White House: Evacuation of Afghans Hoping to Escape Not Possible Until End of August

▲Jen Psaki, White House Press Secretary [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] The White House announced on the 26th that it has become impossible to evacuate all Afghans wishing to leave by the originally proposed deadline of the 31st (local time) following the terrorist attack at Kabul Airport in Afghanistan.

On the same day, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki stated this during a press briefing.

She reaffirmed the position that there is no deadline for the promise to evacuate any American wishing to escape Afghanistan, and that evacuation efforts will continue even after the evacuation deadline ends on the 31st and the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan is completed.

This is interpreted as an acknowledgment that while the final evacuation operation for Americans and collaborators in Afghanistan is underway, it is difficult to evacuate all Afghans wishing to leave abroad by the 31st.

There have been demands from the U.S. Congress and European allies to extend the withdrawal deadline to ensure the safe evacuation of these individuals, but President Joe Biden has maintained the original withdrawal deadline, citing concerns about terrorism around the airport.

Meanwhile, on the same day, IS-K (Islamic State Khorasan), a group claiming to be a branch of the Islamic State (IS) in Afghanistan, carried out a series of suicide bombings near Kabul Airport, the capital, resulting in the deaths of more than 90 people, including 13 U.S. soldiers.

At the briefing, Psaki said, "If the President loses soldiers during his term, it will be the worst day," and conveyed that "President Biden had a somber and angry day."

She also said, "The fact that he has to make such decisions as Commander-in-Chief, putting soldiers' lives at risk, weighs heavily on him."

President Biden was so focused on responding to this terrorist attack that he postponed a summit with the Israeli Prime Minister by one day, and after 5 p.m., he delivered a national address stating that while the withdrawal deadline will be maintained, he will take a tough stance by using force to "pursue the terrorists to the end and make them pay the price."

He expressed, "It is a difficult day," observed a moment of silence to honor the victims, and showed signs of being choked up with emotion.

Psaki announced that to honor the victims, the White House and all public institutions will fly flags at half-mast until the 30th.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.