Biden to meet with Afghan leaders as US forces leave nation after 20 years

President Biden will meet with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his former political opponent, Abdullah Abdullah, at the White House Friday to discuss U.S. support for the Middle Eastern nation as it readies itself to battle the Taliban without the help of U.S. forces on the ground. 

The Islamist group has made significant gains in the north, overrunning multiple districts and providing the insurgents with key transportation routes. Traditional Taliban strongholds have been in the south and east. But the U.S. is pressing forward with Biden’s order to remove most U.S. forces, who have been there for 20 years, by Sept. 11, and will likely have forces removed ahead of schedule over the coming weeks.  Still, Ghani said he respects the U.S.’ withdrawal. "The decision of President Biden has been a strategic decision," the Afghan leader said in remarks following an earlier meeting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.