White House: Biden hasn’t spoken with world leaders about Taliban
By Carlos Manuel Eusoya
PHOTO: Surge Nig |
United States President Joe Biden has not spoken with his fellow world leaders since the fall of Kabul to Taliban forces, White House said last August 17.
The administration’s current focus is the evacuation of American citizens and its Afghan allies from the capital of Afghanistan, which is completely controlled by the Taliban.
However, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that Biden is coordinating “at a lower level than leaders and heads of state.”
Moreover, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that he, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and several other White House senior members “have been engaged on a regular basis with foreign counterparts and [they] intend to do so in the coming days.”
The mass withdrawal of US troops in Afghanistan led to the Taliban offensive and the fall of the Afghan government.
Negotiations are ongoing between the Afghan government and the Taliban, which has called for a “peaceful transition of power” and an “open, inclusive Islamic government.”
The mass evacuation of foreigners in Kabul caught the White House unprepared and the international community, particularly the European governments, are concerned over the refugee arrivals.
“If there is a benefit in the president picking up the phone and calling world leaders, he will certainly do that and I expect he’ll do that in the coming days,” Psaki ended.
Report sources: Manila Bulletin, Associated Press