An Afghan journalist who was hiding in fear with his family in Kabul said that after the Taliban overtook the central government and military on Sunday, Afghanistan felt “betrayed” by the United States.
In an article for Politico, the journalist, who asked not to be named to protect his safety, said that the country’s capital was full of “panic and fear” on Sunday after militant groups seized control.
“For me and thousands of other people, this is the worst night of my life,” Reporter wrote“We can never imagine and believe that this will happen. We can never imagine that we will be betrayed so severely by the United States.”
“The people here are stunned [by the U.S. pulling out of Afghanistan]. They never thought they would do it. If they abandon us, thousands of lives may be lost. And you know that the United States will no longer have the moral authority to say’we believe in human rights’. We fight for human rights and democracy,'” he added.
The reporter was referring to the gradual withdrawal of all American troops from Afghanistan, which was the first decision made by the former president in 2020. Donald Trump Later got the president’s support Joe Biden. In July, Biden said All U.S. troops will withdraw from the country by August 31, Extending Trump’s previous target date of May 1.
However, due to the relatively small presence of the US military in Afghanistan, the Taliban quickly tightened control across the country. In the past week, the Taliban insurgents have seized power in most of the country, with little resistance from the Afghan army. On Sunday, the militant group effectively surpassed Kabul, the country’s last government stronghold. President Ashraf Ghani fled the country.
The amazing development happened a few weeks after Biden Said he “trusted” the strength of the Afghan army Resist the Taliban in the event of the withdrawal of US troops.
AFP via Getty Images/Getty Images
Fearing the extremist rule of the Taliban, Kabul was shrouded in chaos on Sunday as civilians were eager to leave the country.U.S. Embassy Warn Americans not After reporting that the facility was on fire, he went to the airport and stated that the situation was “changing rapidly.”
Many Afghans are now afraid of returning to the extremist ideology of the Taliban, especially because of their brutal treatment of women. The last time the Taliban ruled the country was from 1996 to 2001. It prohibited women and girls from working or receiving education, and required women to be accompanied by male relatives when they left home. According to the Associated Press, in recent days, there have also been reports of retaliatory killings and other barbaric methods in areas occupied by the Taliban.
On Sunday, the Afghan journalist said that when the United States invaded Afghanistan for the first time after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, changes across the country were “promising”. But now, he said, hopes of progress appear to have been dashed.
“There are many promises, many guarantees. A lot about values, a lot about progress, about rights, about women’s rights, about freedom, about democracy. It turns out that all this is empty,” he said.
“I don’t care if it is the Trump administration or the Biden administration. I believe in the United States, but in my opinion, this is a big mistake,” he added. “I hope American lawmakers know that it is not good to abandon your allies. This is the most irresponsible behavior in history. It’s like bringing us before the wolves.”
The reporter said that the United States must now “resolutely” oppose condemning the Taliban and call for more US troops to be sent to the country.
Saturday, Biden Defend the withdrawal of U.S. troops The statement from the country stated that if the Afghan army cannot or will not own its own country, the presence of the United States “will not have any impact.”
“I am the fourth president to preside over the U.S. forces in Afghanistan-twice Republicans, two Democratic PartyHe added, “I will not, and will not, push this war to fifth. “
Weekly newspaper Contacted the White House for more comment, but did not reply in time for publication.
