Lingering Presence: Assessing The Duration Of Us Military Engagement In Afghanistan

The US military withdrawal from Afghanistan ended its 20-year occupation of the country, concluding America's longest war. The last US troops left Afghanistan on August 30, 2021, a day ahead of schedule. The withdrawal of troops began in May 2021 and was completed by the end of August, with the Taliban taking control of the country.

The US had initially planned to withdraw troops by September 11, 2021, but the Taliban's rapid recapture of the country forced the US to speed up its evacuation. The withdrawal was marked by chaos and violence, with thousands of Afghans rushing to Kabul's airport in an attempt to flee the country. The US had to deploy additional troops to secure the airport and facilitate the evacuation.

President Biden stated that US troops would remain in Afghanistan until all Americans who wanted to leave were evacuated, even if it meant extending beyond the August 31 deadline. The evacuation efforts were hindered by Taliban checkpoints and curfews that limited the movement of Americans and Afghans trying to reach the airport.

The US military withdrawal from Afghanistan has sparked debates about the decision to withdraw troops, the handling of the evacuation, and the potential consequences for the region. There are concerns about a potential resurgence of terrorist groups, such as al-Qaeda, and the impact of the US withdrawal on counterterrorism efforts.

The US military withdrawal from Afghanistan was completed on August 30, 2021

The withdrawal came about following the US-Taliban deal signed in February 2020, which stipulated fighting restrictions for both parties and provided for the withdrawal of all NATO forces from Afghanistan in return for the Taliban's counter-terrorism commitments. The deal triggered the collapse of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) as the US reduced air attacks on the Taliban, which had previously supported ANSF in fighting the insurgency.

The initial plan was to withdraw all US troops by May 1, 2021, but in April 2021, President Biden announced that the withdrawal would be completed by September 11, 2021, without leaving a residual force. The Taliban began a final offensive on May 1, and by early August, the US had approximately 650 troops remaining in Afghanistan, tasked with protecting the airport and embassy in Kabul.

As the Taliban rapidly advanced and captured provincial capitals, the US increased its troop commitment to 7,000 by mid-August. The withdrawal turned chaotic as thousands of Afghans attempted to flee the country, rushing to Kabul airport in hopes of evacuation. On August 26, a suicide bombing at the airport killed 11 Marines, one Army paratrooper, one Navy Corpsman, and 170 Afghan citizens.

Despite the turmoil, the US completed its withdrawal by the end of August, with President Biden stating that the war could have ended 10 years ago with the killing of Osama bin Laden. The Taliban's resurgence raised concerns about the war's impact and whether the defeat of al-Qaeda and the Taliban's return to power would lead to a more stable Afghanistan.

The US military was in Afghanistan for nearly 20 years

The US-led invasion of Afghanistan successfully toppled the Taliban and disrupted al-Qaeda, but the Taliban would regroup and wage an insurgency against US and allied forces for the next two decades. The US military presence in Afghanistan was part of a broader international security effort that included troops from several NATO allies.

During the war, the US spent over a trillion dollars and more than 2,400 American service members were killed, in addition to tens of thousands of Afghan civilians. The US also devoted substantial resources to reconstruction activities, spending billions of dollars on security-related projects and training the Afghan National Security Forces (ANDSF).

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan began in May 2021 and was completed on August 30, 2021, ahead of the original deadline of August 31. The withdrawal was precipitated by a deal between the Trump administration and the Taliban, which stipulated a complete pullout of US troops if certain conditions were met.

The rapid collapse of the Afghan government and the Taliban's return to power sparked debate about the US strategy in Afghanistan and whether the war was worth the cost. Some have argued that the US made critical missteps, including a lack of consistency across four administrations, a failure to address corruption, and insufficient focus on counterinsurgency tactics.

Despite the lengthy military engagement, the US was never able to fully stabilise Afghanistan or eliminate the Taliban threat. The withdrawal of US troops has raised concerns about a resurgence of terrorism in the region and a rollback of gains made in areas such as women's rights, education, and healthcare.

The US troops left Afghanistan, but some Americans were left behind

The US military withdrawal from Afghanistan, which ended its 20-year presence in the country, was completed on August 30, 2021, a day ahead of schedule. The exit left Afghanistan under Taliban rule, marking a tragic and chaotic end to the American mission in the country.

While the US military has left Afghanistan, the evacuation of Americans and US allies from the country is ongoing. President Joe Biden has stated that US troops will remain in Afghanistan until all Americans who want to leave are out, even if it means extending the mission beyond the August 31, 2021, deadline.

The evacuation process has been challenging, with reports of Taliban checkpoints stopping some designated evacuees. As of August 18, 2021, there were an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 Americans in Afghanistan. However, the Biden administration initially claimed that only 100 to 150 Americans remained in the country. A subsequent report by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee found that as many as 9,000 Americans were left behind during the withdrawal.

Since the US troop withdrawal, more than 800 American citizens and 600 legal permanent residents of the US have been evacuated from Afghanistan. This highlights the ongoing nature of the evacuation efforts and indicates that the Biden administration may have undercounted the number of Americans who wanted to leave the country.

In addition to the evacuation of US citizens and residents, there are concerns about the thousands of Afghans who assisted the US and its allies during the war and are now seeking to leave Afghanistan out of fear of retaliation from the Taliban. The Biden administration has expanded refugee-status access for vulnerable Afghans, and efforts are being made to evacuate those who worked with the US.

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan has also left behind military equipment worth billions of dollars. A Pentagon report revealed that approximately $7 billion worth of military equipment transferred to the Afghan government over 16 years was left in the country. This includes aircraft, vehicles, weapons, and communications equipment. The Taliban's access to this equipment has raised concerns about its potential use to threaten US interests and increase violence and instability in the region.

The US troops stayed until all Americans were out of Afghanistan, even past the August 31 deadline

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan was a chaotic and tragic end to a 20-year occupation. The US military departed the country on August 30, 2021, a day ahead of the deadline set by President Joe Biden.

In the lead-up to the withdrawal, Biden stated that US troops would remain in Afghanistan until all Americans were evacuated, even if that meant extending the mission beyond August 31. In an interview with ABC News, Biden said:

> "We've got like 10 to 15,000 Americans in the country right now. Right? And are you committed to making sure that the troops stay until every American who wants to be out is out?" Stephanopoulos asked. "Yes," Biden replied.

However, despite Biden's assurances, not all Americans were evacuated before the withdrawal deadline. The Biden administration faced criticism for leaving American citizens behind, with some lawmakers calling the evacuation a "national disgrace".

The US military presence in Afghanistan ended with the departure of Major General Chris Donahue on August 30, 2021. The exit followed a chaotic two-week withdrawal process during which more than 120,000 people were evacuated. Up to 200 Americans remained in Afghanistan after the last US soldier departed.

The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, pledged that the US would continue to work to get Americans out of Afghanistan, stating that "our commitment to them has no deadline."

The US troops' departure left the country in the Taliban's hands

The US military withdrawal from Afghanistan, ending its two-decade-long presence in the country, has left a power vacuum that the Taliban has swiftly filled. The last US troops left Afghanistan on August 30, 2021, a day ahead of the August 31 deadline set by President Biden. This marked the end of America's longest war, spanning nearly 20 years.

The departure of US troops has resulted in the Taliban regaining control of Afghanistan, leading to a refugee crisis as thousands attempt to flee the country. The Taliban's rapid recapture of Afghanistan took place just weeks after US and NATO forces began their final withdrawal. This has raised concerns about a potential resurgence of terrorism in the region, with Afghanistan potentially becoming a safe haven for terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.

The US withdrawal has been marked by chaos and violence, with desperate Afghans and American citizens rushing to Kabul's international airport in an attempt to secure evacuation. Despite the evacuation efforts, it is estimated that thousands of Afghans who assisted US and NATO forces, as well as hundreds of Americans, remain in the country.

The collapse of the Afghan government and the Taliban's takeover have been a devastating blow to the US mission in Afghanistan. Billions of dollars were spent by the US to support the Afghan government and security forces, but they were unable to withstand the Taliban offensive. The US now faces questions about its ability to build lasting institutions and its willingness to engage in similar nation-building efforts in the future.

The Taliban's return to power has also raised concerns about the rollback of human rights, particularly women's rights, in Afghanistan. The previous Taliban regime was known for its oppressive policies and restrictions on civil liberties. With the Taliban now in control, there are fears that the gains made in women's rights and human rights over the last two decades may be lost.

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