Firmly Rejects Extension Of Time For Withdrawal Of Foreign Troops, Taliban: Violation, There Are Consequences!

Illustration of evacuation from Afghanistan at Kabul airport. (Twitter/@DefenceHQ)

JAKARTA - The Taliban has set a deadline for the withdrawal of US-led foreign troops on August 31, rejecting an extension but allowing Afghans to fly after that date.

The push to extend the deadline for international troop withdrawals comes as efforts to complete the entire evacuation process from Kabul's international airport.

However, the Taliban see this push as something else. Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen said the push would only "prolong the occupation" by foreign forces.

"If the United States or Britain seeks additional time to resume evacuations, the answer is no. There will be consequences," he said, citing Arab News Monday, August 23.

While telling the BBC, Shaheen said the decision had been made by the Taliban leadership, as was the reaction to such moves.

"Foreign troops have to withdraw by the deadline they have previously announced. Otherwise, it is a clear violation," Shaheen stressed. He did not specify what the consequences would be, only saying it would be decided by the Taliban leadership.

However, the Taliban will not deter Afghans who want to leave, if they have the proper documentation. Shaheen said people could still go on commercial flights after the deadline for foreign troops to leave on August 31.

"We are not blocking them if they have issued passports, they can leave on commercial flights at any time. We want them to stay in the country. But if they intend to leave, they can do so if they have the right documents," Shaheen said.

Separately, in Kabul authorities have begun to dismantle a 4-meter-long steel explosion-proof wall that has protected political leaders, government officials and foreign missions for the past 20 years.

“We plan to clean up all of Kabul. The process will take months because the number of walls is very high and there are not enough machines," Mayor Daud Sultanzoy told Arab News.