The Forgotten Americans In Afghanistan: A Troubling Number Still Stranded

The number of Americans left in Afghanistan has been a contentious issue. While the Biden administration originally claimed that only 100-150 Americans were left in the country after the withdrawal of U.S. troops, a report by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee put the number at around 9,000. This discrepancy has led to criticism of the Biden administration's handling of the situation, particularly from Republican lawmakers. The exact number of Americans still in Afghanistan is difficult to determine as some may be unwilling to leave due to family ties, and others may not have the necessary travel documents. However, the State Department has remained in contact with Americans in Afghanistan and continues to work on their evacuation.

Biden's promise to evacuate Americans

On August 20, 2021, President Joe Biden pledged to bring all Americans home from Afghanistan, as well as Afghans who aided the war effort. Biden said, "We will get you home," to Americans still in Afghanistan days after the Taliban retook control of Kabul, ending a two-decade war.

Biden's promise came as thousands of Americans and others seeking to escape the Taliban struggled to get past crushing crowds, Taliban checkpoints, and U.S. bureaucracy. The president's comments were intended to project purpose and stability at the conclusion of a chaotic week, during which images from Afghanistan suggested pandemonium and occasional violence outside the airport.

Biden acknowledged the difficulties in evacuating people from Afghanistan, stating that the evacuation mission was dangerous and involved risks to American armed forces. He assured Americans that he would mobilize every resource necessary to ensure the safe evacuation of U.S. citizens and allies. He also emphasized that the U.S. was in constant contact with the Taliban and that any attack on American forces or disruptions to their operations would be met with a swift and forceful response.

Despite Biden's assurances, the withdrawal of U.S. troops before all Americans who wanted to leave were evacuated led to accusations that he had broken his promise. According to a report by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the Biden administration left 9,000 Americans in Afghanistan, while Secretary of State Antony Blinken initially claimed the number was closer to 100-150. Biden had previously stated that U.S. troops would remain beyond August 31 if necessary to evacuate all Americans.

The exact number of Americans still in Afghanistan who want to leave is unknown. Biden has claimed that the majority of Americans who wanted to leave had already been evacuated, with about 100 to 200 Americans who still intend to leave the country. However, critics, including Republican lawmakers, have argued that the number of Americans left behind could be in the thousands.

The evacuation efforts have been ongoing, and as of May 2024, over 800 Americans have been evacuated from Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover. The State Department remains in touch with Americans who still want to leave and is working to facilitate their departure.

The number of Americans left in Afghanistan

In the aftermath of the Taliban takeover, the focus shifted to evacuating American citizens and allies who wanted to leave Afghanistan. President Joe Biden promised to stay until every American who wanted to leave was evacuated. However, this promise was broken when the last US soldier departed the country. The White House, in its defence, stated that the vast majority of Americans who wanted to leave had already been evacuated, with about 100 to 200 Americans remaining.

The exact number of Americans left in Afghanistan is difficult to pinpoint due to various factors. Some Americans may not have registered with the US embassy upon their arrival, while others may have left without deregistering. Additionally, the State Department has faced challenges in confirming the intentions of those still in the country, as some Americans with dual citizenship or strong family roots in Afghanistan may be undecided about departing.

Despite the challenges, the Biden administration has continued its efforts to evacuate Americans who want to leave. As of January 2022, there were about 80 Americans in Afghanistan awaiting evacuation, but flights have been grounded by the Taliban. The State Department has maintained its commitment to relocating Americans and has successfully evacuated more than 900 US citizens and lawful permanent residents. The effort to evacuate Americans and vulnerable Afghans has been a diplomatic endeavour handled by the State Department, exploring air and land routes for safe passage.

The evacuation of US citizens and allies from Afghanistan has been a complex and ongoing process. While the Biden administration has faced criticism for its handling of the situation, it is important to recognise the dynamic nature of the circumstances and the challenges posed by the Taliban's control of the country. The State Department remains committed to assisting Americans who wish to leave Afghanistan and continues to explore options for their safe evacuation.

The number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan

In 2021, it was reported that the Biden administration was facing a challenging decision regarding the withdrawal of approximately 2,500 to 3,500 American troops from Afghanistan. This number was higher than the publicly disclosed figure of 2,500, with the additional troops belonging to Special Operations forces that were kept "off the books." The presence of these extra troops added complexity to the debate surrounding the complete withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan.

The Biden administration's decision to withdraw troops was influenced by the agreement struck between the Trump administration and the Taliban, which set a deadline of May 1, 2021, for the removal of all American forces. President Biden announced that all U.S. forces would be withdrawn by September 11, 2021, marking the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and ending America's longest war.

The withdrawal process has been a challenging task, involving the removal of equipment and the handover of facilities and equipment to the Afghan military. The U.S. military has removed approximately 500 loads of material from the country and handed over 13,000 pieces of equipment for destruction. Additionally, six bases have been transferred to the Afghan military as part of the withdrawal process.

The departure of U.S. troops has sparked concerns about the impact on intelligence gathering and counterterrorism efforts. U.S. military officials have stated their intention to rely on "over-the-horizon" surveillance and strike capabilities once the withdrawal is complete. However, there has been limited progress in securing basing agreements with other countries in the region to support these capabilities.

The withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan has been a complex and carefully planned process, taking into account various political, strategic, and security considerations. The complete withdrawal by September 11, 2021, will mark a significant milestone in America's longest war.

The Taliban's demands for evacuation

• Information Sharing: U.S. officials provided the Taliban with lists of American citizens, green card holders, and Afghan allies who wished to evacuate. This decision was made to expedite evacuations and ensure the safety of those passing through Taliban checkpoints. However, critics argue that this put Afghan allies at risk as the Taliban has a history of brutally murdering those who collaborated with U.S. forces.
• Checkpoint Control: The Taliban controlled the checkpoints outside the airport's outer perimeter during the evacuation process. They demanded that everyone on the flights, including Afghans, have a visa for their destination country. They also sought seats on these flights for their officials to leave Afghanistan and send remittances back to their families.
• Security and Safe Passage: The Taliban committed to letting people freely depart Afghanistan and to preventing attacks on those evacuating. However, there were instances of invasive raids, arrests, and extrajudicial killings by the Taliban, particularly in neighborhoods home to ethnic groups that had supported anti-Taliban resistance.
• Visa Requirements: The Taliban demanded that all Afghans on evacuation flights have proper documents and visas for their destination countries. This requirement applied even to those seeking asylum or humanitarian assistance.
• Cooperation with U.S. Military: The Taliban coordinated with U.S. military officials to facilitate evacuations. They allowed certain buses or groups of people to pass through checkpoints based on information shared by the U.S. military.
• Evacuation of Women: The Taliban's treatment of women during the evacuation process and under their rule has been a significant concern. They have pushed women out of public life and have not respected their rights, despite pledges of moderation and reform.
• Humanitarian Aid: The Taliban allowed humanitarian aid to enter Afghanistan but insisted that it not flow through the government. Instead, aid was distributed through independent organizations, such as UN agencies and NGOs.

The State Department's response

The State Department has faced intense scrutiny from Congress and the media regarding the number of Americans left in Afghanistan and the efforts to evacuate them. Initially, the Biden administration claimed that only 100-150 US citizens remained in the country after the withdrawal. However, a report by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee revealed that the number could be as high as 9,000. This discrepancy has sparked outrage and criticism of the administration's handling of the situation.

In response to these criticisms, the State Department has defended its commitment to evacuating Americans and those to whom the US has a commitment. A spokesperson, Ned Price, highlighted the successful relocation of over 900 US citizens and an unspecified significant number of Afghans who met the criteria for relocation. He emphasized that the State Department was working closely with partners like Qatar to continue these efforts.

The State Department has also prioritized the evacuation of US citizens ahead of legal permanent residents and green card holders. However, they have faced challenges in determining the exact number of US citizens who want to leave Afghanistan due to the lack of reporting requirements for Americans traveling abroad. As of November 2021, the State Department believed that around 289 US citizens remained in Afghanistan, with 81 ready to depart.

The State Department has been working through manifests and conducting outreach to determine who still needs help getting out of the country. They have emphasized that the US will continue to work to help Americans leave Afghanistan, even if they initially expressed a desire to stay. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has assured that the US is committed to ensuring safe passage for any American, Afghan partner, or foreign national who wants to leave.

The State Department's efforts have been hampered by the Taliban, who have grounded evacuation flights and demanded seats on flights for their officials. Despite these challenges, the State Department remains committed to exploring all options, including air and land routes, to evacuate those who want to leave Afghanistan. They are working closely with countries like Qatar and Turkey, which have representation in Afghanistan, to negotiate with the Taliban and address the growing humanitarian crisis in the country.

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