What Taliban advances may imply for the way forward for Afghanistan – “The Takeout”
With U.S. floor forces in Afghanistan set to go away the nation by the top of August and Taliban fighters shortly gaining a foothold within the nation, CBS Information senior overseas correspondent Charlie D’Agata says confrontation between a fragile Afghan authorities and Taliban insurgents is looming.
“The vital factor is how shortly [the U.S. withdrawal] has accelerated the disintegration of Afghanistan,” D’Agata instructed CBS Information chief Washington correspondent Main Garrett on this week’s episode of “The Takeout” podcast. “There’s a two-minute offense that the Taliban had been beginning to implement… it has surprised all people — the Afghans, Individuals, the White Home — how shortly the Taliban advance within the offensive has gone on up to now six weeks or so.”
This week’s departure of Normal Scott Miller, the longest serving commander in Afghanistan, marked the symbolic finish of the U.S. army mission within the nation. Taliban militants proceed to encompass provincial capitals “ready for the final American soldier to go away earlier than pulling the set off [on further military action],” D’Agata mentioned.
D’Agata mentioned that the Afghan authorities could don’t have any alternative however to barter a long-term resolution with Taliban leaders.
“There could also be a diplomatic resolution, however the Afghan authorities, the Afghan individuals, sadly, are actually going to be staring down any form of negotiations by the barrel of a gun,” D’Agata mentioned, including that the endgame of the Taliban is to run Afghanistan’s authorities and to take away what it sees as a puppet authorities that favors U.S. political pursuits.
D’Agata additionally mentioned youthful Afghans are afraid of extra battle and destruction, together with a possible “rewinding of the clock” that would push women out of college and return the nation to Sharia Legislation.
Over 19,000 Afghans utilized for and obtained Particular Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for his or her work helping U.S. army forces during the last 20 years. However the federal authorities has been sluggish to course of these claims. Afghan interpreters who assisted U.S. forces are amongst these ready for a ticket to America. They and their households are ready beneath the specter of Taliban violence.
D’Agata mentioned that the backlog on processing the households is so substantial that “in the event that they began proper now, and we’re at full dash, it will take nearly 5 years simply to clear the backlog.”
This week the Biden administration launched “Operation Allies Refuge,” a program to relocate SIV candidates out of Afghanistan whereas their instances are processed. Flights out of Afghanistan to as-yet unnamed nations or territories will begin in late July.
HIghlights from this week’s episode:
- D’Agata on Taliban management of Afghanistan: “It has surprised all people — the Afghans, Individuals, the White Home — how shortly the Taliban advance within the offensive has gone on up to now six weeks or so.”
- Potential for diplomatic resolution between the Taliban and Afghan authorities: “I am unable to actually see a diplomatic resolution. There could also be a diplomatic resolution, however the Afghan authorities, the Afghan individuals, sadly, are actually going to be staring down any form of negotiations by the barrel of a gun.”
- Taliban motives in reclaiming Afghanistan: “They really feel that they are preventing on behalf of Afghanistan itself. They really feel that they’re the true Afghanistan, that the Afghan authorities is a puppet authorities that is been put in place by Western powers, specifically america. So, sure, they’re an insurgency, however so far as they’re involved, they’re the true Afghans.”
- Serving to Afghan interpreters who labored with the U.S. army depart: “In the event that they began proper now and we’re at full dash, it will take nearly 5 years simply to clear the backlog. So they will have to hurry issues up. They’re taking a look at seventy thousand individuals, should you embrace the households. Nineteen thousand interpreters and their households.”
