Kabul: The Taliban have asked the US to stop evacuating professional Afghans. The news agency AFP gave this information on Tuesday, quoting the spokesman of the Taliban group. Along with this, the Taliban has categorically refused to extend the deadline of August 31 for the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan. During a news conference, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said, “We will not extend the time limit for the presence of American troops in Afghanistan.” They can evacuate their civilians and soldiers till August 31.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid further said that the US should not encourage the Afghan elite to leave the country. He also says that the Taliban is committed to solving the problem peacefully in Panjshir. Tolo News reported this news quoting the group. A day earlier, the Taliban said that they had started encircling Panjshir province. Panjshir is the only province out of 34 provinces in Afghanistan that the Taliban have not been able to capture.
Ahmed Masood, son of late commander Ahmed Shah Masood of the ‘Northern Alliance’ organization, which supported the US to oust the Taliban in 2001, said his fighters were also present in Panjshir. He said his fighters would fight any resistance to the annexation of the province by force, but that talks with the Taliban were open. The Taliban also said that the Taliban plans to talk to the people of Panjshir. He had said, ‘Till now there is no fighting there. We want to find a peaceful solution for Panjshir.
US President Joe Biden said on August 22 that he would not rule out extending the evacuation operation beyond August 31. By this date, there is to be a complete withdrawal of US military forces from Afghanistan. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also said he would urge Biden to take the campaign forward. At the same time, Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen said in an interview with ‘Sky News’ that August 31 is the ‘red line’ and extending the time limit for the presence of US troops would be a step of provocation.
After the capture of the Taliban, the Afghan security forces surrendered. Fearing the return of the harsh Taliban regime, thousands of Afghan citizens are trying to leave the country, causing panic at Kabul airport. Some Afghan soldiers are helping Western soldiers in the evacuation operation. Kabul airport is also under threat of attack by local organizations affiliated with the Islamic State.
