Terrorists from the Taliban marched into Kabul on Sunday, preparing to retake full control of Afghanistan two decades after the US force ousted them. The terrorist gang has taken over the presidential palace and announced plans to proclaim a new “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan” soon. President Ashraf Ghani, who is backed by the United States, had fled the nation just hours before.
The quickness with which the Afghan government fell stunned NATO allies and provoked condemnation from all sides of the US political spectrum for President Joe Biden’s administration appearing to be caught off guard by the Taliban’s simple march. Dozens of countries released an united statement Monday urging “those in positions of power and responsibility across Afghanistan” to allow Afghans and foreigners to leave safely if they so desire, to keep borders open, and to safeguard the peace.
As the Al Jazeera network broadcast what it claimed were live images of armed Taliban terrorists roaming the palace and posing at desks, Kabul’s airport served as a staging ground for the planned departure of most US embassy personnel, signaling the end of a two-decade engagement sparked by the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
The Taliban stormed through Afghanistan in a matter of weeks, exploiting a void left by departing US and NATO forces working against Biden’s August 31 deadline to finish America’s longest conflict. Officials in the United States have stated that they are striving to ensure an orderly exit.
The Pentagon and State Department announced in a joint statement Sunday that the US will increase its presence at Kabul’s international airport to almost 6,000 troops over the next 48 hours to evacuate thousands of American citizens, as well as locally employed workers and their families.
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The Taliban stormed through Afghanistan in a matter of weeks, exploiting a void left by departing US and NATO forces working against Biden’s August 31 deadline to finish America’s longest conflict. Officials in the United States have stated that they are striving to ensure an orderly exit.
The Pentagon and State Department announced in a joint statement Sunday that the US will increase its presence at Kabul’s international airport to almost 6,000 troops over the next 48 hours to evacuate thousands of American citizens, as well as locally employed workers and their families.
