Taliban sets deadline for US forces to leave Afghanistan, rejecting extension

KABUL, Aug. 24 (YPA) – Taliban movement has set August 31 as a deadline for the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan, considering any extension of the timetable related to their stay in the country would mean an extension of the “occupation.”

“The August 31st is a red line, and if they extend it, it means that they are extending the occupation, while there is no need for that,” Spokesman for Taliban, Suhail Shaheen, said in an interview with the British “Sky News” TV channel.

He added that If the United States or the United Kingdom requested more time to continue the evacuations, the answer is no, or there would be consequences.

“It (the extension) will create a mistrust between us. If they are intent on continuing the occupation, that will provoke a reaction,” Shaheen stressed.

This comes as UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson prepares to personally appeal to the US President Joe Biden to extend the deadline for US forces to leave Afghanistan, to allow more people to flee Afghanistan under Taliban control.

YPA