ISLAMABAD: The US embassy has appreciated Pakistan’s support and assistance in the evacuation of military personnel from Afghanistan.
In a statement, the embassy said US military operation to evacuate personnel from Afghanistan has been completed and now Washington will remain focused on diplomatic engagement in the region. “The United States appreciates Pakistan’s support and assistance with both of these efforts.”
The U.S. military operation to evacuate personnel from Afghanistan has been completed, but we remain focused on our diplomatic engagement in the region. The United States appreciates Pakistan’s support and assistance with both of these efforts.
— U.S. Embassy Islamabad (@usembislamabad) September 1, 2021
The US completed airlifting its troops as per the August 31st deadline to end two decades of war as the last military flight left the country.
US military officials announced that the last American troops had been evacuated from the airport in Kabul, marking the end of the 20-year US ground occupation of Afghanistan.
Hours after the end of the military evacuation was announced, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a press conference announcing that the United States is suspending its diplomatic mission in Kabul, transferring diplomats that were in the Afghan capital to Doha, Qatar.
He added that diplomat John Bass — the former ambassador to Afghanistan and Biden’s nominee for Undersecretary of State for Management — will lead the campaign to help vulnerable Afghans get out of the country.
Blinken also stated that there are “still a small number of Americans — under 200, and likely closer to 100 — who remain in Afghanistan and want to leave.”
CENTCOM Commander, General Kenneth McKenzie announced in a briefing held at the Pentagon that the final US military aircraft lifted off from Hamid Karzai International Airport.
Shortly after the announcement was made, celebratory gunfire erupted in Kabul and a Taliban spokesman tweeted: “Our country has achieved a full independence, thanks to God.”
