Afghanistan (Washington Insider Magazine) -As the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan comes to a denouement after 20 years in the country, the Taliban continues to gain widespread control of the country. A senior European Union official reported that the Taliban controls around 65 percent of the country, a majority that is expected to increase in the upcoming months.
A previous U.S. intelligence report predicted Kabul would be under Taliban control within six to 12 months of the U.S. departure scheduled to be completed by September 11. This prediction is being revisited by officials in light of the group’s relentless advance. The Washington Post cited unnamed officials predicting the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in less than nine months.
Although British officials have expressed concern over the withdrawal, and said that Britain tried to stay in the country, U.S. President Joe Biden maintains that the U.S. decision was justified. The president said he does not regret the withdrawal and placed responsibility on Afghan leaders to counter the Taliban advance.
“Afghan leaders have to come together,” Biden told reporters at the White House. “They’ve got to fight for themselves, fight for their nation. […] We spent over a trillion dollars over 20 years. We trained and equipped, with modern equipment, over 300,000 Afghan forces. And Afghan leaders have to come together.”
White House spokesperson Jen Psaki added separately in Washington: “Ultimately, our view is that the Afghan national security defense forces have the equipment, numbers and training to fight back, which will strengthen their position at the negotiating table. We believe there’s a political process that’s the only process that will successfully bring peace and stability to Afghanistan.”
In a statement to Parliament in early August, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani attributed deteriorating security in Afghanistan to the abrupt nature of the U.S. withdrawal. Both U.S. and Afghan forces continue to carry out airstrikes. According to residents, the Taliban claimed Pul-e-Khumri, the capital of Baghlan province, on Aug. 9, which is 125 miles from Kabul.
According to a United Nations’ report, more than 1,000 civilians have been killed in fighting between the Afghan government and the Taliban in the past month.