A top US diplomat has said that his country’s involvement in Afghanistan “isn’t going to end” on 31 August, the evacuation deadline Joe Biden has set.
Ross Wilson, the acting US ambassador to Afghanistan, told CBS News that America’s commitment to its citizens and Afghan staff will continue “with the Taliban and whatever form of government this country takes.”
Mr Wilson also said the US government had been issuing repeated warnings for months telling Americans to leave Afghanistan “immediately”, each message in stronger terms.
“Never in my 40 years of working at the state department have I seen such strong language used,” he said.
“People chose not to leave, that’s their business, that’s their right. We regret now that many might find themselves in a position that they would rather not be in, and we are determined to try to help them.”
