As the Taliban continue to make progress in Afghanistan, President Biden is sending 3,000 soldiers to Afghanistan to assist in the evacuation of American diplomats from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the force will consist of three infantry battalions of the Marine Corps and Army, and they will be deployed to Kabul within 24 to 48 hours. “This is a temporary task with a narrow focus,” Kirby says, According to the Associated Press.
An army and air force of 1,000 soldiers will be deployed to Qatar to process immigrant visas to assist Afghan civilians who assisted the U.S. military in the 20 Years’ War.
The Taliban occupied many cities, such as Aybak, Qala-e-Naw, Taleqan, Shibirghan, Sar-e Pul, Kunduz, Herat, Ghazni and Kandahar, The birthplace of the Taliban. The militant group has occupied 12 of the 34 capital cities.The militants are also launching Assassination campaign Targeting senior government officials in Kabul, According to a separate Associated Press report.
On Thursday, Secretary of State Anthony Brinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. The United States directly warned Taliban officials that if the Taliban attacks Americans during temporary deployment, the United States will retaliate.
Officials said that as the Biden administration prepares to deal with the possible collapse of the Afghan government within 30 days, the Pentagon is mobilizing thousands of Marines in order to possibly evacuate the American embassy and American citizens in Kabul. https://t.co/DLdZlvPjNq
— The New York Times (@nytimes) August 12, 2021
Although the Taliban achieved the expected results, President Biden is still determined to leave Afghanistan.
CNBC pointed out that Biden told White House reporters on Tuesday: “Look, we have spent more than $1 trillion in 20 years to train and equip more than 300,000 Afghan troops with modern equipment.” “Afghan leaders must unite, They must fight for themselves and for their country.”
Kirby said that the Afghan army must use the years of training they have obtained from the United States and NATO forces.
“They have advantages in number, combat structure, air force and modern weapons. This is actually the will and leadership to use these advantages for their own benefit,” Kirby says.
Kirby has said that despite the temporary increase in troops, the United States is still expected to withdraw its troops completely before August 31.
Photo: AFP/SAUL LOEB
