Blinken Arrives in Kabul for Troop Withdrawal Talks

On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Kabul, Afghanistan, day after President Joe Biden announced plans for withdrawal.

Blinken touched down in the country, in which US troops have been fighting for nearly 20 years, following the U.S. and the NATO coalition's announcement that they would withdraw their troops from the country after nearly two decades.

In remarks during his meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Blinken said he "wanted to demonstrate, with my visit, the ongoing commitment of the United States to the Islamic Republic and the people of Afghanistan," according to the press pool traveling with the US diplomate.

"The partnership is changing, but the partnership is enduring," he added.

In the same vein, Ghani affirmed that he respected the US decision and "are adjusting our priorities."

Additionally, the U.S. official told US troops at the American embassy, prior to the meeting, that the reason he was there "so quickly after the President's speech last night is to demonstrate literally, by our presence, that we have an enduring, an ongoing commitment to Afghanistan."

Biden announced on Wednesday that he is withdrawing all U.S. troops from Afghanistan before the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, affirming “it is time to end America’s longest war.”