Left Behind: The Plight Of Americans Stranded In Afghanistan

The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan has left many American citizens stranded in the country. While the Biden administration claimed that only about 100-150 Americans were left behind, reports and investigations suggest the number is much higher, with estimates ranging from 800 to 9,000. The State Department remains in touch with Americans who want to leave Afghanistan, but evacuation flights have been grounded, and the true number of Americans still in the country remains unknown.

The Biden administration has been criticised for leaving Americans behind

The Biden administration has faced criticism for its handling of the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, with some arguing that it left Americans behind in a dangerous situation.

In the aftermath of the withdrawal, it emerged that hundreds of Americans were still stranded in Afghanistan. While the exact number of Americans left behind is unclear, estimates range from 100 to over 1,000. This has led to accusations that the Biden administration was not transparent about the number of Americans in the country and that it failed to adequately plan for the evacuation.

The administration has been accused of providing misleading information about the number of Americans left behind. Initially, Secretary of State Antony Blinken claimed that only 100-150 Americans remained in Afghanistan. However, a report by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee found that as many as 9,000 Americans may have been left behind during the withdrawal. This report also revealed that State Department officials believed that between 10,000 and 15,000 Americans were in Afghanistan as late as August 17.

The Biden administration has been criticized for its lack of transparency and for downplaying the number of Americans stranded in Afghanistan. Lawmakers from both parties have expressed frustration with the administration's handling of the situation, with some calling it a disaster and a stain on America's reputation. There is also concern for the safety of those left behind, as Afghanistan is now controlled by the Taliban.

The administration has defended its actions, with President Biden claiming that 90% of Americans who wanted to leave Afghanistan were able to do so. He has also stated that there is no deadline for those who remain, and the U.S. is committed to getting them out if they want to leave. However, critics argue that the administration broke its promise to leave no American citizen behind and that its handling of the withdrawal damaged America's credibility and reputation.

The criticism of the Biden administration's handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal extends beyond the number of Americans left behind. There is also concern for the thousands of Afghan allies who remain trapped in the country and are at risk of retaliation from the Taliban. Additionally, the chaotic nature of the withdrawal and the lack of planning have been criticized, with some arguing that it could have been avoided if there had been more troops on the ground to facilitate the evacuation.

The Taliban has left hundreds of people stranded awaiting approval for departure

The Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan has left hundreds of people stranded in the country, awaiting approval for departure. This includes American citizens and Afghans holding visas to the US or other countries. The delay in departures has been attributed to ongoing negotiations between the Taliban, the US, and Qatar, as the Taliban have yet to form a government. This situation reflects the challenges faced by foreign governments in working with the Taliban and ensuring safe passage for those seeking to leave Afghanistan.

The holdup has left evacuees in a precarious limbo, with their fate uncertain. Among those stranded are Afghans who worked with or supported the US-backed government and now fear persecution by the Taliban. The confusion and chaos surrounding the evacuation efforts have been criticized, particularly regarding the lack of coordination between the US State Department and the Taliban, which has resulted in delayed approvals for charter flights.

The State Department has faced scrutiny and criticism for its handling of the situation, with lawmakers expressing frustration over the lack of transparency and slow release of specific numbers regarding US citizens and residents stranded in Afghanistan. The Biden administration, in particular, has faced backlash for its execution of the withdrawal, which included an ISIS terror attack that resulted in the deaths of American service members and Afghans at Kabul's international airport.

The struggle to extract Americans, green card holders, and eligible Afghans has become more challenging with the Taliban's resurgence and the looming humanitarian crisis in the country. The international community is under increasing pressure to address Afghanistan's growing need for humanitarian relief, and efforts to evacuate vulnerable individuals continue.

The Taliban, on the other hand, have sought to project a more moderate image since their takeover, promising to respect human rights and allow those with proper travel documents to leave the country. However, there are concerns about their commitment to these promises, and incidents of Taliban soldiers preventing evacuees from departing have also been reported.

The US State Department has been criticised for being too slow to release specific numbers

The US State Department has been criticized for its slow response to the crisis in Afghanistan. Lawmakers have expressed their frustration at the department's failure to release specific numbers regarding the number of citizens, legal permanent residents, and Afghans who remain in the country and require evacuation.

In the aftermath of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, the State Department repeatedly stated that there were around 100 citizens seeking to leave. However, this figure was later revised upwards, with the department revealing that there were around 400 people seeking to depart. This lack of clarity has fueled criticism from lawmakers, who argue that the administration is either failing in its duty to keep track of the numbers or deliberately downplaying the scope of the issue.

The State Department has defended its response, arguing that the numbers are challenging to track and constantly shifting. They have emphasized their commitment to evacuating American citizens and those who supported the US war effort, stating that they will continue to work closely with partners to facilitate evacuations.

The exact number of Americans still in Afghanistan remains unclear, with estimates ranging from 80 to several thousand. Despite the uncertainty, the State Department has maintained that the majority of Americans who wanted to leave have already been evacuated. They have also asserted that many of those who remain have chosen to stay due to family roots or are dual citizens.

The US has faced backlash for its execution of the withdrawal

The US has faced backlash for its handling of the withdrawal from Afghanistan, with some critics arguing that the Biden administration abandoned Americans and Afghan allies in a country now controlled by the Taliban.

In the aftermath of the withdrawal, it was revealed that the US had left behind American citizens and Afghan allies. A report by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee found that as many as 9,000 Americans were left in Afghanistan during the Biden Administration’s withdrawal. Secretary of State Antony Blinken originally claimed that number was closer to 100-150. A State Department spokesperson later confirmed that at least 600 legal permanent residents of the US had been evacuated since the withdrawal.

The Biden administration has been accused of having "no plan" to help Afghan allies who aided the US during its 20-year war against the Taliban. Rep. Michael McCaul, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said that "those Afghans most at-risk of Taliban reprisals remain trapped in Afghanistan" and under threat of deadly retribution.

McCaul's team reviewed hundreds of reports and memorandums related to the evacuation and found several failures they claim contributed to the botched pullout. For example, only 36 State Department officials were in Kabul to screen 124,000 evacuees, which amounts to "roughly one consular officer for every 3,444 evacuees". If more had been on the ground, the committee’s Republicans believe processing could have been faster and more people could have been saved.

The planning of the evacuation was also criticized as being "so disorganized" that senior leaders in Vice President Kamala Harris' office and First Lady Jill Biden's office asked veterans' groups to help get vulnerable Afghan allies and Americans out of the country.

The withdrawal has also been criticized for leaving military equipment in Afghanistan that ended up in the hands of the Taliban. This includes weapons, aircraft, military vehicles, and aircraft munitions.

The Biden administration's handling of the situation in Afghanistan has been negatively viewed by large majorities of Americans. In August and September 2021, about seven-in-ten or more said that the administration had done a poor job of dealing with the situation, with around four-in-ten or more saying it had done poorly.

Private citizens have launched their own evacuation efforts

The Biden administration has been criticized for its handling of the evacuation of Americans from Afghanistan. A report by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee found that as many as 9,000 Americans were left in Afghanistan during the Biden Administration’s withdrawal. Secretary of State Antony Blinken originally claimed that this number was closer to 100-150.

The true number of Americans evacuated from Afghanistan may be closer to 1,000, including those who left via privately-funded organizations. The Biden administration has maintained that 90% of Americans in Afghanistan who wanted to leave were able to. However, critics argue that the administration failed to adequately plan for the evacuation and did not have enough consular officers on the ground to process evacuees.

The State Department remains in touch with hundreds of Americans who still want to leave Afghanistan. The exact number of Americans that are making efforts to leave is unknown, but President Biden claims that the majority of Americans who wanted to leave had already been evacuated, with about 100 to 200 Americans who still intend to leave the country.

The evacuation of Americans from Afghanistan remains an ongoing effort, with the U.S. government continuing to work with partners like Qatar to restart relocation flights.

Frequently asked questions