The Great Abandonment Of Afghanistan: A Global Retreat

In 2021, the US and the Taliban signed an agreement on the withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan by May 2021. In April 2021, NATO decided to withdraw all Allied troops from Afghanistan within a few months. This marked the end of a nearly 20-year presence of NATO Allies and partner countries in Afghanistan. The withdrawal of troops was completed in August 2021.

The departure of troops from Afghanistan was not without controversy. In August 2021, more than 120,0000 people were evacuated from Kabul airport as part of the coalition effort. The evacuation included around 2,000 Afghans working for NATO and their families. Many of them have been resettled in Allied and partner countries.

In addition to the evacuation of Afghans who worked for NATO, more than 60 countries issued a joint statement saying that Afghans and international citizens who wanted to leave Afghanistan must be allowed to depart. The countries also emphasised that airports and border crossings must remain open.

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan

The US military presence in Afghanistan began in 2001, following the September 11 attacks on the US. The US, alongside NATO and other allies, invaded Afghanistan to oust the Taliban government, which had provided safe haven to al-Qaeda. The war in Afghanistan became the US's longest military engagement, with the Taliban regrouping and retaking control of large areas of the countryside.

In February 2020, the US and the Taliban signed the Doha Agreement, which stipulated that US troops would withdraw from Afghanistan in exchange for commitments on counterterrorism and other assurances. In April 2021, US President Joe Biden announced that the US would withdraw all troops by September 11, 2021. The withdrawal was completed on August 30, 2021, marking the end of America's longest war.

The US withdrawal was chaotic and hastily executed, leading to a collapse of the Afghan government and the Taliban's return to power. The evacuation process was marked by confusion and a rush to leave the country, with thousands of Afghans who had assisted the US and its allies left behind. The US faced criticism for its handling of the evacuation, particularly the lack of coordination and clear decision-making.

The Taliban's return to power has had severe consequences for Afghanistan. The country faces a humanitarian crisis, with food insecurity, poverty, and a lack of access to basic services. Women and girls have been particularly affected, with the Taliban imposing restrictions on their education, employment, and participation in public life. The Taliban's rule has also led to a rollback of civil liberties and human rights, with journalists, civil society activists, and women protesters facing harassment and violence.

The US withdrawal has also had broader geopolitical implications. There are concerns that Afghanistan could once again become a safe haven for terrorist groups, as was the case prior to the US invasion in 2001. Additionally, the chaotic withdrawal has damaged the credibility and reliability of the US as an ally, raising questions about its commitment to its partners and its ability to execute complex military operations.

The evacuation of US citizens

The evacuation took place as the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, and the US-backed Afghan government collapsed. The Taliban's rapid advance across the country took US officials by surprise, and the Biden administration faced criticism for the chaotic nature of the evacuation.

The exact number of Americans left in Afghanistan who want to leave is unknown. The White House has put the figure at 100-200, while others suggest it is much higher. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said the US government is committed to helping any US citizens remaining in Afghanistan to get out.

The future of Afghan refugees

Afghan refugees are one of the world's largest protracted refugee populations. The continuous wars in Afghanistan since the 1970s have forced millions of Afghans to flee their country. The first major wave of displacement occurred during the Afghan-Soviet war, with more than 400,000 people fleeing to Pakistan. The numbers swelled after the Soviet invasion in 1979, with over four million Afghan refugees in Pakistan by the end of 1980.

Over the years, the refugee crisis in Afghanistan has persisted due to recurrent conflict, political and religious persecution, and poverty. As of 2021, there were more than 8 million Afghans who had been forced to flee their homes, creating a diasporic population of over 8.2 million Afghans across 103 countries.

Education and Skills Development:

The lack of access to quality education has been a significant issue for Afghan refugees, particularly in Pakistan, which hosts the world's second-largest Afghan refugee population. Poverty, indifference from parents, and a lack of educational facilities have resulted in low enrolment rates among Afghan refugee children. This has led to extremely low literacy rates, with only an estimated 33% of Afghan refugees in Pakistan being literate.

However, there have been efforts to address this issue, such as community-based schools and interventions like the Refugee-Affected and Hosting Areas (RAHA) project, which aims to build the capacity of the public school system to include Afghan students. Additionally, skill development programs have been implemented to provide vocational training for Afghan refugees, empowering them with employable skills.

Repatriation Challenges:

The unstable security and political situation in Afghanistan has made repatriation difficult for refugees. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has acknowledged that the current atmosphere is not conducive to sustainable repatriation. There are concerns about the ability of the Afghan government to absorb a large influx of returning refugees, and the lack of security, development, and employment opportunities in the country.

Discrimination and Stigmatization:

Afghan refugees in host countries, particularly Pakistan, have faced racial discrimination, stigmatization, and mistreatment. They are often viewed with suspicion and blamed for criminal or terrorist activities. The media portrayal of Afghan refugees and the deterioration of Afghanistan-Pakistan relations have further exacerbated these issues.

International Support:

The international community has played a role in the refugee crisis by providing aid, resettlement programs, and supporting initiatives like the RAHA project. However, there have also been instances of forced repatriation, with countries like Pakistan and Iran deporting Afghan refugees despite the unstable situation in Afghanistan.

In conclusion, the future of Afghan refugees remains uncertain. While there have been positive developments, such as increased access to education and skills development, the ongoing conflict and instability in Afghanistan, coupled with challenges in host countries, continue to pose significant hurdles for this vulnerable population. The international community's response and support will be crucial in ensuring the protection and well-being of Afghan refugees in the years to come.

The end of the NATO mission

The decision to withdraw was made jointly by NATO Allies and was in line with the agreement signed between the United States and the Taliban in February 2020, which stipulated the withdrawal of international forces by May 2021. The evacuation of personnel from Allied and partner countries, as well as Afghans who worked with NATO, began in the summer of 2021 following the collapse of the Afghan government and security forces.

The evacuation effort, led by the United States, involved troops from several countries, including the United Kingdom, Turkey, and Norway, who played a key role in securing Kabul airport and operating a field hospital. Over the course of two weeks, more than 120,000 people were evacuated on hundreds of Allied flights, making it one of the largest evacuation missions in history.

Despite the criticism and challenges, the NATO mission in Afghanistan achieved its original guiding mandate of preventing terrorist attacks on Allied territory since 2001. However, the terrorist threat has evolved, and this shift was a key justification for the withdrawal.

Following the withdrawal, NATO suspended all support to Afghanistan, but it continues to engage with the country, calling for the protection of human rights, particularly for women, children, and minorities, and for Afghanistan to never again become a safe haven for terrorists.

The collapse of the Afghan government

The Afghan security forces, despite billions of dollars in American aid and two decades of training, were unable to mount effective resistance as the Taliban advanced. This was due in part to a series of negotiated surrenders brokered by the Taliban with Afghan government officials, as well as widespread corruption and low morale within the Afghan forces. The Taliban capitalized on the uncertainty caused by the U.S. withdrawal plans, offering money and assurances to those willing to defect.

As the Taliban closed in on Kabul, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his inner circle quietly fled the country, further destabilizing the situation. The Taliban faced little to no resistance from the ANSF when they entered the city, and the Afghan government quickly collapsed. This led to a rush of civilians, foreign diplomats, and military personnel seeking to evacuate the country, with the U.S. and its allies conducting a massive airlift operation to facilitate their departure.

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