Original title: American national security adviser: the evacuation operation has become a diplomatic mission. Whether to assist or not depends on atta's performance
(Observer News) US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on August 31 that after all US troops have withdrawn from Afghanistan, they will continue to withdraw more than 100 Americans who remain in Afghanistan. He said that at present, relevant operations have "changed from military tasks to diplomatic tasks". He also said that aid to Afghanistan will depend on the next performance of the Taliban.
On August 30, Kenneth McKenzie, commander of the US central command, announced at a news conference at the Pentagon that the United States had completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan. Mackenzie also said that hundreds of Americans who want to evacuate are still stranded in Afghanistan, and the United States will continue to carry out diplomatic evacuation missions.
On August 31, U.S. national security adviser Sullivan was asked about the Americans stranded in Afghanistan in an interview with ABC. He said that the Biden government would continue the evacuation mission, but the mission would change from a military mission to a diplomatic mission.

Screenshot of Sullivan's interview with ABC
Sullivan added that the United States "has considerable influence over the Taliban and can ensure that all stranded American citizens can leave the Taliban".
Sullivan said that when the United States began to evacuate Americans in Afghanistan on August 14, "there were 5500 to 6000 Americans in Afghanistan". Sullivan said that about 97% to 98% of ground personnel have completed the evacuation.
Sullivan also said that the U.S. government has repeatedly contacted the "few" Americans still in Afghanistan, saying that U.S. officials encourage them to "come to the airport".
Asked whether the United States will provide assistance to the Taliban in the future, Sullivan responded that Sullivan said that humanitarian assistance should be provided directly to the Afghan people, who need assistance in health, food and other aspects, and the United States does intend to continue to provide assistance.
On whether the United States will provide economic and development assistance to the Taliban when it contacts the Taliban in the future, Sullivan added that it will depend on the Taliban's next behavior. Assistance will depend on whether the Taliban fulfils its commitment to provide safe passage to the United States and "Afghan allies" and ensure that Afghanistan will not become a base for terrorists to attack the United States and any other country.
The moderator asked whether the U.S. assistance to Afghanistan would go through the Taliban in the long run. Sullivan said that it would not go through the Taliban. As usual, the assistance would go through international institutions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as the WHO and the World Food Programme (WFP), rather than the Afghan government.