US President Joe Biden defended America’s choice to leave Afghanistan on Thursday, dismissing the notion that the Taliban’s takeover was “inevitable.”

However, the US president acknowledged that a unified Afghan government controlling the majority of the country was “very improbable.” His comments came as US and international soldiers began to withdraw from Afghanistan, with the Taliban capturing major regions of the country every day.

In a White House address, Biden stated the US military had “achieved” its aims in Afghanistan, including eliminating Osama bin Laden, weakening Al-Qaeda, and averting future attacks on the US.

“We are ending America’s longest war,” he said, adding that the pullout will be finished by August 31, a month ahead of his original target of September 11. According to the Pentagon, the withdrawal is already 90% complete.

Staying in the nation is “not an option,” according to Biden. “I will not send a new generation of Americans to Afghanistan to fight.”

He stated, “The United States cannot afford to stay tied to policies designed to adapt to a world that existed 20 years ago.” “We have to confront the threats where they are right now.”

Biden stated that the US “did not go to Afghanistan to establish a nation,” and that the Afghan people should decide their own fate.
He did, however, admit the uncertainty regarding how that future might play out.

“No, it is not inevitable,” the president responded when asked if a Taliban takeover was “inevitable.”

The Taliban claim to have taken control of more than 100 of the country’s roughly 400 districts.
Biden stated, “The Afghan government… must come together.” “They have demonstrated that they have the ability to keep the government in place. The issue is whether they will be able to achieve this level of cohesiveness.”

He voiced confidence in Afghan soldiers fighting the resurgent Taliban, who had been trained and equipped by the US for years.
“I do not trust the Taliban,” Biden added, “but I do trust the Afghan military’s capabilities.”
And he categorically denied any parallels to the US experience in Vietnam.

Biden stated, “The Taliban is not the North Vietnamese army.” “In terms of capability, they’re not even close.”

“There will be no situation where individuals are carried off the top of an American embassy in Afghanistan,” he continued. “It’s not even close to being similar.”
The Taliban, for their part, were pleased with Biden’s remarks.
Suhail Shaheen, a spokesperson for the Pentagon, told AFP that “every day or hour that US and international soldiers depart early is a great move.”