Biden, Afghan Officials to Meet at White House

U.S. President Joe Biden will meet with Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani and chief peacemaker Abdullah Abdullah at the White House on Friday.

The first face-to-face interaction between Biden and Afghan officials comes ahead of the withdrawal of the remaining U.S. and NATO forces from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, in line with Biden’s direction to close what he has described as the “forever war.” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said earlier this week that Biden “looks forward to welcoming” the Afghan leaders and will reassure them of U.S. diplomatic, economic and humanitarian support for the turmoil-hit country as the drawdown continues. Ghani and Abdullah arrived in Washington Thursday and met with Senate leaders Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell.