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After the drastic and sudden evacuation of US troops from Afghanistan the Taliban quickly took over the country and seized many former US army bases, weapons and vehicles and installed themselves as the de facto rulers of the country. This plunged the country into turmoil with many people terrified of what was to come next. Most prominent of these groups frighten people are those who assisted the US in their occupation of Afghanistan. Either informants, spys, former soldiers or even translators were all left to their own devices with little to no instruction when the US army left. Even Americans who were there to just see their family were left to wonder what would become of them now that the Taliban was incharge of the state. Their questions would be answered when the airport in Kabul reported it would have its first international flight scheduled after the country’s coup d’état. It was scheduled to carry 200 passengers out of the country. The Taliban wished for this to be seen as a resumption of regularly scheduled international travel and not an evacuation. In order to do so they have made it so that only passport or green card carriers are allowed to leave the country at this time. The flight was successfully boarded and to the surprise of many went on without issue. Airport officials were seen escorting passengers to the flight and were astutely aware to show Chief Foreign-Affairs Correspondent at The Wall Street Journal Yaroslav Trofimov, that it appeared to be business as usual. Yaroslav noted however that there are still tens of thousands of people who have yet to escape and their future remains unclear.
While the US has not had a response thus far it is safe to say that this only serves to exasborate the fallout of our evacuation. This is most likely due to the current administration’s goal of having troops moved out of Afghanistan and home prior to the 20 year anniversary of 9-11. However in their negligence they did not properly evacuate the regular civilians who assisted the US only managing to evacuate 120,000 before the full withdrawal. There was also no warning to US citizens visiting family in Afghanistan prior to US troops leaving the country. This paints the US as an uncoordinated and irrational nation and will damage our perception in other countries we may need to occupy in the future. Additionally the withdrawal of US troops in Afghanistan opened the country to other forgin superpowers to take advantage of the newly created chaos. For example the Taliban signing a deal with China to join the new silk road initiative. Or China and other neighboring countries near Afghanistan attempting to exert their own power to “stabilize” the country. Russia has also expressed interest in Afghanistan natural resources with the Us’s departure. These developments raise more questions than answers for the people hiding out in Afghanistan and with little response from the Biden Administration on how they will handle evacuating their supporters in the region many are left to wonder what is next.
