Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Makes Unannounced Visit to Afghanistan

Jake Sullivan

clashed with Chinese counterparts about a vary of issues during meetings very last week in Alaska.

Earlier very last week, Russia recalled its U.S. ambassador in a sign of unhappiness about significant remarks by Mr. Biden and the launch of a U.S. intelligence evaluation blaming Russian President

Vladimir Putin

for searching for to interfere in the 2020 U.S. election.

Throughout a previously scheduled Afghan peace convention hosted by Moscow very last week, four nations—including the U.S., China, Russia and Pakistan—called on the Taliban to lower violence and start out talks for a electricity-sharing offer with the U.S.-backed Afghan federal government, led by Mr. Ghani.

In addition, the Ghani federal government has agreed to go to a U.S.-proposed global peace convention in Istanbul up coming thirty day period that will contain Taliban associates. People talks are aimed at carving out a electricity-sharing federal government involving the Taliban and Kabul.

“There’s constantly likely to be problems about factors just one way or the other, but I imagine there is a whole lot of strength targeted on accomplishing what is vital to deliver about a dependable stop and a negotiated settlement to the war,” Mr. Austin instructed reporters touring with him just before arriving Sunday in Kabul.

There are at the very least two,500 U.S. troops in Afghanistan and six,500 NATO troops, and people allies have explained they would count on U.S. logistical assistance to withdraw troops.

The Trump administration very last year agreed to draw down the remaining American troops in Afghanistan by Could one as portion of a offer with the Taliban. But amid fears that the withdrawal could lead to increasing violence and the restoration of an Islamic emirate under the Taliban, the Biden administration has explained it has not manufactured any ultimate choice on withdrawing troops.

In an job interview very last week with ABC News, Mr. Biden hinted that the U.S. and allied troops could continue to be. Requested no matter if the withdrawal would just take location, Mr. Biden explained, “It could come about, but it is hard.” He added that if the withdrawal deadline is extended, it will not be by “a whole lot for a longer time.”

The unannounced stop in Afghanistan marked the stop of Mr. Austin’s 1st global excursion as defense main, which bundled stops in Japan, South Korea and India.

Although in New Delhi, Mr. Austin achieved with Indian Key Minister

Narendra Modi

and Indian countrywide security adviser

Ajit Doval

and his Indian counterpart,

Rajnath Singh,

in a bid to deepen defense ties involving the two countries, in a bid to counter a a lot more intense China.

The two countries signed agreements to allow sharing of encrypted military services intelligence and geospatial knowledge, and making use of each individual other’s bases for security forces to replenish materiel and gasoline.