The Last Stand: Can Afghanistan's Future Be Salvaged?

Afghanistan's future remains uncertain as the country faces a potential takeover by the Taliban. The US withdrawal and the fall of the Afghan government have left a power vacuum that the Taliban is seeking to fill, raising concerns about the future of democracy, women's rights, and safety in the region. With the Taliban's history of extreme Islamic rule and violence, there are fears that the country will revert to a state of chaos and human rights violations. The international community is grappling with how to respond to this crisis, as Afghan refugees seek to flee the country in fear of persecution. The US, in particular, is facing criticism for its handling of the situation and its failure to protect those who aided them during their time in Afghanistan. As the world watches, the fate of Afghanistan hangs in the balance, with the potential for a humanitarian disaster looming.

The US must evacuate Afghan allies

The US has an obligation to evacuate its Afghan allies and must act immediately to save them from the Taliban.

The US government has an obligation to help those interpreters and other brave Afghans who have helped Westerners over the years to seek asylum. As the Taliban continues to reclaim territory, current and former Afghan translators and interpreters who worked with US forces are facing deadly danger. As of July 2021, an estimated 70,000 Afghans who have worked for the US and their family members are at risk of being killed as the Taliban pushes for victory.

The US must act quickly to evacuate these individuals and their families to safety. In July 2021, the Biden administration announced "Operation Allies Refuge," which will evacuate Afghan nationals who assisted US forces. This is a step in the right direction, but critics argue that the US is not moving fast enough to avoid reprisals. The rate of evacuation does not match the speed of the Afghan government's collapse, and if evacuation flights continue at their current pace, it would take until March 2023 to evacuate all eligible Afghans out of the country.

The US must also do more to protect Afghan allies and ease their entry into the country. Congress has introduced bills such as the HOPE for Afghan SIVs Act, which would remove hurdles in the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) process, and the Afghan Allies Protection Act, which aims to increase the cap on SIVs. However, these efforts may be too little too late as the Taliban continues to advance.

The US must act with urgency to evacuate its Afghan allies and their families to safety. By failing to do so, the US risks abandoning those who risked their lives to support and protect American troops and breaking its promise to leave no one behind.

The US must provide asylum for Afghan refugees

The US has a moral obligation to provide asylum for Afghan refugees, especially those who have aided the US military and government over the years. The Biden administration has been criticized for its handling of the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, which has left thousands of Afghans in danger. The Taliban has a history of human rights abuses, and the US must act to protect those who are at risk.

The US government has a responsibility to those who have helped them, and the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program is one way to help. The SIV program allows Afghans who have worked with the US government to apply for visas and permanent residency in the US. However, the process is lengthy and complex, and many Afghans may not succeed in their applications.

There are at least three categories of Afghans most in need of protection from the Taliban. Firstly, those who worked with the US military, and their families. Secondly, men and women who worked with US and Western governmental or non-governmental organizations and are now at significant risk. Thirdly, Afghans whose actions or political opinions make it impossible for them to live safely under Taliban rule.

The US can and should do more to help these individuals. One suggestion is to establish a ""humanitarian land corridor" to Pakistan to help those fleeing the Taliban. Another option is to provide a "straight path to legal permanent residence" for Afghan refugees, similar to what has been done in the past for refugees from Vietnam, Hungary, China, and Cuba.

The US government has the resources and the capacity to help, and it is the right thing to do. The US must act now to protect Afghan refugees and offer them a safe haven.

The US must prevent a Taliban takeover

The Taliban's harsh interpretation of Islamic law has resulted in the crackdown on women's rights, with most women being banned from working and girls prohibited from attending secondary school. The group has also violently cracked down on demonstrations and restricted press freedom.

A Taliban takeover would also threaten US national security interests. The Taliban has close ties with Al-Qaeda, and analysts are concerned that the group could provide safe haven for terrorists capable of launching attacks against the US and its allies.

To prevent a Taliban takeover, the US should:

• Increase funding for Afghan-led humanitarian organizations and work with international partners to fully fund the humanitarian response.
• Develop carve-outs for humanitarian action, ensuring that sanctions and other restrictive measures do not inadvertently hinder humanitarian efforts.
• Engage in robust bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, including providing support to Afghanistan's neighboring countries that are hosting large populations of refugees.
• Explore the use of military and civilian assets to assist in humanitarian operations.
• Learn from the mistakes of the past two decades and ensure that humanitarian considerations are baked into future plans and strategies.

The US must continue to provide military support

The US has an obligation to provide military support to Afghanistan to prevent a Taliban takeover and the subsequent abuse of human rights that is likely to follow. The Taliban has a history of committing human rights abuses, including keeping girls out of school, confining women to their homes, and beating people for listening to music or wearing certain clothes. There are also reports of the Taliban murdering civil servants and NGO workers and forcing families to hand over single women to "marry" their troops.

Providing military support to Afghanistan can help to prevent these abuses and protect the gains made over the past two decades, including increased rights and opportunities for women and girls. It is also important to recognize that the US withdrawal has stranded thousands of US citizens and local allies, who are now at risk of reprisals from the Taliban.

The US can provide military support to Afghanistan in several ways. Firstly, by deploying special forces on brief sorties to bolster the Afghan army and help them counter-attack the Taliban in key areas. Secondly, by expanding the use of carriers to provide air support to the Afghan air force, which has been weakened by the departure of US forces. Thirdly, by leaning on neighboring countries to allow temporary access to US aircraft and other military resources.

It is also crucial that the US signals its commitment to supporting Afghanistan and does not give the impression that it is abandoning the country to its fate. This impression has contributed to the Taliban's rapid advance and the collapse of the Afghan government.

By providing continued military support, the US can help prevent a Taliban takeover and give Afghanistan a chance to build a peaceful and democratic future.

The US must provide financial aid to Afghanistan's security forces

The US has been the largest provider of foreign aid to Afghanistan since 2001. The US has provided nearly $88 billion in security assistance, $36 billion in civilian assistance, and nearly $3.9 billion in humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan since 2002. The US has also been involved in training Afghan security forces and reconstructing the country.

The US must continue to provide financial aid to Afghanistan's security forces to prevent the country from becoming a safe haven for terrorism, to maintain Afghan stability, and to build self-reliance. Financial aid can also be used to promote economic growth, preserve social gains in education, health, and women's empowerment, and to protect the rights of women, girls, and minorities.

The US has pledged to continue providing assistance to Afghanistan through its enduring partnership to promote a peaceful and stable future that the Afghan people want and deserve. This includes providing COVID-19 vaccines to the Afghan people and contributing lifesaving humanitarian assistance to address the pressing needs of an estimated 18 million people in Afghanistan, including more than 4.8 million internally displaced Afghans.

The US must also continue to provide security assistance to the Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police, Afghan Air Force, and the Afghan Special Security Forces, including the Special Mission Wing. Congress appropriated over $3 billion to the Afghanistan Security Forces Fund (ASFF) in 2021 and requested over $3.3 billion for 2022.

The US must also sustain development assistance to support a secure, stable, unified, democratic, and self-reliant Afghanistan that is at peace with itself and its neighbors. This includes improving access to essential services for Afghan citizens, promoting economic growth, fighting corruption and the narcotics trade, improving health and education service delivery, supporting women's empowerment, enhancing conflict resolution mechanisms, and bolstering Afghan civil society.

The US must also mobilize diplomatic support for peace and stability in Afghanistan. The US recognizes that the best way to protect its interests and the interests of the Afghan people is through an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led negotiated settlement. The US must continue to urge all Afghan parties to engage urgently and meaningfully in peace talks aimed at achieving a just and durable settlement that includes protections for the rights of all Afghans, including women and minorities.

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