The Biden administration is shifting its resources to a difficult diplomatic mission aimed at facilitating the safe exit of American citizens and Afghan allies after the U.S. ended its 20-year military engagement in Afghanistan on Monday.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said officials believe that between 100 and 200 Americans seeking to leave the country remain there and were not evacuated on military flights out of Kabul, which came to a halt on Monday evening to meet President Biden’s Tuesday deadline for withdrawing U.S. forces.
“We will continue our relentless efforts to help Americans, foreign nationals and Afghans leave Afghanistan if they choose,” Blinken said in remarks from the State Department, while acknowledging that officials weren’t sure exactly how many Americans remain in Afghanistan.
Biden, who has endured heavy criticism for the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, had pledged earlier this month that he would bring Americans home even if it meant extending the end-of-August deadline.
“Let me be clear: Any American who wants to come home, we will get you home,” Biden said in remarks at the White House less than two weeks ago.
In a statement Monday evening, Biden said that his military commanders were united in their recommendation that he stick to the deadline in order to protect U.S. troops and “secure the prospects of civilian departures for those who want to leave Afghanistan in the weeks and months ahead.”
“I have asked the Secretary of State to lead the continued coordination with our international partners to ensure safe passage for any Americans, Afghan partners, and foreign nationals who want to leave Afghanistan,” Biden said in the statement.
Since the end of July, the U.S. military and coalition forces have evacuated more than 123,000 civilians from Afghanistan as the Taliban gained control of the country quicker than officials anticipated. About 6,000 Americans have been evacuated from or otherwise departed Afghanistan, according to U.S. officials.
Thousands of Afghans who assisted U.S. forces and are Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicants have also been evacuated. Blinken did not specify on Monday how many of those individuals remain in Afghanistan but said the U.S. government is committed to helping them leave.
“Our commitment to them has no deadline,” he said.
Evacuating remaining Americans and Afghans will be difficult, especially given that the U.S. no longer has a diplomatic presence in Afghanistan.
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Biden faces unfinished mission of evacuating Americans https://t.co/aKqENanVWm pic.twitter.com/tjZ4PC4PF6
— The Hill (@thehill) August 31, 2021
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