PESHAWAR: The Taliban seized control of the Hamid Karzai International airport in Kabul after the longest-running US war come to an end with the withdrawal of last American troops from Afghanistan on 15 August, Monday.
According to the French news agency AFP, the Taliban celebrated by the US troops withdrawal with aerial firing and fireworks. The last US troops to oversee the “desperate evacuation” efforts left the Hamid Karzai International Airport on Monday night, after which the US announced the completion of evacuation process.
SEE ALSO: ‘US don’t trust Taliban, in no rush to recognise them’
After the withdrawal of US troops, the Taliban fighters swiftly entered the airport, celebrating victory over the United States after two decades of war.
Reuters said that the last US military C-17 took off from Kabul International Airport at 11:59 pm local time on 15 August. Acting US Ambassador Ross Wilson and the head of the US Army’s 82nd Airborne Division were also on board of the last military plane. On the eve of the US withdrawal, Foreign Secretary Antony Blinken announced that Washington has moved its diplomatic staff from Afghanistan to Doha, the capital of Qatar. He clarified that the Taliban have to work hard for gaining any kind of international support and legitimacy.
A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, announced that Afghanistan has gained full independence after the withdrawal of US troops. Mujahid, along with other leaders, visited Kabul Airport and congratulated Afghanistan, saying this is “the victory of all of us.” Mujahid said that the Taliban wanted good relations with the United States and Western world. Mujahid said, “The defeat of US is a lesson for all invaders and for our future generations. It has a lesson for the world.” Senior Taliban leader Anas Haqqani said that they were proud to see these “historic moments.”
During a briefing at the Pentagon, General Frank Mackenzie, the head of US Central Command, said that after 20 years, not a single US military personnel is present in Afghanistan. He described the evacuation as a “heartbreaking” moment and said “we have not been able to evacuate all those who wanted to evacuate.”
However, after the withdrawal, the threat of the Taliban’s rival group, ISIS, has also emerged, which tried to target US forces at Kabul airport. Running a war-torn country will be a major challenge for the Taliban, which, in addition to extreme poverty and drought, also faces threats from ISIS. Despite spending billions of dollars, the United States failed to eliminated the ISIS and other terror groups.
Reuters has reported that less than 40 percent of US citizens support President Joe Biden’s withdrawal strategy, while three-thirds believe that US troops should remain in Afghanistan until the complete withdrawal of Americans from the country. According to a national poll conducted between August 27 and 30, 51% of Americans disagree with President Joe Biden’s strategy, while only 38% support the full withdrawal.