Left Behind: Unraveling The Number Of Americans Stranded In Afghanistan

The number of Americans stranded in Afghanistan has been a topic of debate since the US withdrawal in August 2021. While the Biden administration initially claimed that only 100-150 Americans were left behind, a report by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee revealed that the number could be as high as 9,000. This discrepancy has sparked criticism from Republican lawmakers, who have pushed for greater accountability from the Biden administration. Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed in March 2023 that there were approximately 175 Americans still in Afghanistan, with several being detained by the Taliban. The State Department has faced challenges in evacuating these citizens due to grounded flights and Taliban demands, but they remain committed to securing their freedom.

The Biden administration's withdrawal from Afghanistan

The evacuation of U.S. troops from Afghanistan was chaotic and deadly. On August 26, 2021, 13 U.S. service members and around 170 others were killed in a suicide bombing at Kabul airport. Despite this, the Biden administration stuck to its self-imposed deadline, and the last U.S. troops departed on August 31, 2021. The evacuation saw around 124,000-125,000 people airlifted from Kabul, the majority of them Afghan citizens.

The withdrawal was a highly controversial decision that divided opinion in the U.S. and internationally. Critics of the withdrawal, including Republican lawmakers, argued that it was handled poorly and that the U.S. should have left a small contingent of troops in Afghanistan. They also accused the Biden administration of breaking its promise to evacuate all U.S. citizens who wanted to leave. In March 2023, Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed that several Americans were being detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan, with around 175 Americans still in the country, 44 of whom were ready to leave.

Supporters of the withdrawal, including President Biden himself, argued that ending the war was in the U.S. national interest and that it allowed the administration to focus on other priorities, such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine and challenges with China. They also pointed to the high number of people evacuated during the operation and the fact that 90% of Americans in Afghanistan who wanted to leave were able to do so.

The withdrawal from Afghanistan had a significant impact on Biden's presidency, with his approval ratings plunging in the wake of the chaotic exit and never fully recovering. It also raised fears about the use of Afghanistan as a safe haven for terrorists and concerns about the fate of Afghans left behind, particularly women and girls, and those who had worked with U.S. forces.

Americans detained by the Taliban

The Taliban's detainment of Americans in Afghanistan has been a significant cause for concern for the US government and families of those affected. In March 2023, Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed that “several Americans” were being detained by the Taliban, with no further details provided to protect their identities and privacy. This statement came during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing examining the "State of American Diplomacy in 2023," which discussed the Biden administration's rocky withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

One of the Americans detained by the Taliban who has been in the spotlight is Mark Frerichs, a 59-year-old civil engineer and Navy veteran. Frerichs was abducted on the streets of Kabul in 2020 and is believed to be held by the Haqqani network, a faction of the Taliban. In April 2022, a "proof of life" video emerged, showing Frerichs pleading for his freedom. The Taliban has consistently demanded the release of Hajji Bashir Noorzai, an Afghan drug kingpin serving a life sentence in an American prison, in exchange for Frerichs' freedom. Despite statements from President Biden that the Taliban must release Frerichs, no official action has been taken, and he remains in captivity.

In another case, two brothers, Safi Rauf (a US citizen and Navy reservist) and Anees Khalil (a British citizen with a US green card), were detained by the Taliban while engaged in licensed humanitarian aid work. They were released after 105 days in detention and returned home safely. Their release was facilitated by the US, British, and Qatari governments, with the State Department emphasizing their commitment to securing the release of all Americans unjustly held captive.

The detainment of Americans by the Taliban has inflamed tensions between the US and the Taliban, especially as Afghanistan is in dire need of international aid. While the US has provided humanitarian assistance and distributed frozen assets for relief, the Taliban's recognition as a legitimate government is dependent on their change in actions and policies. The US has urged the Taliban to release any and all individuals being unjustly held, and the matter has been a delicate one for diplomatic relations.

The exact number of Americans currently detained by the Taliban is unclear, with Blinken's statement of "several" being the most recent update. However, the US government's efforts to secure their freedom continue, and the issue remains a priority in US-Taliban relations.

Americans who want to leave Afghanistan

The U.S. government has been attempting to evacuate its citizens from Afghanistan and has helped approximately 975 Americans to leave since the withdrawal. However, the exact number of Americans remaining in Afghanistan who want to leave is unknown. The Biden administration believes that between 100 and 200 Americans remain, while the White House puts the figure at 100 to 200, and a Republican lawmaker suggested the number was much higher. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that there are approximately 175 Americans still in Afghanistan, with 44 of them ready to leave. Blinken also mentioned that some Americans are being detained by the Taliban, but the exact number is unknown.

The State Department has been attempting to contact American citizens in Afghanistan through calls, emails, texts, and WhatsApp messages. They have cautioned against travelling to Afghanistan for many years due to security concerns. The Department also offered to help pay for repatriation and provided multiple communication channels for Americans seeking assistance to leave.

The U.S. government has stated that there is no deadline for Americans who want to leave Afghanistan and that they remain committed to getting U.S. citizens out if they wish to depart. However, with the withdrawal of U.S. troops, Americans will have to rely on other channels to leave the country. The State Department is working with partner nations Qatar and Turkey to enable a small number of daily charter flights from Kabul airport. Americans may also be able to travel by land to a neighbouring country.

The Taliban has stated that those wishing to leave must have a visa for the country they are travelling to, and they have also demanded seats on flights for their officials. These demands have resulted in evacuation flights being grounded, and it is unclear when they will resume.

The situation in Afghanistan is dangerous and uncertain, with the threat of terrorism and violence high. Americans who remain or attempt to leave are exposed to significant risks.

The number of Americans in Afghanistan

The number of Americans remaining in Afghanistan has been a contentious issue since the US withdrawal in August 2021. The Biden administration initially stated that 100-150 Americans were left in the country, but this figure was criticised as a gross underestimation by Republican lawmakers.

In February 2022, a report by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee revealed that as many as 9,000 Americans were left in Afghanistan during the withdrawal. This figure was based on estimates that between 10,000 and 15,000 Americans were in Afghanistan as late as 17 August, and only 6,000 were evacuated before the Taliban takeover. However, it is unclear how many of those remaining wanted to leave Afghanistan.

In his speech on 31 August 2021, President Biden stated that about 100 to 200 Americans remained in Afghanistan with the intention to leave. He emphasised that the vast majority of Americans who wanted to get out had already been evacuated, and that most of those who remained were dual citizens with deep roots and extended families in the country.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken provided an updated figure in March 2023, testifying to Congress that there were about 175 Americans still in Afghanistan. He confirmed that several Americans were being detained by the Taliban and that 44 were ready to leave. Blinken emphasised that the State Department was working to secure their freedom and facilitate their departure.

The discrepancy in the reported numbers of Americans in Afghanistan is partly due to the difficulty in determining how many individuals want to leave the country. Some Americans in Afghanistan may be dual citizens with strong ties and family roots in the country, making the decision to stay or leave complex. Additionally, the fluid nature of the situation, with individuals leaving and returning to Afghanistan, further complicates accurate counts.

The US public's view of the withdrawal

Public opinion in the US regarding the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan has been mixed. While some polls show a majority of Americans supporting the withdrawal, others indicate a more complex picture, with many Americans unsure about the next steps to take in Afghanistan.

Initially, the war in Afghanistan was incredibly popular, with 85-90% of Americans supporting the decision to go to war in the country after the 9/11 attacks. However, as the war dragged on, public support waned, and by 2010-2014, public opinion had turned sharply against it. Despite this, Americans continued to support military escalations, as long as they were sold as temporary measures with the goal of exiting the war. For example, in 2009, 59% of Americans supported President Obama's surge of 30,000 troops.

By 2021, the year of the US withdrawal, polling showed that Americans were divided on whether to keep troops in Afghanistan. A Fox News poll from April 2021 found that 50% of respondents said that the US should keep some troops in the country for counterterrorism operations, while 37% said that the US should remove all troops. Similarly, a University of Maryland poll from October 2019 found that 34% of respondents wanted to maintain troop levels, 23% wanted to reduce troop levels, and 22% wanted to remove all troops within the next year.

However, other polls from 2021 showed majority support for the withdrawal. A Chicago Council Survey from July 2021 found that 70% of Americans supported the withdrawal of US combat forces from Afghanistan by September 11, with majorities of Democrats (77%), Independents (73%), and Republicans (56%) agreeing. Similarly, a Hill-HarrisX poll from April 2021 found that 73% of registered voters approved of President Biden's plan to remove US troops from Afghanistan by September 11.

In the immediate aftermath of the withdrawal, a survey conducted in August 2021 found that 54% of Americans said that the decision to withdraw troops was the right one, while 42% said it was the wrong decision. However, large majorities expressed negative views of the Biden administration's handling of the situation, with around seven-in-ten saying that the administration had done a poor job.

Overall, while there was significant support for the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan among the US public, there were also concerns about the way the withdrawal was handled and uncertainty about the next steps in the country.

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