Biden, "Afghan Withdrawal Completed by End of August"...Growing Concerns Over Taliban's Return to Power (Comprehensive)

"20 Years Ago Policies Are No Longer Relevant"
Taliban Sends Delegation to Russia, Begins Independent Diplomacy

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] U.S. President Joe Biden announced that the withdrawal of U.S. troops stationed in Afghanistan will be completed by the end of next month, raising concerns about the Taliban, the Afghan armed faction, regaining power. Although President Biden emphasized that the Afghan government forces can sufficiently hold off the Taliban, experts predict that the Afghan government will soon collapse after the U.S. troop withdrawal. The Taliban has already taken control of major regions in Afghanistan and is reportedly holding talks with Russia.

On the 8th (local time), President Biden stated during a briefing at the White House regarding the Afghanistan withdrawal situation, "The U.S. military mission in Afghanistan will end on August 31," adding, "It is now up to them to defend their country." This officially declares that the U.S. troops will withdraw earlier than the previously announced deadline of September 11 in May.

President Biden explained the urgency of the Afghanistan withdrawal, emphasizing the need to focus more on responding to new strategic competitors such as China and Russia. He said, "U.S. military resources must now be concentrated elsewhere," and "We no longer have the luxury to be tied to policies from 20 years ago and must respond to new threats."

Regarding comparisons made by some in U.S. political circles between the Afghanistan withdrawal and the U.S. defeat in the Vietnam War, Biden strongly denied such parallels. He stated, "The Taliban is not North Vietnam," and expressed strong confidence in the Afghan government forces, saying, "The Afghan government forces have a much larger army and air force than the Taliban, making it very unlikely for the Taliban to take control of all of Afghanistan."

However, contrary to President Biden's remarks, the Afghan government forces are reportedly being pushed back by Taliban forces in various locations. According to foreign media such as CNN, the Taliban controls more than half of Afghanistan and is preparing a siege operation around the capital, Kabul. A large-scale offensive on Kabul is expected once the U.S. troop withdrawal is complete.

Moreover, the Taliban is reportedly engaging in independent diplomacy by dispatching a delegation to Russia, which shares a border with Afghanistan. According to Russia's Interfax news agency, the Taliban delegation visited Moscow on the same day. The Taliban reportedly stated that they will not attack the border areas adjacent to Russia or Tajikistan, an ally of Russia.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.