Senior US officials have renewed criticism of America’s 20-year military campaign in Afghanistan, questioning the strategy behind the intervention, the billions of dollars spent and the chaotic withdrawal of international forces in August 2021.

The latest remarks have reopened debate over one of the most costly and controversial chapters in recent US military history, with officials acknowledging serious failures in planning, leadership and the long-term objectives of the mission.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has criticised the American military establishment for failing to conduct a comprehensive examination of the Afghanistan withdrawal, arguing that the lessons of the campaign cannot be properly understood without an honest assessment of what went wrong.

He also pointed to the August 2021 suicide bombing at Kabul airport’s Abbey Gate, which killed 13 US service members, describing the incident as evidence of major operational, strategic and political failures.

Hegseth said the disorderly conclusion of America’s military involvement had also damaged the country’s international credibility.

Criticism has also come from John Sopko, the former Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), who questioned whether Washington ever had a coherent strategy for its involvement in Afghanistan.

Sopko said successive US administrations repeatedly changed the mission’s objectives without establishing a clear understanding of what they ultimately wanted to achieve.

He also raised questions about the enormous financial cost of the intervention, pointing to the collapse of the Afghan government shortly after international forces withdrew, despite years of extensive financial and military support.

The renewed scrutiny comes as Washington continues to maintain its highest travel warning for Afghanistan, advising American citizens against visiting the country.

Relations between Washington and Kabul also remain strained. The United States has not formally recognised the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, while Afghan authorities have repeatedly urged Washington to move beyond the legacy of the war and pursue a more constructive relationship based on diplomatic engagement and cooperation.

The latest criticism highlights continuing questions in Washington over whether the Afghanistan intervention achieved its objectives, why the Afghan government collapsed so rapidly and what lessons the United States has drawn from two decades of military involvement.

Afghanistan’s security situation and its impact on regional stability were among the issues highlighted by Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu during a meeting of security council secretaries from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

Shoigu stressed the importance of constructive cooperation with Kabul, saying that developments in Central Asia directly affect stability in Afghanistan. He said cooperation with Afghanistan is a shared priority in the fields of security, economic development and regional cooperation.

Speaking to reporters following the meeting, Shoigu also warned about emerging threats linked to drug trafficking, particularly the spread of synthetic drugs, describing them as a serious regional challenge.

He noted that drug trafficking networks are increasingly using contactless delivery methods and alternative payment systems, including cryptocurrencies, making coordinated efforts among countries essential.

Shoigu added that the meeting addressed drug trafficking within the CIS region, including the previous threat posed by opiates originating from Afghanistan.

He called for joint regional efforts to counter new forms of drug trafficking and strengthen security cooperation among member states.

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has rejected the US State Department’s decision to place Afghanistan under its highest travel warning, describing the advisory as unjustified and insisting that foreign nationals face no security threats in the country.

Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, said citizens from various countries, including tourists, diplomats, journalists and businesspeople, continue to visit Afghanistan.

He added that those visitors maintain relations with various countries, including the United States, and that security forces pay special attention to protecting foreign nationals and individuals linked to international organisations and governments.

Mujahid said the reasons behind Washington’s concerns would be examined, but maintained that, from the Islamic Emirate’s perspective, no one faces a threat in Afghanistan.

His remarks came after the US Department of State placed Afghanistan among 23 countries under its Level 4 travel advisory, urging American citizens not to travel to the country.