An internal review has concluded that the US State Department failed to adequately prepare for the swift collapse of the Afghan government in 2021, according to the latest report criticizing the chaotic withdrawal from the country.
The After Action Review (AAR), released on Friday, commended the heroic efforts of State Department staff who worked under extreme stress, demands, and risks during the tumultuous events. However, it stated that the department should have better anticipated the fall of Kabul, the Afghan capital.
The internationally supported Afghan government crumbled, and then-President Ashraf Ghani fled the country in August 2021 as the Taliban took control of Kabul during the withdrawal of US forces.
The report emphasized that the decisions made by US President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump to withdraw American forces had serious consequences for the viability of the US-backed Afghan government. It also noted the insufficient consideration of worst-case scenarios at the senior level during both administrations.
Specifically, the State Department was criticized for its failure to establish a crisis-management task force that could have coordinated the situation in Afghanistan and collaborated effectively with the Pentagon for an evacuation plan.
The review stated that establishing such a task force earlier would have facilitated the involvement of key players in addressing potential evacuation issues. It also highlighted the lack of clarity regarding the lead role within the State Department, which hindered the planning process for the evacuation operation conducted by the Pentagon.
Following the fall of Kabul, US troops oversaw a massive two-week operation to evacuate US citizens and desperate Afghans. However, during this evacuation, a suicide bombing by the Afghan branch of ISIL (ISIS) resulted in the loss of at least 175 lives, including 13 US service members.
The State Department’s review comes nearly three months after the White House released a broader report on the withdrawal, which primarily held the Trump administration responsible for the issues that led to the challenging US exit from Afghanistan.
The review also criticized the Trump administration, particularly for failing to address the backlog and other problems affecting the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program. This program offers a pathway for Afghans who worked with the US government to come to the United States.
Furthermore, the review echoed the findings of the White House report, stating that the Trump administration did not adequately plan for the departure of American troops when it authorized the withdrawal in a February 2020 deal with the Taliban.
President Biden faced significant criticism from Republicans following the Afghanistan withdrawal. However, he defended the decision to end the “forever war,” which had become the longest armed conflict in Washington’s history after 20 years.
The US and its coalition partners invaded Afghanistan in 2001 in response to the 9/11 attacks by al-Qaeda. While the Taliban was swiftly removed from power, a lasting defeat of the group and complete control over the mountainous country were never achieved by the US-led troops.
The United States has not recognized the current Taliban government and has imposed sanctions on the group.
