After the announcement by the United States of plans to withdraw the American military contingent from the territory of Afghanistan, the terrorist organization "Taliban" began an offensive operation against the Afghan army.
Militants said that they already control 80% of the country. US intelligence believes that the government may completely lose control over Afghanistan in six months.
The situation also threatens the post-Soviet republics
On May 1, the United States and its allies began withdrawing their troops from Afghanistan. As President Joe Biden announced, the American army will completely leave this country by the anniversary of the terrorist attack that occurred in New York and Washington on September 11, 2001.
The American army has fulfilled its tasks, Biden emphasized.
"We went to Afghanistan for two reasons: to end bin Laden, and also to stop Afghanistan from being a haven for terrorists. From the very beginning, I never thought that we were there to somehow unite Afghanistan," the US president said.
NATO forces and alliance allies from 39 countries are also in Afghanistan with a non-military mission. Following the USA, NATO also decided to withdraw its troops. The other day, the British government also decided to withdraw its military contingent from Afghanistan after Biden's statement.
A week ago, on June 29, the last forces of Germany left Afghanistan, the number of which was second only to the United States. In recent years, the German army has been training Afghan government troops. The Bundeswehr sent forces to Afghanistan after the terrorist attacks on September 11, and the decision to leave the country was also made after Biden's statement.
The military operation of Western countries in Afghanistan, which was led by the United States, cost more than one trillion dollars, and several thousand soldiers of Western countries died during it. At the peak of the military presence of Western countries in Afghanistan in 2010, their contingent exceeded 100 thousand people.
According to data at the end of 2020, only 8,6 US servicemen remained in Afghanistan. The AP agency, citing official sources, reported on June 25 that about 650 American servicemen will remain in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of the main contingent. They will ensure the safety of diplomats.
At the end of February 2020, the USA and the Taliban signed a peace agreement. The treaty provides for the full withdrawal of US and NATO troops from Afghanistan within 14 months. In addition, the US also undertook not to interfere in the country's internal politics.
In return, the Taliban should not use Afghan territory for attacks. Kabul also pledged to release five thousand Taliban in exchange for the release by the Islamists of one thousand members of the security forces held by the Taliban.
After the signing of the agreement with the USA, the Taliban stopped attacking the forces of the international coalition, but continued the armed struggle against the government in Kabul.
However, with the beginning of the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan, the Taliban launched several major offensives and announced the capture of dozens of regions of the country.
FDD's Long War Journa analyst database reports that the Taliban already control 159 of the country's 407 districts. Moreover, more than 60 of them were added only in the last two months.
Note that the decision to withdraw the troops not only caused anxiety in Kabul, but also a contradictory reaction both in the world and in Washington itself. Moreover, the attitude to the long-term war divided both Republicans and Democrats.
The commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, General Scott Miller, said on June 29 that the situation in Afghanistan against the background of the withdrawal of international forces looks problematic.
In a conversation with journalists in Kabul, the general noted that the Taliban's seizure of a number of districts in the country is a cause for concern, and the government's involvement in military operations of militias that are supposed to help the Afghan security forces threatens to lead to a civil war in the country.
The war is transferred to Tajikistan and Uzbekistan
The withdrawal of the troops of Western countries is taking place against the background of a sharp deterioration of the situation on the borders of Afghanistan with the post-Soviet republics.
The other day it became known that the Taliban took control of the Sherkhan-Bandar border post, only 170 kilometers from the Tajik capital. This border crossing point is called the key for trade between the post-Soviet space and Afghanistan, and specifically for Tajikistan it is also the way to Iran, which remains an important trading partner.
The incident was made especially dramatic by the fact that in recent weeks, groups of Afghan servicemen totaling more than 3 people have retreated to the territory of Tajikistan. Tajik border guards, "guided by the principles of humanism and good neighborliness," allowed them to stay.
Just yesterday, the Taliban took full control of six more districts in the north-east of Afghanistan. On the night of July 5, more than 1300 Afghan soldiers retreated to the territory of Tajikistan under the pressure of Taliban militants.
The next day, a group of 53 Afghan soldiers retreated to the territory of Uzbekistan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country clarified that this happened in the Shortep area, and "after carrying out the necessary investigation procedures and investigative actions, the specified Afghan citizens were returned to their families."
At the same time, on June 25, US President Joe Biden assured Afghan President Ashraf Ghana of his moral support even after the withdrawal of American troops.
"The partnership between the United States and Afghanistan does not end. Our troops are leaving, but support for Afghanistan does not stop," said the American leader during a meeting with Ghana in Washington.
At the same time, Biden made it clear that Ghana should not hope for a delay in the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan.
"Afghans must take their destiny into their own hands. Afghans themselves must determine their future and decide what they want," Biden said.
