Biden defends US pullout from Afghanistan despite panic in KabulA US soldier (centre) points his gun towards an Afghan passenger at the airport in Kabul, where chaotic scenes unfolded after the Taliban took over the country. KABUL: President Joe Biden on Monday defended the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan after the Taliban's stunning military takeover that triggered panic in Kabul with thousands mobbing the airport in a desperate attempt to flee. But in the capital, panic gripped many residents who feared a repeat of the Taliban's brutal Islamist rule from 1996 to 2001. But Washington has insisted that its two decades of war in Afghanistan was a success, defined by quashing the Al-Qaeda threat. The UN Security Council said Monday the international community must ensure Afghanistan does not become a breeding ground for terrorism.

Source: Bangkok Post August 17, 2021 02:26 UTC