Kabul evacuation among ‘most difficult’ in history’: Biden

The president said US forces have airlifted 13,000 people out of Afghanistan since August 14, and 18,000 since July, with thousands more evacuated on private charter flights “facilitated by the US government”.

President Joe Biden said on Friday he could not guarantee the final outcome of the emergency evacuation from Kabul’s airport, calling it one of the most “difficult” airlift operations ever.

President Joe Biden speaks about the evacuation of American citizens, their families, SIV applicants and vulnerable Afghans in the East Room of the White House in Washington, on Friday. Vice-president Kamala Harris (left) and secretary of state Antony Blinken are also present. (AP)

“This is one of the largest, most difficult airlifts in history,” Biden said in a televised address from the White House. “I cannot promise what the final outcome will be.”

The president said US forces have airlifted 13,000 people out of Afghanistan since August 14, and 18,000 since July, with thousands more evacuated on private charter flights “facilitated by the US government”. Evacuees include family members of US citizens, special immigration visa (SIV) applicants and their families, and vulnerable Afghans.

Earlier on Friday, Biden and vice-president Kamala Harris met with the national security team to discuss the evolving situation in Afghanistan ahead of the remarks.

Biden’s personal approval rating dropped 7 percentage points in an Ipsos/Reuters poll announced on Monday, to 46% from 53%, the previous week. This is his lowest rating in the Ipsos/Reuters weekly poll so far, and came amidst the collapse of the Afghanistan government, return of the Taliban and the evacuation crisis that played out in full public view.

Biden has defiantly defended his pullout decision and said, attracting severe criticism, that the chaotic scenes unfolding at the Kabul airport were an inevitable outcome.

He has also promised to stay in Afghanistan as long as it takes to get all Americans out of there, even beyond the pullout deadline of August 31.

(With inputs from agencies)