US Completes Withdrawal of Forces From Afghanistan Ending Brutal 20-year War | Key Points | Earth Indian

Kabul: Ending a 20-year war, the United States completed the withdrawal of its forces from conflict-wracked country Afghanistan. General Kenneth McKenzie, the head of the US Central Command, made the withdrawal announcement at a Pentagon news briefing. “I announce the completion of the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan and the end of the military mission to evacuate American citizens and Afghans… The last C-17 lifted off from Hamid Karzai Airport on August 30 this afternoon at 3:29 pm”,  McKenzie said, adding that the withdrawal signifies both the end of the military component of the evacuation, but also the end of the nearly 20-year mission that began in Afghanistan shortly after September 11, 2001, he stated.

Furthermore, he stated that the diplomatic mission to ensure additional US citizens and Afghans will continue while military evacuation is complete.  McKenzie also highlighted the sacrifices of those who served in Afghanistan and his personal connection to the mission. “No words from me could possibly capture the full measure of sacrifices and accomplishments of those who served, nor the emotions they’re feeling at this moment. But I will say that I’m proud that both my son and I have been a part of it,” McKenzie added.

Meanwhile, the US Department of Defense posted the picture of the last American soldier Major General Chris Donahue boarding C-17 aircraft on August 30.

Here are the key points:  
  • Following US troops withdrawal, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the last American soldier left Kabul airport at 9 pm Afghan time. Taking to Twitter, he said the last American soldier left Kabul airport at 9 pm Afghan time and our country gained full independence, Alhamdulillah Walmana.
  • Taliban fired their guns in the air in celebration as the United States completed the withdrawal of its forces from Afghanistan, after 20 years of military presence.
  • “Parts of Kabul erupted in celebratory gunfire after the last US C-17 aircraft lifted off from Hamid Karzai International Airport right before midnight shortly after the last aircraft departed,” CNN reported.

  • “Now our 20-year military presence in Afghanistan has ended. I want to thank our commanders for their execution of the dangerous retrograde from Afghanistan as scheduled in early morning hours of Aug 31, Kabul time with no further loss of American lives”, said US President Joe Biden, expressing gratitude towards the US military for carrying out the dangerous evacuation.
  • He said that the past 17 days have seen our troops execute the largest airlift in US history, evacuating over 120,000 US citizens, citizens of our allies, and Afghan allies of the United States.
  • US Secretary Antony Blinken asserted America’s work in Afghanistan continues, we have a plan in hand…we will remain relentlessly focused on maintaining peace.. including by welcoming thousands of them into our community as we have done before.
  • “As of today, we have suspended our diplomatic presence in Kabul and transferred our operations to Doha, Qatar. We will use the post in Doha to manage our diplomacy with Afghanistan. US military flights have ended and our troops have departed Afghanistan”, said Blinken.
  • Former US President Donald Trump attacked his successor Joe Biden’s administration saying never in history has a withdrawal from war been handled so badly or incompetently as by Americans from Afghanistan.
  •  “In addition to the obvious, ALL EQUIPMENT should be demanded to be immediately returned to the United States, and that includes every penny of the USD 85 billion dollars in cost. If it is not handed back, we should either go in with unequivocal military force and get it or at least bomb the hell out of it. Nobody ever thought such stupidity, as this feeble-brained withdrawal, was possible!” Trump said as the longest American war came to an end, with the Taliban regaining power in the country which they had lost after the American invasion weeks after the September 9/11 attacks.

(With agency inputs)




By Shivam Urkude || Earth Indian

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