He wants to let his successor Joe Biden know: “Nobody would have thought it possible that such a stupid thing as this insane retreat is possible.” The ex-president continues: “Never in history has a withdrawal from a war been handled so badly or incompetently as the withdrawal of the Biden administration from Afghanistan.”
The Taliban apparently escorted US citizens to the airport
The last days of the US military operation in Afghanistan were chaotic – and it was extremely dangerous for foreign citizens to get to Kabul airport. Thousands of people besieged the gates, the risk of attack was high. It has now been revealed that there was a secret deal between the US military and the Taliban on how CNN reported.
A safe passage to Hamid Karzai Airport in Kabul should be made possible for US citizens. The Taliban escorted assembly points through the city before the US Army received the foreigners. CNN claims to have found out from unnamed US officials. The agreement was kept secret for fear of attacks by the Islamic State terrorist group. The transfers were carried out several times a day.
UN Secretary General warns of humanitarian catastrophe
After the withdrawal of the last US soldiers from Afghanistan and the end of the evacuation operation, UN General Secretary António Guterres warned of a complete collapse of basic services in the country. “A humanitarian catastrophe is looming,” said Guterres on Tuesday evening in New York. People lose access to basic goods and services every day. “Almost half of Afghanistan’s population – 18 million people – depend on humanitarian aid to survive. Every third Afghan does not know where their next meal will come from. More than half of all children under the age of five are expected to be acutely malnourished next year. ”
Guterres said that all member states are called upon to “stand up for the people of Afghanistan in their darkest hour of need”. You should make funds available in a timely, flexible and comprehensive manner. During the next week, details of the most pressing humanitarian needs and funding needs for the next four months would be announced. (DPA)
Biden warns IS: “We’re not done with you yet”
According to President Joe Biden, the USA will continue to take action against the local branch of the terrorist militia Islamic State (IS) even after it has withdrawn from Afghanistan. He warned the group that claimed responsibility for the recent attack at Kabul airport that the US would continue to pursue them. “We’re not done with you yet,” said Biden in the White House on Tuesday.
The fight against terrorism continues even after the withdrawal from Afghanistan, albeit without ground troops. The US would hunt and capture terrorists attacking the country “to the end of the world,” said Biden. “We will not forgive, we will not forget.” (DPA)
Previous Afghan government turned land over to the Taliban
US President Joe Biden has again blamed the former Afghan government and the country’s security forces for the Taliban’s takeover. Contrary to expectations, the Afghan security forces were not a strong opponent in the fight against the Taliban, Biden said in the White House on Tuesday.
The Afghan government collapsed and President Ashraf Ghani fled the country. They would have “handed the country over to their enemies, the Taliban”. This increased the risk for the US armed forces and their allies. Biden did not admit his own mistakes in the withdrawal of the US soldiers.
With the withdrawal of the last US soldiers from Kabul airport on Tuesday night, the international mission in Afghanistan came to an end after almost 20 years. Biden announced in July that all US troops would be withdrawn by August 31. After the announcement of the withdrawal, the Taliban’s triumphant advance had accelerated rapidly. In mid-August, the Islamists, whose regime the US-led operation had overthrown in late 2001, took power again.
Since then, the US and its allies have tried feverishly to fly their own citizens and Afghan employees out of the country. The evacuation mission also ended on Tuesday night.
Taliban want good relations with the United States
After the US troops have withdrawn, the radical Islamic Taliban say they want “good” relations with the US. “We want to have good relations with the USA and the whole world,” said Taliban spokesman Sabihullah Mujahid on Tuesday in a speech at the airport in Kabul. “We welcome good diplomatic relations with everyone.”
He congratulated the Afghans on their “victory” a few hours after the last US soldiers left the country shortly before midnight. “Congratulations to Afghanistan, this victory belongs to all of us,” said Mujahid, who was standing on the runway at Kabul airport. (AFP)
US military leaves vehicles and aircraft unusable
When they withdrew, US troops disabled 73 aircraft and 97 armored vehicles so that they would not fall into the hands of the Taliban or other Islamist groups. Humvees and armored MRAP vehicles – which can cost up to a million dollars each – have been rendered unusable.
The US also left behind the C-RAM missile defense system, which was used to protect the airport from missile attacks. (AFP)
100 more Americans willing to leave Afghanistan
After the end of the evacuation mission of the US armed forces, according to the US Secretary of State, there are still more than 100 Americans in Afghanistan who want to leave the country. It is assumed that their number is “below 200, probably closer to 100,” said Blinken on Monday evening in Washington. Blinken emphasized that the US government would continue to seek them. This also applies to US citizens who have family roots in Afghanistan and may not decide to leave the country until later. “We’ll help them leave.”
Blinken said there had also been intensive efforts to evacuate Afghans who had worked with the US. “We got a lot out, but many are still there.” One will continue to work to help them. “Our obligation to them has no deadline.” Blinken emphasized that the Taliban had promised to allow Afghans to leave the country, “including those who worked for the Americans.” (DPA)
The last US soldier leaves Afghanistan
Major General Chris Donahue is the last US soldier to leave Afghanistan. The US Central Command tweeted a picture on Tuesday night that was taken through a night vision device. It shows the commander of the 82nd Airborne Division of the US Army boarding a transport plane at Kabul International Airport late on Monday evening. “The last American soldier is leaving Afghanistan,” tweeted the US Central Command.
With the withdrawal of the last US soldiers from Kabul airport on Tuesday night, the international mission in Afghanistan came to an end after almost 20 years. The West is leaving the country back to the Islamists it had ousted at the end of 2001. The United States and its allies had at times more than 100,000 international soldiers on duty. Of the international troops, the United States suffered by far the heaviest casualties, with more than 2,460 US soldiers dying in America’s longest war. The last US military aviator took off from the airport in the Afghan capital one minute before midnight, Kabul time. (DPA)
USA moves embassy to Qatar
With the withdrawal of troops from Kabul, the US ended its diplomatic presence in Afghanistan. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday evening that diplomatic activities were relocated to the Qatari capital, Doha. “In view of the uncertain security situation and the political situation in Afghanistan, this was a prudent step.”
A new diplomatic mission has now started. From Doha one wants to regulate consular affairs, but also manage humanitarian aid and organize cooperation with the allies. “We want to continue our relentless efforts to help Americans, foreigners and Afghans to leave Afghanistan if they choose to,” said Blinken. (DPA)
