Biden's clarification on the Afghan crisis: US President said - we spent billions of dollars in Afghanistan, the leadership there accepted defeat without fighting

US President Joe Biden addressed the nation for the first time since the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan. He said- the situation in Afghanistan suddenly changed. It has also affected other countries. But our fight against terrorism will continue. Biden's address took place at around 1.30 pm Indian time on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday. Biden has also warned the Taliban that they will respond swiftly if the Americans are harmed.

He said- Our soldiers have sacrificed a lot. There is a trust crisis in Afghanistan. We are trying that every citizen of America should return safely from there. People are questioning us. He should also question his president, Ashraf Ghani, who had left Afghanistan. Our army could not take any more risks. Hopefully things will get better there again.

Defense of the decision to call the army from Afghanistan

Defending the decision to withdraw his troops from Afghanistan, Biden said – we had two options. First- we will implement the agreement with Taliban and withdraw the force. Second - send several thousand more soldiers there and the war will go on. The leaders of Afghanistan laid down their arms and fled the country. Even after 20 years of training, the army there surrendered.

Highlights of Biden's speech

• My national security team and I are monitoring the situation closely. We have to see why America went there. We lived there 20 years. We destroyed Al Qaeda. Osama bin Laden was eliminated. Tried everything possible to make Afghanistan. America has succeeded in achieving its goal of eliminating al-Qaeda.

• Before I took office, Donald Trump was in talks with the Taliban. After May 1, we didn't have much choice. Either we will stay there and fight the Taliban or we will bring back American troops. I stuck to my plan.

• I agree that the Taliban was captured very soon. The Afghan leadership very quickly laid down its arms. We spent billions of dollars there. Trained the Afghan army. How did such a large army and armed men give up? Will have to think about it. This is a serious issue.

• How long will the US military be there? One year or five years. Would the situation have changed? I spoke to Ashraf Ghani in June. He was asked to eliminate corruption in the administration. Ghani was confident that his army would take on the Taliban.

• I can't make the same mistakes people used to make in the past. So stick to your plan. The Afghan people have the right to decide their future. The army there is much larger than that of our NATO allies. He also had weapons. Then why did this happen? The Taliban were also few in number.

• I personally interacted with my soldiers posted there. It was then decided that the matter would have to be resolved diplomatically. After all, I had to take care of America's interests as well.

• At present, we have sent 6 thousand soldiers there. So that they can drive us and the people of their allies. They are working there day and night. I want all our citizens to return safely from there.

• Some people are raising questions as to why we didn't evacuate some of our helpers from Afghanistan. But, they themselves do not want to come here. He is confident that the situation will improve. So far, four US presidents have faced the Afghanistan crisis. I don't want the fifth president to see the same.

• We chased and killed Osama bin Laden for a decade. I have no regrets about my decision, because it is in America's best interest. Keeping our army there was also not in our national security interest.

• We have made it clear to the Taliban that if our soldiers are attacked, we will take very strict and very swift action. American troops are leaving but we are keeping a close watch over there.

• We have successfully completed anti-terrorist operations in many countries. He did the same thing in Afghanistan. I have been saying for many years that our mission should be against terrorism. It was not our job to stop infiltration or build a nation. Our goal in Afghanistan was not to attack America from there. In this we were successful. When we went to Afghanistan 20 years ago, our purpose was very clear. We wanted to punish those who attacked America.

Questions are being raised on Biden's stand

Biden's stand has been questioned by the opposition, including the US media, regarding the Taliban's occupation of Afghanistan. People demonstrated outside the White House on Sunday and Monday against the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.

Former US President Donald Trump and some Democratic senators are also accusing the Biden administration of failing to handle Afghanistan properly. Because of this, America had to face a humiliating defeat in Afghanistan.

Biden has been out of Washington since Friday

Joe Biden was not in Washington even when the Taliban was capturing Kabul, the capital and safest city of Afghanistan. The US President was at Camp David since Friday. During this time the Taliban also captured Kandahar. They have reached the White House a while back.

Trump's Taunt – Are People Missing Me?

Former President Trump took a jibe at Biden after the rapidly deteriorating situation in Afghanistan and the Taliban's occupation there. Trump asked the American people – are you missing me seeing the situation in Afghanistan? However, even before this, Trump has questioned Biden's decision. There was a lot of rhetoric between the two on this issue in November last year as well. However, then the presidential election was going on there.

US Secretary of State said - Afghans should compete themselves

With the withdrawal of American forces still present in Afghanistan, the Taliban had started increasing their influence. When questions arose on this, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had said – the people of Afghanistan will now have to decide their fate themselves.

Protests against Biden administration in America

Protests took place in many cities of America on Monday after Sunday regarding the situation in Afghanistan and the role of America. Many protesters also reached outside the White House with banners and posters. These people allege that America left Afghanistan on its own and did not make any strategy to stop the Taliban.