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LettersTwo reasons behind Joe Biden’s Afghanistan troop withdrawal
- While there are good reasons for the US to exit this costly war, it must leave with verifiable assurances of a secure Afghan future
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The White House has declared that American troops stationed in Afghanistan will leave in September, ending their 20-year presence. Why has US President Joe Biden decided to retreat from Afghanistan, given the Afghan military remains weak and the Taliban strong?
Firstly, this has been a costly campaign. The United States has spent more than US$2 trillion on its war effort against the Taliban and thousands of lives have been lost.
Secondly, the US withdrawal timetable adds urgency to the peace talks between Afghanistan’s government and the Taliban. Last year, president Donald Trump agreed to the Taliban’s demand that US forces completely withdraw by May 1, a deadline that Biden now deems hard to achieve, though he also recognises the necessity of withdrawing as soon as possible, which would help to end the insurgency.
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Afghans have made some progress under American protection, including better human rights protection and an improved education rate for women. Now, there is much uncertainty as to whether US withdrawal will hinder this progress. As Senator Jeanne Shaheed said: “The US has sacrificed too much to bring stability to Afghanistan to leave without verifiable assurances of a secure future.”
Eric Lee, Tai Po
03:48
As US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan nears, Hazara militia fighters prepare for the worst
As US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan nears, Hazara militia fighters prepare for the worst
Let Afghans determine their own future
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