Today’s news, Wednesday 25 August, on the Taliban, Kabul and the rest of Afghanistan
Biden confirms US withdrawal from Afghanistan on August 31 and says to G7 leaders: We must remain united. Meanwhile, the G7 is asking for humanitarian corridors for those who do not have time to leave the country. But the Taliban close the airport to Afghans: Access only to foreigners. Draghi calls for an extraordinary effort for refugees and humanitarian aid. The UN denounces summary executions. Taliban diktat on women: For now they have to stay at home. Di Maio in Parliament confirms the evacuation of all Italians: We will go away together with the US. Race against time for another 1,300 refugees to bring to Italy, the airlift continues, today three flights.
9.23 am – Wall Street Journal against Biden: He is bowing to the demands of the Taliban
For the Wall Street Journal, the Afghan withdrawal is one of the saddest American failures of recent decades. Biden, the newspaper editorial reads, is bowing to the demands of the Taliban and rejects the advice of the G7 leaders. According to the newspaper, there was an alternative, to send in enough troops to create safe zones and recover the stranded Americans and Afghan allies. It could have done so with a NATO coalition of the willing. The US military has 31 active-duty combat brigades of several thousand soldiers each. He could have told the Taliban that the United States does not negotiate the deadline and that the troops will remain for as long as it takes to complete the rescue mission. This would have saved some honor and credibility.
9.12 – Guterres: UN will remain in Afghanistan alongside the people
The United Nations has worked with and for the Afghan people for decades. We remain in that country and we will continue to stay there and do everything we can for the safety of our personnel and to serve the Afghan people who have suffered a lot: the UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, writes in a tweet.
8.14 – Two surprise US deputies in Kabul, wrath of Washington
Two US deputies flew by surprise to Kabul to check the situation on the ground, strongly irritating the US State Department and the military who are trying to evacuate as many people as possible by the August 31st deadline. Democrat Seth Moulton and Republican Peter Meijer arrived at the stop in the Afghan capital on a charter flight and stayed there for a few hours before leaving. As members of Congress, we have a duty to oversee the executive branch, they said, responding to criticism.
7.54 am – Gb evacuation could end in 24-36 hours
The UK’s evacuation from Afghanistan could be completed within 24-36 hours. what is reported on Guardian quoting a British defense source. During the G7, US President Joe Biden rejected UK requests for humanitarian air travel to continue beyond August 31st. UK defense sources told al Guardian that it is believed that the US military needs two or three days to close its operations at Kabul airport and that British troops want to be at least 24 hours ahead of there, leaving a small window for RAF flights evacuating those at risk from the takeover of power by the Taliban.
August 25, 2021 (change August 25, 2021 | 09:28)
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