Afghanistan: US Prez Biden meets national security team, discusses evacuation efforts

United States President Joe Biden met his national security team to discuss the situation in conflict-torn Afghanistan, the White House informed on Sunday. The meeting also focused on counterterrorism operations, evacuation efforts, and intensive diplomatic efforts to lock agreements with third party country transit hubs.

The US President had earlier termed the dire conditions in Afghanistan "gut-wrenching" as visuals showed people running around in sheer desperation, hoping to flee the country after capital Kabul fell to Talibani terrorists. 

President Biden briefed by security forces on Afghan issue

The official statement by The White House stated, "This morning, the President met with his national security team to discuss the security situation in Afghanistan, counterterrorism operations, evacuation efforts, and intensive diplomatic efforts to finalize agreements with additional third-party country transit hubs." 

President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were also briefed by security forces on the Afghanistan issue on 18 August, the White House informed. Apart from them, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, Director of National Intelligence Avril Danica Haines, Director Burns, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Ambassador Joseph Charles Wilson, Gen. Frank McKenzie, head of US Central Command, and United States Navy rear admiral Peter Vasily attended the meeting. 

The officials reviewed steps to expedite the evacuation of their people from the country, issuance of Special Immigrant Visas vulnerable Afghans, and safe transit to Hamid Karzai International Airport during the discussion. The leaders also focused on monitoring any terror threats in Afghanistan, especially from ISIS-K.

Afghanistan is witnessing its worst crisis ever

Afghanistan is going through one of the darkest times in the history of humankind as the Taliban's control forces people to flee the country, and heartwrenching images of people falling off aeroplanes in order to evade the militants continue to shock the world. Terrorists are reportedly preventing people from entering the airport. The situation at the Hamid Karzai International airport is also out of hand as the Taliban has captured areas surrounding it. 

After the Taliban took over Kabul, many countries have made arrangements to evacuate their diplomatic personnel from the country. Besides, thousands of locals continue congregating at the airport in an attempt to leave. As a result of the turmoil and gunshots, several individuals have been killed and others have been injured.

(With inputs from ANI, IMAGE: ANI)