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Agaña (Guam) (AFP)
The island of Guam, a US territory in the Pacific, proposed to temporarily host thousands of Afghans evacuated from their country in the framework of the withdrawal of US troops, although insisting on a prior consultation in this regard.
In a letter to US President Joe Biden, Guam Governor Lou León Guerrero said she needed to be sure that “these decisions are made in the best interest of our people.”
Last April Biden ordered the departure of the 2,500 soldiers who are still present in Afghanistan before September 11, the anniversary of the 2001 attacks, which then led to the US invasion of the country.
But it could take more than two years to issue visas to 18,000 Afghan allies and their families, which Washington wants to support, as some fear reprisals from the Taliban if they stay in Afghanistan.
In this context, human rights organizations have urged Washington to evacuate these people first to the island of Guam.
“I can assure you that my administration is willing to help in the implementation of your projects if Guam is elected,” says León Guerrero in his letter to Biden.
© 2021 AFP
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