(Washington) US President Joe Biden on Thursday transmitted to Congress the classified documents relating to the withdrawal from Afghanistan, demanded for a long time in particular by the Republicans, announced the White House on Thursday.
The US executive also released a document summarizing how the withdrawal was designed and executed, concluding that there was no other conceivable “scenario” short of maintaining a reinforced US military force in the country. and permanent to fight the Taliban.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby defended how the withdrawal was carried out under Joe Biden, saying the Democratic president was bound by agreements signed by his predecessor Donald Trump with the Taliban.
A US withdrawal from Afghanistan “has always been President Biden’s intention,” the spokesman said. “But it is also undeniable that the decisions taken by the previous administration and the complete lack of preparation have clearly limited the options available. »
Mr. Biden “did not negotiate with the Taliban,” he stressed. “He didn’t release 5,000 prisoners. He did not reduce the military strength in Afghanistan to 2500 nor did he make an agreement with the Taliban not to attack our troops. »
“It took him several months to plan [le retrait]because if the previous administration had plans, we haven’t seen them,” he added.
Images of the chaotic evacuation of Americans and Afghans from Kabul airport at the end of summer 2021 shocked the United States and went around the world. Thirteen American soldiers and 170 Afghans were killed in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group on August 26 near the airport.
On August 30, 2021, one minute before midnight, the last American soldier had flown out of the Afghan capital’s airport 24 hours ahead of the deadline set by the American president for the withdrawal of troops from the country.
The Taliban had already regained power.