The world has been shocked and numbed to see the spectacle of a humanitarian crisis of huge magnitude unfolding in Afghanistan that became the starkest reality minutes after the Taliban brandishing weapons and their firepower entered Kabul August 16 morning. It was funny, to say the least, how the Afghan government forces just melted away into thin air as the Taliban leaders and foot soldiers took possession of the country, province by province, till they reached the capital Kabul and eventually the presidential palace without the slightest of resistance. Video footage went viral showing Taliban soldiers enjoying the comfort and food inside.
On the other side of the world, in Washington DC, President Joe Biden held a press conference and unequivocally stated that he stood ‘squarely’ behind his decision of withdrawal of American combat forces from Afghanistan. He did not forget to mention that the 20 long years of engagement of American and NATO forces in Afghanistan had been the longest war fought in recent American history. He reminded his voters about his pledge during his presidential campaign in 2020 that he would withdraw American troops from Afghanistan if elected. His predecessor Donald Trump was the third president to have presided over the Afghan war and was instrumental in starting a dialogue with the Taliban, keeping bringing back US forces home as the top agenda. When Biden spoke, he reminded not only Americans but also his allies that the US had entered Afghanistan not for a nation building experiment. The world knows that the US had been excessively violent in its reactions against the Al-Qaeda which claimed responsibility for the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington DC. It was obvious that the attack on Afghanistan and the dethroning of the Taliban government was a pure act of revenge and reprisal. To expect Americans to have stayed on even longer, after two decades and trillions of dollars spent and thousands of Americans dead is definitely expecting too much from any country.
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Biden’s decision cannot be faulted if one observes the manner in which the Afghan politicians and especially former President Ashraf Ghani fled the country with tons of cash and how the armed forces capitulated without firing a single shot. A nation which is not committed to protecting itself will never be ready to face enemies within and without. The financial and social corruption that had set in among the government and armed forces of Afghanistan under the protection of American cover was evident at how quickly they caved in and deserted ranks. It seems like the Afghan men were not concerned about the security and future of their own womenfolk. The Taliban rule will probably bring in a dark era for the common citizens of Afghanistan, especially young girls and women.
On the other hand, the success of Taliban will bolster other Islamist extremist organizations worldwide which will look up at this victory as an indication of changing times. Apart from the West, countries neighboring Afghanistan will now have a lot to worry about. It can be a lesson to all corrupt societies that they can no longer depend on their armies alone to protect them. Afghanistan has demonstrated that in spite of modern equipment, arms, ammunition, helicopters and plenty of funding, the armed forces will be as strong or weak as the government and society that is behind them.
