and allowing access to the airport for those wishing to leave the country.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid emphasized Tuesday that the U.S. must stick to its deadline to withdraw troops. After that, Mujahid said, the militant group “won’t let Afghans be taken out” on evacuation flights.
