US President Joe Biden meets with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani at the White House, in Washington, US, June 25, 2021. (REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo) |
In a phone call, Biden and Ghani "agreed that the Taliban’s current offensive is in direct contradiction to the movement’s claim to support a negotiated settlement of the conflict," a White House statement said.
Biden has set a formal end to the US military mission in Afghanistan for August 31 as he looks to disengage from a conflict that started after al Qaeda attacked the United States in 2001.
Biden told Ghani the United States would remain engaged diplomatically "in support of a durable and just political settlement," the White House said.
Biden on Friday authorized up to 100 million USD from an emergency fund to meet "unexpected urgent" refugee needs stemming from the situation.