Doha, 15 April 2021 (NYT/Taleban)
President Biden, frustrated in his efforts to end America’s “Forever War” a decade ago, announced on Wednesday a Sept. 11 deadline for withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan after 20 years, a move that immediately triggered similar action among the country’s NATO allies.
While a complete withdrawal has long been seen as inevitable, it is likely to lead to an expansion of the Taliban that could overwhelm the U.S.-backed government in Kabul, despite assurances by intelligence agencies that the withdrawal can be done without precipitating the kind of violent, entropic instability that led to the 2001 attacks on America.
“We cannot continue the cycle of extending or expanding our military presence in Afghanistan hoping to create the ideal conditions for our withdrawal, expecting a different result,” Mr. Biden said.
Mr. Biden’s spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, told reporters at the White House on Wednesday that Mr. Biden had consulted more than one of his predecessors before making his decision. (A person with direct knowledge of the situation later said Mr. Biden reached out to Barack Obama and George W. Bush).
Pakistan army’s official news agency ISPR reported today that General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) in a meeting with Mrs Angela Ageler, US Charge d’ Affairs to Pakistan welcomed President Biden’s announcement of withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan by September 2021.
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