Taliban now face a test, says Khalilzad after US withdrawal

Following the United States’ full withdrawal from Afghanistan overnight Monday, the US special envoy for Afghanistan reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad said that the Taliban now face a test in terms of leading the country to a safe and prosperous future.

In a series of tweets, Khalilzad said that now is the chance to bring their war to an end.

“This is the chance to bring their war to an end as well. The Taliban now face a test. Can they lead their country to a safe and prosperous future where all their citizens, men and women, have the chance to reach their potential?” Khalilzad tweeted.

“Can Afghanistan present the beauty and power of its diverse cultures, histories, and traditions to the world?” Khalilzad said.

The United States on Monday completed its military withdrawal from Afghanistan after a huge but chaotic airlift that left behind thousands of Afghans and hundreds of Americans, Reuters reported earlier.

Major General Chris Donahue, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, stepped aboard a C-17 transport plane on Monday night, making him the last U.S. service member to leave Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul.

Celebratory gunfire echoed across Kabul as Taliban fighters took control of the airport before dawn on Tuesday following the withdrawal of the last U.S. troops, ending 20 years of US military presence in the country.