Biden Tells G7 He is Sticking to August 31 Withdrawal Deadline
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Concluding the virtual summit conducted today, members of the G7 declare the Taliban should be held accountable for its activities in terms of combatting terrorism and preserving human rights, particularly the rights of women.
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The G7 summit took place online and was devoted to the situation in Afghanistan
In a statement published at the conclusion of their online summit on Tuesday, the members of the G7 stated that "we reaffirm that the Taliban will be held accountable for their actions in terms of terrorism and human rights, in particular, those of women, girls and minorities and on pursuing an inclusive political settlement in Afghanistan,"
The G7 heads of states which include the US, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Japan, stressed that "Afghanistan does not again become a safe haven for terrorist groups."
US President Joe Biden, for his part, has chosen to keep the August 31 deadline for the total departure of US soldiers from Afghanistan, CNN and Fox News reported on Tuesday, citing US sources.
Biden solidified his decision following discussions with his G7 colleagues, at a time when the Taliban warned of consequences if the August 31 deadline was extended.
According to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the seven nations urged the movement to "ensure safe passage" for Afghans seeking to leave the country until August 31 and beyond.
The European Union, for its part, demanded today during the meeting that Kabul airport be secured in order to complete the evacuations now underway.
Yesterday, on the eve of the summit, British PM Boris Johnson announced that "the Taliban will be judged by their deeds and not their words."
The British PM, whose country currently chairs the G7, said, "Together with our partners and allies, we will continue to use every humanitarian and diplomatic lever to safeguard human rights and protect the gains made over the last two decades."
Also yesterday, the French and German foreign ministers requested that the time of evacuations from Afghanistan be extended beyond the scheduled date, noting that this period was insufficient to evacuate a substantial number of individuals wishing to leave.
