Faced with tough questions about leaving Afghanistan, including Americans left behind, President Joe Biden has called the US military airlift to extract more than 120,000 people from Kabul an "extraordinary success".
Mr Biden was under heavy criticism, particularly from Republicans, for his handling of the final evacuation, which left more than 100 Americans behind.
Twenty-four hours after the departure of the last American C-17 cargo plane from Kabul, Mr Biden — in an address to the nation — vigorously defended his decision to end America's longest war and withdraw all US troops ahead of an August 31 deadline.
"I was not going to extend this forever war," Mr Biden said in an address from the White House State Dining Room. "And I was not going to extend a forever exit."
Mr Biden said 90 per cent of Americans who wanted to leave Afghanistan were able to do so.
Thousands of troops spent a harrowing two weeks protecting the airlift of Afghans, Americans and others seeking to escape a country once again ruled by Taliban militants.
"For those remaining Americans there is no deadline," Mr Biden said.
He said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was leading continued diplomatic efforts to ensure safe passage for any American, Afghan partner or foreign national who wanted to leave Afghanistan after the August 15 takeover by the Islamist Taliban.
He said the international community would hold Taliban leaders accountable for their promise to permit freedom of travel.
"The Taliban has made public commitments, broadcast on television and radio across Afghanistan, on safe passage for anyone wanting to leave, including those who worked alongside Americans," he said.
"We don't take them by their word alone, but by their actions, and we have leverage to make sure those commitments are met."
Biden highlights Trump's role in messy exit
Mr Biden criticised the ousted Afghan government's inability to fight back against swift Taliban advances, which forced the United States and its NATO allies into a hasty exit, and highlighted the role played by former US president Donald Trump.
The deal brokered by Mr Trump authorised "the release of 5,000 prisoners last year, including some of the Taliban's top war commanders, among those who just took control," Mr Biden said.
But he said it was inevitable that the final departure from two decades of war would be difficult and violent, no matter when it was planned and conducted.
"To those asking for a third decade of war in Afghanistan, I ask, 'What is the vital national interest?'" Mr Biden said.
"I simply do not believe that the safety and security of America is enhanced by continuing to deploy thousands of American troops and spending billions of dollars in Afghanistan."
ABC/wires
