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Top former US generals say Afghanistan evacuation order came too late
The top two generals who oversaw the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 said Tuesday that the chaotic evacuation, which resulted in the deaths of over 100 Afghans and 13 US service members, was ordered too late.
Retired Generals Mark Milley and Kenneth “Frank” McKenzie blamed delayed decision-making by the State Department for the rushed and violent airlift out of Kabul’s airport as the Islamic Emirate took over the country.
“The fundamental mistake, fundamental flaw was the timing of the State Department’s call of the [noncombatant evacuation operation], I think that was too slow and too late,” said Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Stripes reported.
“There’s a lot of other mistakes that are made along the way … but I think that was key, I think that was fundamental.”
The former military leaders shared their assessments with the House Foreign Relations Committee as Republicans continued their scrutiny of the drawdown of U.S. forces at the end of a 20-year war in Afghanistan.
“I will not rest until I get to the bottom of this tragedy,” said Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, the committee chairman. “The American people deserve answers, and I intend to deliver.”
Milley and McKenzie offered testimony that largely echoed previous appearances they made before Congress while still in uniform.
They reiterated that they had opposed the full removal of U.S. troops but said the outcome of the withdrawal, which was marked by scenes of desperate Afghans clinging to departing planes, was ultimately the culmination of many decisions over many years of war, reported Stripes.
The US military recently completed an additional review of the bombing that took place outside the US military base in Kabul during the evacuation. The military interviewed troops who were not questioned during the original Abbey Gate investigation.
The military withdrawal was completed by July 12, 2021, according to McKenzie, while the State Department order to evacuate all American citizens, Afghan allies and others did not come until Aug. 14, 2021. The Afghan government’s senior leadership fled the country the next day.
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Pakistan to repatriate nearly 20,000 Afghans awaiting US resettlement
Authorities will also share verified data of the affected individuals with relevant departments to support implementation.
Pakistan will repatriate nearly 20,000 Afghan nationals currently awaiting resettlement in the United States, The Nation reported, citing official sources.
The move affects 19,973 Afghans living across Pakistan.
A federal directive will instruct provincial chief secretaries and police chiefs in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and the Islamabad Capital Territory to begin the repatriation process immediately.
Authorities will also share verified data of the affected individuals with relevant departments to support implementation.
Following the Islamic Emirate’s return to power in 2021, more than 100,000 Afghans fled to Pakistan, many of whom had worked with the US and UK governments, international organizations, or aid agencies.
Thousands have remained stranded in Pakistan for over four years while awaiting US resettlement clearance.
Prospects for relocation have dimmed amid a suspension of case processing by the US administration, according to The Nation.
Under Pakistan’s Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan (IFRP), all Afghan nationals still awaiting US relocation will now be returned to Afghanistan.
Terrorist activities continue to be observed along Afghanistan borders and along the India–Pakistan–Afghanistan corridor, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview published on Monday.
Speaking to Russia-based media outlet TV BRICS, Lavrov pointed to ongoing concerns in the Middle East, including its Asian regions.
He highlighted the importance of collaboration with India at the United Nations to advance a global counter-terrorism convention.
Lavrov stated that while the draft convention has already been prepared, consensus on its adoption has not yet been reached.
Russia has repeatedly expressed concern about militant threats from Afghanistan. The Islamic Emirate, however, has dismissed the concerns saying that it will not allow Afghanistan’s soil to be used against any country.
Noorullah Noori, Afghanistan’s Minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs, held a phone conversation with Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, to discuss bilateral border cooperation.
According to the Iranian news agency IRNA, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening border collaboration, with a particular focus on the ongoing renovation and updating of border markers. They also agreed to accelerate joint technical and legal meetings to enhance coordination.
As part of the agreement, the next meeting of senior border officials from Afghanistan and Iran is scheduled to take place in Iran in 1405 (2026–2027).
Tahawol: Pakistan’s Foreign Policy Failure of Towards Afghanistan discussed
Saar: Regional Problems, Opportunities, and Challenges discussed
Pakistan to repatriate nearly 20,000 Afghans awaiting US resettlement
Terrorist activities observed along Afghanistan borders, says Lavrov
Afghan border minister holds phone talks with Iran’s deputy foreign minister
Afghanistan–China joint market opens in Kabul
Pakistan approves re-export of stranded Afghan transit trade cargo
ATN secures broadcast rights to Carabao Cup semis across Afghanistan
Pakistan army orders evacuation of Tirah Valley, fears of mass displacement grow
Afghan traders sign deal to import pharmaceuticals from Bangladesh
Tahawol: Pakistan’s Foreign Policy Failure of Towards Afghanistan discussed
Saar: Regional Problems, Opportunities, and Challenges discussed
Saar: Afghanistan’s relations and opportunities with regional countries
Tahawol: Kabul’s response to Pakistan’s new accusation discussed
Saar: Discussion on Iran-US talks in Oman
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