Responding to the question of CNN’s Jake Tapper on Tuesday that U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan by September 11 could create a vacuum that triggers civil war or another Taliban takeover, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said no one had the interest in renewed civil war.
“That is certainly a possible scenario,” Blinken said, adding that “no one has an interest in renewed civil war in Afghanistan, certainly the Afghan people don’t,” he said. “Neither the Afghan government or the Taliban do, none of Afghanistan’s neighbors do, neighbors and other countries in the region that have basically been free riders for the last 20 years, as we’ve been engaged there with our NATO allies and partners.”
Secretary Blinken emphasized that even as the U.S. is withdrawing its forces, it is not “disengaging” from Afghanistan. “We’re remaining deeply engaged in the diplomacy in support for the Afghan government and its people, development, economic assistance humanitarian assistance, support for the security forces.”
Mr. Blinken spoke to CNN shortly after senators from both parties expressed their concerns during a Foreign Relations Committee hearing that the U.S. withdrawal will lead to a Taliban resurgence, reverse gains made by Afghan women and civil society, and endanger American hostages in the country and Afghans who worked with U.S. forces.
On Sunday, Gen. Austin Scott Miller, commander of US Forces Afghanistan and NATO’s Resolute Support Mission, confirmed that the US has begun to withdraw troops from the country in local areas. “All of our forces are now preparing to retrograde,” Miller told reporters at a news conference in Kabul.
Biden announced earlier this month that the U.S. would pull its remaining forces out of Afghanistan.
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