Afghanistan-Taliban Crisis LIVE Updates: US Military Completes Withdrawal From Afghanistan

The US military has completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan to finish a brutal 20-year war — one that started and ended with the hardline Islamist Taliban in power, despite billions of dollars spent trying to rebuild the conflict-wracked country.
“I’m here to announce the completion of our withdrawal from Afghanistan and therefore the end of the mission to evacuate americans ,” US General Kenneth McKenzie told reporters Monday Washington time.

“Tonight’s withdrawal signifies both the top of the military component of the evacuation but also the top of the nearly 20-year mission that began in Afghanistan shortly after September 11th, 2001.”

The final flight left at 1929 GMT Monday – just before the beginning of Tuesday in Kabul, he said.

The withdrawal came before the top of August 31, the particular deadline set by President Joe Biden to call time on America’s longest war — one that ultimately claimed the lives of quite 2,400 US service members. Biden said he would address the state on Tuesday in Washington.

The Taliban joyously fired guns into the air and offered words of reconciliation on Tuesday, as they celebrated defeating the us and returning to power after 20 years of war that devastated Afghanistan.

The last of 6,000 US troops who oversaw a desperate evacuation effort flew out of Kabul airport on Monday night, ending the war that has diminished the United States’ status as a superpower.

Taliban fighters quickly swept into the airport and fired weapons into the sky in jubilation, an astonishing return after US forces invaded in 2001 and toppled the hardline Islamists for supporting Al-Qaeda.

“Congratulations to Afghanistan… this victory belongs to us all,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told reporters hours later from the runway of the airport.

Mujahid said the Taliban’s victory was a “lesson for other invaders”.

However the Taliban have repeatedly promised a more tolerant and open brand of rule compared with their first stint in power, and Mujahid continued that theme.

The Taliban has got to earn international legitimacy and support, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said.

He said the group can do that by meeting its commitments and obligations.

“The Taliban seeks international legitimacy and support. Our message is: any legitimacy and any support will need to be earned,” Blinken said in an address to the state hours after the US concluded its mission to Afghanistan early Tuesday.

“The Taliban can do this by meeting commitments and obligations – on freedom of travel; respecting the essential rights of the Afghan people, including women and minorities; upholding its commitments on counterterrorism; not completing reprisal violence against those that prefer to stay in Afghanistan; and forming an inclusive government which will meet the requirements and reflect the aspirations of the Afghan people,” he said.

Blinken said the US engaged with the Taliban during the past few weeks for evacuation operations.