Afghanistan: Biden 'Does Not Regret' US Withdrawal

US President Joe Biden says he has no regrets over the decision to withdraw military forces from Afghanistan.

Three more provincial capitals in Afghanistan have fallen to the Taliban, officials said, putting nine out of the country’s 34 regions in the hands of the insurgents amid the US withdrawal.

The President was asked by one reporter if the plan to withdraw troops had changed, in light of "irrefutable evidence" that most "Afghan forces cannot hold ground there".

Mr Biden responded stating: "We spent over a trillion dollars over 20 years.

"We trained and equipped with modern equipment over 300,000 Afghan forces.

"Afghan leaders have to come together.

"We lost thousands — lost to death and injury — thousands of American personnel. 

"They’ve got to fight for themselves, fight for their nation."

Watch: Would a large-scale Afghanistan deployment be possible today?

The President added the US will maintain its commitment of providing close air support and supplies, but said: "They’ve got to want to fight.

"They have outnumbered the Taliban.

"I think they’re beginning to realise they’ve got to come together politically at the top and - but we’re going to continue to keep our commitment.

"But I do not regret my decision."

The Taliban advance in Afghanistan, which has taken a series of cities in quick succession, comes as Mr Biden has ordered all US troops out of the country by the end of the month.

The militants are now battling the Western-backed government for control of several other provinces.

While the capital Kabul has not been directly threatened by the advance, the Taliban offensive continues to stretch Afghan security forces now largely fighting against the insurgents on their own.

US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad warned the Taliban on Tuesday that any government that comes to power through force in Afghanistan will not be recognised internationally.