US Congressman asks Joe Biden to impose sanctions on Pakistan as Taliban close in on Kabul
Washington: As Taliban closes in on Kabul, American Congressman Mike Waltz has called on US President Joe Biden to impose sanctions on Pakistan military because he believes the Islamic Republic is completely complicit in worsening situation in Afghanistan.
The lawmaker, while appearing on Fox News, also demanded US use its air power to prevent Taliban from making further advances.
Waltz asked the president to fire Zalmay Khalilzad, the US envoy for Afghanistan.
Waltz urged the US administration to use the Air Force as the Taliban are in the open, adding that the aerial bombing had worked in 2001.
The Taliban claimed control over two of Afghanistan’s biggest cities on Thursday, according to media reports, as the United States and Britain said they would send thousands of troops to help evacuate their embassy staff.
The capture of Kandahar and Herat – the country’s second and third largest cities – would represent the Taliban’s two biggest military victories since they began a broad offensive in May.
The fall of major cities was a sign that Afghans welcome the Taliban, a spokesperson for the group said, according to Al Jazeera TV.
The U.S. State Department said Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday and told him the United States “remains invested in the security and stability of Afghanistan”. They also said the United States was committed to supporting a political solution to the conflict.