The Pentagon’s Central Command update on Tuesday said around 90% of the United States’ (US) troops and equipment have been successfully withdrawn from Afghanistan ahead of President Joe Biden’s September 11 deadline.
CNBC reported that American forces have moved over 980 loads of material via cargo aircraft. In addition, over 17,000 pieces of equipment, which will not be transferred to the Afghan security forces, have been submitted to the Defence Logistics Agency for destruction. Meanwhile, seven facilities previously run by American forces have been transferred to the Afghan military. Speaking to the NBC, official sources said the Bagram Air Base, a central facility for American operations in the war-torn country, was handed over to the Afghan National Security and Defence Force.
At the time of Biden’s announcement, the US had around 2,500 troops and 16,000 private contractors in the country. The intention was to bring it down to 650 troops deployed solely for the security of the American embassy and diplomats in Afghanistan.
Since the US announced in April that it would withdraw all its troops from Afghanistan by September 11, the security situation in the country has been deteriorating even as the Taliban and the Afghan government continue to engage in peace negotiations in Doha. Last week, Al Jazeera reported that over 300 Afghan security personnel were forced to cross over from Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province to Tajikistan after failing to push back the Taliban. Moreover, the Taliban seized several new weapons from the Afghan military, including 900 guns, 30 light tactical vehicles, and 20 army pickup trucks.
Since May, the Taliban has seized control of around 120 districts. The districts that have been captured are of great strategic significance, as most of them are situated along the country’s border with Central Asian neighbours and effectively give the Taliban control over critical trade routes.
Amid these rising tensions, Afghan Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Haneef Atmar convened a meeting with several regional partners in Afghanistan to assess “the escalation of violence by the Taliban, destruction of property and infrastructures, and the new chapter of Afghanistan’s relations with the world.” A press release stated that Atmar urged the regional leaders to pressurise the Taliban to meet its obligations under the Doha Peace Agreement, which includes declaring a ceasefire and cutting its ties with “foreign fighters and international terrorist groups.”
A spokesperson of the Taliban stated that the group intends on presenting a peace proposal to the Afghan government by next month, bringing some hope for peace and stability in the country.
90% of American Troops Have Been Withdrawn From Afghanistan, Says Pentagon
Amid a surge in Taliban-led violence in Afghanistan, the Pentagon’s Central Command said that the withdrawal of American troops from the war-torn country was over 90% completed.
July 7, 2021
SOURCE: NEW YORK TIMES