{"id":39317,"date":"2021-08-30T18:19:39","date_gmt":"2021-08-31T01:19:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=39317"},"modified":"2021-08-30T18:19:39","modified_gmt":"2021-08-31T01:19:39","slug":"secretary-of-antony-j-blinken-remarks-on-afghanistan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=39317","title":{"rendered":"Secretary of Antony J. Blinken Remarks on Afghanistan"},"content":{"rendered":"
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08\/30\/2021 08:57 PM EDT<\/div>\n
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Office of the Spokesperson<\/p>\n

Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n

Treaty Room<\/p>\n

SECRETARY BLINKEN:<\/strong>\u00a0 Good evening, everyone.<\/p>\n

Eighteen days ago, the United States and our allies began our evacuation and relocation operation in Kabul.\u00a0 As you just heard from the Pentagon, a few hours ago, that operation was completed.<\/p>\n

More than 123,000 people have been safely flown out of Afghanistan.\u00a0 That includes about 6,000 American citizens.\u00a0 This has been a massive military, diplomatic, and humanitarian undertaking \u2013 one of the most difficult in our nation\u2019s history \u2013 and an extraordinary feat of logistics and coordination under some of the most challenging circumstances imaginable.<\/p>\n

Many, many people made this possible.<\/p>\n

I want to commend our outstanding diplomats who worked around the clock, and around the world, to coordinate the operation.\u00a0 They volunteered for duty at the Kabul airport.\u00a0 They flew to transit countries to help process thousands of Afghans bound for the United States.\u00a0 They deployed to ports of entry and American military bases to welcome Afghans to their new homes.\u00a0 They staffed a 24\/7 task force here in Washington, overseen by Deputy Secretary Brian McKeon.\u00a0 And they built a list of Americans possibly seeking to leave Afghanistan, then worked to contact every single one of them, repeatedly \u2013 making 55,000 phone calls, sending 33,000 e-mails since August 14th.\u00a0 They solved problem after problem to keep the mission moving forward.<\/p>\n

They did this because \u2013 for the thousands of State Department and USAID employees who have served in Afghanistan in the past 20 years \u2013 this evacuation operation was very personal.\u00a0 Many worked hand in hand for years with Afghan partners, many of whom became trusted friends.\u00a0 We also lost cherished members of our Foreign Service community in Afghanistan; we\u2019ll never forget them.\u00a0 Helping Americans, our foreign partners who have been by our side for 20 years, and Afghans at risk at this critical moment, was more than just a high-stakes assignment for our team.\u00a0 It was a sacred duty.\u00a0 And the world saw how our diplomats rose to the challenge with determination and heart.<\/p>\n

U.S. service members in Kabul did heroic work securing the airport, protecting civilians of many nationalities \u2013 including tens of thousands of Afghans \u2013 and airlifting them out.\u00a0 They\u2019re also providing vital support right now, caring for Afghans on military bases in Europe, the Middle East, and here in the United States.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve seen pictures of U.S. service members at the Kabul airport cradling babies, comforting families.\u00a0 That\u2019s the kind of compassionate courage our men and women in uniform exemplify.\u00a0 They carried out this mission under the constant threat of terrorist violence \u2013 and four days ago, 11 Marines, one Navy medic, and one soldier were killed by a suicide bomber at the airport gate, as well as scores of Afghans.<\/p>\n

Nearly all of them were in their early 20s \u2013 just babies or toddlers on September 11th, 2001.<\/p>\n

These deaths are a devastating loss for our country.\u00a0 We at the State Department feel them deeply.\u00a0 We have a special bond with the Marines.\u00a0 The first person that you see when you visit an American embassy is a Marine.\u00a0 They guard our diplomatic missions; they keep us safe around the world.\u00a0 We couldn\u2019t do our jobs without them.\u00a0 And we will never forget their sacrifice \u2013 nor will we forget what they achieved.\u00a0 The most exceptional among us perform a lifetime\u2019s work of service in a short time here on Earth.\u00a0 So. it was for our exceptional brothers and sisters who died last week.<\/p>\n

Finally, I want to thank our allies and partners.\u00a0 This operation was a global endeavor in every way.\u00a0 Many countries stepped up with robust contributions to the airlift, including working by our side at the airport.\u00a0 Some are now serving as transit countries, allowing evacuees to be registered and processed on the way to their final destinations.\u00a0 Others have agreed to resettle Afghan refugees permanently, and we hope more will do so in the days and weeks ahead.\u00a0 We are truly grateful for their support.<\/p>\n

Now, U.S. military flights have ended, and our troops have departed Afghanistan.\u00a0 A new chapter of America\u2019s engagement with Afghanistan has begun.\u00a0 It\u2019s one in which we will lead with our diplomacy.\u00a0 The military mission is over.\u00a0 A new diplomatic mission has begun.<\/p>\n

So here is our plan for the days and weeks ahead.<\/p>\n

First, we\u2019ve built a new team to help lead this new mission.<\/p>\n

As of today, we have suspended our diplomatic presence in Kabul, and transferred our operations to Doha, Qatar, which will soon be formally notified to Congress.\u00a0 Given the uncertain security environment and political situation in Afghanistan, it was the prudent step to take.\u00a0 And let me take this opportunity to thank our outstanding charge d\u2019affaires in Kabul, Ambassador Ross Wilson, who came out of retirement in January 2020 to lead our embassy in Afghanistan, and has done exceptional, courageous work during a highly challenging time.<\/p>\n

For the time being, we will use this post in Doha to manage our diplomacy with Afghanistan, including consular affairs, administering humanitarian assistance, and working with allies, partners, and regional and international stakeholders to coordinate our engagement and messaging to the Taliban.\u00a0 Our team there will be led by Ian McCary, who has served as our deputy chief of mission in Afghanistan for this past year.\u00a0 No one\u2019s better prepared to do the job.<\/p>\n

Second, we will continue our relentless efforts to help Americans, foreign nationals, and Afghans leave Afghanistan if they choose.<\/p>\n

Let me talk briefly about the Americans who remain in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n

We made extraordinary efforts to give Americans every opportunity to depart the country \u2013 in many cases talking, and sometimes walking them into the airport.<\/p>\n

Of those who self-identified as Americans in Afghanistan, who were considering leaving the country, we\u2019ve thus far received confirmation that about 6,000 have been evacuated or otherwise departed.\u00a0 This number will likely continue to grow as our outreach and arrivals continue.<\/p>\n

We believe there are still a small number of Americans \u2013 under 200 and likely closer to 100 \u2013 who remain in Afghanistan and want to leave.\u00a0 We\u2019re trying to determine exactly how many.\u00a0 We\u2019re going through manifests and calling and texting through our lists, and we\u2019ll have more details to share, as soon as possible.\u00a0 Part of the challenge with fixing a precise number is that there are long-time residents of Afghanistan who have American passports, and who were trying to determine whether or not they wanted to leave.\u00a0 Many are dual-citizen Americans with deep roots and extended families in Afghanistan, who have resided there for many years.\u00a0 For many, it\u2019s a painful choice.<\/p>\n

Our commitment to them and to all Americans in Afghanistan \u2013 and everywhere in the world \u2013 continues.\u00a0 The protection and welfare of Americans abroad remains the State Department\u2019s most vital and enduring mission.\u00a0 If an American in Afghanistan tells us that they want to stay for now, and then in a week or a month or a year they reach out and say, \u201cI\u2019ve changed my mind,\u201d we will help them leave.<\/p>\n

Additionally, we\u2019ve worked intensely to evacuate and relocate Afghans who worked alongside us, and are at particular risk of reprisal.\u00a0 We\u2019ve gotten many out, but many are still there.\u00a0 We will keep working to help them.\u00a0 Our commitment to them has no deadline.<\/p>\n

Third, we will hold the Taliban to its pledge to let people freely depart Afghanistan.<\/p>\n

The Taliban has committed to let anyone with proper documents leave the country in a safe and orderly manner.\u00a0 They\u2019ve said this privately and publicly many times.\u00a0 On Friday, a senior Taliban official said it again on television and radio, and I quote: \u201cAny Afghans may leave the country, including those who work for Americans, if they want and for whatever reason there may be,\u201d end quote.<\/p>\n

More than half the world\u2019s countries have joined us in insisting that the Taliban let people travel outside Afghanistan freely.\u00a0 As of today, more than 100 countries have said that they expect the Taliban to honor travel authorizations by our countries.\u00a0 And just a few hours ago, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution that enshrines that responsibility \u2013 laying the groundwork to hold the Taliban accountable if they renege.<\/p>\n

So, the international chorus on this is strong, and it will stay strong.\u00a0 We will hold the Taliban to their commitment on freedom of movement for foreign nationals, visa holders, at-risk Afghans.<\/p>\n

Fourth, we will work to secure their safe passage.<\/p>\n

This morning, I met with the foreign ministers of all the G7 countries \u2013 United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, Italy, Japan \u2013 as well as Qatar, Turkey, the European Union, and the secretary general of NATO.\u00a0 We discussed how we will work together to facilitate safe travel out of Afghanistan, including by reopening Kabul\u2019s civilian airport as soon as possible \u2013 and we very much appreciate the efforts of Qatar and Turkey, in particular, to make this happen.<\/p>\n

This would enable a small number of daily charter flights, which is a key for anyone who wants to depart from Afghanistan moving forward.<\/p>\n

We are also working to identify ways to support Americans, legal permanent residents, and Afghans who have worked with us and who may choose to depart via overland routes.<\/p>\n

We have no illusion that any of this will be easy or rapid.\u00a0 This will be an entirely different phase from the evacuation that just concluded.\u00a0 It will take time to work through a new set of challenges.\u00a0 But we will stay at it.<\/p>\n

John Bass \u2013 our former ambassador to Afghanistan who returned to Kabul two weeks ago to help lead our evacuation efforts at the airport \u2013 will spearhead our ongoing work across the State Department to help American citizens and permanent residents, citizens of allied nations, Special Immigrant Visa applicants, and Afghans at high risk, if any of those people wish to depart Afghanistan.\u00a0 We\u2019re deeply grateful for all that John did in Kabul, and for his continued commitment to this mission, as well as the extraordinary consular officers who were serving by his side.<\/p>\n

Fifth, we will stay focused on counterterrorism.<\/p>\n

The Taliban has made a commitment to prevent terrorist groups from using Afghanistan as a base for external operations that could threaten the United States or our allies, including al-Qaida and the Taliban\u2019s sworn enemy, ISIS-K.\u00a0 Here too, we will hold them accountable to that commitment.\u00a0 But while we have expectations of the Taliban, that doesn\u2019t mean we will rely on the Taliban.\u00a0 We\u2019ll remain vigilant in monitoring threats ourselves.\u00a0 And we\u2019ll maintain robust counterterrorism capabilities in the region to neutralize those threats, if necessary, as we demonstrated in the past few days by striking ISIS facilitators and imminent threats in Afghanistan \u2013 and as we do in places around the world where we do not have military forces on the ground.<\/p>\n

Let me speak directly to our engagement with the Taliban across these and other issues.\u00a0 We engaged with the Taliban during the past few weeks to enable our evacuation operations.\u00a0 Going forward, any engagement with a Taliban-led government in Kabul will be driven by one thing only: our vital national interests.<\/p>\n

If we can work with a new Afghan government in a way that helps secure those interests \u2013 including the safe return of Mark Frerichs, a U.S. citizen who has been held hostage in the region since early last year \u2013 and in a way that brings greater stability to the country and region and protects the gains of the past two decades, we will do it.\u00a0 But we will not do it on the basis of trust or faith.\u00a0 Every step we take will be based not on what a Taliban-led government says, but what it does to live up to its commitments.<\/p>\n

The Taliban seeks international legitimacy and support.\u00a0 Our message is: any legitimacy and any support will have to be earned.<\/p>\n

The Taliban can do that by meeting commitments and obligations \u2013 on freedom of travel; respecting the basic rights of the Afghan people, including women and minorities; upholding its commitments on counterterrorism; not carrying out reprisal violence against those who choose to stay in Afghanistan; and forming an inclusive government that can meet the needs and reflect the aspirations of the Afghan people.<\/p>\n

Sixth, we will continue our humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.<\/p>\n

The conflict has taken a terrible toll on the Afghan people.\u00a0 Millions are internally displaced.\u00a0 Millions are facing hunger, even starvation.\u00a0 The COVID-19 pandemic has also hit Afghanistan hard.\u00a0 The United States will continue to support humanitarian aid to the Afghan people.\u00a0 Consistent with our sanctions on the Taliban, the aid will not flow through the government, but rather through independent organizations, such as UN agencies and NGOs.\u00a0 And we expect that those efforts will not be impeded by the Taliban or anyone else.<\/p>\n

And seventh, we will continue our broad international diplomacy across all these issues and many others.<\/p>\n

We believe we can accomplish far more \u2013 and exert far greater leverage \u2013 when we work in coordination with our allies and partners.\u00a0 Over the last two weeks, we\u2019ve had a series of intensive diplomatic engagements with allies and partners to plan and coordinate the way ahead in Afghanistan.\u00a0 I\u2019ve met with the foreign ministers of NATO and the G7.\u00a0 I\u2019ve spoken one-on-one with dozens of my counterparts.\u00a0 Last week, President Biden met with the leaders of the G7 countries.\u00a0 And Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman has been convening a group of 28 allies and partners from all regions of the world every other day.<\/p>\n

Going forward, we\u2019ll coordinate closely with countries in the region and around the world \u2013 as well as with leading international organizations, NGOs, and the private sector.\u00a0 Our allies and partners share our objectives and are committed to working with us.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll have more to say on these matters in the coming days.\u00a0 The main point I want to drive home here today is that America\u2019s work in Afghanistan continues.\u00a0 We have a plan for what\u2019s next.\u00a0 We\u2019re putting it into action.<\/p>\n

This moment also demands reflection.\u00a0 The war in Afghanistan was a 20-year endeavor.\u00a0 We must learn its lessons, and allow those lessons to shape how we think about fundamental questions of national security and foreign policy.\u00a0 We owe that to future diplomats, policymakers, military leaders, service members.\u00a0 We owe that to the American people.<\/p>\n

But as we do, we will remain relentlessly focused on today and on the future.\u00a0 We\u2019ll make sure we\u2019re finding every opportunity to make good on our commitment to the Afghan people, including by welcoming thousands of them into our communities, as the American people have done many times before with generosity and grace throughout our history.<\/p>\n

In this way, we\u2019ll honor all those brave men and women, from the United States and many other countries, who risked or sacrificed their lives as part of this long mission, right up to today.<\/p>\n

Thanks for listening.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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