The U.S. Department of War said on Friday it will release the findings of a major internal review of the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan later this summer, in what officials describe as one of the most comprehensive assessments ever conducted on a single military operation.

Speaking to reporters, U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegseth said the review examines decisions leading up to and including the evacuation at Kabul airport, particularly the deadly attack at Abbey Gate during the final days of the withdrawal.

Hegseth said the department is conducting a full internal accounting of the events, noting that previous investigations and congressional reviews did not provide a complete or detailed picture of what took place.

He described the withdrawal as a “disastrous” moment with long-term implications, saying its impact was felt beyond Afghanistan and influenced perceptions of U.S. deterrence worldwide.

On Aug. 26, 2021, as U.S. forces were withdrawing from Afghanistan, a suicide attack at the Abbey Gate entrance to Kabul’s airport killed 13 Americans.

The bombing has remained a central focus of criticism and political debate in the United States.

Sardar Ahmad Shakeeb, ambassador of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Islamabad, met with Oscar Manuel Sanchez, the head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Pakistan, to discuss the problems faced by Afghan refugees at registration and check-in centers.

According to a statement from the Afghan Embassy in Pakistan, Shakeeb proposed during the meeting that the registration process—carried out by UNHCR in cooperation with Pakistan’s NADRA authority—should be strengthened by increasing the number of mobile units. These units would be deployed to all districts and zones so that refugees can avoid long queues and have their other issues addressed more efficiently.

He also pointed to the problems faced by Afghan students, stating that they encounter serious challenges in the verification of their academic documents. He emphasized that this issue should be treated as a humanitarian matter and receive attention from all relevant parties.

During the meeting, the UNHCR head assured that necessary measures would be taken to improve facilities at the VRC (Voluntary Repatriation Centers). He added that the issue of Afghan students’ documents had previously been raised with the relevant Pakistani authorities and would continue to be followed up.

Sanchez further announced that the organization would establish a special center for handling complaints and scheduling appointments, enabling Afghan refugees to directly raise their concerns through designated phone numbers.

He also requested Ahmad Shakib to grant permission for a number of United Nations vehicles carrying humanitarian aid, currently held up in Pakistan, to enter Afghanistan.

Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama has criticized NATO over its handling of the withdrawal from Afghanistan, describing the exit as “shameful.”

Speaking at the Delphi Economic Forum, Rama said that while Albania is a NATO member, it has limited influence over the alliance’s decisions. He noted that member states tend to share credit when NATO actions are seen as successful, such as its role in Kosovo, but shift blame when outcomes are negative.

Referring to the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, Rama said NATO’s exit reflected poorly on the alliance and its member states.

He added that Albania accepted thousands of Afghan evacuees following the fall of Kabul, describing the situation as difficult and noting that many European countries were reluctant to host them.

Rama’s remarks highlight ongoing debate in Europe over responsibility for the Afghanistan withdrawal and the treatment of Afghan refugees in its aftermath.