Washington. August 10. INTERFAX-US President Joe Biden on Tuesday responded negatively to the question whether the successful offensive of the Taliban movement (banned in the Russian Federation) in Afghanistan made changes to the plans for the withdrawal of the US military from this country.
"No. We have spent more than $1 trillion over 20 years, we have trained and equipped more than 300 thousand Afghan military with modern weapons... We have lost thousands of American personnel killed and wounded. They (the Afghans - IF) must fight for themselves, for their people, " he said at the White House.
At the same time, the president noted that the United States will remain committed to its obligations - to support the Afghan government forces from the air, maintain the combat capability of the Afghan Air Force, supply food and equipment and pay salaries.
"But they must want to fight. There are more of them than the Taliban movement has (fighters - IF), " Biden stressed.
He also said that he does not regret the decision to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan.
Over the past few weeks, the Taliban have rapidly seized Afghan territories, including several key points on the borders with neighboring countries. They also threaten the capitals of several other provinces. This is happening against the background of the withdrawal of US forces and their partners from Afghanistan.
The United States and its NATO partners began withdrawing troops from Afghanistan in May 2021. Initially, it was planned that the operation should be completed by September 11, 2021. However, then it turned out that the process is going faster than expected.
In August, the Taliban occupied five administrative centers-Zaranj (the capital of Nimroz province), Shibergan (the capital of Jowzjan province), Talukan (Takhar province), Sari-Pul (the capital of the province of the same name), Kunduz (the capital of the province of the same name). In addition, on the eve of the Taliban movement captured the city of Aybak, the capital of Samangan province in northern Afghanistan. In the case of Aybak, the Taliban also entered the city without a fight after local elders called on the authorities to rid the city of fighting.
