The Enduring Military Presence In Kabul: A Comprehensive Overview

Soldiers have been deployed in Kabul, Afghanistan, by various countries including the US and the UK. The US deployed thousands of troops to Afghanistan to help airlift American personnel and local allies out of Kabul as the Taliban continued to advance. The UK also deployed troops to Afghanistan in support of the UN-authorised, NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission and as part of the US-led Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).

The US deployed 3000 troops to Afghanistan to facilitate the evacuation of embassy staff in Kabul

The US Embassy in Kabul had been partially evacuated, with the State Department reducing its civilian footprint while maintaining a core diplomatic presence. The decision to evacuate staff was made due to concerns about the safety of personnel amid the Taliban's growing control over the country. The Taliban had captured several provincial capitals, including Ghazni and Kandahar, and were advancing towards the capital.

In addition to the 3000 troops sent to Kabul, the US also deployed about 1000 personnel to Qatar to assist with processing special immigrant visas for Afghans who had aided US and NATO troops. Furthermore, an infantry brigade of around 3500-4000 troops was sent to Kuwait as a reserve force in case additional support was needed in Afghanistan.

The deployment of troops to facilitate the evacuation highlighted the urgency of the situation and the need to ensure the safety of US citizens and personnel in Afghanistan. It also raised questions about the future of US involvement in the country and the ability of the Afghan government to maintain stability. The Taliban's rapid gains and the evacuation of the US Embassy signaled a potential shift in the region's dynamics, with the US and its allies reevaluating their strategies and commitments.

Overall, the deployment of 3000 US troops to Afghanistan was a significant development in the context of the deteriorating security situation and the ongoing evacuation efforts at the US Embassy in Kabul. It underscored the importance of ensuring the safety of personnel and the dynamic nature of decision-making in response to evolving circumstances on the ground.

The UK has also deployed troops to Afghanistan in support of the UN-authorised, NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission

The UK has deployed troops to Afghanistan in support of the UN-authorised, NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission. ISAF was a multinational military mission in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2014. It was established by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1386 pursuant to the Bonn Agreement, which outlined the establishment of a permanent Afghan government following the US invasion in October 2001.

ISAF's primary goal was to train the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and assist Afghanistan in rebuilding key government institutions. It gradually took part in the broader war in Afghanistan against the Taliban insurgency.

ISAF's initial mandate was to secure the Afghan capital of Kabul and its surrounding area against opposition forces to facilitate the formation of the Afghan Transitional Administration headed by Hamid Karzai. In 2003, NATO took command of the mission at the request of the UN and Afghan government, marking its first deployment outside Europe and North America. Shortly thereafter, the UN Security Council expanded ISAF's mission to provide and maintain security beyond the capital region.

ISAF incrementally broadened its operations in four stages, and by 2006 took responsibility for the entire country. ISAF subsequently engaged in more intensive combat in southern and eastern Afghanistan. At its peak between 2010 and 2012, ISAF had 400 military bases throughout Afghanistan and roughly 130,000 troops. A total of 42 countries contributed troops to ISAF, including all 30 members of NATO.

In support of the Afghan government, ISAF assisted the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) in the conduct of security operations throughout the country, helping to reduce the capability of the insurgency. An important priority for ISAF was to increase the capacity and capabilities of the Afghan forces. This became the main focus of the mission from 2011 onwards, as responsibility for security was progressively transitioned to Afghan lead and ISAF shifted from a combat-centric role to training, advising and assisting.

The UK's involvement in ISAF came to an end in 2014.

The Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said that the troops deployed to Kabul would be equipped with machine guns, mortars and other heavy weapons

In August 2021, the Pentagon spokesman John Kirby announced that the US would be deploying troops to Afghanistan to aid in the evacuation of civilians from the Kabul embassy. The Biden administration's decision to send troops to Afghanistan came as the Taliban seized control of multiple Afghan cities and encircled the Afghan capital.

The Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said that the troops deployed to Kabul would be equipped with machine guns, mortars, and other heavy weapons. He declined to call the military deployment a combat mission but asserted that the infantry soldiers and Marines would have the authorization to defend themselves if attacked.

Kirby emphasized that the mission was narrowly focused on safeguarding the orderly reduction of civilian personnel from Afghanistan. He also stated that the Pentagon expected to increase its airlift capability in the region.

The deployment of troops to Afghanistan came as the Taliban made rapid advances, capturing provincial capitals and posing a threat to Kabul. The situation prompted the US and its allies to evacuate embassy personnel and Afghan allies.

The Biden administration's decision to deploy troops to Afghanistan was a tacit admission of uncertainty about the safety of US staff

In response, President Biden authorised the deployment of approximately 5,000 US troops to ensure the safe drawdown of US and other allied personnel, as well as the evacuation of Afghans who had worked with the US military. This was in addition to the 650 troops already in the country to protect the US diplomatic presence. The Biden administration stressed that the mission of the newly arriving troops was limited to assisting with the airlift of embassy personnel and Afghan allies. However, they may have had to stay beyond the end of August if the embassy was threatened by a Taliban takeover of Kabul.

The decision to deploy more troops reflected the dire state of security in Afghanistan and called into question President Biden's commitment to fully withdrawing combat forces by his August 31 deadline. It also indicated that the Biden administration had not anticipated the massive Taliban resurgence. Despite the deployment, Biden maintained that he did not regret his decision to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan and that he would not pass the war onto a fifth president.

The US troops deployed to Afghanistan were also meant to help in the evacuation of Afghans who worked with the military during the war

In August 2021, the US government sent 3,000 troops to Afghanistan to facilitate the drawdown of personnel at the US Embassy in Kabul. The evacuation was prompted by the rapid advance of the Taliban towards the Afghan capital, which raised concerns about the safety of US personnel in the country. The Taliban had captured several key cities, including Herat and Kandahar, the country's second- and third-largest cities, and were approaching the outskirts of Kabul.

The evacuation effort included three infantry battalions from the Marines and Army, which were deployed to Hamid Karzai International Airport within 24 to 48 hours. Additionally, a joint unit from the Army and Air Force, consisting of 1,000 personnel, was deployed to Qatar to help process special immigrant visas for Afghan nationals who had assisted US and NATO troops during the war.

The US Embassy in Kabul urged Americans and US citizens to leave Afghanistan immediately, citing deteriorating security conditions and reduced staffing. The State Department announced a drawdown of civilian staff at the embassy, which would continue to operate with a core diplomatic presence. The evacuation was not a wholesale withdrawal, but a reduction in the number of civilian personnel.

The US troops deployed to Afghanistan were meant to secure the evacuation of civilians from the Kabul embassy and the airport. They also assisted in the evacuation of Afghans who had worked with the US military during the war, ensuring their safe departure from the country. This included processing special immigrant visas for Afghan interpreters and others who had supported the US military effort.

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