Lingering Military Presence: Examining The Continued Deployment Of U.S. Troops In Afghanistan

On August 30, 2021, the US completed its full withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, bringing an end to the 20-year-long war. The US exit from Afghanistan resulted in the Taliban regaining control of the country, with the group taking over Kabul two weeks prior to the withdrawal. Since then, the Taliban has imposed restrictions on girls' education, shut down independent media outlets, and arrested protestors, journalists, and activists. The US decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan was met with mixed reactions, with 54% of Americans supporting the move, while 42% believed it was the wrong choice.

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan

The US withdrawal was initiated by President Biden, who inherited a deal negotiated by the Trump administration, which set a deadline of 1 May 2021 for the removal of US troops from Afghanistan. Biden extended this deadline to 31 August 2021, and the final withdrawal took place amid chaotic circumstances. The Afghan government collapsed and President Ashraf Ghani fled the country, with the Taliban taking control of Kabul on 15 August 2021.

The US State Department has since released a report detailing the damning failings of the evacuation process. The report notes a lack of preparation and coordination, and the failure to anticipate the speed of the Taliban's advance. The Biden administration has been heavily criticised for its handling of the situation, particularly by Republican lawmakers. However, the administration has defended its actions, arguing that it inherited a flawed deal from the previous administration, and that the evacuation was a success in terms of the number of people removed from the country.

The Taliban takeover of Kabul

On August 15, 2021, the Taliban took over Kabul, completing their takeover of Afghanistan. The takeover occurred two weeks before the U.S. completed its withdrawal of troops from the country on August 30, 2021, bringing an end to the 20-year-long war.

The fall of Kabul came after the Taliban's rapid advance, during which they captured all but two of Afghanistan's provincial capitals and seized border crossings. Afghan security forces in some areas reportedly negotiated surrenders and avoided fighting the Taliban. Hours after the takeover, thousands of Afghans rushed to Kabul airport in a frenzy to flee the country. The U.S. military suspended operations at the airport for several hours due to chaos on the runways, which made it unsafe for planes to land or take off.

The takeover has also led to the loss of jobs for hundreds of thousands of Afghan security force members, teachers, and health workers. Additionally, the freezing of Afghanistan's reported $9.5 billion in assets has severely impacted foreign aid, trade, and investment, causing cash shortages and restrictions on bank withdrawals. The lack of work threatens to worsen child labor levels in the country, where only 40% of children aged 5 to 17 years old attend school.

The impact on girls' education and women's rights

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan and the subsequent rise of the Taliban to power has had a devastating impact on girls' education and women's rights in the country.

Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, girls have been banned from attending school past the sixth grade, and women have been banned from tertiary education. This means that Afghanistan is currently the only country in the world that forbids girls and women from attending secondary school and university. This situation is not new—during the Taliban's previous rule in the country from 1996 to 2001, women and girls were also denied their right to education.

The consequences of this ban on education are wide-reaching. Firstly, it threatens to undo the significant progress that has been made in girls' education over the past two decades. Between 2001 and 2018, the number of girls in primary school increased from almost zero to 2.5 million, and the number of women in higher education increased by nearly 20 times. Literacy rates for women also doubled during this period. However, these gains are now at risk, with 1.1 million girls and young women currently without access to formal education.

Secondly, the ban on education has immediate negative consequences for the girls and women affected. With girls blocked from continuing their education, many families are marrying off their teenage daughters. This undermines women's roles and deprives them of their dignity, rights, and status in society. If the ban on girls' education becomes permanent, it will eventually exclude women from all sectors of society under the cover of religion.

Thirdly, the lack of education will have long-term impacts on the development of Afghanistan. Educated women are essential for the advancement of the country, and without access to education, Afghanistan risks losing a generation of women who could have contributed to its progress.

In addition to the ban on education, the Taliban has also imposed other restrictions on women's rights. Women and girls are required to adhere to a strict dress code and are not permitted to travel more than 75 km without a male chaperone. They are also banned from entering amusement parks, public baths, gyms, and sports clubs. Women have been banned from working in NGO offices, and they have been wholly excluded from public office and the judiciary.

The situation for women and girls in Afghanistan has significantly regressed, and they are once again being denied their fundamental human rights and freedoms. The international community must continue its efforts to protect and support the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan and to hold the Taliban accountable for their promises and their treatment of women and girls.

The suppression of independent media

Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, the country has seen a dramatic loss of independent media and free expression. The Taliban's suppression of independent media has been characterised by strict media laws, including the banning of television, and the destruction of television sets.

The Taliban has forcibly shut down dozens of local radio stations, newspapers, and broadcasters in the districts it has captured. Other media outlets have closed out of fear of Taliban reprisals, with many journalists fleeing their homes or going into hiding. The Taliban has also been blamed for killing dozens of reporters and media workers in recent years.

The few outlets allowed to operate have been forced to broadcast Taliban propaganda, with bans on airing music or women's voices. News reports have been replaced by Taliban-approved bulletins, recitations from the Koran, and Islamic sermons.

The availability of news and information in Afghanistan has shrunk dramatically since the Taliban takeover. Of the more than 90 printed newspapers produced before 15 August 2021, only 11 remain. The number of television and radio stations has fallen by more than 50%, and the total number of media workers employed in the country has more than halved.

Journalists who continue to work face daunting conditions, including physical assault and intimidation. Since the Taliban takeover, seven journalists have died, 14 have been injured, and 26 have been arrested.

The Taliban's suppression of independent media disproportionately affects women. The militants have imposed severe restrictions on women's appearances, freedom of movement, and right to education and work. Female journalists are also vulnerable to sexual harassment and abuse in the workplace, which discourages many women from pursuing journalism careers.

The Taliban's actions have been condemned by organisations such as Reporters Without Borders, who urge the authorities to reverse their decisions and allow the media to continue informing the Afghan people.

The evacuation of US citizens and at-risk Afghans

The State Department estimated that about 6,000 Americans wanted to leave Afghanistan when the airlift began on August 14, 2021. As of August 25, about 4,500 Americans had been evacuated, and it was believed that under 200 and likely closer to 100 Americans remained and wanted to leave. The US government has emphasized its commitment to evacuating its citizens and has stated that there is no deadline for this effort.

In addition to US citizens, the evacuation also focused on vulnerable Afghans, particularly those who worked with US forces and were at risk of reprisal from the Taliban. The US and its allies evacuated over 120,000 people, including thousands of Afghan interpreters, translators, and others who supported the US mission. The evacuation of at-risk Afghans has been more challenging, with reports of Afghans with proper documentation being turned away at the airport gates by US forces.

The US government has worked with non-governmental organizations and resettlement agencies to welcome Afghans into the country and provide them with the necessary support services. Congress has also passed legislation to fund resettlement efforts and provide care for Afghan evacuees on US military installations. The State Department has established the Afghan Placement Assistance Program to provide initial relocation support services for Afghan parolees.

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