Donald Trump Accused of Contributing to Chaotic Afghanistan Exit During Campaign

Former US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, revealed in a closed-door interview with the US House Foreign Affairs Committee that Donald Trump was determined to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan, with or without an agreement. Khalilzad also stated that the Trump administration’s rhetoric led the Taliban to believe that the US military would exit Afghanistan regardless of the outcome of negotiations.

The interviews also shed light on the challenges faced during the withdrawal process, including the release of 5,000 Taliban prisoners as part of the Doha Deal. Ambassador Ross Wilson described the release as morally challenging and contributing to morale issues within the Afghan security forces.

As part of the US-Taliban deal, the Trump administration agreed to reduce US forces from 13,000 to 8,600 troops by July 2020, with a complete withdrawal by May 2021 if the Taliban kept its commitments. However, the withdrawal orders to reduce troops to 2,500 were described as disconcerting.

Khalilzad also mentioned being under pressure to complete the military withdrawal before the end of Trump’s term, and admitted to misjudging the situation in Afghanistan, leading to the Taliban regaining control of the country after the US exit in August 2021.

The revelations from these interviews provide insight into the lead-up to the chaotic Afghanistan exit and raise questions about the decision-making process and consequences of the US withdrawal under the Trump administration.