The Taliban now say they will not allow foreign forces to evacuate Afghan citizens from Kabul airport….insisting the US led effort there must end by August 31st and should only withdraw foreign citizens from the country.
A Taliban spokesmen held a press conference in Kabul this morning….even as President Joe Biden was participating in a virtual summit with G7 leaders, many of whom are urging him to allow the military mission at Kabul airport to extend past the end of the month.
The Taliban's Zabihullah Muhjahid speaks here through an interpreter.
IN: "We ask…."
OUT: "….to foreign countries"
DUR: 19 seconds
http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0824talib-braindrain.mp3
President Biden will speak on Afghanistan later today amid reports that his CIA Director William Burns secretly met with the Taliban's leader in Afghanistan earlier this week.
A leaked state department memo here is indicating that as of yesterday only around 4 thousand Americans citizens have been evacuated from Kabul….the White House last week indicated there could be as many as 15 thousand Americans in Afghanistan.
On Capitol Hill pressure is mounting on the President from his fellow Democrats in Congress and of course the Republicans.
Congressman Jim Banks is a Republican from Indiana.
IN: "If any American…."
OUT: "….on Joe Biden's hands"
DUR: 18 seconds