[En continu] Taliban say they want “good diplomatic relations” with the United States

The essential

The last American soldiers left Afghanistan Monday evening at around 10:45 p.m. Swiss time, 24 hours before the deadline set by Joe Biden, at the end of the longest war ever waged by the United States.

■ The victory of the Taliban, a “lesson for the world”

The Taliban’s victory after 20 years of war is that of “all” Afghans, according to the main Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, at Kabul airport on Tuesday morning. “Congratulations to Afghanistan (…) This victory is ours to all”. Adding: “We want to have good relations with the United States and the world”. Their defeat “is a great lesson for other invaders and for our future generation, it is also a lesson for the world”.

■ Joe Biden facing his citizens on Tuesday

The US president will address his fellow citizens on Tuesday to explain his decision not to extend the US presence beyond August 31 in Afghanistan, the White House reported. The Pentagon admitted on Monday that it was unable to get as many people out of Afghanistan as it wanted.

■ The UN Security Council calls on the Taliban to guarantee departures from Afghanistan

Thirteen of the fifteen members of the UN Security Council (China and Russia abstained) voted Monday for a resolution asking the Taliban to respect their commitments in favor of a “safe” departure for Afghans wishing to leave their country. On the other hand, no reference to the “safe zone”, or protected zone, mentioned this weekend by Emmanuel Macron.

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