After Action Review on Afghanistan

In December of 2021, I asked Ambassador Dan Smith to lead an After Action Review of the Department of State’s execution of its duties related to ending the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan. The After Action Review covers the period from January 2020 to the end of August 2021 and the completion of the U.S. ... Read More»

Joint Statement from Foreign Ministers on the Taliban’s Ban on Afghan Women Working for National and International NGOs

The Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States and the High Representative of the European Union are gravely concerned that the Taliban’s reckless and dangerous order barring female employees of national and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from the workplace puts at risk ... Read More»

United States Announces Additional Humanitarian Assistance for the People of Afghanistan

During today’s High-Level Pledging Event on Supporting the Humanitarian Response in Afghanistan, the United States announced we are providing nearly $204 million in additional humanitarian assistance to help the people of Afghanistan, bringing the total amount to more than $720 million since August 2021.  This new funding includes nearly $134 million from the Department of ... Read More»

U.S.-Europe Joint Statement on Afghanistan

Focused on the urgency in addressing the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and highlighted necessary steps to help alleviate the suffering of Afghans across the country. Participants recognized steps taken to ease access for humanitarian workers, male and female, while also expressing concern that there are still certain impediments in place, and participants also reiterated the importance of swiftly removing all ... Read More»

Issuance of Additional General Licenses and Guidance in Support of Assistance to Afghanistan

The United States is working tirelessly with the international community to ensure humanitarian assistance and other essential support flows to the people of Afghanistan to support those in need. During Fiscal Year 2021, the United States provided nearly $474 million in humanitarian aid in Afghanistan and for Afghan refugees in the region making us the ... Read More»

Announcement of Transition in Leadership on Afghanistan Diplomacy

As Special Representative for Afghan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad steps down from his role, I extend my gratitude for his decades of service to the American people.  Thomas West, who previously served as the Deputy Special Representative, will be the Special Representative for Afghanistan.  Special Representative West, who served on then-Vice President Biden’s national security team and ... Read More»

The United States Conducts Unprecedented Relocation Effort

The United States mobilized an unprecedented, global effort through our diplomatic channels to evacuate U.S. citizens, personnel from partner nations, and at-risk Afghans from Kabul.  In total, the United States and our partners relocated more than 124,000 people to safety, including 6,000 U.S. citizens.  With support from partners and allies, the United States put together a global network – consisting of more than ... Read More»

Secretary Antony J. Blinken Remarks on Afghanistan at a Press Availability

First, our new team in Doha is up and running. Second, we’re in constant contact with Americans who remain in Afghanistan and may still wish to leave.  We’ve assigned case management teams to each remaining American citizen who has expressed an interest in leaving.  As you know, starting in March, we sent 19 separate notices ... Read More»

U.S. Flights Take Afghan Evacuees from Italy to the United States

“The United States has successfully evacuated and facilitated the evacuation of over 100,000 people and their families on U.S. military and coalition flights. The departure of planes bound for the United States is the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of American citizens and Afghans who have undergone much hardship,” said Thomas Smitham, ... Read More»

Secretary Blinken’s Call with Italian Foreign Minister Di Maio

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio today.  Secretary Blinken extended the United States’ deep appreciation for Italy’s support for evacuation and relocation operations from Afghanistan and discussed with Foreign Minister Di Maio plans for diplomatic, security, and humanitarian engagement in Afghanistan. Read More»

Secretary Antony J. Blinken’s Remarks on Afghanistan

Eighteen days ago, the United States and our allies began our evacuation and relocation operation in Kabul.  As you just heard from the Pentagon, a few hours ago, that operation was completed. More than 123,000 people have been safely flown out of Afghanistan.  That includes about 6,000 American citizens.  This has been a massive military, ... Read More»

Joint Statement on Afghanistan Evacuation Travel Assurances

We are all committed to ensuring that our citizens, nationals and residents, employees, Afghans who have worked with us and those who are at risk can continue to travel freely to destinations outside Afghanistan.  We have received assurances from the Taliban that all foreign nationals and any Afghan citizen with travel authorization from our countries ... Read More»

Remarks by President Biden on the Terror Attack at Hamid Karzai International Airport

Been a tough day.  This evening in Kabul, as you all know, terrorists attacked — that we’ve been talking about and worried about, that the intelligence community has assessed has [was] undertaken — an attack — by a group known as ISIS-K — took the lives of American service members standing guard at the airport, and wounded ... Read More»

On Today’s Terrorist Attacks in Kabul

Today’s bombings around the Kabul airport were a devastating reminder of the dangerous conditions in which our servicemembers and diplomats are operating as we conclude the United States’ 20-year military mission in Afghanistan. As the President said, the servicemembers who were killed and wounded today are heroes. They put their lives on the line to ... Read More»

A Proclamation Honoring the Victims of the Attack in Kabul, Afghanistan

As a mark of respect for the U.S. service members and other victims killed in the terrorist attack on August 26, 2021, in Kabul, Afghanistan, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be ... Read More»

U.S.-Italy Cooperation to Assist Evacuees from Afghanistan

As the United States mobilizes an unprecedented, global effort to evacuate Americans, personnel from partner nations, and vulnerable Afghans, we are working closely with our allies to ramp up evacuation/relocation operations. Our focus right now is getting people out of harm’s way. To do that, the United States is working with the government of Italy ... Read More»

Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s Phone Call With Italy’s Minister of Defense, Lorenzo Guerini

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke today with Italian Minister of Defense Lorenzo Guerini regarding the latest developments in Afghanistan.  He expressed appreciation for the continued close coordination between Italy and the United States to safely evacuate our citizens, at-risk Afghans who supported the coalition war effort, and vulnerable Afghan nationals.  Read More»

Statement by Press Secretary Jen Psaki on President Biden’s Meeting with G7 Leaders

President Biden will virtually meet with G7 leaders on August 24, 2021. The leaders will discuss continuing our close coordination on Afghanistan policy and evacuating our citizens, the brave Afghans who stood with us over the last two decades, and other vulnerable Afghans. They will also discuss plans to provide humanitarian assistance and support for Afghan refugees. The ... Read More»

Readout of President Joe Biden’s Call with Prime Minister Mario Draghi of Italy

President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Mario Draghi of Italy talked today about the latest developments in Afghanistan. They discussed the importance of continued close coordination between their military and civilian personnel in Kabul, who are working together tirelessly to safely evacuate their citizens, Afghans who courageously supported us and NATO in the war effort, ... Read More»

Remarks by President Biden on Evacuations in Afghanistan

Good afternoon.  I’ve just met with the Vice President, Secretary Blinken, Secretary Austin, National Security Advisor Sullivan, and other members the national security leadership team in the Situation Room to discuss our ongoing efforts to evacuate American citizens, third-country civilians, Afghan allies, and vulnerable Afghans.  And I want to provide the American people with a ... Read More»
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