Blinken in Afghanistan to Sell Biden Troop Withdrawal

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an unannounced visit Thursday to Kabul where he told Afghan leaders that while the United States will soon begin withdrawing its remaining troops from the country, it remains committed to Afghanistan. Afghanistan’s proud security and defense forces are fully capable of defending its people and country, which they have been doing all along, and for which the Afghan nation will forever remain grateful.

“The partnership is changing, but the partnership is enduring,” Blinken said as he met with President Ashraf Ghani and other officials. The visit came a day after U.S. President Joe Biden announced all U.S. troops will be out of Afghanistan by September 11 of this year. “We respect the decision and are adjusting our priorities,” Ghani said Thursday.