New Defense Chief Urges Taliban to Curtail Attacks

February 19, 2021 by TWN Staff
New Defense Chief Urges Taliban to Curtail Attacks
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin listens to a question as he speaks during a media briefing at the Pentagon, Friday, Feb. 19, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

WASHINGTON – In his first press conference as Pentagon chief, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, said an end to U.S. military involvement in Afghanistan depends entirely on the Taliban reducing attacks on NATO forces.

“Clearly the violence is too high right now,” he said. “More progress needs to be made in the Afghan-led negotiations.

“I urge all parties to choose the path towards peace. The violence must decrease now,” he added.

Austin also declined to say whether U.S. will meet the May 1 deadline for full troop withdrawal. Another alternative would be for the Biden administration and NATO to try to renegotiate the current peace deal with the Taliban and keep some troops there longer.

“The bottom line is this,” he said. “We are committed to a responsible and sustainable end to this war, while preventing Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for terrorist groups that threaten the interests of the United States and our allies, and ensuring a just and durable end to the long-running conflict.

“We are mindful of the looming deadlines. But we want to do this methodically and deliberately, and I certainly won’t get ahead of any decisions, nor will I preview the advice that I plan to give to the president,” Austin added.

A+
a-
  • Afghanistan
  • Department of Defense
  • NATO
  • peace
  • Pentagon
  • In The News

    Health

    Voting

    Geopolitics

    More Pandas Will Be Coming to the US, China's President Signals

    SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping signaled that China will send new pandas to the United States, calling them “envoys... Read More

    SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping signaled that China will send new pandas to the United States, calling them “envoys of friendship between the Chinese and American peoples.” “We are ready to continue our cooperation with the United States on panda conservation, and do our best... Read More

    Support for Israel Becomes Top Issue for Iowa Evangelicals

    NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — Steve Rowland peered beneath the brim of his baseball cap and admonished the roughly 500 people... Read More

    NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — Steve Rowland peered beneath the brim of his baseball cap and admonished the roughly 500 people at Rising Sun Church of Christ in the Des Moines suburb of Altoona. It had been three days since Hamas attacked Israel and killed hundreds of civilians. In... Read More

    Albanese Arrives at White House to Start Day of Meetings and Celebrations

    WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden pressed forward with this week's state visit from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, carving out time... Read More

    WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden pressed forward with this week's state visit from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, carving out time to nurture the relationship with a critical U.S. ally in the Pacific against the backdrop of escalating fighting between Israel and Hamas. The state visit, only the... Read More

    Live Updates | Cease-Fire Pleas and Israel-Hamas Recriminations Rise in Wake of Gaza Hospital Blast

    President Joe Biden is in Israel on an urgent mission to keep the Israel-Hamas war from spiraling into a broader... Read More

    President Joe Biden is in Israel on an urgent mission to keep the Israel-Hamas war from spiraling into a broader regional conflict and to encourage the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinians. The president's visit on Wednesday came after hundreds of people were reported killed... Read More

    US Announces Sanctions Against Group of 10 Hamas Members and Financial Network

    WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. announced sanctions on Wednesday against a group of 10 Hamas members and the Palestinian militant... Read More

    WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. announced sanctions on Wednesday against a group of 10 Hamas members and the Palestinian militant organization's financial network across Gaza, Sudan, Turkey, Algeria and Qatar as it responds to the surprise attack on Israel that left more than 1,000 people dead or kidnapped.... Read More

    Hamas Attacked Israel and Netanyahu Says His Country Is 'At War'

    The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip have carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel, firing thousands of rockets... Read More

    The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip have carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations and catching the country off-guard on a major holiday. Israel says at least... Read More

    News From The Well
    scroll top