The Arrival Of Afghans: A New Chapter In America's Immigrant Story

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan and the collapse of the Afghan government in August 2021 led to the hurried evacuation of thousands of Afghans, including many who had worked with US forces during the 20-year war. The US has since shifted to a position of pragmatic engagement in Afghanistan, focusing on humanitarian aid and targeted assistance to help meet basic human needs and avoid complete economic collapse.

The US has not recognised the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan. However, it has engaged with Taliban representatives to urge the establishment of a credible process to form an inclusive government that reflects Afghanistan's diversity. The US has also led international efforts to deliver humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people, providing $775 million in aid as of July 2022.

The US has made significant efforts to avoid a collapse of the Afghan economy without benefiting the Taliban. These efforts have helped boost financial sector liquidity and allowed Afghan banks to retain access to the international financial system.

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan

The withdrawal followed an agreement between the US and the Taliban, signed in Doha in February 2020, which committed the US to withdrawing its forces from Afghanistan. The US decision to withdraw was driven by a desire to end America's longest war and to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for international terrorists.

The withdrawal was chaotic and deadly. As foreign nationals and their Afghan allies scrambled to evacuate, a suicide attack at Kabul airport killed as many as 180 people, including 13 US troops. The US and its allies evacuated more than 120,000 people, including around 2,000 Afghans who had worked with NATO, and their families.

The collapse of the Afghan government and the rapid Taliban takeover took many by surprise. The US had spent billions of dollars supporting the Afghan government and security forces, but the Taliban recaptured Afghanistan in a matter of months. President Ashraf Ghani fled the country, and tens of thousands of Afghans were displaced, fleeing to borders or Kabul airport in an attempt to evacuate.

The US has shifted to a position of pragmatic engagement in Afghanistan. It has provided humanitarian aid and targeted assistance to help meet basic human needs and prevent total economic collapse. It has also urged the Taliban to establish a credible process to form an inclusive government. However, the Taliban regime has been characterised by restrictions on civil society and the segregation of women and girls from public life.

The Taliban takeover

The Taliban's return to power has resulted in a rollback of human rights, particularly for women and girls, who now face severe restrictions on their education, employment, and participation in public life. The country is facing a deteriorating humanitarian crisis, with the UN estimating that around two-thirds of the population require urgent humanitarian assistance. The economy is on the verge of collapse, with high unemployment, inflation, and food insecurity affecting millions.

The international community's response to the Taliban takeover has been cautious, with a focus on evacuating citizens and addressing the humanitarian and economic crises. The U.S. has shifted to a position of pragmatic engagement, providing humanitarian aid, and targeted assistance while not recognizing the Taliban as the official government. The Taliban's failure to uphold counterterrorism commitments and respect human rights has complicated diplomatic relations and efforts to address the country's crises.

The speed and ease of the Taliban's territorial gains and the collapse of the Afghan government and security forces surprised U.S. officials and allies. This outcome has been attributed to various factors, including the Taliban's effective insurgency tactics, the Afghan government's lack of preparedness, and the U.S.'s eagerness to withdraw troops.

The Taliban's rule in Afghanistan has resulted in a regression of rights and freedoms, particularly for women and girls, and a devastating humanitarian crisis. The international community is navigating a delicate balance between providing aid to avert a complete collapse and avoiding actions that could bolster the Taliban's legitimacy.

The evacuation of Afghans who helped US forces

The evacuation effort was carried out by air and involved the use of military aircraft and helicopters. The US and its allies evacuated people from Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, which remained under NATO control after the collapse of the Afghan government. The evacuation was carried out amid chaotic and dangerous conditions, with large crowds of people attempting to flee the country. There were also security concerns, with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province (ISIL-K), a sworn enemy of the US and the Taliban, posing a threat.

The evacuation effort involved the deployment of thousands of US and allied troops to Kabul to secure the airport and assist with evacuations. In total, more than 120,000 people were evacuated from Afghanistan, including US citizens, Afghans who had worked with the US, and other vulnerable Afghans. The evacuation effort was a success, but it also had tragic moments. On August 26, a suicide attack at the airport killed around 180 people, including 13 US troops.

Following the completion of the evacuation, the US and its allies continued to work on resettling Afghans who had been evacuated. This involved providing temporary housing and other support to Afghans as they transitioned to their new lives. The US government also continued to work on evacuating Afghans who were still in the country and wanted to leave. This included Afghans who had helped US forces and were at risk of reprisal from the Taliban.

The US's current diplomatic ties with Afghanistan

The US and Afghanistan established diplomatic ties in 1935. In 2012, the two countries concluded the Strategic Partnership Agreement to strengthen their bilateral relationship, support Afghanistan's capabilities as a partner, and improve the lives of the Afghan people.

However, the relationship between the two countries has been tumultuous. In 2020, the US and the Taliban signed the Doha Agreement, which led to the withdrawal of US and Allied forces from Afghanistan by August 30, 2021. Since the Taliban takeover, the US has shifted to a position of pragmatic engagement in Afghanistan.

The US has not yet decided whether to recognize the Taliban as the Government of Afghanistan. It has, however, undertaken significant efforts to assist the Afghan people during a period of humanitarian and economic catastrophe. The US has changed the nature and scope of its activities in Afghanistan to focus on humanitarian aid and targeted assistance to help meet basic human needs and avoid a complete economic collapse.

The US has also continued to engage with the Taliban to ensure they fully abide by the commitments made in the Doha Agreement, including preventing any group or individual from using Afghan soil to threaten US security and engaging in intra-Afghan negotiations to form a post-settlement government.

The US has made significant efforts, in coordination with the international community, to avoid a collapse of the Afghan economy without benefiting the Taliban. These efforts have helped boost financial sector liquidity and allowed Afghan banks to retain access to the international financial system.

The US engages with Taliban representatives to urge the establishment of a credible process to form an inclusive government that reflects Afghanistan's diversity, including meaningful representation of women and minority communities.

The US has suspended all support to Afghanistan until any future Afghan government adheres to Afghanistan's international obligations, safeguards human rights, upholds the rule of law, allows unhindered humanitarian access, and ensures that Afghanistan does not become a safe haven for terrorists.

The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan

Afghanistan is facing a complex and severe humanitarian crisis, with more than half of its population in need of humanitarian assistance. The crisis is a result of four decades of conflict, poverty, natural disasters, and an economic downturn. The Taliban's takeover of the country in August 2021 has further exacerbated the situation, particularly for women and girls, who face severe restrictions on their daily lives and a lack of access to services. The economy has collapsed, with Afghanistan's GDP contracting by 25% since August 2021, and the country is facing a liquidity crisis due to sanctions and the freezing of assets by the U.S.

The international community's response to the crisis has been challenging due to the political and economic isolation of the Taliban regime. There has been a decline in commitment to Afghanistan, with development assistance being paused or reduced. While some humanitarian assistance continues, it is not enough to meet the needs on the ground, and aid organizations face bureaucratic constraints and challenges in navigating sanctions. The UN's request for funding is less than 30% funded, and there is a "gigantic shortfall" in the amount of aid available.

To address the crisis, there is a need for increased humanitarian assistance, economic stability, and resumed development aid. The international community must balance providing desperately needed aid while pressuring the Taliban to moderate its hardline policies. The U.S., in particular, should scale up its humanitarian aid and direct more funding to local civil society organizations, especially women-led ones. Additionally, efforts are needed to address the underlying economic drivers of the crisis, such as engaging with foreign banks to allow financial transactions and technical assistance to help the Central Bank meet international standards.

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