Frequent attacks in Afghanistan underscore US's irresponsibility

Politics 14:00 17.05.2021
On May 14, a mosque in the northern suburb of Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, was attacked, leaving at least 12 dead and more than 15 injured. Less than a week earlier, a series of bombings took place near a school in Kabul that left over 50 killed and 100 injured. Ever since the Biden administration announced on April 14 its plan to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, the overall security in the country has kept worsening with frequent attacks on civilians and civil facilities.
 
Generally speaking, America’s anti-terror strategy since it waged the Afghan War has proved a failure. It relies too heavily on military operations but does little to push economic and social development; its export of democracy has destroyed the stability of the traditional Afghan society, and its use of UAVs to replace ground forces has created new opportunities for terrorist activities even though it has reduced casualties of American soldiers.
 
Yet Washington has arbitrarily announced that it had basically achieved all its anti-terror goals and therefore insisted on pulling its troops out of Afghanistan regardless of the international community’s serious concerns that such a hurried decision may lead to a resurge of terrorism. Having neither uprooted terrorist organizations nor restored peace in Afghanistan, the US just packed up and pulled out, leaving all the mess and ruins to the regional countries and the Afghan people. This is highly irresponsible. America’s consistent pursuit of narrow-minded national interests and practicality is fully demonstrated in its attitude toward Afghanistan.
 
First of all, Biden has, to a large extent, continued his predecessor’s “America first” policy. American decision-makers find it unnecessary to keep a presence in Afghanistan because the terrorist forces there, though not eliminated thoroughly, are unable to launch any terrorist operation against the US homeland anymore. In their eyes, the national strategy is nothing but a cold and callous calculation of cost – they are withdrawing the troops because the US invests too much there and gets too little, making Afghanistan a lousy deal. Such calculations only consider American interests without the slightest concern for the security and welfare of the Afghanis.
 
Second, the US puts its counter-terror responsibility below the political interests of the so-called major-power competition. Biden said they should pull troops from Afghanistan to concentrate on other priorities, implying Russia and China, and US Secretary of State Blinken publicly linked the withdrawal with the so-called China-US strategic competition. This fully demonstrates that the US only considers counter-terrorism its responsibility when it directly concerns its own security. The only reason the American military carries out overseas operations is to maintain American hegemony – international humanism is never on their map.
 
Third, withdrawing troops from Afghanistan exposes America’s “pseudo-multilateralism”. When the UN Security Council adopted the resolution on combatting terrorism back in the years, the US sent troops to Afghanistan under the banner of “counter-terrorism”; but now it cannot wait to pull out to avoid getting mired in the Afghan War, fully proving that international multilateral mechanism is nothing but a tool to lend legitimacy to its sending of troops and waging of wars. The US unilaterally decided to pull the troops without consulting with regional countries, but those countries have to be responsible for Afghanistan’s stability and regional security after the American forces are gone. The US shows no respect at all for multilateralism.
 
At last, America’s post-withdrawal plan is equally irresponsible and perfunctory. The Biden administration promised to continue to aid the Afghan government, but such lip service, according to analysts, is far from enough to maintain stability in the country. Moreover, the US even expects the Taliban to sever ties with Al Qaeda and undertake anti-terror responsibilities. What ridiculous wishful thinking!
 
America’s hurried withdrawal of troops when terrorism is not completely cleared in Afghanistan is no different from giving free rein to terrorist forces in the region, and terrorist threats in Afghanistan may quickly spread to Central and Southern Asia and eventually come back to haunt the US itself. Right after Biden’s announcement of the withdrawn, American media pointed out that although terrorist organizations in Afghanistan won’t pose a severe threat to the US in the short term, it’s hard to predict their long-term development because the withdrawal will create a hotbed for their expansion.
Azerbaijan Defense Minister informs NATO chief on situation in Azerbaijan-Armenia conditional border -VIDEO

News line

Putin to visit China after inauguration
Putin to visit China after inauguration
15:15 19.03.2024
NATO Secretary General: Baku, Yerevan can reach lasting peace
NATO Secretary General: Baku, Yerevan can reach lasting peace
15:00 19.03.2024
German envoy congratulates people of Azerbaijan on Novruz holiday
German envoy congratulates people of Azerbaijan on Novruz holiday
14:45 19.03.2024
Hikmat Hajiyev: Baku attaches great importance to developing Azerbaijan-China relations
Hikmat Hajiyev: Baku attaches great importance to developing Azerbaijan-China relations
14:30 19.03.2024
Tourist flow to Azerbaijan soars by almost 50%
Tourist flow to Azerbaijan soars by almost 50%
14:15 19.03.2024
Manager of German club achieves another milestone
13:55 19.03.2024
Turkish intelligence neutralizes one of PKK leaders
Turkish intelligence neutralizes one of PKK leaders
13:45 19.03.2024
Moldova’s Foreign Ministry to expel Russian Embassy employee
Moldova’s Foreign Ministry to expel Russian Embassy employee
13:30 19.03.2024
Azerbaijan weather forecast for March 20
13:13 19.03.2024
Israel, Hamas ready to compromise at Doha talks
13:05 19.03.2024
More than dozen workers trapped in one of Russia's largest gold mines
More than dozen workers trapped in one of Russia's largest gold mines
12:49 19.03.2024
Armenia may face a war if refuses to discuss border issues - Pashinyan
12:22 19.03.2024
North Korea holds firing drill using super-large multiple rocket launchers
North Korea holds firing drill using super-large multiple rocket launchers
11:55 19.03.2024
Fenerbahçe to discuss withdrawing from 'Super Lig'
11:32 19.03.2024
Azerbaijani police found numerous weapons and ammunition in Khankandi
11:08 19.03.2024
US Maritime Administration issues new advisory amid rising maritime threats in Middle East
10:55 19.03.2024
EU looks forward to cooperation with Azerbaijan for successful COP29
10:38 19.03.2024
EU to impose tariffs on Russian grain
10:11 19.03.2024
Embassy of Azerbaijan in France appeals to Azerbaijanis
10:00 19.03.2024
Azerbaijani oil price exceeds $88
Azerbaijani oil price exceeds $88
09:48 19.03.2024
Mehriban Aliyeva makes post on Last Tuesday before Novruz Holiday
09:35 19.03.2024
Pashinyan: Delimitation process between Armenia and Azerbaijan entered practical stage
09:00 19.03.2024
Pakistan restricts foreign travels of ministers, government officials
Pakistan restricts foreign travels of ministers, government officials
20:39 18.03.2024
EU to boost military support fund for Ukraine by EUR 5 bln — Hungarian foreign minister
20:00 18.03.2024
Industrial zones to be created in Azerbaijan’s Zangilan, Jabrayil, and Gubadli
19:16 18.03.2024
Reuters: Only an oil slump can stop Russia
19:00 18.03.2024
Top Hamas operative killed in hospital raid, IDF says
Top Hamas operative killed in hospital raid, IDF says
18:33 18.03.2024
President Ilham Aliyev congratulates people of Azerbaijan on occasion of Novruz holiday - UPDATED
18:00 18.03.2024
Jens Stoltenberg: We fully support Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity
Jens Stoltenberg: We fully support Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity
17:47 18.03.2024
2 dead, 6 injured in Türkiye factory explosion
2 dead, 6 injured in Türkiye factory explosion
17:28 18.03.2024
Armenia’s anti-Russian policy reaches new level
17:11 18.03.2024
"The Middle Corridor plays a key role for Green Energy" - Expert Ali Pasha
16:45 18.03.2024
Central square of Khankandi named “Victory Square”
16:22 18.03.2024
President: We demonstrated tremendous heroism during the II Karabakh War and the anti-terror operation
16:16 18.03.2024
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus visited IEPF - PHOTOS - VIDEO
16:00 18.03.2024
Historic opportunity emerged to advance the Azerbaijani-Armenian peace agenda - FM Bayramov
15:21 18.03.2024
Bayramov and Stoltenberg discuss normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia
15:03 18.03.2024
Azerbaijan Defense Minister informs NATO chief on situation in Azerbaijan-Armenia conditional border -VIDEO
14:58 18.03.2024
Stoltenberg's visit to the Caucasus: "NATO is in panic" - OPİNİON
14:29 18.03.2024
Hikmat Hajiyev holds discussions for upcoming COP29 with Chinese Vice FM
Hikmat Hajiyev holds discussions for upcoming COP29 with Chinese Vice FM
14:00 18.03.2024
Hamısı