Washington DC/ Beijing: The US President Joe Biden met this morning in the Situation Room with his national security team, including the commanders and diplomats in the field. The Vice President joined by secure video teleconference. They advised the President and Vice President that another terror attack in Kabul is likely, but that they are taking maximum force protection measures at the Kabul Airport.
They reported that even in the face of those threats, the evacuation operation were continuing. The U.S. military is airlifting out thousands of people every few hours. They continue to prioritize evacuating the remaining American citizens who have indicated that they wish to leave, and are engaged in a variety of means to get them to the airport safely.
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Biden today directed the US Secretary of State to continue diplomatic efforts with international partners to secure means for third-country nationals and Afghans with visas to leave the country even after the U.S. military presence ends.
“Our commanders also updated the President and Vice President on plans to develop ISIS-K targets. The next few days of this mission will be the most dangerous period to date,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, said today.
According to her, the US President reaffirmed with the commanders his approval of all authorities they needed to conduct the operation and protect the American troops, and all reported back that they have the resources they believe they need to do so effectively.
Meanwhile, China accused the USA of adopting double standard and referred to the decision of former US administration to revoke the designation of ETIM as a terrorist group. “China opposes the double standard of the US. The US should not claim to fight and oppose terrorism on the one hand and refuse to designate the ETIM on the other hand. Such US moves does no good to the counter-terrorism cooperation between China and the US,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian told reporters in Beijing today.
Expressing shock at yesterday’s twin explosions near Kabul airport, Lijian said the explosions showed that the security situation in Afghanistan remains complex and grave. “We hope relevant parties will take effective measures to ensure a smooth transition of the situation in Afghanistan and ensure the safety of the Afghan people and foreign citizens in the country,” he said.
Responding to a pointed question on how the wider terrorist threat impacts how China deals with the Taliban, and that is it in everyone’s interest for China to work together with Western nations against ISIS-K and other groups, Lijian said China stands ready to work with the international community to jointly tackle the threat of terrorism and prevent Afghanistan from becoming a source of terrorism again.
Claiming that “some terrorist groups have gathered and developed in Afghanistan over the past two decades, posing a serious threat to international and regional peace and security,” China, though in particular, referred to ETIM, which Lijian claimed poses an immediate threat to the security of the China and its people.
China pointed out that while ETIM was an international terrorist organization listed by the UN Security Council, the former US administration had revoked the designation of ETIM as a terrorist organization.
China further went on to ask the Afghan Taliban to “earnestly honor its commitment, make a clean break with all terrorist organizations, resolutely fight against the ETIM and clear the way for regional security, stability, development and cooperation”.
“The head of the Afghan Taliban had made it clear to the Chinese side that the Afghan Taliban will never allow any force to use the Afghan territory to engage in acts that hurt China,” he said, and also noted that the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan had received no report of Chinese casualties so far in Afghanistan. It may be mentioned that China was the first country to accord legitimacy to a Taliban government in Kabul.
– global bihari bureau
