US officials revisit Afghanistan war failures

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.