WASHINGTON, 28 April, 2021 (TON): On Tuesday, the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that no one is interested in a civil war in Afghanistan.

Later he added that it might be a possible scenario once the U.S. military leaves the country.

 “Neither the Afghan government or the Taliban do, none of Afghanistan's neighbors do, neighbors and other countries in the region that have basically been free riders for the last 20 years, as we've been engaged there with our NATO allies and partners,” Blinken said.

Blinken said, “Countries in the region are now going to have to decide, given their interests in a relatively stable Afghanistan, given the influence that they have, whether they’re going to try to use that influence in a way that keeps things within the 40-yard lines.”

“So a lot of people are having their minds concentrated by the President's decision,” Blinken said.

However, he stressed that even as the U.S. is withdrawing its forces, it is not disengaging from Afghanistan; U.S. will remain deeply engaged in the diplomacy in support for the Afghan government and its people, development, economic assistance humanitarian assistance, support for the security forces.