WASHINGTON, 27 June 2021, (TON):  US President Joe Biden has said that “Afghans are going to have to decide their future as Afghan President Ashraf Ghani visited the White House.

Mr Biden promised continued support for the country, even though US and Nato troops are set to finish their withdrawal on 11 September.

It comes after Taliban fighters captured dozens of districts in a recent offensive.

Earlier this week the UN expressed alarm at their gains.

The meeting came the day after the US announced plans to evacuate thousands of Afghans who worked for the US military ahead of the withdrawal. Many fear reprisals from the Taliban.

US and Nato officials have recently said that the Taliban have so far failed to live up to commitments to reduce violence in Afghanistan.

Speaking in the Oval Office, Mr Biden said the partnership between the US and Afghanistan would continue.

He said "our troops may be leaving, but support for Afghanistan is not ending."

But he stressed that it was up to Afghans to decide "what they want".

He added "the senseless violence, it has to stop. It's going to be very difficult."