Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III meets with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul, Afghanistan, March 21, 2021. (credit: Lisa Ferdinando, DOD)

By Gary  Raynaldo       DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan this weekend as the May 1 deadline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops approaches.  Austin met with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani as well as U.S. diplomat Ross Wilson and Army Gen. Austin Miller, America’s top commander in the country.  The Biden administration continues to grapple with the decision over how long American forces will stay in the country amid the  looming deadline that was made in an agreement with the Taliban last year.  Gen.  Austin said  he merely wanted to better understand the situation in Afghanistan and see the way forward to a just peace in the long-troubled land, according to the Pentagon.

“I am here to listen and learn,” Austin said during a short meeting with reporters traveling with him. “It will inform my participation in the review we are undergoing here with the president. It’s very helpful.”

Austin said he continues to be grateful for the sacrifices made by service members, diplomats, civilian employees and contractors serving in the country. 

Austin declined to  comment on whether the Taliban has met the necessary conditions under the Doha agreement for a full withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan. “What I will say is that it is obvious that the level of violence remains pretty high in the country. We’d really like to see that violence come down. If it does come down it can begin to set the condition for some really fruitful diplomatic work.”