US Defense Secretary meets Afghan president amid peace process review
(VOVWORLD) - US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani during an unannounced visit to Kabul on Sunday, as Washington reviews the peace process there and its planned troop withdrawal.
 US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (C) on a visit to Kabul, Afghanistan, March 21, 2021. (Photo: Reuters) |
Austin said on Twitter he came come to “listen and learn”, on his first trip to Afghanistan since his appointment.
The meeting comes at a crucial time for the Afghan peace process ahead of a May 1 deadline for the withdrawal of US troops agreed to by the Taliban and the administration of former US President Donald Trump.
President Biden said Wednesday that the deadline would be tough to meet and his administration is consulting with allies before making a move.