The White House continued to defend a careful line on the Taliban after cooperating with them during the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, saying late on Thursday that sanctions relief for the new regime was not under consideration, the Washington Post reported.

Critics panned the Biden administration for relying on the Taliban while evacuating Americans and Afghan partners before the Tuesday deadline. They also said President Joe Biden was trusting the Taliban’s good graces to protect Americans and allied Afghans left behind in the war-torn country.

The White House has persistently tried to push back on that line. “No one is discussing the reduction of sanctions on the Taliban,” press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters at Thursday’s briefing.

“We are going to judge the Taliban by their actions. ... Now, at the same time, we want to make sure there is assistance to the Afghan people."