Afghanistan Peace CampaignA Pentagon spokesperson says the U.S. Defense Department’s investigation into the chaotic withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan is still ongoing and is expected to be completed by the summer of next year.
Kingsley Wilson, speaking Tuesday, said the review remains underway and has not yet produced new findings. The probe focuses on the final phase of the Biden administration’s exit strategy in August 2021, which led to a rushed evacuation of U.S. personnel, Afghan partners and civilians.
The Pentagon has faced repeated criticism from lawmakers and veterans over how the withdrawal was executed, especially after the collapse of the Afghanistan government and the deadly suicide bombing at Kabul airport that killed U.S. troops and dozens of Afghan civilians.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly attacked the handling of the exit, blaming President Joe Biden for what he calls an avoidable failure. Trump has also argued that the withdrawal damaged U.S. credibility, left military equipment behind and enabled extremist groups to regain strength.
Recently, Trump claimed that Biden allowed “thousands” of Afghans into the United States who, he alleged, are linked to terrorism, drug trafficking and violent crime. The Biden administration has rejected such claims, saying all evacuees were vetted through U.S. and international intelligence databases.
Trump’s remarks intensified following the recent shooting incident in Washington involving Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan asylum seeker accused of attacking two National Guard soldiers near the White House. Lakanwal has denied the charges in court, and his legal team says the case is still under investigation.
Civil rights organizations and refugee advocacy groups have warned against using the incident to justify collective blame or discriminatory policy changes toward Afghanistan refugees. They argue that many evacuees risked their lives supporting U.S. operations and should not be associated with isolated criminal cases.
As the Pentagon continues its review, debates surrounding accountability, immigration policy and the legacy of the Afghanistan withdrawal remain politically charged and are expected to intensify ahead of the upcoming election cycle.