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The Biden administration is struggling to explain how it will prevent Afghanistan from falling into the hands of the Taliban after US forces leave, even as the US is more than halfway in its troop withdrawal.
Senior Pentagon officers insisted that the US military would conduct out-of-country operations if necessary, but offered few details about logistics such as where those forces would be stationed.
The lack of detail was highlighted on Friday when the Afghan government’s top peace envoy warned that the Taliban would have no interest in reaching a peace deal with Kabul after US and NATO forces leave.
The head of Afghanistan’s National Reconciliation Council, Abdullah Abdullah, told the Associated Press that the withdrawal “will have an impact on negotiations with the Taliban.”
He said Taliban leaders “may find themselves more emboldened and may think – some at least – that with the withdrawal, they can take advantage of the situation militarily.”
The comments come amid reports that the Taliban are rapidly regaining territory lost during the 20-year conflict, putting more pressure on the Biden administration to clarify how it plans to provide support to the Afghan government after all US forces are out of the country by September. .
During Thursday’s Senate Appropriations Committee Hearing, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Lloyd Austin Night Defense: Pentagon Pulls Some Air Defense Assets from the Middle East | Democrats introduce resolution apologizing to the LGBT community for discrimination | White House denies blocking military aid package to Ukraine Pentagon pulls “certain forces and capabilities,” including air defenses, from U.S. officials in the Middle East: Iranian ships change course away from Venezuela. – Al-Qaeda can be renewed in Afghanistan only two years after the departure of US forces from the country.
Joint Chiefs of Staff Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley Mark Milley Night Defense: House Vote to Repeal Powers of the 2002 Iraq War | Pentagon leaders press senators to replace National Guard | New pressure on US-Iran nuclear talks, Milley downplayed report of 1,900 missing or stolen military firearms US top general: Chinese military has ‘ways to go’ before it can take Taiwan further, who also testified at the hearing , backed up Austin’s claims, adding that “if certain other things happen, if there is a collapse of the government or the dissolution of the Afghan security forces, then obviously that risk will increase.”
The United States has been in Afghanistan since 2001, invading the country in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks by al-Qaeda. The militant group planned and carried out the attack from Afghanistan, where the Taliban had given it a safe haven. Coalition forces have been there ever since to prevent similar terrorist attacks on the United States or its allies.
But President Biden Joe Biden Obama: Ensuring Democracy ‘Keeps Working Effectively’ Keeps Me ‘Awake at Night’ Bans New Jersey Landlords from Asking Prospective Tenants for Criminal Records Overnight Defense: Pentagon Pulls Some Air Defense Assets from Middle East | Democrats introduce resolution apologizing to the LGBT community for discrimination | The White House denies stopping the military aid package to Ukraine. Moore said in April that the remaining 2,500 US troops would withdraw from the country by 9/11, as would nearly 7,000 NATO troops.
Although Biden provided an outline of the plan, details have remained few and far between.
While in Brussels for this week’s first NATO summit, Biden was repeatedly questioned about plans to bolster the Afghan government after the withdrawal of US forces. However, he declined to provide details about securing critical infrastructure such as embassies and airports or how to ensure the Taliban never again impose strict rules on girls and women.
“Our forces are coming home, but we have agreed on our diplomatic, economic and humanitarian commitment to and support for the Afghan people,” Biden said Monday after meeting with other NATO officials.
Some lawmakers say they fear that with no solid plan in place, the United States is creating a recipe for disaster, especially amid reports of fighting in 80 of about 400 counties.
“I am deeply concerned that Afghanistan will fall into the hands of the Taliban and that we will once again witness the imposition of Islamic law and that girls and women will not be allowed to pursue education or participate fully in society,” Senator Susan Collins Susan Margaret Collins White House reiterates his opposition to a gas tax increase amid debate over Infrastructure Mediators are gaining leverage over progressives in the Senate infrastructure battle.
Senator Jane Shaheen Cynthia (Jane) Jane Shaheen Mediators gain influence over progressives in Senate infrastructure battle Tensions are rising between liberals and centrists over infrastructure. Partners to protect vulnerable populations once U.S. forces leave.
“Realistically speaking, if we weren’t there, our impact would be very limited in protecting those still in Afghanistan,” Milley replied.
These concerns are also linked to the growing concern about the fate of Afghans who helped US forces during the war.
Lawmakers last week repeatedly warned that the Biden administration should act with greater urgency to grant visas and evacuate those Afghans before the withdrawal is complete, as they risk being executed by the Taliban for working with US forces.
Representative Michael Waltz Michael Waltz: “If he doesn’t act and these people don’t get out, the hands of his administration will be stained with blood.” Night Defense: Biden and Putin agree to launch arms control talks at summit | 2002 Repeal of war authorization will get Senate vote | GOP Representative Warns Biden That His “Hands Have Blood” Without Evacuating Afghan Interpreter GOP Representative: If Biden Doesn’t Evacuate Afghan Interpreters, House Republicans Will Submit Resolution to Punish “The Squad” More (p.-Fla.) , a former member of the Green Berets, said of Biden at a press conference on Wednesday. “The time for talking, the time for discussion is over.”
The day before, Senator Angus King gained sway over progressives in the Senate infrastructure battle, the Senate confirmed Chris Inglis as the White House’s first electronic czar The Hill’s Morning Report — after the high-stakes Biden-Putin summit, what now? More (I-Maine) said the White House should have its “hair on fire” on the issue.
The Pentagon confirmed it was ready to help Afghans in any way, but stressed that the State Department, not the Department of Defense, is responsible for visa processing.
On Thursday, Milley sought to allay concerns, stressing that while there are many other possible outcomes for Afghanistan, the military “will work to try to achieve those outcomes rather than the worst.”
“The president’s intent is to keep the embassy open, keep our security forces around the embassy and continue to work with the Afghan government to continue to fund the Afghan security forces and prevent this situation from turning into a worst-case scenario and that is why. We are planning for that and that is what we are working for.”
“There are no guarantees in any of this.”
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