United States National Security Advisor (NSA) Jake Sullivan on Monday said that Joe Biden does not trust the Taliban, adding talks between the US president and the Taliban leadership is not under consideration.
Sullivan’s comment comes a day after Biden said that the Taliban is seeking legitimacy and has made vows to change. The Taliban said that it will move away from its previous government of 2001, but Washington will see if "they mean or not.”
When Biden was asked about whether he trusts the Taliban or not, he said “I don’t trust anybody.”
The US has found itself in a tough situation after withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan earlier this year. The Taliban lost no time in capturing Afghanistan, especially its capital Kabul. Ever since the US has been under pressure to evacuate people stranded in Kabul.
Also Read | 'People in Kabul might start looting if banks stay closed'
Sullivan on Monday said that the US is in continuous talks with the Taliban regarding the evacuation mission going in Kabul. He added that the US is "consulting with the Taliban on every aspect."
The NSA said that the American forces helping the situation at the Kabul airport face a serious threat from the radical Islamic Forces.
"With respect to whether President Biden is likely to speak to the leadership of the Taliban that is not in contemplation at this time," Sullivan said during a White House press briefing.
Answering a question on Biden's view of the Taliban, Sullivan said, "of course, he does not (trust Taliban), none of us do. Because we have seen the horrific images from the last time they were in power; because of how they have conducted this war; because we have seen that they are responsible for the death of American men and women for two decades of war."
Also Read | Taliban are terrorists, we can talk about sanctions: Justin Trudeau
The Joe Biden administration, however, seemed optimistic about the evacuation deadline that has been set to 31st August. "We believe that we have time between now and (August) 3 to get any American out (of Afghanistan)," NSA Sullivan said.
In the last 24 hours, around 10,400 people from Kabul have been evacuated by more than two dozen airplanes. In addition, 61 US coalition aircraft evacuated 5,900 more people.
