The U.S. has begun chaos and finally abandoned, and the Afghan people are in a deep predicament


　　——Perspecting the American responsibility behind the chaos in Afghanistan ③

　　In the past few days, as the U.S. forces accelerate their withdrawal from Afghanistan, the fighting between the Taliban and the Afghan government forces has become increasingly fierce.

The Taliban claimed to have captured 19 of the country’s 34 capital cities, and the local security situation continued to deteriorate.

According to media reports, the United States will send 3,000 soldiers to Afghanistan to ensure the safe evacuation of American diplomats and others.

The United States is in an embarrassed situation, even its hard-core ally Britain’s Secretary of Defense Wallace can't stand it. He bluntly said that the US decision to withdraw troops was a "wrong".

　　The United States launched the war in Afghanistan in the name of anti-terrorism, which has been delayed for 20 years.

Afghanistan is devastated, its economy is declining, and its people's livelihood is suffering.

As the fourth US president to take over the war in Afghanistan, Biden is determined to "stop losses" for the United States and end the "endless" war in order to concentrate more resources for major power competition.

Just as the United States sent troops to Afghanistan to achieve its own strategic goals, its rapid withdrawal from Afghanistan was only for its own self-interest, disregarding responsibilities and morality, and plunged the Afghan people into war.

The irresponsible withdrawal of the United States' "burden-ridden" style has quickly collapsed the fragile balance between the Ghani government of Afghanistan and the Taliban, creating a new "security black hole."

　　Since May, the Taliban have launched a fierce offensive, shifting from the countryside to the city, and have successively captured the northern city of Kunduz and the strategically important city of Ghazni.

The speed of the Taliban's attack on the city made the United States "surprised" and disturbed.

Some international observers predict that the Taliban may encircle the capital Kabul within 30 days and take over the city within 90 days.

However, the United States is currently eager to throw the pot away, saying that its withdrawal plan has not changed and that "Afghans must rely on themselves" and only occasionally provide air support to the Afghan government forces in an attempt to contain the expansion of the Taliban.

In fact, the US approach has not only failed to delay the Taliban’s offensive pace, but has left Afghanistan with an even more chaotic "mess."

　　The turmoil in Afghanistan caused a sharp increase in civilian casualties.

According to a report released by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan on July 26, 1,659 Afghan civilian deaths have been recorded in 2021, and the total number of casualties has increased by 47% compared with the same period in 2020.

Among them, women and children were particularly injured, accounting for 46% of all civilian casualties.

The agency warned that if the violent conflict does not decrease, 2021 will be the year with the highest number of civilian casualties in Afghanistan since the agency has recorded it.

　　Wars and conflicts have also displaced a large number of Afghan civilians.

The United Nations humanitarian affairs agency issued a statement stating that countless civilians have been forced to be displaced due to the war or the deteriorating security situation.

The Minister of State for Disaster Management of Afghanistan, Jalani, stated on August 10 that the war has resulted in the displacement of more than 60,000 families, of which 17,000 have entered Kabul. These people are facing extreme shortages of water, food, medicine and other daily necessities and medical supplies. Difficulties, it is urgent for international humanitarian organizations to extend a helping hand.

However, as the war spreads, the operational space of humanitarian organizations that can provide assistance will be further reduced.

The situation in the area occupied by the Taliban is also worrying. Although the Taliban stated that the economic and social order in the occupied area will be restored as soon as possible, how can there be a place to live in the raging war?

　　The issue of Afghan refugees has aroused the attention of all parties in the international community.

The United States is the initiator of the chaos in Afghanistan. The 20-year war has created a large number of refugees, and neighboring countries have been overwhelmed.

At the moment, the United States intends to leave, but shirks its responsibility to neighboring countries-the United States asks Pakistan to open its borders and accept more Afghan refugees.

Pakistan claims that there are millions of Afghan refugees in its territory and cannot afford to receive more.

Iran also has nearly 1 million registered Afghan refugees. Recently, as the Taliban captured Zaranj, the capital of Nimruz province adjacent to Iran, a large number of refugees continued to flee to Iran.

　　The United States, which clamored for "priority", has always abandoned it in Afghanistan. It has not been able to bear the responsibility of a major country, and it has left the basic international morality behind.

The war has brought a serious humanitarian disaster to the Afghan people, but the United States has turned a blind eye to it.

As for the large number of refugees caused by the war, the United States has avoided it for fear.

The United States recently announced a new refugee plan, saying that it is working hard to provide Afghan people who have worked for the US government with refugee treatment in the United States. However, various restrictions make it difficult for Afghans in difficulty to apply, which also further exposes the United States’ human rights. The hypocritical nature of the "defender".

　　(Author's unit: China Institute of International Studies)

Li Qingyan