Antony Blinken

We are now in a much better position to confront the challenges and threats that we actually face in 2021.

Yes, except that those conditions were so loose, particularly with regard to commitments it made.

I believe that there is nothing that our strategic competitors like China or Russia would have liked more than for President Biden to have reupped the war in Afghanistan.

We want to make sure that we are doing whatever we can to support these efforts.

the department`s regular and close engagement with regional partners, particularly with Qatari authorities.

They said that they will let people with travel documents freely depart, we will hold them to that.

If an American in Afghanistan tells us that they want to stay for now, and then in a week, or a month, or a year, they reach out and say, I’ve changed my mind, we will help them leave.

The war in Afghanistan was a 20-year endeavor. We must learn its lessons and allow those lessons to shape how we think about fundamental questions of national security and foreign policy.

We discussed how we will work together to facilitate the safe travel out of Afghanistan, including by reopening Kabul civilian airport as soon as possible.

The military mission is over. A new diplomatic mission has begun.

We will continue our relentless efforts to help Americans, foreign nationals and Afghans leave Afghanistan if they choose. We believe there are still a small number of Americans under 200 and likely closer to 100, who remain in Afghanistan…

While we have expectations of the Taliban, that doesn’t mean we will rely on the Taliban. We’ll remain vigilant in monitoring threats ourselves, and will maintain robust counterterrorism capabilities in the region to neutralize those…

Helping Americans, our foreign partners who have been by our side for 20 years and Afghans at risk at this critical moment was more than just a high stakes assignment for our team. It was a sacred duty.

The Taliban is committed to let anyone with proper documents leave the place in a safe and orderly manner.

I want to commend our outstanding diplomats who work around the clock in around the world to coordinate the operation.

The military mission is over. A new diplomatic mission has begun.

We discussed how we will work together to facilitate safe travel out of Afghanistan including by re-opening Kabul civilian airport as soon as possible.

The Taliban seeks international legitimacy and support. Our message is any legitimacy and any support will have to be earned.

We will continue our humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.

Any engagement with Taliban led government in Kabul will be driven by one thing only, our vital national interest.

The main point I want to drive home here today is that America’s work in Afghanistan continues.

We believe there are still a small number of Americans, under 200, and likely closer to 100, who remain in Afghanistan and want to leave.

Our commitment to them and to all Americans in Afghanistan and everywhere in the world continues.

... the United States and our allies began our evacuation and relocation operation in Kabul.

Let me speak directly to our engagement with the Taliban across these and other issues. We engage with the Taliban during the past few weeks to enable our evacuation operations.