World Politics >>> The Taliban’s Rampant Road to Absolute Autonomy

As Western troops withdrew, the Taliban sought their opportunity to advance. City after city, from Herat to Kandahar and ultimately the capital Kabul, they all fell under the Taliban’s sphere of control. With the fall of Kabul many embassies had to evacuate their diplomatic personal from the country, sending in the remainder of their troops to help with the evacuation.

Meanwhile, as the Taliban consolidate their power, tens of thousands of locals attempt to flee the country, many having to leave behind their entire inheritance and their homes to find safety for their families, away from the Taliban’s iron grasp of Afghanistan. A female university student Pashtana told reporters “We’ve left behind all the books that my father and grandfather had given me, every memory, and we’ve burned all the pictures”.

Some Afghans remain optimistic that since the conflict has ended, and a victor has been decided, it will lead to a more peaceful time. However, many understand the Taliban’s brutal nature as one shop keeper commented “The Taliban don’t care about people, they just like war.”

The Taliban has however issued a message promising amnesty and urged people to get back to work as usual, even asking traffic police officers to resume their duties and mitigate the city’s traffic jams. The Taliban’s spokesman has even promised that women’s rights will be protected.

International response

There has been an immense backlash for the Biden administration for the sudden decision to withdraw their troops from Afghanistan. The rate at which Taliban had overrun the Afghan forces shocked officials all around the world and European countries who went to war alongside America are now desperately trying to evacuate all their diplomatic staff.

China and Russia have both expressed their views on the fall of Afghanistan, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi even commented on the failures of US interventions further adding that there needs to be “serious reflection”.

In the face of such a catastrophic humanitarian disaster, it is noteworthy to mention that the world has rallied to help displaced Afghan families. The US has offered up to 80,000 special immigrant visas to those who helped US troops, the UK have pledged to relocate 20,000 refugees, Canada has also offered to take in 20,000 civilians who have been threatened by the Taliban, and countries such as India, Uganda, Tajikistan, and Iran have also offered homes for Afghan immigrants.

August 19th | 4.55 PM