Afghanistan U-Turn

The situation in Afghanistan is beyond anyone’s imagination. The Taliban made a lightening advance to dethrone the country’s Western-backed government on August 15, bringing an end to a two-decade campaign in which the U.S. and its allies had tried to transform Afghanistan.

The government security forces collapsed or fled, ahead of the planned withdrawal of the last American troops at the end of August. A state of fear and panic swept Kabul after the Taliban takeover became imminent, triggering a massive effort to airlift Western diplomats and nationals seeking to leave the country. UN Secretary General António Guterres called on the Security Council