Us Exit: The Last Troops Leave Afghanistan

The United States completed its withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan on 30 August 2021, marking the end of the 2001–2021 war. The last US military planes left Kabul airport at 11:59 pm local time, with Major General Chris Donahue, commander of the US Army 82nd Airborne Division, being the final soldier to leave. The withdrawal came after nearly 20 years of US military presence in the country, which began in the aftermath of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks. The US exit from Afghanistan resulted in the Taliban regaining control of the country and created a refugee crisis as many Afghans fled.

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan marks the end of America's longest war

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan, which ended America's longest war, was completed on August 30, 2021, with the last US military planes leaving Kabul airport. The withdrawal came nearly 20 years after the US military first entered Afghanistan following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The US exit from Afghanistan resulted in the Taliban regaining control of the country, creating a refugee crisis, and raising fears that terrorists might use Afghanistan as a safe haven. The collapse of the Afghan government, after the US spent billions to support it and the Afghan security forces, was a violent end to the US military mission.

The withdrawal was initially triggered by the United States–Taliban deal signed by the Trump administration in February 2020, which stipulated fighting restrictions for both parties and provided for the withdrawal of all NATO forces from Afghanistan in return for the Taliban's counter-terrorism commitments. The Biden administration's final decision in April 2021 to pull out all US troops by September 2021, without leaving a residual force, was the second critical event that led to the collapse of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF).

The US military evacuation was chaotic, with thousands of Afghans rushing to the Kabul airport, overrunning the runway, and forcing US troops to conduct crowd control. The evacuation was punctuated by a suicide attack on August 26, 2021, that killed as many as 180 people, including 13 American troops. It was one of the deadliest attacks of the war, and the troops were the first American service members to die in the country since February 2020.

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan was met with mixed reactions from the American public. According to a survey conducted in August 2021, 54% of Americans said the decision to withdraw US troops was right, while 42% said it was wrong. There was a sharp partisan divide, with 70% of Democrats agreeing with the decision and only 34% of Republicans.

The Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan

In the years following their ouster by U.S. troops in 2001, the Taliban regrouped and waged an insurgency against the U.S.-backed government in Kabul. They took advantage of the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces, capturing all major cities within days and causing the Western-backed government to collapse.

The speed and ease of the Taliban's advance took many by surprise, including U.S. officials and the Taliban themselves. By mid-August 2021, the Taliban had entered the capital city of Kabul, and President Ashraf Ghani had fled the country. This triggered a mass evacuation of U.S. citizens, Afghan allies, and other foreign nationals, culminating in the departure of the last U.S. troops on August 30, 2021.

The Taliban's return to power has had devastating consequences for the Afghan people, particularly women and girls. The group has imposed harsh restrictions, effectively erasing women from public life and denying them access to education and employment. The country's economy has also suffered, with malnutrition soaring and hundreds of thousands of jobs lost.

The international community has expressed concern over the Taliban's ties to terrorist organizations, particularly al-Qaeda, and the potential for Afghanistan to once again become a safe haven for terrorists. The Taliban has pledged to form an "inclusive, Islamic government" and prevent its territory from being used by terrorist groups. However, their actions and track record have led to scepticism and distrust among Afghans and the international community.

The US troops left behind Americans and Afghan allies

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan, ending America's longest war, left behind Americans and Afghan allies. The last US military planes left Kabul airport on 30 August 2021, marking the end of a 20-year occupation.

The Pentagon stated that "every single US service member is out of Afghanistan". However, it also acknowledged that "we did not get out everybody we wanted to get out", with several hundred Americans unable to evacuate. The head of the US Central Command, General Frank McKenzie, estimated that between 100 and 200 Americans were left behind, while Secretary of State Antony Blinken put the figure at "under 200, likely closer to 100".

The evacuation of Afghan allies was also incomplete. The US had launched Operation Allies Refuge to airlift American translators and select Afghan citizens considered at risk of reprisals. However, tens of thousands of Afghan allies were left behind, facing an uncertain and dangerous future under Taliban rule.

The Biden administration faced criticism for not evacuating all Americans and at-risk Afghans before withdrawing troops. President Biden had previously stated that US troops would remain beyond the initial deadline of 31 August if necessary to evacuate all Americans. In the end, the decision to withdraw was made to protect the lives of US troops and secure the prospects of civilian departures in the future.

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan led to a refugee crisis

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan, ending America's longest war, led to a refugee crisis. The Taliban's takeover of the country caused hundreds of thousands of Afghans to flee their homes. The US military helped evacuate 78,000 Afghans, with most entering the US on humanitarian parole, allowing them to live and work in the country for two years. However, the rushed evacuation left tens of thousands of Afghans behind, tearing families apart.

The US withdrawal and the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan caused a mass exodus of refugees. Many Afghans, fearing persecution under the Taliban's rule, fled the country. The US military evacuated tens of thousands of Afghans, but the process was chaotic and dangerous, leaving many more behind. The evacuation was further complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which was spreading largely uncontrolled in Afghanistan due to the ongoing conflict and a weak healthcare system.

Afghans who managed to flee their country faced an uncertain future. Most of those evacuated to the US were granted humanitarian parole, which allowed them temporary residence and the right to work. However, this was only a short-term solution, and many Afghans were left in limbo, unsure of what their future would hold after their parole expired.

The refugee crisis also had international repercussions. Neighbouring countries, such as Iran and Turkey, struggled to cope with the influx of Afghan refugees. The potential for another migration crisis in Europe, similar to the one in 2015 when over a million refugees arrived, loomed large. The US's handling of the situation, particularly its inability to evacuate all those who wanted to leave, damaged its standing in global affairs and raised questions about its commitment to protecting refugees.

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan, therefore, had far-reaching consequences, uprooting hundreds of thousands of Afghans and creating a refugee crisis that affected not only the region but also the wider world. The future of those who fled remains uncertain, and the international community continues to grapple with the fallout of the US withdrawal.

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan raised fears of a terrorist safe haven

The US invaded Afghanistan in 2001 following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, with the goal of preventing the country from becoming a safe haven for international terrorists. However, the US withdrawal in 2021 and the subsequent Taliban takeover raised concerns that Afghanistan could once again become a terrorist safe haven.

Indeed, in 2022, the US killed al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in a drone strike in Kabul, Afghanistan. This was seen as proof that Afghanistan had once again become a terrorist safe haven.

The Taliban's relationship with al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups is complex. While the Taliban has provided haven and support to some groups, it has also restricted the activities of others and cracked down on those it sees as a threat to its regime.

The Taliban has enabled groups such as al-Qaeda, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and Central Asian jihadis by providing them with continued haven and safety within Afghanistan. The Taliban has also provided these groups with material support, including welfare payments and access to weapons and ammunition.

However, the Taliban has also restricted the activities of some terrorist groups. For example, the Taliban has asked al-Qaeda not to undertake attacks against the US and its allies, and has prevented groups from disclosing their locations in propaganda materials.

The Taliban has also attempted to crack down on some groups, particularly the Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K), which it sees as an implacable foe and a threat to its regime. The Taliban has targeted ISIS-K leaders and carried out a large-scale counterintelligence campaign within its own ranks to root out ISIS-K sympathisers.

The US has stated that it will continue to take action against terrorist threats from Afghanistan. Following the killing of al-Zawahiri, the Biden administration argued that it has a workable counterterrorism strategy to mitigate the threat from Afghanistan.

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