Photo: Wikipedia.org.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said at a briefing that consultations are currently underway between the Taliban (the movement is banned in Russia) and members of the former Afghan government about the transfer of power and about some participation in the future of the government. According to Blinken, it is in the interests of the United States to support these efforts as much as possible.
“In the future, we will evaluate our interaction with any government of Afghanistan,” Blinken said, noting that the American administration in this interaction will proceed from the interests of the United States and from whether these contacts will help promote American interests.
In addition, Blinken promised that the United States will use all economic and diplomatic levers of influence on the Taliban together with its allies to ensure the continuation of the evacuation from Afghanistan of all those who are interested in it.
Since August 14, about 4.5 thousand Americans have been taken out of Kabul. According to Washington’s estimates, about one and a half thousand Americans may still remain in Afghanistan.
Blinken noted that the United States is now considering a number of options regarding the stay of its diplomats in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of American troops from the country.