“We are negotiating to establish a military base in Qatar, thereby creating a training ground for the elite members of Afghanistan,” a Western security official said. NATO troops ready to support training for Afghan special forces An integral part of NATO’s military operation is helping to train Afghan security forces to fight Afghan insurgents. Each NATO training session for Afghan troops in Qatar is expected to last four to six weeks. Fears that the Taliban will overwhelm the Afghan army have been heightened in recent times as the insurgent group has carried out many major attacks and captured many military bases. Qatar has been known as the seat of the Taliban’s political office since 2013. In recent years, it has also mediated peace talks between US officials, NATO representatives, the Afghan government and the government. Taliban. According to two sources, the US, UK and Turkey are ready to deploy experts to train Afghan forces in Qatar.

For the purpose of expanding photo reconnaissance capabilities to ensure combat operations, the US National Mapping and Photographic Reconnaissance Service is authorized to use images of the territory of Afghanistan taken by the commercial Ikones satellite, with high resolution. 1m resolution. The US military also has the right to use information received from the satellite system to explore the earth’s natural resources. These are Landsat-7, Terra, Orview satellites. Information from these satellites is used to establish, supplement and clarify topographic maps, to facilitate the assessment of the situation in the area of ​​combat operations. The figure shows the NAVSTAR navigation satellite system. Photo: britannica In this war, the United States decided to extend the use of the experimental satellite for opto-electronic imaging of the earth’s surface EO-1 belonging to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for the purpose of ensuring the integrity of the satellite. better for the US military. Thanks to this satellite, the US military has received images of the earth’s surface position with a resolution of 30m, allowing it to be used to assess the damage of the target, on the basis of comparing the multispectral images obtained to take pictures before and after taking the blows and to calm down on the need for repeat attacks. For radio reconnaissance satellites, the US uses 2 Acvakaid satellites (Magnum and Mentor types). These satellites allow the reception of radio communications, relay communications, convection, signals from satellites, signals of ballistic missiles, aircraft and vehicle control signals. unmanned flight. It is said that the Taliban use very modern means of mobile satellite communication. However, the American radio reconnaissance satellite allows to capture the communications between the Taliban commanders, to detect in time the location of the troops and their plans. Military communication satellites work with the greatest intensity, but only guarantee 40-60% of the requirements of the forces participating in the campaign. In the composition of this satellite cluster, there are 6 satellites of the DSCS strategic communication system, 3 satellites connected to the Mistar tactical and strategic communication network, 2 UFO-type satellites of the tactical-operational communication system. of the navy, air force and army, six satellites of the SDS transmission system. In addition, the US also uses satellites belonging to NASA systems to monitor and transmit TDSS information. Due to the sudden increase in the information traffic required to secure the operation, the United States had to make maximum use of space communication systems (compared to Operation Desert Storm, the traffic of information delivery increased by 7 times). Especially the Iridium mobile satellite communication system with 66 satellites operating in low orbit. This system ensures that the US military groups have enough communication channels connecting to the US Department of Defense’s digital information network (DISN) and ensures the communication system of the US state executive agencies, ensuring for the national telephone system and the Internet. The NAVSTAR navigation satellite system includes 24 satellites that ensure real-time navigation for US forces. The shortening of the adjustment time between satellites of the NAVSTAR system by the test measurement complexes of the US Air Force allows to improve the accuracy and determine the target coordinates for the use of technological weapons. high. In planning and conducting air strikes and missile strikes, the US military places particular emphasis on using information received from the satellites of the National Environmental Monitoring System (NPOESS). This system is used for weather forecasting, setting up global and regional meteorological maps for a period of 1 day to 2 weeks, allowing selection of information on cloud status, atmospheric pressure, etc. atmosphere and other parameters of near-Earth space. Meteorological satellites Block-5D2-8 and Block-5D3-1 are used with the highest intensity. The improvement of the operational efficiency of the NPOESS system allows to fully guarantee the US military units with meteorological information. In particular, the forecast of changes in solar activity has provided the ability to promptly correct the functions of communication, reconnaissance and navigation satellites, contributing to improving the efficiency of attacks and the detection of satellites. command the forces. To secure meteorological forecasts for navies, NASA’s Quicksat satellites are used to determine wind speed and direction over the ocean’s surface. Thus, during the war in Afghanistan, US satellite systems were used with high efficiency. At the same time, it also revealed some disadvantages, such as the lack of radar and opto-electronic reconnaissance satellites to timely orient the commander to use tactical forces. As a result, in some cases, commanders did not receive timely reconnaissance information. In addition, the satellite’s unobservable cycle over the combat area disrupted the monitoring of the movements of Taliban forces and vehicles.

The island nation of Maldives is a tourist attraction. (Source: business-standard) The Maldives Islands have decided entry ban for people from South Asian countries; including India, in an effort to prevent the spread of the acute respiratory infection pandemic COVID-19 . The Maldives Ministry of Tourism on May 12 said: “The Maldivian government has decided to temporarily stop issuing tourist visas to visitors from South Asian countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.” The ban also applies to passengers who transit more than 24 hours in these countries and who have been to these countries within the past 14 days. Meanwhile, guests from other countries are still allowed to go to the Maldives resort islands if available negative PCR test within 96 hours before entry, but do not have contact with local people. Previously, the Maldives has reopened tourist resorts from July 2020 after 3 months of closure against the epidemic. But the country has recorded a record high number of new infections per day (1,500 cases on May 11), while a month ago, this number was less than 100 cases / day.

Jean added that she needs to have a negative test result for the SARS-CoV-2 virus to enter Malaga, after which there is no need for quarantine. Each province in Spain has different rules for epidemic prevention. “I’m staying on a farm run by a lovely old couple. There are 3 other volunteers here. We were fed and lived to do chores such as picking vegetables. Yesterday, I painted the fence. This place is beautiful and peaceful, ”Jean pointed her computer screen toward the farm, where sunlight shone in the olive-tree-shaded fields and the sound of cock crowing occasionally disturbed the silence. Jean in Pakistan. Photo: @themarshajean. Starting from the run Jean started a nomadic lifestyle since leaving Hong Kong. Though she doesn’t want to say it again, life in the place she grew up was a dark time. At the age of 18, Jean bought a one-way ticket to Australia, planning to spend all the money, then ending her life. “I gain my freedom by running away. At that time, I was a skinny teenager, wanted to kill myself and was scared of everything, ”recalled Jean. A few weeks after her trip to the country of kangaroos, Jean realized that the world was not a bad place as bad as she thought it would be. “I have a wrong view of the world because of the influence from my parents and society. I realize that I can work in the hotel industry or any profession that is safe enough. Then I can travel the world, ”Jean said. She reminisces about time working at private casinos in London (UK), diving shops, cafes, restaurants, and teaching yoga in Sri Lanka. “Before I left home, I thought if I didn’t have a college degree, I would have to live on the street. I never imagined these adventures ”. Jean uses her Instagram account to record her trips: from pictures walking along the sand dunes of the Sahara Desert in Morocco; Walk among ancient monuments in Luxor, Egypt to catch dawn at ancient temples in Bagan, Myanmar or atop cliffs in Sarek National Park in Lapland, Sweden. In 2018, Jean spent 19 days walking through the Wakhan Corridor in Afghanistan, using a donkey to pack things (left). 19 year old Jean, from Iran (right). Photo: Marsha Jean. At the age of 19, Jean traveled from Iran to France to Iraq. “I want to test my own fear. Although it discouraged people from hitchhiking, that experience taught me that there are still many good people in this world, ”she said. At the age of 21, Jean hired a donkey and walked with its owner for 19 days through Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor, one of the most remote places on Earth with no postal service, cellular waves or the Internet, to visit nomadic communities along the way. That same year, she cycled alone across Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and northern Pakistan. “Even though I only knew it, I was suddenly excited to buy a bicycle and journey through Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan along the legendary Pamir Highway. It is the second tallest road in the world, along a stretch of the ancient Silk Road. Most of the road is unpaved, with many high passes to cross. The highest place has an altitude of 4,655 m above sea level. Every 3 seconds I have to stop once to take a breath, ”she said. Jean practices a philosophy of slow travel – a world view that focuses on connections with people and local culture. Food and music helped her strengthen these bonds. The 23-year-old girl is also a volunteer at an NGO and helps build a school in a remote village in Nepal. “I live very slowly. I spent 6 months in Pakistan, 7 weeks in Afghanistan, 10 months in Australia, ”she said. Jean has also tried traveling by means of various means such as traveling around the North of Vietnam by motorbike and sailing between the Indonesian islands of Lombok and Flores. Wishes after trips Through each trip, Jean wants to reshape misconceptions about the world. “Modern society scares us other cultures. The world is seen as a place full of danger through terrible stories and tragedy. Of course there are always risks, but I see the world with lots of nice people, ”Jean said. “We have always been taught to be wary of others, especially with countries in the Middle East,” she added. But that’s where I get to meet the best of all ”. Jean also hopes to become an inspiration for people because the media does not usually mention adventurous Asian women. She wishes by sharing her story to lay the foundation for small changes. Jean at Elephant Rocks, William Bay National Park in Western Australia. Photo: @themarshajean. Jean also has a tight budget for her travels and primarily sets foot in countries with low cost of living. “During the first two years of the trip, I spent 10,000 EUR (11,720 USD),” she said. During the bicycle trip through Central Asia, she spent about 2-3 USD / day. “Instead of staying in hotels or motels, I usually camp in the wilderness or stay in locals’ homes. I see travel as a non-religious pilgrimage. By venturing to unknown places and stepping out of my comfort zone, I changed a lot. ” Jean wants to share her story with her hometown where she was born to inspire and motivate others to overcome their fears and pursue their dreams.

Withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, the US is still concerned about al-Qaeda. (Source: Reuters) In a report to the National Assembly entitled “Strengthening security and stability in Afghanistan”, the US Department of Defense emphasized: “The Al-Qaeda terrorist group still poses a threat to its soldiers and US allies in Afghanistan through ongoing interaction with local Taliban chiefs ”. Earlier this month, US President Joe Biden approved the complete withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan by 9/11. Same day, CNN quoted three US defense officials as saying that some of the US military equipment began to be shipped out of Afghanistan, which were unnecessary equipment and supplies, which were not destroyed or transferred to the force. Afghan security. Meanwhile, outdated equipment will be destroyed. This is the first move by the US military since President Joe Biden last week announced details of a plan to withdraw troops from Afghanistan with a deadline of 9/11, the full 20 years of the crisis. father in 2001 and also the event that sparked the US war in this southwest Asian country. (Reuters)

American B-52 bomber In addition, Minister Austin has also deployed long-range bombers, of which two B-52s have arrived in the area, to protect US forces in Afghanistan during the withdrawal. US and NATO forces in Afghanistan will withdraw ground forces from the country by May 1 and aim to complete the withdrawal of all troops from Afghanistan by September 11. On April 23, US media reported that the United States had begun transporting military equipment out of Afghanistan. Mr. Kirby confirmed the information, adding that the military equipment would be returned to the United States, deployed to other parts of the world, transferred to the Afghan security forces, or destroyed. A Pentagon spokesman said all military equipment would be transported out of Afghanistan by air, but he did not disclose the cost of the US withdrawal. Afghanistan continued to see clashes between the Taliban insurgents and the Afghan army, despite commencing peace talks between the movement and Qatar’s Kabul in Doha in September 2020. CENTCOM Commander Kenneth McKenzie said on April 22 that peace negotiations in Afghanistan are now at a standstill and stressed the need of the US to continue to support the government. Afghanistan to help the government avoid the risk of collapse after foreign forces withdraw.

American soldiers at a training camp in Herat, Afghanistan. Photo: Getty Images According to the VNA correspondent in Washington, speaking during a Senate hearing, General McKenzie stated: “We will add resources to protect forces when withdrawing. This is normal in any event. form of withdrawal “. However, General McKenzie did not give temporary replenishment numbers and said plans were underway. General McKenzie also reiterated the US military’s concern that the withdrawal could facilitate the Taliban increased operations in Afghanistan. He is concerned about the Afghan military’s ability to maintain the current situation without the support it has had for many years. He warns the Taliban are now bigger than 2011, estimated at 50,000 fighters, and control more areas in Afghanistan than they did 10 years ago. Previously, President Joe Biden announced that the US – the country with the largest soldiers stationed in Afghanistan – would withdraw all remaining troops in Afghanistan before 9/11, 20 years after the series of attacks. Al-Qaeda’s father sparked a protracted US war in this southwest Asian country. US allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have also agreed to withdraw their troops from Afghanistan according to the US withdrawal route. The war in Afghanistan left 2,400 US soldiers dead and cost the country an estimated $ 2 trillion. At the peak, the number of US troops in Afghanistan once reached 100,000 people in 2011. Currently the number of NATO troops in Afghanistan is about 9,600 people, of which the US has 2,500 soldiers and Germany has 1,100 soldiers.

American soldiers at Kandahar airbase, Afghanistan. (Photo: AFP / VNA) The head of American forces in the Middle East, General Kenneth McKenzie April 22 said the US will temporarily deploy more troops to Afghanistan to protect international forces when withdrawing. According to the VNA correspondent in Washington, speaking during a Senate hearing, General McKenzie stated: “We will add resources to protect forces when withdrawing. This is normal in any event. What form of withdrawal? ” However, General McKenzie did not give temporary replenishment numbers and said plans were underway. General McKenzie also reiterated the US military’s concern that the withdrawal could facilitate the Taliban increased operations in Afghanistan. He is concerned about the Afghan military’s ability to maintain the current situation without the support it has had for many years. Mr. McKenzie warned the forces Taliban is now larger than 2011, estimated at 50,000 fighters, and controls more areas in Afghanistan than it was 10 years ago. Previously, President Joe Biden announced that the US – the country with the most troops stationed in Afghanistan – would withdraw all remaining troops in Afghanistan before 9/11, 20 years after the series of attacks. Al-Qaeda’s father sparked a protracted US war in this southwest Asian country. US allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have also agreed Withdrawing troops from Afghanistan right to the US withdrawal route . The war in Afghanistan left 2,400 US soldiers dead and cost the country an estimated $ 2 trillion. At the peak, the number of US troops in Afghanistan once reached 100,000 people in 2011. Currently the number of NATO soldiers still in Afghanistan is about 9,600 people, of which the US has 2,500 soldiers and Germany has 1,100 soldiers./.

German soldiers, joining NATO missions in Afghanistan, patrol in the Mazar-i-Sharif area, April 26, 2016. Photo: AFP / VNA

According to the VNA correspondent in Berlin, in his April 16 statement, German Defense Minister Kramp-Karrenbauer emphasized: “If everything goes according to plan, all German forces will leave Afghanistan by mid-August. “. This means German troops will leave Afghanistan by 9/11.

According to Minister Kramp-Karrenbauer, with the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, the deployment of German troops in the country ended “after nearly 20 years for the most lost and heavy duty in German military history”. She emphasized that the primary goal is to bring all soldiers, civilian personnel and international teammates back to their homeland healthy and safe. In addition to the US forces, there are about 7,000 foreign soldiers deployed in Afghanistan, including about 1,300 German soldiers.

Earlier on April 14, the NATO Council decided to join the US to begin withdrawing troops from Afghanistan from May 1. According to US President Joe Biden, the withdrawal lasted until September 11, the 20-year period of terrorist attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York and the ministry. Defense of the US in Washington, the capital, the reason for the US to launch the war later in Afghanistan.

At a previous conversation between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Biden, the two sides agreed to cooperate regarding NATO’s military presence in Afghanistan. According to German government spokesman Steffen Seibert, the German and American leaders emphasized the importance of close coordination and cooperation as well as continued political commitment to the waning Southeast Asian nation. demolition after decades of war.

Despite the planned withdrawal, the United Nations (UN) still wants to continue its political and humanitarian mission in Afghanistan. United Nations spokesman Stéphane Dujarric stressed: “We will study the situation further, but our work in Afghanistan will continue. It is clear that the withdrawal of NATO and the US forces will have an overall impact on the country, he said. According to him, the UN has a long presence in Afghanistan, working in the field of humanitarian development. The United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA) consists of about 1,200 personnel, most of whom are Afghan citizens, and does not include a peacekeeping force.

US President Joe Biden has followed this policy with the announcement that Washington will begin on time the final phase of the withdrawal process and will be completed by 9/11/2021, 20 years after the terrorist attack. horrifying in America, sparking war is arguably the longest in American history.

US soldiers are deployed in Dwyer, Helmand province, Afghanistan. Photo: AFP / VNA

The official announcement by US President Joe Biden on the route to withdraw troops from Afghanistan can be seen as one of the indicators of Wahisngton’s strong determination to reduce its military presence in Afghanistan. The US has also agreed with allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on this issue. The foreign ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense 30 NATO member countries agreed to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan according to the roadmap announced by the US, and the foreign ministers of the United States, UK, France and Germany met in Brussels (Belgium). on the issue of Afghanistan after the US announcement, showing that US allies in Europe support and are willing to cooperate in the plan to withdraw troops from the South Asian nation.

Analysts say that the US’s implementation of the withdrawal plan under the agreement with the Taliban could have many positive effects. On the one hand, the withdrawal of US troops will motivate the Taliban to be more serious in fulfilling its commitments. So far, the Taliban show no signs of ending violence in Afghanistan, and in March rejected Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s proposal to hold elections this year and warned of further action. against foreign troops if foreign forces do not withdraw from the country by the 1/5 deadline. This shows that as long as the US military is still present in Afghanistan, the peace process will have little chance of accelerating. The withdrawal of US troops is expected to break the deadlock and force the Taliban to fulfill its commitments.

Former US military officials also argue that postponing the withdrawal risks the Taliban continuing to carry out attacks on US and coalition forces, possibly escalating violence and conflict in Afghanistan. At that time, the US will be more and more “bogged down” in this war.

In addition, for the US, the decision to withdraw will basically bring many benefits, both economically, politically and diplomatically. Economically, the US will save a significant amount of budget to protect security in Afghanistan. The US currently spends about $ 4 billion a year to maintain the Afghan National Security Force against the remnants of al-Qaeda remnants in the country. Preliminaryly, the US has spent $ 1 trillion on Afghanistan since its first military involvement in the country following the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America.

Politically, the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan will show the American people that Mr. Biden has upheld his pledge during the 2020 campaign. The war in Afghanistan has left more than 2,400 US servicemen dead, more 20,700 people were injured and cost the country a huge budget estimated at $ 2 trillion, but these losses have not yet led Afghanistan to the path of political stability. Therefore, the withdrawal will minimize the losses to the US military in Afghanistan.

Experts say that if he acts with a foresight, President Biden could use the end of the war in Afghanistan as an opportunity to begin the process of “restructuring” the way the two main parties in the US next. compete with each other on national security and defense issues. It would be harder for Republicans to oppose Mr. Biden’s withdrawal strategy if it is seen as something that bears the mark of former President Trump – who remains the most powerful figure in the Republican party.

In terms of security, the Biden administration’s move will contribute to enhancing the role of the Afghan government in maintaining security in the country. In fact, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has noted that the country’s armed forces are “fully capable” of defending Afghanistan.

However, peace in Afghanistan will face significant challenges. Even within the Biden administration, many opinions are still concerned about security risks for Afghanistan if the US reduces its military presence there. In particular, Director of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) William Burns noted that America’s ability to gather intelligence and act against threats will decline as US troops leave Afghanistan. Burns’ assessment is based on the long-standing presence of elements from terrorist organizations such as al-Qaeda or self-proclaimed “Islamic State” (IS) in Afghanistan.

The CIA Director’s warning reflects the concern of some experts that the US withdrawal of all its troops from Afghanistan risks creating a void allowing terrorist organizations, especially al-Qaeda, to come back again. Since the US launched its war on the Taliban 20 years ago, although it has weakened in many ways, it will still pose significant security challenges for Afghanistan.

The Taliban agreeing to sever ties with terrorist organizations, including al-Qaeda, as well as its commitment to prevent al-Qaeda from operating in Afghanistan, is a prerequisite to a peace deal. with the United States in 2020. However, the fact that al-Qaeda has maintained a complicated relationship with the Taliban has raised doubts about whether the Taliban could completely end its relationship with this notorious terrorist organization. , as well as the real Taliban’s intentions of these commitments.

Over the past 20 years, the United States has invested significantly in counterterrorism and intelligence gathering capabilities in Afghanistan. However, US officials concede that once the military has withdrawn, gathering intelligence will be much more difficult. Stemming from that fact, an erroneous US miscalculation of when to withdraw would create an opportunity for al-Qaeda to rise again in Afghanistan, to re-establish bases, from which to launch terrorist attacks. Future.

After the US withdrawal, to continue assisting Afghanistan in maintaining security, the long-term solution for the US is to find a way that allows all political actors to act together with Afghanistan. The United Nations (UN) has also announced it will maintain its political and humanitarian mission in Afghanistan, even after the US and NATO withdraw their troops from the country.

In fact, the peace process in Afghanistan is now a priority promoted by the international community, as increased violence in this conflict-plunged country is killing many civilians and inflicting love. a serious humanitarian and security crisis. According to the United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA), as many as 8,820 civilians perished from conflict in Afghanistan in 2020. Afghanistan is also facing a severe humanitarian crisis, with more than 16.9 million people, more than a third of the population, are facing urgent food insecurity.

In that context, many optimistic opinions that the withdrawal of US and NATO forces from Afghanistan could open a narrow gap towards a new prospect of peace-building in this South Asian country in the near future. However, the opportunity to slip through the “narrow gap” to peace in Afghanistan is still very fragile because there are many factors that dominate, including the building of trust between the parties in Afghanistan as well as the problem. conflicts of interest of related countries in the region.

CIA director William Burns is concerned about losing intelligence when the US withdraws its troops from Afghanista. Photo: Reuters

According to Reuters (UK), at the hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Mr. William Burns highlighted the important risk inherent in the decision of President Joe Biden, to withdraw all remaining forces. of the United States in Afghanistan, despite the existence of al-Qaeda and Islamic State militants.

“By the time US troops withdraw from Afghanistan, the US government’s ability to gather information and act on threats will decline. It’s the truth, ”said Burns, a veteran US deputy foreign minister, who took over as CIA director last month.

However, the head of the CIA also added that the US government is likely to keep some parts after the withdrawal, to help make intelligence predictions and resist efforts to restore the team. al-Qaeda terrorist organization.

Mr. Burns’ warning reflects the concerns of many experts that the withdrawal will significantly less secure US intelligence officers, limiting their ability to gather information in a timely manner.

“In the broader perspective, surveillance for US threats will be significantly reduced so that preventive measures can be taken. The Washington administration will no longer be able to cooperate directly with the Afghan security forces, ”said Lisa Curtis, a former White House top advisor to Afghanistan during the former Trump administration.

Ms. Curtis also questioned which US anti-terrorist forces would be relocated outside of Afghanistan, citing “historical hardship” that had placed American forces in “the most appropriate locations. “is Pakistan and Uzbekistan.

American soldiers step out of bases in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan. Photo: Reuters

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden said the US will still monitor terrorist threats, reorganize its counterterrorism forces and retain substantial assets in the region to respond to threats from Afghanistan after withdrawal.

Marc Polymeropoulos, a former top CIA officer who served in Afghanistan, said intelligence agencies often rely on the US military for critical assistance such as security and medical evacuation. He worries if US troops withdraw from here, how the intelligence community will stay.

Previously, President Joe Biden announced that he would withdraw the last 2,500 US troops from Afghanistan before 9/11, the 20th anniversary of al Qaeda’s terrorist attack on the US and usher in the country’s longest war.

President Biden’s decision shows that the US military presence is no longer decisive in achieving lasting peace in Afghanistan, a core assumption that the Pentagon uses as a foundation for military deployment. American team here.

A UN report in January said there are still up to 500 al Qaeda terrorist fighters in Afghanistan. At the same time, the Taliban are also maintaining a close relationship with this terrorist organization. However, the Taliban denied the allegation and claimed that no al-Qaeda members remained active in Afghanistan.

Australian troops and local forces in Afghanistan. Source: Australian Department of Defense

Since the US launched the war in Afghanistan to defeat the Taliban, along with the US and its allies, Australia has sent more than 39,000 troops to the country to join the war, of which 41 soldiers were killed.

Starting two years ago, when Australia had 1,500 troops, the country began the process of withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan to the current 80 soldiers.

Although from September 2021 there will be no Australian military presence in Afghanistan, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia continues to support the peace process in this country.

“Australia continues to support peace negotiations between the Australian government and the Taliban. We encourage both sides to join the peace process in which many Australians have died for it. While reducing the military’s contribution to this process, we continue to support Afghanistan’s stability and development through our bilateral partnership programs as well as through coordination with other countries ” said Mr. Morrison.

Many Afghan women are worried about the news of the US withdrawal from the country. (Source: Guardian)

US officials said on April 13 that President Joe Biden plans to withdraw 2,500 of the country’s remaining soldiers from Afghanistan by 9/11, a 20-year milestone since the date of the terrorist attacks. father al Qaeda in America, triggering the longest war ever for Washington.

The obsession cannot go to school

According to the sheet Guardian, many girls are enjoying the joy of going to school, comfortably communicating with friends who are deeply frustrated to learn that the Americans are leaving and that the Taliban may return soon.

Basireh Heydari, a student at Herat University, said: “The Americans are leaving. We have bad days ahead with the Taliban. I’m worried that they won’t let me out of the house, let alone what I’m doing right now.

For generations, Afghan girls and women have not enjoyed the simple happiness of going to school. Most of Heydari’s mother-generation women were banned from school. And Heydari and her friends fear they are taking the final exam in their life.

Heydari confided: “I have only one wish, that is to complete my studies and of course work. But with the Taliban strengthening, I don’t think I will achieve my dream.

Although full of worries, Heydari also hopes to have another choice. For example, if the Taliban did not allow her to go to school with male students, they would be willing to take women’s classes.

But Salma Ehrari, an economics student, is skeptical: “The Taliban are using technology, have a Twitter account but they have the same thoughts as 20 years ago. I won’t be able to go to school ”.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on April 14 said the country’s forces “have enough capacity” to defend the country. The statement came after US President Joe Biden decided to withdraw his troops from Afghanistan before 9/11/2021.

In areas where the Taliban are gaining control, the situation is even worse. The reporter Atifa Alizadeh is being asked to temporarily quit her job due to safety concerns.

At least eight journalists have been killed in the country in the past six months, as part of a wave of attacks targeting media workers and activists.

Basireh Safa Theri, a social activist who was lucky enough to go to school after the fall of the Taliban. She is closely monitoring negotiations between the national government and the Taliban after international forces have left. However, the Afghan peace process is still at a standstill as negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban in the Qatar capital, Doha, stall.

“They are negotiating every day but unfortunately there is no word about women’s education. They just talk about power ”.

America failed, Taliban prevailed?

Afghans fear that as the US and its allies withdraw from Afghanistan, tensions between the national government and the Taliban will intensify.

According to UN statistics, violence against civilians, especially women and children, has not declined in the past year. The Taliban’s control in Afghanistan is seen to be greater than at any time in the past two decades, raising doubts about the ambiguous effectiveness of the continued foreign military presence in the country.

On April 14, Director of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) William Burns told the US Senate Intelligence Committee: “When the US military withdraws, the ability to collect (intelligence) and operate US action against threats will diminish. That is simply the truth. “

According to analysis of the sheet National Interest, with the US announcing its withdrawal, the United States finally conceded defeat in its longest war and surrendered to the Taliban rebels.

It is argued that the Taliban had the upper hand in this persistent war. They think the Taliban have achieved exactly what they want: the moment the last US troops leave Afghanistan, nothing will stop the Taliban from taking over the country, a goal that forces This has been fighting since being taken down in 2001.

This is a worrying development, especially when it is realized that recently the Afghan government has only controlled about 30% of the country’s territory (down sharply from 50% in 2018), while the The remaining land is still disputed and is likely to be appropriated.

That is a sign that the Afghan government is losing control of the country and the Taliban are reviving.

Therefore, it is quite easy to explain why Heydari and many of her friends are so confused about the way ahead.

(synthetic)

President George W. Bush sits in the White House after announcing that the US and Britain began bombing Afghanistan on October 7, 2001, marking the beginning of the longest war in American history. Photo: Reuters

Although at the time, most Americans supported President Bush’s decision to go to war, doubts remained as to how the war would play out and how long it could last.

Bush, then 55 years old, took office in less than nine months. On the evening of October 11, 2001, he tried to reassure the American people that the government was aware of the lessons from the past and that they were determined not to let the US bogged down in an irrational war in Asia.

“We have learned some very important lessons in Vietnam,” Mr. Bush affirmed. “This is another war that requires a different approach and a completely different spirit.”

While he did not guarantee how long the war would last, Bush made a sure promise that America would win.

“This battle will last until the al-Qaeda terrorist organization is brought to justice,” he announced. two years, but we will win this war. “

But from the very beginning, the US government did not seem to have determined the goal of achieving “victory”. On Wednesday, current US President Joe Biden announced that he would withdraw all military forces in Afghanistan by September 11.

US soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division carried an injured Afghan man toward the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter in Kandahar province on October 23, 2010. At that time, about 150,000 US and international troops. has been deployed to Afghanistan. Photo: AFP

This decision still does not answer the ever-standing question that his three predecessors had hoped or envisioned a outcome for the war that they always claimed America would win.

In the beginning, the goal of this war was to destroy al-Qaeda and make sure that the terrorist group could not use Afghanistan as a base to launch any other terrorist attack against the United States. In just 6 months, that goal was achieved. The al-Qaeda chiefs were either destroyed, captured or fled Afghanistan.

However, instead of declaring an end to the war, Bush at that time set out new “missions” for this war. In April 2002, he announced new political and military goals.

He announced that the United States will help its allies in Afghanistan build an increasingly modernized country with a stable democracy, a powerful military force, and good healthcare facilities. and a public education system for children.

“We understand that peace can only be true when the Afghan people have the potential to achieve their own wishes,” he said in a speech at the Virginia Military Academy.

Although setting out very noble and respectable goals, former President Bush did not set specific standards to achieve them and did not give any information about the US military. How long will you have to stay there. He replied generally, “We will stay until the mission is completed.”

Like former President Bush, the two successors, Barack Obama and Donald Trump, both put themselves in invisible bonds vowing to win in Afghanistan, raising expectations for a victory. The military side of this war.

General Dan McNeill, who served two terms as commander of the US military in Afghanistan during the Bush administration, said the end was always “murky, dark.”

Mr. McNeill then shared that: “Some people have thought of Jeffersonian democracy (in the thought of late President Thomas Jefferson), but that will not happen in Afghanistan”.

In a secret report sent to senior Pentagon officials in October 2003, former US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld also expressed skepticism: “Whether we are winning or losing in Global war on terror? “.

By 2006, as the Taliban rebelled and escalated their attacks, the suspicions became more and more common.

On August 29, 2006, former US ambassador Ronald Neumann in Afghanistan sent a warning to Washington, in which he affirmed: “We will not be able to win in Afghanistan”.

However, in public, the US government continued to declare the opposite.

“We are winning,” General Karl Eikenberry, former commander of US forces in Afghanistan, told ABC News just two weeks after Neumann issued the warning. When asked if the US would lose the war, Eikenberry bluntly replied: “Victory is not an option in the war in Afghanistan”.

Two years later, the US battlefield commanders in Afghanistan had to ask the Pentagon to send reinforcements because they were out of position as the Taliban had increased the number of troops from 7,000 to 11,000 fighters. American generals were very difficult to mobilize more troops, but still continuously declared a victory “invisible”.

In September 2008, US Army General Jeffrey Schloesser, former commander of US forces in eastern Afghanistan, after repeatedly asked by reporters about whether he thought that US troops were still winning. , commented: “I would say that we will not lose any war, at any cost. This is just a victory that takes more time, I guess. ”

By the time Mr. Obama took office in 2009, US military officials admitted they were facing a terrible uprising. Obama then announced an expansion strategy to send thousands more soldiers to Afghanistan and spend tens of billions of dollars to rebuild the Kabul government.

President Barack Obama talks with Defense Secretary Robert Gates (left), and General David Petraeus at the Oval Office on March 14, 2011. Photo: White House

“For terrorists against America, my consistent message is: America will defeat all hostile forces,” former President Obama announced in March 2009.

Yet again, no one in the Obama administration can tell what the outcome of that victory will be.

“How do we know when this is over? And how will it end? ”Democratic Sen. James Webb questioned Michèle Flournoy, former Deputy Secretary of Defense under President Obama and General David Petraeus at a congressional hearing on. April 2009.

Obama administration officials gradually became contradictory in subsequent steps. On the one hand, they are beginning to admit that a military victory is quite unlikely and the only way to end the conflict is for the warring parties in Afghanistan to reach a “political solution”.

On the other hand, when the US number reached 100,000, generals under the Obama administration continued their attacks on the Taliban instead of using diplomatic means.

In public, some Obama administration officials began to dodge when questioned about the war.

At a congressional testimony in June 2011, former Defense Secretary Robert Gates was asked whether the US is winning or losing in Afghanistan, replying: “I believe we are succeeding in the war. strategy of the President “.

A week later, at another hearing, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton did not directly comment, but only said: “I do not think it is a matter of winning or losing.”

Throughout his term, the Obama administration has planned to train and equip the Afghan security force of 352,000 soldiers and paramilitary police with the belief that these allied forces will overwhelm the Taliban. thanks to the support of the US.

Former President Obama once pledged to withdraw all US military forces from Afghanistan by the end of his second term. But he withdrew and ordered about 8,400 soldiers to stay, seeing that the Afghan security forces were incapable of defending against Taliban attacks.

By the time Donald Trump took office in 2017, things were pretty bleak. The Taliban have grown stronger in Obama’s eight years in power, adding about 60,000 combat troops. The Afghan army and police are suffering so much damage that the Kabul government has to keep the casualties a secret to avoid weakening morale.

The special forces in the Afghan National Army train at a base near Kabul on March 5, 2020. Afghan commandos often perform missions with the US military. Photo: Washington Post

Former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis admitted to the US Senate Committee on Armed Services in June 2017: “Right now, we are not having the upper hand in Afghanistan.”

By August 2017, former President Donald Trump announced a new strategy for the war. In a speech at the Fort Myer base, he pledged to end the 16-year conflict in Afghanistan and vowed to help the US regain full victory.

“Our army will fight to win,” Trump announced. “From now on, victory will be clearly defined: attack our enemies, destroy ISIS, take down al-Qaeda, stop the Taliban from taking Afghanistan and stop mass terrorist attacks. “.

The war in Afghanistan under Trump is heating up with the number of US troops reaching 14,000. The Washington administration also ordered a series of drastic airstrikes, with the largest number of bombs and missiles since the outbreak of the war.

According to the strategy outlined by former President Donald Trump, the US military is simply trying to weaken the Taliban to gain political leverage for the peace talks. In February 2020, the Trump administration reached an agreement with the Taliban, paving the way for the gradual withdrawal of all US troops from the West Asian country.

On April 14, 2021, President Joe Biden officially announced plans to withdraw all US military forces from Afghanistan from May 1 and end on September 11.

This will be the end of the promises of a “vague” victory and end the war that lasted for two decades, spanning four presidents and is the longest war in American history.

Sapphire

According to the Washington Post

.

This decision is made in the context of the deadline to withdraw troops under the peace agreement that the Trump administration signed with the Taliban last year is about to take effect on May 1 here. A senior Biden administration official told the AP news agency that the September withdrawal deadline was appropriate and would not be affected by domestic security conditions.

Although President Biden’s decision to keep US troops in Afghanistan for four more months than originally planned, it will ultimately end a two-decade war that has left more than 2,200 soldiers. The United States was killed, 20,000 people injured and it cost about $ 1 trillion.

The purpose of President Joe Biden’s 9/11 selection is to highlight the reason why the United States is pouring troops into Afghanistan: to prevent al-Qaeda from turning the West Asian nation into a springboard to attack America. . Photo: AP

Military officials and commanders have once made harsh protests about the Trump administration’s May 1 deadline, saying that the US withdrawal should be based on field security conditions in Afghanistan, including: including Taliban attacks.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Mr. Biden had taken a position on “the next steps to take in Afghanistan, including the plan and timing of the withdrawal”.

Ms Psaki did not provide details, but said President Biden “was consistent in the view that there would not be a military solution in Afghanistan, and that the US military has been there for too long.”

Mr. Biden will also visit Arlington National Cemetery “to pay homage to the brave men and women who have died in Afghanistan.”

According to the Biden administration’s withdrawal plan, the only US force that will remain in Afghanistan is the security force protecting the diplomatic mission. There is no exact figure on the total number of US troops in Afghanistan, but some senior officials have tacitly admitted that the actual number is more than 2,500 people, which will include special operations forces with secret missions. secret or anti-terrorism, intelligence agents.

The timeline set by President Biden will allow the US to proceed with a safer and more orderly withdrawal, with the coordination of NATO allies.

However, it is not excluded that the Taliban will retaliate against US forces in Afghanistan. This could become the risk of escalating tensions again, as well as stemming from further political divisions in the US since the country sank into the “endless war” in Afghanistan.

Mixed reaction

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said: “The withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan is a serious mistake. It is avoidance when faced with an enemy that has not been destroyed and the surrender of American leadership.

Republican Senator Jim Inhofe also rated it as a “reckless and dangerous decision.”

The majority of Democrats support this decision of President Biden. Sen. Jack Reed said the May 1 deadline for former President Donald Trump limited Mr. Biden’s options.

“The United States also has important interests in combating possible terrorist attacks in this region, but other hotspots should also be considered,” Reed said.

Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine said that US military forces in Afghanistan should be returned home and the US must focus on rebuilding national security in the face of more pressing challenges.

Speaking to TIME magazine, Mr. David Sedney – a former Pentagon official under President Barack Obama, called this a “foolish strategy, a humanitarian disaster and worthy of moral condemnation.” virtue.

An Afghan official said the US administration’s decision to unconditionally withdraw troops was a shock to the Ashraf Ghani administration, as well as causing the Kabul government to lose its leveraged negotiating card with the Taliban. .

According to the Washington Post, the decision to unconditionally withdraw troops after a series of short but unsuccessful diplomatic efforts has raised concerns.

“This move will likely reverse the economic, political – social progress that the US has fought to protect during the past two decades in Afghanistan,” according to the editorial board of the Washington Post. “This is the tragedy for the 39 million people of the West Asian nation when the US chooses to give up the people here who once hoped to build a democracy, guaranteeing basic human rights”.

In addition, the withdrawal of all US military forces will likely allow al-Qaeda to restore its bases in Afghanistan.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed told the Associated Press that the force is waiting for official announcement from the US administration to give a suitable response. The Taliban had previously issued warnings of “consequences” if the US extended its withdrawal period on May 1.

In a February 2020 deal with the administration of former US President Donald Trump, the Taliban agreed to stop the attacks and hold peace talks with the Afghan government, in exchange for US commitment. on full withdrawal by May 2021.

Over the past year, US military commanders and defense officials have said that attacks on the country’s military have largely ended, but Taliban’s attacks on Afghan people have increased.

They argue that the Taliban have failed to meet the conditions of the peace deal by continuing to attack people and have not completely severed ties with al-Qaeda and other extremist groups.

When he took office earlier this year, Mr. Biden was well aware of the upcoming withdrawal deadline and consulted with defense security advisers and his allies.

In recent weeks, US President Joe Biden’s views have become clearer. “It will be very difficult to meet the May 1 deadline,” he said in March. “If the US withdraws its troops, it will be done safely and in an orderly manner.”

As expected, today (April 14), the administration of President Joe Biden will announce plans to withdraw all US forces stationed in Afghanistan in stages and end before September 11, full 20 years. after the horrible terror that started the war in Afghanistan.

Accordingly, thousands of US troops will continue to be stationed in Afghanistan after May 1, the deadline that former President Donald Trump’s administration has agreed with the Taliban. There are now 2,500 US troops stationed in Afghanistan, though the difference in fact could be as high as 1,000. The coalition in Afghanistan also has the presence of more than 7,000 troops, mainly NATO troops.

The administration of President Joe Biden is expected to announce plans to withdraw all forces from Afghanistan before 9/11/2021. (Source: EPA)

The above decision was made in the context of the unsuccessful peace negotiations. An unnamed US official revealed that the announcement of the plan was necessary because if the US did not make a clear roadmap of the May 1 deadline, Washington would have to fight the Taliban again.

For Joe Biden, this clearly does not serve the national interest of the US administration.

However, while withdrawing troops from Afghanistan will help the Americans end their presence in Afghanistan after two decades and help Mr. Biden score in the eyes of voters, it could also be a step backwards to Joe Biden’s foreign affairs.

first, this decision will go against what Mr. Joe Biden committed before becoming President. He once thought that Washington needed to maintain an anti-terrorist force in Afghanistan to ensure that Islamic extremist groups like Al-Qaeda would not be able to attack the United States.

However, his views changed after only two months in office. On March 17, interviewed by radio station ABC News, President Biden admitted having “difficulty” in withdrawing US troops from Afghanistan before May 1 under the agreement of his predecessor.

Now, the plan to withdraw troops is becoming clear, but the promise of anti-terrorist forces in the South Asian country has yet to be fulfilled.

Monday, the withdrawal of all US forces from Afghanistan leaves a great void for the Islamic extremist forces.

Speaking before the National Security Committee of the Afghan Parliament, National Intelligence Director Ahmad Zia Saraj said the number of Taliban attacks had increased by 24% since the peace agreement with the United States in February 2020. , with a total of 20,600 targeted attacks and bombings of all kinds.

According to him, this figure shows that the Taliban are not showing any change in Turkish ideology and the upcoming peace conference in Turkey may not yield any results.

Tuesday, the civil administration proved ineffective in ensuring security and political stability for development. On April 12, Afghanistan recorded 122 new cases of Covid-19, bringing the total number to 57,364 cases.

However, it should be remembered that the Covid-19 testing procedure in this country is limited and the actual number of cases may be much higher, while the health system is gradually overloading.

According to the World Bank, Afghanistan’s economy declines by 1.9% in 2020. Food prices increase rapidly because Covid-19, sometimes up to 17% in April 2020 alone, while tax revenue decreased by 7 , 6%.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s economic growth in 2021 is expected to reach 1%, but only possible if foreign aid and security are secured, two factors increasingly uncertain with Kabul’s governance capabilities. and after the withdrawal of US President Joe Biden’s administration.

Because of that, Washington may end its presence in the South Asian country after two decades and help Biden score points with voters, but the price will be political stability and security of Afghanistan.

According to Reuters, Mr. Biden decided to withdraw his troops from Afghanistan before 9/11/2021, exactly 20 years after the terrorist attack by Al-Qaeda sparked the prolonged war of the US and its NATO ally in the country. This southwest Asia.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin officially announced the decision to allies in the NATO bloc in Brussels during the meeting on April 14.

“After careful policy review, President Biden decided to withdraw the remaining number of troops in Afghanistan and eventually end the US war after 20 years,” said a State Department official.

US forces in Afghanistan.

Thus, this new decision shows that the previous withdrawal plan (May 1), which was signed by the administration of former President Donald Trump with the Taliban, could not be implemented. In response, a Taliban spokesman warned there would be consequences if the United States did not comply with the said deadline.

The Taliban are said to have been largely in compliance with their promise not to attack troops from the United States and other countries since the deal was signed, but stressed that things will change as the US pulls back from 9/11.

The Afghan peace process has already fallen to a standstill as peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban forces in the Qatar capital, Doha, stalled.

The US advocates to promote peace negotiations between the governments of Afghanistan and the Taliban before the last 2,500 troops of the country’s army must leave Afghanistan.

Washington wants the Afghan and Taliban governments to strike some power-sharing arrangements. Recently, the Taliban rejected the proposal of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to hold elections this year.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the process had pushed the nation on the brink of crisis. Any decisions regarding Afghanistan’s future need to be reached in bilateral negotiations.

Assessing the decision to withdraw all US forces from Afghanistan on September 11, experts said that this decision will put NATO in a difficult position.

When the US administration under President Trump decided to withdraw troops from Afghanistan by May 1 deadline, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned that Afghanistan was in danger of becoming a defeated IS base. Syria and Iraq.

Although admitting that NATO has been fighting in Afghanistan for too long, Stoltenberg said that it is not time to leave, while the withdrawal needs the coordination of the parties. American forces make up a small number of NATO troops in Afghanistan, but the alliance is heavily dependent on the United States for air transport, logistics and support.

The US withdrawal also raises questions about the possibility of the remaining countries pulling out. NATO began operating there in 2003, two years after the US-led coalition came to deal with the Taliban following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

But it is hard to say that NATO has fulfilled its original goal of “ensuring that it will never be a safe haven for international terrorists”. In the future, the continued stay of NATO will also face many difficulties, while withdrawal is undesirable by many parties, when the goal is not reached and the risk of terrorism will become even more haunted.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has rejected the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan before ending talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. Maas also criticized the early US unilateral withdrawal of troops from the South Asian country that could jeopardize peace negotiations.

Considering that peace negotiations are very complicated and cannot be ended as scheduled, Minister Heiko Maas stated: “If the US withdraws its forces while other NATO allies cannot take over security in in the short term, the situation will become extremely volatile. “

On April 14, The Guardian quoted US President Joe Biden officials as saying that the withdrawal would begin before May 1-5. These officials stressed the US sending of troops into Afghanistan to “enforce justice against those who caused the September 11, 2001 attacks, to prevent terrorists from trying to make Afghanistan a safe haven.” and that goal “was achieved a few years ago”. “We evaluate the current Afghanistan threat to the United States as manageable without the need for Washington to maintain a military presence or maintain war with the Taliban here,” one American officials stressed. On the same day, German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will join the United States with the withdrawal of all troops from Afghanistan next September, because “we always say they I will come together and leave together ”.

US soldiers in Afghanistan Photo: Reuters.

According to the AP, the above decision also means that the US will not meet the deadline for the withdrawal of all troops from Afghanistan on May 1-5 under the peace agreement that the former administration of President Donald Trump had. signed with the Taliban last February. The Taliban have warned that they will resume hostile actions against foreign forces in Afghanistan if Washington does not withdraw as agreed.

In fact, although Mr. Biden once committed to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan when running for the presidency, the White House boss himself admitted that withdrawing by a deadline of May 1-5 was “very difficult”. A US official confirmed, on September 11, 2021, would be “the absolute deadline” and would not be affected by the security situation in Afghanistan, because “conditional withdrawal of troops means staying in Afghanistan forever.” far away ”. AP said that “absolute deadline” shows the determination of the US administration to end the longest war in American history. The costly and costly war in Afghanistan has left more than 2,200 US soldiers dead, 20,000 injured and costing more than $ 1 trillion.

US intelligence agencies have warned the Biden administration about the danger that the Taliban could control much of Afghanistan within the next two to three years, if Washington withdraws all troops from the southwest Asian country. Along with that, this will facilitate the rise of al-Qaeda terrorist network in Afghanistan. According to The Guardian, the Biden administration’s plan to withdraw troops from Afghanistan immediately met with opposition from many MPs from both Democrats and Republicans. Sen. Mitch McConnell of the Republican Party said that foreign terrorists will not leave America “just because our politicians are tired of fighting them.” Mr. McConnell asked President Biden to explain to the American people “why giving up allies and withdrawing in the face of the Taliban makes America safer”. Meanwhile, according to Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of the Democratic Party, the withdrawal “undermines our commitment to the Afghan people, especially Afghan women”. “I urge the Biden administration to do its best from now to September to protect progress has been made, as well as to assist our partners in forming a transitional government,” said Thuong. MP Shaheen wrote on the social networking site Twitter.

Since Washington signed a peace deal with the Taliban, the number of US troops stationed in Afghanistan has dropped from 12,000 to 2,500, according to the Pentagon. However, The New York Times quoted US officials as confirming the number of US troops currently stationed in Afghanistan was 3,500.

On September 11, 2001, al Qaeda terrorists kidnapped four civilian planes and flew them into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania. The 9/11 terrorist attacks left nearly 3,000 people dead. (Source: Reuters)

In October 2001, U.S. President George W. Bush announced the launch of a “war on terror” targeting al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden, who was supported by the Taliban administration in Afghanistan and provided shelter. Pictured: The Humvee of U.S. Marines throws dust as it passes through a group of light armored vehicles while patrolling from a Navy base in southern Afghanistan, December 2, 2001. (Source: Reuters)

In early November 2001, a small group of U.S. special forces soldiers were deployed to Afghanistan to fight alongside the Northern Coalition, an army formed primarily by guerrilla gunmen and government troops ousted by the Taliban in 1996. Pictured: William Olas Bee, a U.S. Marine from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, fights the Taliban during a shooting near Garmsir in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, May 18, 2008. (Source: Reuters)

In December 2001, Taliban forces were knocked out of their strongholds in Kandahar. The caves in Tora Boca, southeast of Kabul, which is believed to be Bin Laden’s shelter, have been bombed by US B-52s over the course of two weeks. The Taliban collapsed, but Bin Laden escaped with Mullah Omar , the leader of the Taliban. Pictured: Capt. Melvin Cabebe of the U.S. Army’s 1st-320th Field Artillery Regiment stands near a burning M-ATV armored vehicle after it struck a homemade explosive device (IED) near the Arghandab Valley, north of Kandahar, July 23, 2010. (Source: Reuters)

A Stryker armoured vehicle of the U.S. Army’s 5th Stryker Brigade fires a mortar during a night patrol in Kandahar, April 27, 2010. (Source: Reuters)

On May 2, 2011, the U.S. military conducted a raid and killed Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden in a village in Pakistan, marking a turning point in the war in Afghanistan. President Obama hailed the victory as “the most important result of the U.S. effort against Al Qaeda.” But violence in Afghanistan continues. Pictured: U.S. army soldiers fire artillery from a base in Panjwai district, southern Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, June 12, 2011. (Source: Reuters)

Two nearly 227 kg bombs explode at a fighting site with the Taliban Kamdesh, in Nuristan Province, Afghanistan, June 11, 2012. (Source: Reuters)

U.S. soldiers detonate a roadside bomb set up by Taliban gunmen near the town of Walli in Paktika province, near the border with Pakistan, November 4, 2012. (Source: Reuters)

Paratroopers of the Chosen Company of the 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry on CH-47 Chinook helicopters, begin their offensive mission in Herrera, Paktiya Province of Afghanistan, July 15, 2012. (Source: Reuters)

U.S. Marines take prisoners to detention centers at Kandahar International Airport. (Source: Reuters)

A group of men are detained on suspicion of operating for the Taliban in Kuhak village, Arghandab district, north of Kandahar on July 9, 2010. (Source: Reuters)

After the fighting is a moment of rest and resuscitation. Pictured: An American soldier rests after a night patrol near the Honaker Miracle camp in the Pesh valley of Kunar province, Afghanistan. (Source: Reuters)

The war also inevitably casualties. Pictured: Members of the U.S. Navy shelter comrades injured by an explosion on a helicopter in Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan, October 2, 2010. (Source: Reuters)

A U.S. army officer tries to save the life of a Marine wounded in an IED explosion near the town of Marjah in Helmand province, August 22, 2010. (Source: Reuters)

U.S. Army soldiers of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), light candles in prayer during Christmas Eve at Bagram Airport, north of Kabul, December 24, 2014. (Source: Reuters)

U.S. Marine Chris Sanderson, 24, from Flemington, New Jersey tries to protect an Afghan man and his child after Taliban militants opened fire in the town of Marjah, Nad Ali district, Helmand province, February 13, 2010. (Source: Reuters)

Between mid-2013 and the end of 2014, U.S. President Barack Obama withdrew nearly 34,000 U.S. troops from Afghanistan and announced the official end of the war.Rammed U.S. combat operations in the country on December 28, 2014. However, attacks still occur. U.S. soldiers take care of wounded comrades at the site of an explosion in Kabul, Afghanistan, June 30, 2015. (Source: Reuters)

The Resolute Support campaign began on January 1, 2015. According to the NATO campaign, 13,000 soldiers, mostly U.S. troops, will be maintained in Afghanistan for two years to provide training and mentoring to Afghan security forces. (Source: Reuters)

Since the start of the war in Afghanistan, about 2,400 U.S. servicemen have been killed along with the deaths of thousands of Taliban and Al Qaeda gunmen and civilians and thousands wounded. This fierce battle has caused many families to lose relatives, many people lost comrades, friends … Pictured: Lesleigh Coyer, 25, of Saginaw, Michigan, lies in front of the grave of her brother Ryan Coyer, an American soldier who fought in both Iraq and Afghanistan, at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on March 11, 2013. Ryan Coyer died as a result of lingering traumatic complications in Afghanistan. (Source: Reuters)

Boy Ryan Lemm, 4, raises his hand to say goodbye to his father, NYPD officer Joseph Lemm, killed in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan.Funeral held in the Manhattan borough of New York, December 30, 2015. Lemm was one of six U.S. soldiers killed by a suicide bomber near Bagram air base in Afghanistan. (Source: Reuters)

An American soldier of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment pay tribute during a memorial service for expert Wyatt Martin and Sergeant Ramon Morris at Bagram Airport in Afghanistan’s Parwan Province on December 23, 2014. The two men were killed by a homemade explosive device while patrolling near Bagram Airport. (Source: Reuters)

Not only the people of Afghanistan, the world is still waiting for peace to be restored on the territory of this Islamic country. Pictured: Two Northern Coalition soldiers watch as plumes of smog rise after U.S. troops attackEd Taliban positions on Kalakata Hill, near the village of Ai-Khanum in northern Afghanistan. (Source: Reuters)

Recently, according to sources, U.S. President Joe Biden decided to withdraw the country’s soldiers from Afghanistan before September 11, 2021, exactly 20 years after the Al-Qaeda attack, sparking America’s longest war. According to the source, the withdrawal will be based on specific assurances on security and human rights, before formalizing the decision. The sources did not provide further details. Pictured: A Chinook helicopter lands to pick up U.S. soldiers after a night raid in Yahya Khel, Paktika province, in 2011. (Source: Reuters)

(according to Reuters)

US President Joe Biden. Photo: AP

CNN said the U.S. fell into confrontation with China and Russia, negotiating a return to the 2015 nuclear deal adding to obstacles when Iran’s nuclear plant came under surprise attack, North Korea returned to test ballistic missiles. Meanwhile, President Biden plans to withdraw troops from Afghanistan on September 11 but experts warn the Taliban could have an impact on weakening the government in U.S.-backed Kabul.

Mr. Biden’s handling of these situations will help shape the legacy of his term. The U.S. president has publicly said his goal is to defeat COVID-19, revive the economy, and shape foreign policy around the needs of American workers.

The U.S. Director of National Intelligence’s Office on April 13 released a report that named the four countries as Washington’s main security challenges in the coming years: China, Russia, Iran and North Korea.

On April 11, Iran declared the Natanz nuclear plant under “terrorist attack” after a power outage at the facility. Israeli media cited an unnamed source as reporting that the country’s Mossad intelligence agency was behind the attack. The New York Times also cited an unnamed source as “having an Israeli role” in the incident. Israel has not responded to the allegation.

The incident occurred at a time when U.S. and Iranian officials had indirect dialogue in Vienna (Austria) to establish a roadmap for “bilateral compliance” for the two sides to return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) – the nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1 Group countries (including the U.S., Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany) in 2015. In the event that Tel Aviv is indeed behind the attack, President Biden could face new minor friction with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The attack on the Natanz nuclear plant is believed to have influenced U.S. negotiations back to the 2015 nuclear deal. Photo: AP

As for China, it is stepping up its military activities, in addition to making more impact through the “Belt and Road” initiative. The meeting between senior U.S. and Chinese representatives during a two-day conference in Alaska that closed on March 19 represented a clear message from Washington to Beijing that President Biden is not easily “bullied.” It was the first face-to-face meeting between American and Chinese officials since Mr Biden assumed the presidency. At the event, in front of a slew of world media cameras, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken bluntly said that China’s actions “threaten a rules-based order to maintain global stability.”

In March, U.S. President Biden also said that China has ambitions to “become a world leader, the richest country in the world, and the most powerful country in the world.” “This is not going to happen under my supervision,” the U.S. leader insisted.

Not only China, North Korea is another country in Northeast Asia that makes the U.S. keep an eye on it. At the 8th Workers’ Party of Korea Congress held in January, Pyongyang stressed its commitment to developing “strategic weapons” in preparation for a long-term confrontation with the U.S. South Korea’s intelligence agency said the new missile North Korea tested in March could carry a nuclear warhead.

Pyongyang has rejected a offer of dialogue from U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration and stressed that Washington should first eliminate hostile policy. According to experts, diplomacy and negotiations are the most practical way to solve the problem of the North Korean nuclear program. This does not mean the complete removal of sanctions but can be the application of a sustainable diplomatic process that includes high-level dialogue, step by step.

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently signed legislation facilitating his re-election. This development paves the way for the possibility of Mr. Putin continuing to lead Russia more time and achieve the goal of restoring the position the Kremlin lost after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Experts say President Biden’s decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan appears to be a foreign policy influenced by domestic affairs. The U.S. and the Taliban signed the agreement in February 2020. Under the agreement, the U.S. pledged to withdraw all forces from Afghanistan by mid-2021, while the Taliban offered security guarantees and conducted talks with the Kabul authorities.

The U.S. currently has 2,500 troops stationed in Afghanistan. The Taliban will have to abide by certain commitments before the U.S. withdraws. But many experts warn that if the U.S. removes troops from Afghanistan without a peace deal that comes with the Taliban, there is a risk that civil war will occur in the country.

A test with President Biden

For now, it’s not hard to see whether America’s adversies are trying to challenge the country’s leader, from Russia’s increased force on its border with Ukraine, China’s moves in Taiwan or North Korea’s missile tests to get President Biden’s attention.

President Biden. Photo: CNN

Mr Biden’s hopes of resuming the nuclear deal with Iran will be even harder if Tehran’s hardline followers are in charge of negotiations. Besides, if Israel is accused of carrying out an attack on Iran, President Biden will likely face a crisis with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in pending the situation. The ability to address these challenges will shape Mr Biden’s legacy.

China has been intensifying its rise over the past year and is now ready to assert military power in Asia, as well as its influence in many parts of the world. Meanwhile, Western tensions and divisions also have many problems related to Russia.

President Biden’s administration understands its enemies are probing a new White House. Bitter disagreements between U.S. and Chinese officials in Alaska last month sent a clear message from Washington to Beijing that President Biden would not be easily persuaded.

Since then, U.S. and Chinese carrier combat forces have increased their presence in the South China Sea. In addition, China sent 25 fighters to taiwan’s air defense zone as a message asking Washington not to interfere in its internal work.

Taiwan is considered the issue with the highest risk of sparking the US-China conflict. After Washington launched the USS John McCain into the Taiwan Strait last week, China warned the U.S. not to “play with fire.”

Along with its Western allies, President Biden’s administration has also put pressure on Russia over the Ukraine issue due to fears that current tensions in eastern Ukraine could lead to a full-on conflict in the sensitive region.

A senior U.S. defense official told CNN last week that the Pentagon is considering moving two ships to the Black Sea to show support for Ukraine, a move that could escalate tensions.

Tough stance

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who spoke directly to Chinese officials in Alaska, did not hesitate to give tough warnings to Russia and China.

“It would be a serious mistake if anyone tried to change the status quo by force,” Mr Blinken said on NBC on April 11.

In Europe, on April 13, during a NATO meeting to announce the U.S. increased military presence in Germany, Foreign Minister Blinken met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleb, and said that if Russia continues to escalate tensions, as President Biden has made clear, the country will pay the price and suffer the consequences.”

These hardline statements are intended to counter the claim in both Russia and China that america’s weakening and downward decline is inevitable after two decades of war, financial terrorism, internal political discord and limited ability to cope with the pandemic.

U.S. Secretary of State Blinken’s remarks also need to be taken into account when compared to the foreign policy approach of former President Trump, who has not taken a stance too tough on Russia.

The Current White House’s position with both Russia and China is to cooperate when possible but confrontational relations still prevail, especially in the fierce economic competition with Beijing.

As CNN reported, President Biden’s climate envoy, former Secretary of State John Kerry, will make a brief visit to Beijing to seek common ground between the two countries ahead of the Climate Summit in Scotland in November. In a surprise move, President Biden on April 13 offered a third face-to-face meeting next month with Russian President Putin, just weeks after the U.S. leader endorsed what he called the Russian leader a “murderer.”

The move is said to resemble a “carrot” that Mr Biden gave Mr Putin in order to avoid any escalation of tensions in Ukraine or in connection with the poisoning of opposition figures Alexei Navalny.

Decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan

President Biden’s decision on Afghanistan appears to be a foreign policy given after calculations on domestic policies.

Republicans with hardline views argue that this decision by the American leader is a dangerous step. The power gap after years of civil war in Afghanistan will cause the Taliban to intensify operations and turn the country into a terrorist paradise for al Qaeda to stage attacks on New York and Washington.

“The hasty withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan is a disastrous mistake because the process takes place when the enemy has not gone away and is a sign that the U.S. is abandoning its leadership,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Not all Republicans, though, have criticized the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. Congressman Ted Cruz, who has always opposed most of Mr. Biden’s policies, is an example. Ted Cruz said he was not opposed to the deadline for withdrawing American troops from Afghanistan that Mr Biden set.

“Bringing our troops back should not be seen as a sign that the U.S. neglects caution in protecting the American people and our allies. We can still defend our interests without the need to maintain a long-term military presence here.”

If Mr. Biden is determined to implement his plan, he can achieve what former Presidents Obama and Trump have tried but failed to do, which is to end American interference in the endless wars that followed 9/11 abroad.