US Secretary of State Makes Surprise Visit to Afghanistan to Explain US Troop Withdrawal Decision

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] As the Biden administration officially announced the complete withdrawal of U.S. troops stationed in Afghanistan, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an unannounced visit to Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, on the 15th (local time).

According to AP News and others, Secretary Blinken made a surprise appearance in Kabul that day and met sequentially with Ashraf Ghani, President of Afghanistan, and Abdullah Abdullah, Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation. AP reported that Blinken's visit was to explain the U.S. troop withdrawal decision to Afghan government leaders and others.

Secretary Blinken told President Ghani, "Through my visit, I want to demonstrate the United States' continued commitment to the Afghan government and people," adding, "The partnership is changing, but the relationship itself will continue." In response, President Ghani expressed respect for the U.S. decision and conveyed gratitude for the sacrifices of U.S. troops, AP News reported.

Earlier, President Biden announced that all U.S. troops would be completely withdrawn by September 11. Currently, there are about 2,500 U.S. troops and approximately 7,000 NATO troops in Afghanistan, who are scheduled to begin withdrawing sequentially starting from the 1st of next month. This has heightened anxiety among the Afghan government and people, who are politically and economically heavily dependent on the U.S. There are also forecasts that the Islamic armed group Taliban, which holds influence over more than half of the territory, could fully take control of Afghanistan after the U.S. troop withdrawal.

Before visiting Kabul, Secretary Blinken, along with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, visited NATO headquarters in Brussels and met with Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and others, as well as holding meetings with foreign and defense ministers of NATO member countries. The day before, Secretary Blinken said, "It is now time to bring our troops home," and added, "We will work very closely on a safe, planned, and coordinated withdrawal from Afghanistan."