The Choice To Depart: Understanding A Soldier's Decision To Leave Afghanistan

The withdrawal of US and NATO troops from Afghanistan, completed on 30 August 2021, marked the end of the longest war in US history. The decision to withdraw was made by the Biden administration in April 2021, and was supported by the majority of Americans. However, the execution of the withdrawal was criticised, and the US left behind American citizens and tens of thousands of at-risk Afghans. The withdrawal also raised fears that Afghanistan would become a safe haven for terrorists.

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan left many Americans and Afghan allies in danger

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 left between 100 and 200 Americans and tens of thousands of Afghan allies in danger. The Taliban's takeover of the country resulted in a refugee crisis and raised fears that terrorists might use Afghanistan as a safe haven.

The US had initially invaded Afghanistan in 2001, and the war lasted nearly 20 years. The decision to withdraw troops was made by President Joe Biden, who cited the need to end "America's longest war." However, the withdrawal was not without controversy, as some critics argued that it was executed poorly and put Americans and Afghan allies at risk.

Indeed, the withdrawal left many Americans and Afghan allies stranded in the country. While the US evacuated more than 5,500 US citizens, a small number chose to stay, often to remain with family members. In addition, tens of thousands of at-risk Afghans, such as interpreters who worked with the US military, journalists, and women's rights advocates, were left behind. The fate of these individuals was uncertain, but officials feared that the Taliban might retaliate against them.

The Taliban had pledged to allow foreign nationals and Afghans with travel authorization to leave the country. However, there were concerns about how citizens would be able to leave without a functioning airport. The Taliban was in talks with governments like Qatar and Turkey to seek assistance in continuing civilian flight operations, but it was unclear if and when these efforts would succeed.

The US withdrawal also raised concerns about the threat of terrorism from Afghanistan. While the primary objective of the US in Afghanistan had been to degrade the threat of terrorism, the withdrawal left the country vulnerable to terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. There were fears that these groups might use Afghanistan as a base to launch attacks against the US and its allies.

Overall, the US withdrawal from Afghanistan left many Americans and Afghan allies in danger and uncertainly. The Taliban's takeover and the resulting refugee crisis, combined with the threat of terrorism, created a challenging situation that required a coordinated international response.

The Taliban's takeover of Kabul airport signalled the end of America's longest war

The Taliban's takeover of Kabul airport on 30 August 2021 signalled the end of America's longest war, which lasted nearly 20 years.

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan began in May 2021, with the Taliban swiftly capturing Kabul and seizing control of the country. The last US military plane left Kabul airport at 11:59 pm local time on 30 August 2021, marking the end of the war.

The departure of US troops left Afghanistan in disarray and uncertainty under renewed Taliban rule. The Taliban's victory came after a 20-year insurgency that drove the world's most powerful military out of one of the poorest countries. The US-led invasion in 2001 overthrew the Taliban government within a matter of weeks, but despite billions of dollars in investment and two decades of war, the Taliban regrouped and retook control of the country.

The end of America's longest war resulted in a refugee crisis as many Afghans fled the country, and raised fears that Afghanistan could once again become a safe haven for terrorists. The war cost the US over $2 trillion and the lives of 2,461 American personnel.

The Biden administration expects the Taliban to allow safe passage for those left in Afghanistan

The Biden administration's decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan was influenced by the previous Trump administration's deal with the Taliban. The deal, signed in February 2020, stipulated that all US troops would be withdrawn from Afghanistan in exchange for the Taliban's counter-terrorism commitments. When Biden took office, there were 2,500 US soldiers remaining in Afghanistan. He initially planned to start withdrawing these soldiers by May 1, 2021, but later moved the deadline to August 31, 2021.

The withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan marked the end of America's longest war, which lasted nearly 20 years. The war in Afghanistan began in 2001 after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which were planned by al-Qaeda militants who were given safe haven by the Taliban in Afghanistan. The US invasion of Afghanistan aimed to defeat the Taliban and eliminate al-Qaeda. While the mission resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden and the degradation of al-Qaeda, the Taliban regained control of the country following the US withdrawal.

The withdrawal of US troops faced criticism and bipartisan backlash. Some argued that the withdrawal was poorly executed and resulted in a chaotic evacuation. There were also concerns about the fate of those left behind, including Americans, interpreters who worked with the US military, journalists, and women's rights advocates. The Biden administration has stated that it will continue to work to help people leave Afghanistan and provide humanitarian aid.

The Taliban are in talks with Qatar and Turkey to seek assistance in continuing civilian flight operations

Turkey has been working with Qatar to reopen the airport in the Afghan capital for international travel, but repairs are needed before commercial flights can resume. Turkey has taken a pragmatic approach to the recent events in Afghanistan, and has offered technical and security assistance to operationalize Kabul's airport.

Qatar has emerged as a key player in Afghanistan after the US pullout. The Gulf state played an outsized role in US efforts to evacuate tens of thousands of people from Afghanistan, and now the tiny Gulf Arab state is being asked to help shape what is next for Afghanistan because of its ties with both Washington and the Taliban insurgents now in charge in Kabul.

Qatar's role in the evacuations reflects its position as host of the Middle East's biggest US military base, but also its decision years ago to host the Taliban’s political leadership in exile, giving it some sway with the militant group. Qatar also hosted US-Taliban peace talks.

Senior leaders of the Afghan Taliban have been stationed in Doha, Qatar, since the early 2010s. The original purpose for being there was to open an office that would facilitate political reconciliation between the Taliban, the government of Afghanistan, the United States, and other countries.

In roughly a decade of engagement in Afghanistan, Qatar has made remarkable strides in building sound diplomatic credentials at regional and global levels. By offering its intermediation services to third parties seeking an entry point in the Afghan complex, Doha went from a newbie to a trendsetter in the Middle East power game.

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members, like Saudi Arabia and Qatar, have high stakes in post-occupation Afghanistan. From the potential for international terrorist organizations to exploit the country's security vacuum to the deteriorating humanitarian conditions of the Afghan people, Afghan troubles pose direct and indirect security threats to Gulf Arab states.

While no government worldwide has yet to formalize diplomatic relations with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Gulf Arab governments are, to various extents, cautiously moving down a path toward soft normalization or partial recognition of the Taliban regime.

The US and the Taliban may cooperate to counter the threat posed by Islamic State militants

The one area of cooperation between the US and the Taliban could be on the threat posed by Islamic State militants. There are questions about how Washington and the Taliban can coordinate and potentially even share information to counter the group. Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K), named after a historic term for the region, first appeared in eastern Afghanistan in late 2014 and quickly established a reputation for extreme brutality. The group claimed responsibility for an Aug. 26 suicide bombing outside the airport that killed 13 U.S. troops and scores of Afghan civilians.

The Taliban have 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 of Afghanistan has wiped out gains in Afghans' standards of living that were made over the two decades after the US invasion, according to the UNDP. The Taliban's takeover brought an end to fighting that pitted Taliban fighters against US and Afghan government forces. The country's overall security situation has improved and civilian casualties have declined. However, violence remains widespread, particularly as the Islamic State in Khorasan terrorist group has increased attacks on civilians throughout the country.

The US has carried out at least two drone strikes against the group since the Aug. 26 suicide bombing. Biden has said his administration will continue to retaliate for the attack. ISIS-K is a sworn enemy of the Taliban. But US intelligence officials believe the movement used the instability that led to the collapse of Afghanistan's Western-backed government this month to strengthen its position and step up recruitment of disenfranchised Taliban members.

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