WASHINGTON — The collapse of Kabul without any resistance to the Taliban will go down as one of the greatest defeats in American history, former US President Donald Trump has said.
“What Joe Biden has done with Afghanistan is legendary. It will go down as one of the greatest defeats in American history,” Trump said in a short statement hours after the Taliban occupied the presidential palace in Kabul and its elected leader Ashraf Ghani fled the country along with his senior officials reportedly to Tajikistan.
On CNN, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US has not asked the Taliban for anything.
“We’ve told the Taliban that if they interfere with our personnel, with our operations, as we’re proceeding with this drawdown, there will be a swift and decisive response. That’s what we’ve told them,” he said.
Blinken defended the Afghan policy of President Biden. He was asked if the Biden administration recognises the Taliban as a legitimate government.
“A future Afghan government that upholds the basic rights of its people and that doesn’t harbour terrorists is a government we can work with and recognise. Conversely, a government that doesn’t do that – that doesn’t uphold the basic rights of its people, including women and girls; that harbours terrorist groups that have designs on the United States or allies and partners – certainly, that’s not going to happen,” he said.
“And beyond that, to the extent that the Taliban has a self-interest if it’s leading the government in Afghanistan of assistance from the international community, support from the international community, none of that will be forthcoming. Sanctions won’t be lifted, their ability to travel won’t happen if they’re not sustaining the basic rights of the Afghan people and if they revert to supporting or harboring terrorists who might strike us,” he added. — (PTI)
