‘Entire world can help’: Pentagon urges Afghan-Taliban deal as US exit nears

United States Department of Defense chief Lloyd Austin called for international cooperation on Friday urging countries to push a bilateral agreement between the Taliban and the government of Afghanistan, while seeking a peaceful conclusion to the decades-long conflict.

“The security situation in Afghanistan only argues more for international pressure to have a negotiated political settlement to end this conflict, and give the Afghan people (the) government they want and they deserve”, United States Defense Secretary Lloyd said on Friday, according to reports from AFP.

He added, “The entire world can help by continuing this push”, while urging diplomatic pressure on the two sides in the conflict-ridden state.

However, the Department of Defense chief did not mention any countries by name while garnering support.

The push from the Pentagon comes as the United States nears its complete withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan ending a two-decade war that was started when the 43rd President of the United States occupied the White House.

According to reports from AFP, the Taliban said on Friday that it now controls 85% of Afghanistan’s total territory as the militant group continues to increase its offensive through the regions. The reports suggested that 250 of the country’s 398 districts were under the Talibani authority.

On the other hand, United States President Joe Biden held his ground saying that the withdrawal of the troops was inevitable while also announcing the process could be completed by August 31, fast-tracking the original deadline of September 11, 2021.

Moreover, the Pentagon has previously suggested that the retraction of United States armed forces was 90% complete.

“The status quo is not an option”, President Biden said in a statement. He added, “I will not send another generation of Americans to war in Afghanistan. We need to meet the threats where they are today”, according to reports from AFP.