US Committed To Safe Passage For Americans Left In Afghanistan: Joe Biden

Washington: US President Joe Biden said that America remains committed to helping the remaining 100 to 200 US citizens who have some intention to leave Afghanistan.

Most of those who’re remaining in Afghanistan are dual citizens and longtime residents, Biden added.

Speaking at the White House, Biden told reporters that most of them were dual citizens and longtime residents who had previously decided to stay in the country given their family roots in Afghanistan.

“There is no time limit for the rest of the Americans. If they want to come out, we are committed to getting them out,” Biden said.

In his remarks, he said that 90% of Americans who were in Afghanistan and wanted to leave were able to leave. The White House later updated a transcript of his comments to show that the correct figure was 98%.

He said Secretary of State Antony Blinken was leading sustained diplomatic efforts to ensure a safe passage for any American, Afghan partner or foreign national who wanted to leave Afghanistan following its takeover by the Islamic Taliban on August 15.

Biden said the international community would hold Taliban leaders accountable for their promises of freedom of travel.

“The Taliban have made public commitments broadcast on television and radio throughout Afghanistan to a safe passage for those willing to leave, including those working with Americans,” he said. “We get them not just by their words, but by their actions, and we have the leverage to meet those commitments.”

Biden said the U.S. government had reached out 19 times to Americans in Afghanistan since March, offering to help them leave the country.

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