The Taliban gained control of Afghanistan’s second- and third-largest cities by early Friday, as fears mounted of a total takeover and humanitarian catastrophe. The group’s rapid advance prompted the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada to deploy extra troops (Reuters) to aid the evacuation of foreign nationals.
A United Nations envoy warned that the country is at a “dangerous turning point” (UN News), while the UK defense secretary criticized Washington’s decision (FT) to withdraw troops by the end of the month. This spring, the Joe Biden administration announced the pullout of U.S. troops after nearly twenty years of deployment, asserting it is up to Afghan forces to defend their country. Envoys from countries that met in Doha this week, including China, European Union member states, Pakistan, and the United States, announced that they will not recognize any government (Twitter) in Afghanistan that is imposed through the use of military force.
Analysis
“In many areas seized by the Taliban, Afghan forces are not getting steamrolled—they’re simply stepping aside. This is ultimately more a story of [Afghan National Security Forces’] weakness than one of Taliban strength. And Afghan civilians pay the biggest price for what’s become a huge failure of leadership,” tweets the Wilson Center’s Michael Kugelman.
“The only thing that can avert an even greater calamity is a willingness by Biden to rethink his bad decision and send U.S. aircraft and advisers back to Afghanistan to bolster the government forces before Kabul falls. It’s still not too late, but time is rapidly running out,”
