Afghan leader to meet Biden as US exit looms

WASHINGTON, June 25 (AFP): Afghan leader Ashraf Ghani faces the cold reality of the end of US military presence in Afghanistan Friday when he meets with President Joe Biden in the White House.

Under increasing threat from an emboldened Taliban insurgency, Ghani will be hoping for a significant commitment of US aid to his government, which will be without the on-the-ground support of US forces for the first time in nearly two decades.

But any hopes for a delay in America's exit from its longest war are likely to be snuffed.

Speaking in Paris Friday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US could no longer adhere to the same approach to Afghanistan of the past 20 years, despite the fresh Taliban gains on the ground.

"The status quo was not an option," he said.