Taliban’s Stern Warning: Withdraw All Troops By Aug 31, Or Face Consequences

The Taliban operate separate websites in Pashto, Dari, Arabic, Urdu and English (Pic Credit: CNBC)

Kabul: The Taliban has issued a stern warning to the United States vis-à-vis withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.

President Joe Biden had set August 31 as the deadline to call back the entire American troops. But with the evacuation plan turning out to be a complex and difficult process, Biden recently said American troops might remain in Afghanistan longer to oversee a “hard and painful” evacuation of its nationals and Afghan allies.

This has infuriated the Taliban, who issued a categorical warning to call back all troops by August 31, or face the consequences.

“It’s a red line. President Biden announced that on 31 August they would withdraw all their military forces. So if they extend it that means they are extending occupation while there is no need for that. If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations — the answer is no. Or there would be consequences,” Taliban spokesperson Dr Suhail Shaheen told Sky News.

“It will create mistrust between us. If they are intent on continuing the occupation, it will provoke a reaction,” he added.

Also Read: Fact Check: Has Taliban Killed A Journalist Of German TV Channel DW?

Taliban have taken over almost the entire country, after entering ‘last frontier’ Kabul on August 15.

Biden issued orders in July to withdraw US military from Afghanistan, with one of the country’s longest missions to be completed by August-end.