The Left Behind: American Civilians Stranded In Afghanistan

As of August 2021, there were an estimated 10,000 U.S. citizens in Afghanistan, with the majority in or near Kabul. The U.S. government faced challenges in evacuating its citizens due to the Taliban's control of the country and the need to secure the Kabul airport as a safe exit point. The situation caused panic among Americans in Afghanistan, who reached out to their government for help. The Biden administration committed to keeping U.S. troops in Afghanistan until every American citizen was evacuated, even extending the initial August 31 deadline for withdrawal.

The number of American citizens in Afghanistan

The varying estimates are due to the lack of an exact count and the dynamic nature of the situation, with ongoing evacuation efforts. An American citizen stranded in Afghanistan described the situation as "calm but tense," and thousands of citizens are attempting to flee the country through Kabul's international airport.

The U.S. government is working to evacuate its citizens, and President Biden has stated that troops will remain in Afghanistan until every American is evacuated, even if it goes beyond the initial August 31 deadline. The Pentagon has stated that they aim to evacuate between 5,000 and 9,000 people per day, and they have the capacity to do so. However, one challenge is that many citizens are stuck behind Taliban checkpoints and are unable to reach the airport.

The situation is dire, and the U.S. government is facing criticism for its handling of the evacuation process and the withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The evacuation process

Planning and Initial Efforts:

• The US government, specifically the State Department and congressional offices, established hotlines and provided contact information to assist American citizens in Afghanistan with evacuation requests.
• There was criticism of a lack of coordination and urgency within the State Department and the White House, with military leaders advocating for earlier evacuation efforts.
• The US military presence at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul played a crucial role in securing the evacuation. Around 5,000 US troops were deployed initially, with additional troops authorized later to bolster the evacuation efforts.

Execution and Challenges:

• American citizens in Afghanistan faced significant challenges in reaching the Kabul airport, which was the only secure route out of the country.
• The Taliban's control over the city and checkpoints made it difficult for Americans to reach the airport. The US engaged in negotiations and discussions with the Taliban to ensure safe passage for those evacuating.
• The evacuation process was chaotic, with thousands of Afghans rushing to the airport and attempting to board flights out of the country.
• US troops were involved in crowd control and, in some instances, fired warning shots to disperse people attempting to forcefully board aircraft.
• There were tragic incidents during the evacuation, including the death of a member of an Afghan strike unit and injuries to several others in a friendly fire incident.

Outcomes and Ongoing Efforts:

• The evacuation efforts resulted in the departure of about 82,300 people from Hamid Karzai International Airport, including US citizens, Special Immigrant Visa applicants, and vulnerable Afghans.
• The overall evacuation effort, which included other countries, airlifted over 122,000 people in total.
• The US government continued its efforts to evacuate American citizens and Afghans even after the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan.
• As of October 26, 2021, the US government reported 363 known American citizens remained in Afghanistan, with 176 wanting to leave.

The role of the Taliban

The Taliban is a Sunni Islamist nationalist and pro-Pashtun movement that ruled most of Afghanistan from 1996 until October 2001. The group's founding nucleus was composed of peasant farmers and men studying Islam in Afghan and Pakistani religious schools. The Taliban found a foothold and consolidated their strength in southern Afghanistan.

The Taliban's first move after capturing Kabul in 1996 was to institute a strict interpretation of Qur'anic instruction and jurisprudence. This meant often merciless policies on the treatment of women, political opponents, and religious minorities. They banned television, music, and cinema, and disapproved of girls aged 10 and over going to school. They also introduced or supported punishments in line with their strict interpretation of Sharia law, such as public executions of convicted murderers and adulterers, as well as amputations for those found guilty of theft.

The Taliban provided a safe haven for al-Qaeda, giving them a base to recruit, train, and deploy terrorists to other countries. This led to the US-led campaign against al-Qaeda in 2001, which routed the Taliban from power.

The Taliban returned to power in 2021, twenty years after their ouster by US-led forces. They have cracked down on women's rights and neglected basic services. They have also imposed a harsh interpretation of Islamic law, despite pledges to respect the rights of women and religious and ethnic minority communities. The Taliban's takeover has wiped out gains in Afghans' standards of living, and the country's economy has floundered under their rule.

The Taliban's return to power has also brought an end to the fighting that pitted Taliban fighters against US and Afghan government forces. However, violence remains widespread, particularly as the Islamic State in Khorasan has increased attacks on civilians throughout the country.

The Taliban's harsh rule and treatment of citizens have led to international condemnation, and no country has recognised their government. The Taliban's leadership has voiced strong opposition to the Islamic State, viewing them as a threat to their goal of establishing a unified Islamist movement.

The Biden administration's response

In his address to the nation on August 16, 2021, President Biden acknowledged the rapidly deteriorating situation in Afghanistan and committed to evacuating American citizens and vulnerable Afghans. He authorized the deployment of 6,000 U.S. troops to secure the Kabul airport and facilitate evacuations. The administration worked with the Taliban to ensure safe passage for those fleeing, even as Biden faced bipartisan criticism for the chaotic withdrawal and the Taliban's swift takeover.

The State Department set up hotlines and a Repatriation Assistance Request form for Americans seeking emergency evacuation. Congressional offices, including that of Senator Tom Cotton, also established hotlines to assist stranded citizens.

Biden defended his decision to stick to the August 31 withdrawal deadline, citing the need to focus on counterterrorism efforts and arguing that extending the U.S. military presence would not have changed the outcome. He emphasized that the U.S. achieved its main objective of ensuring Afghanistan was not a safe haven for terrorists planning attacks on America.

The evacuation efforts were dangerous and challenging, with U.S. troops facing threats from the Taliban and ISIS-K. Despite the risks, the Biden administration successfully evacuated over 120,000 people, including Americans, Afghans who assisted U.S. forces, and citizens of allied countries.

While the administration faced criticism for its handling of the withdrawal, Biden maintained that it was the right decision to end America's longest war and bring U.S. troops home. He assumed responsibility for the decision and the challenges that arose during the evacuation process.

The future of Afghanistan

The Taliban's treatment of women and girls is a key concern, with reports of girls' schools being shut down and teenage girls being forced into marriage with Taliban fighters. The group has issued a general pardon to all government workers, but there are fears that those who worked with foreign governments or NGOs may be targeted.

The US and its allies are working to evacuate their citizens and Afghan allies from the country, but this process has been chaotic and dangerous, with thousands of people attempting to flee through Kabul airport. The Taliban has said it will allow evacuations until the end of August, but it is unclear what will happen after this deadline.

The international community is also considering how to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, which is facing a severe economic crisis and food shortages. There are fears that the country could become a haven for terrorist groups once again.

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