Joe Biden, US President On Afghanistan Troop Pull Out - We Were Never There For Nation-Building: Highlights Of Presser On Afghanistan

US President Joe Biden broke days of silence on August 16 on the American pullout from Afghanistan. President Biden said, “I stand squarely behind my decision.” Distressing videos emerged from the Kabul airport as thousands tried to flee the country after the takeover by the Taliban. While brushing off criticism that the evacuation is a debacle, Biden said the priority is to stop a war that had expanded far beyond its aim of punishing the Taliban for links to Al-Qaeda after 9/11. "Our mission in Afghanistan was never supposed to have been nation-building," Biden said. The US President lashed out at the former Afghan government and military troops who were organised and supported by Washington over the last 20 years. Biden said he would rather take the criticism than let American soldiers suffer in Afghanistan. Watch the video to know more.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 17, 2021 12:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).