The Complex Relationship Between Americans And Afghanistan: Navigating A Fraught Landscape

Americans are not welcome in Afghanistan. The U.S. Department of State has issued a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for Afghanistan, citing terrorism, the risk of wrongful detention, kidnapping, and crime. The U.S. Embassy in Kabul has suspended its operations, and the U.S. government is unable to provide emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in Afghanistan. Americans in Afghanistan are urged to depart immediately via commercial means if possible.

In 2021, the Taliban took over Afghanistan and announced an interim government based in Kabul. The Taliban has harassed and detained aid and humanitarian workers, and U.S. citizens are targets of kidnapping and wrongful detention. The U.S. government has assessed that there is a risk of wrongful detention of U.S. citizens by the Taliban, and the Taliban does not regularly permit the U.S. to conduct welfare checks on detained U.S. citizens.

Despite the dangers, some Americans have expressed a desire to welcome Afghan refugees into the United States. Operation Allies Welcome, a whole-of-America effort to evacuate and resettle Afghans in the U.S., has helped welcome nearly 43,000 Afghans to 46 states. Americans across the political spectrum, including governors, veterans, servicemembers, faith-based organizations, resettlement agencies, Afghan-Americans, and community-based organizations, have offered support and assistance to Afghan refugees.

The US Embassy in Kabul has suspended operations, and the US government is unable to provide emergency consular services to US citizens in Afghanistan

The US Embassy in Kabul has been evacuated and its operations suspended since August 31, 2021, following the Taliban's advance on the city. The embassy staff initially relocated to the Hamid Karzai International Airport, and the US government has since transferred its operations to Doha, Qatar.

The US government is currently unable to provide emergency consular services to US citizens in Afghanistan. However, US citizens in Afghanistan who require routine consular services can contact any other US embassy or consulate for assistance. The US State Department has issued a Level 4 travel advisory for Afghanistan, warning US citizens not to travel to the country due to the high risk of terrorism, kidnapping, and crime. The Taliban has harassed and detained aid and humanitarian workers, and foreigners may be viewed with suspicion and detained.

The US government remains committed to supporting Afghans at risk and is working to reunify those in the US with their family members overseas through the Enduring Welcome (EW) initiative. This involves resettling Afghans in cities and towns across the US and providing them with initial resettlement assistance, such as housing, employment, education, and healthcare.

Multiple terrorist groups are active in Afghanistan, and US citizens are targets of kidnapping and wrongful detention

Afghanistan is currently under Taliban rule, and the U.S. Embassy in Kabul has suspended operations. The U.S. government is unable to provide any emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in Afghanistan. The U.S. Department of State has issued a Level 4 travel advisory for Afghanistan, urging U.S. citizens not to travel to the country for any reason.

Multiple terrorist groups are active in Afghanistan, and U.S. citizens are at risk of kidnapping and wrongful detention. The Taliban has a history of kidnapping Americans, and the U.S. government has assessed that there is a risk of wrongful detention of U.S. citizens by the Taliban. The Taliban has harassed and detained aid and humanitarian workers, and foreigners may be viewed with suspicion. Even if registered with the appropriate authorities to conduct business, the risk of detention is high.

The Taliban does not regularly permit the U.S. to conduct welfare checks on detained U.S. citizens, and detention can be lengthy. While in detention, U.S. citizens have limited or no access to medical attention and may be subject to physical abuse.

The Taliban has harassed and detained aid and humanitarian workers

The Taliban's treatment of aid and humanitarian workers has been a cause for concern for many international governments and organisations. The US Department of State has assessed that there is a risk of wrongful detention of US citizens by the Taliban, and that the Taliban have harassed and detained aid and humanitarian workers.

In April 2023, the Taliban further restricted Afghan women's working, this time banning them from working for the UN or other aid agencies. This was yet another blow to efforts to deliver aid during what the UN has called the "world's largest humanitarian crisis". The repercussions could be devastating for programs in which women play a vital role. The Taliban's reputation for human rights violations and terrorism has isolated it on a global stage, contributing to the decline of the Afghan economy, triggering unemployment, poverty and widespread starvation.

In December 2022, the Taliban banned Afghan women from working for non-governmental agencies, further hindering aid efforts. In regions where the ban has been strictly imposed, it has impeded the ability of aid workers to register and verify cases of families that need aid. Women employees are critical, particularly for projects involving households run by women, due to the Taliban's gender separation rules.

The Taliban's increasing restriction on women's freedoms, specifically their exclusion of women from the economy, has resulted in an estimated loss of $1 billion to the Afghan economy, according to the UNDP. The International Labour Organization documented a 25% drop in women's employment levels by late 2022, attributed to the restriction on women's work.

In September 2023, almost 20 staff members of a charity organisation operating in central Afghanistan, including one US national, were arrested by regional officials in the Taliban-controlled nation. They were detained for "propagating and promoting Christianity", a violation of the Taliban's strict regulations on all non-governmental groups.

The US State Department has issued a 'Level 4: Do Not Travel' advisory for Afghanistan

The US State Department has issued a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for Afghanistan, warning US citizens not to travel to the country for any reason. The advisory was issued due to the high risk of terrorism, wrongful detention, kidnapping, and crime in the country. The Taliban, which took over Afghanistan in 2021, poses a significant threat to US citizens, who are targets of kidnapping and wrongful detention. The Taliban has also been known to harass and detain aid and humanitarian workers, and foreigners may be viewed with suspicion and detained without clear reasons.

The US Embassy in Kabul has suspended its operations, and the US government is unable to provide emergency consular services to US citizens in Afghanistan. US citizens in Afghanistan are urged to depart immediately via commercial means if possible and seek assistance from US embassies or consulates outside of Afghanistan. Those who choose to disregard the advisory and travel to Afghanistan are advised to follow the Department of State on social media, visit the website for Travel to High-Risk Areas, review their personal security plans, and be aware of their surroundings and local security developments. Additionally, it is recommended to notify a trusted person of their travel and movement plans, make contingency plans that do not rely on US government assistance, and draft important documents such as a will and power of attorney. Enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is also advised to receive security updates and ensure locate-ability in an emergency.

The US government is working with Qatar and Turkey, which have representation in Afghanistan, to get the civilian airport open

Turkey has been in Afghanistan in a non-combatant role for two decades and has been involved in consultancy efforts, reconstruction, and maintenance. It has been operating the airport for six years. After the Taliban seized control of the country, Turkey offered technical and security assistance at the airport.

Turkey has said that it would be open to operating the airport with Qatar, but only if its security demands are met. Qatar has also helped run the airport with Turkey and played a major role in the evacuation efforts following the US withdrawal.

The US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, has said that the US is working closely with Qatar and Turkey to get the airport in Kabul up and running as quickly as possible. He added that the US is grateful for all that Qatar is doing to support the evacuation effort.

The US is also in talks with Qatar about providing civilian technical assistance to the Taliban at Kabul's international airport once the US military withdrawal is complete.

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