Lingering Military Presence: Examining The Afghanistan Question

The US-led war in Afghanistan, which began in 2001, was the country's longest war. In 2021, the US and its allies evacuated more than 120,000 people from Kabul airport, including around 2,000 Afghans who had worked with NATO. The last US soldier departed Afghanistan on August 31, 2021, bringing an end to the 20-year war. However, it is estimated that up to 200 Americans who want to leave the country are still in Afghanistan.

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan

The withdrawal of US troops also left thousands of Afghans who had worked with the US military stranded in the country. Many of these Afghans were evacuated, but the process was chaotic, and some were separated from their families in the rush to leave. Additionally, the US withdrawal led to the collapse of the Afghan government and the return of the Taliban to power. This created a humanitarian crisis, with the country facing a collapsed economy and restrictions on civil society, particularly for women and girls.

The US State Department released a report in June 2023 detailing the failings of the Afghanistan withdrawal. The report found that decisions made by both the Trump and Biden administrations contributed to the chaotic evacuation. It also noted that crisis preparation and planning were hindered by concerns about sending signals of a lack of confidence in the Afghan government. The report made several recommendations, including the need to plan better for worst-case scenarios and to strengthen the State Department's crisis management capabilities.

Overall, the US withdrawal from Afghanistan was a complex and challenging process that had significant impacts on both Americans and Afghans. The decision to withdraw was made in the interest of ending America's longest war, but the execution of the withdrawal faced many challenges and left many people stranded in the country.

The UK's involvement in Afghanistan

By the end of 2001, the Taliban regime in Afghanistan had collapsed, but an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) remained. ISAF's role was to oversee the transition to a new government and provide security for the redevelopment of the war-torn country. The UK took on the first six-month rotation commanding the force and by April 2002 there were 1,700 British troops in Afghanistan.

In 2003, the Taliban fought back and in August that year, NATO took the lead on military operations. Afghanistan became a priority for all NATO member and partner nations, and 130,000 troops from 50 NATO and partner nations were deployed in the country. In January 2004, the UK saw its first combat casualty when a British soldier was killed in a suspected suicide attack.

In February 2006, British troops moved into Helmand Province, where Camp Bastion was built. The UK's combat mission ended with the handover of Camp Bastion to Afghan forces on 26 October 2014. In total, 454 British service personnel lost their lives in Afghanistan.

Small numbers of British troops continue to help train and advise the Afghan National Security Forces, but are no longer engaged in active combat operations. With the Taliban still active, the future of the country remains uncertain.

The Taliban's resurgence

• Support from Pakistan: Pakistan's security establishment has long supported the Taliban, seeing them as a crucial partner in their competition with India. Pakistan's military and intelligence services provided funding, safe havens, and other assistance to the Taliban for decades. They viewed the group as a way to counter Indian influence in Afghanistan and suppress ethnic nationalism along their shared border. This support continued even after the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, with Pakistan walking a fine line between cooperating with the US and aiding the Taliban.
• Withdrawal of US and NATO troops: The decision by the US and its allies to withdraw their troops from Afghanistan created a power vacuum that the Taliban was quick to fill. The removal of air support and military contractors, who maintained US-provided helicopters and planes, left the Afghan security forces without crucial support. This made it difficult for them to resupply, evacuate, and provide close air support to their forces, especially in remote and mountainous regions.
• Mountainous terrain and communication challenges: Afghanistan's rugged terrain and limited infrastructure, particularly the lack of decent roads, hindered the mobility of Afghan security forces. The Taliban, on the other hand, were more adept at navigating these challenges and could launch simultaneous attacks in multiple locations.
• Extreme ideology and ruthless tactics: The Taliban's extreme Islamist ideology and willingness to use ruthless tactics, such as suicide bombings and attacks on civilians, instilled fear and helped them gain a psychological advantage. They also benefited from the release of prisoners during their offensive, including members of the group itself and other extremist groups such as al-Qaeda and ISIS-K.
• Failure to create a stable Afghan government: Despite efforts by the US and its allies to establish a stable and democratic government in Afghanistan, the country remained plagued by corruption, factionalism, and weak leadership. This made it difficult for the Afghan security forces to maintain control and effectively counter the Taliban's insurgency.
• Taliban's persistence and safe havens: The Taliban demonstrated a relentless commitment to their cause and were able to exploit safe havens in Pakistan, where their leaders and key bases were located. This allowed them to regroup, plan, and launch attacks without facing significant interference from Pakistani authorities.

The future of Afghanistan

The U.S. and its allies must also remain committed to countering terrorism and preventing Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for terrorist groups. The presence of U.S. troops in Afghanistan has ended, but the country's future remains a key concern for the Biden administration and the international community.

The Taliban's rule has been marked by human rights abuses, particularly against women and girls. The group has imposed restrictions on women's education and employment, and there are fears that Afghanistan could once again become a haven for terrorist groups.

The international community must work together to address these challenges and support the Afghan people in building a peaceful and prosperous future.

The evacuation of Kabul airport

The evacuation effort was urgent and complex, with snarled traffic, Taliban roadblocks, and desperate civilians rushing to the airport. US troops fired into the air to deter people from forcing their way onto flights, and at least seven people died in the chaos. Video footage and images showed people running alongside planes, clinging to aircraft, and falling from planes after takeoff.

US forces worked to secure the airport and facilitate evacuations, with the UK, Turkey, and other countries also contributing troops and aircraft. The evacuation was completed on August 30, one day before the deadline agreed upon with the Taliban.

The evacuation effort also faced challenges due to the speed of the Taliban's advance and the collapse of the Afghan government, which occurred sooner than intelligence projections. This left many people stranded in Afghanistan, including Afghans who had worked with US and NATO forces and were at risk of retribution from the Taliban.

Overall, the evacuation of Kabul airport was a complex and dangerous operation that involved coordination between multiple countries and resulted in the evacuation of over 120,000 people.

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