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.

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.

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)

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.”

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. “