United States (US) President Joe Biden declared on Thursday to end the America’s military mission in Afghanistan on 31 August. Biden said 'speed is safety', and claimed that the US military had achieved its goals in the country to degrade al Qaeda and prevent more attacks on the US.

Naming the mission as the 'America’s longest war', President Biden declared to end it amid concerns that Taliban could retake control.

Following a surge that is already underway President Biden said, 'We did not go to Afghanistan to nation-build', adding that the American support to Afghans would endure.

The president also called on countries in the region to step up efforts to bring about political solution in Afghanistan. He urged that the future of the country must be in the hands of Afghans, even as he acknowledged that the Islamist Taliban was at its strongest since 2001.

Stating that he did not trust the Taliban, Biden added that it was not inevitable that the country would fall to the hardline rulers who were in power before the US launched an invasion in retaliation to the September 11 attacks.

The US had abandoned Bagram air base last weekend. The base was a long-time staging ground for US military operations in the country.

US had agreed to withdraw in a deal negotiated last year under Biden’s Republican predecessor, Donald Trump.

On Thursday, Biden said the country would refocus its counterterrorism efforts in other regions such as Syria and Yemen where terror groups had gained strength.

As reported, the Taliban has now controled about a third of all 421 districts and district centres in Afghanistan. The group on Thursday seized a third Afghan border crossing with Iran. Taliban's victories are also putting pressure on provincial cities and taking away government control of key transportation routes.