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Amnesty International: Women activists in Afghanistan express deed frustration with current conditions

August 15, 2024
Fidai Rahmati
Khaama Press
15 August 2024

Amnesty International, marking three years of the Taliban’s rule, has stated that the international community has left Afghanistan with little hope during this period.

On Thursday, August 15, the organization released a report based on interviews with 150 Afghan citizens, including women’s rights advocates, academics, youth, civil society members, and journalists.

The report highlights that many women have lost their jobs over the past three years under the Taliban’s rule and are now in a state of despair, with the international community failing to address their plight.

The report was compiled following interviews in 21 provinces of Afghanistan and 10 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Belgium, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Canada, and Pakistan.

The report also highlighted that the “Taliban continue to commit human rights violations against the Afghan people, particularly women and girls, with absolute impunity.” As Samira Hamidi notes, “The world is still wringing its hands as the Taliban continue violating human rights.”

Amnesty International emphasized that the international community has left Afghanistan with minimal hope. Previously, the organization had urged the Taliban administration in Afghanistan to uphold and protect human rights.

The situation for women in Afghanistan remains particularly dire, with widespread restrictions impacting their access to education, employment, and basic freedoms.

The ongoing international inaction and the Taliban’s repressive policies have left many women and girls in a state of profound vulnerability.

Addressing these issues requires a concerted global effort to both support Afghan women and pressure the Taliban to respect fundamental human rights. Without significant intervention, the suffering of Afghan women and the overall humanitarian crisis in the country are likely to persist and deepen.

Amnesty International: Women activists in Afghanistan express deed frustration with current conditions
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Islamic Emirate Leader Urges Justice, Unity to Strengthen Islamic System

August 15, 2024
Hadia Ziaei
Tolo News
15 August 2024

According to the leader of the Islamic Emirate, the Sharia system is in place in the country, and the rights of all Muslims are preserved.

In his speech in Kandahar, the leader of the Islamic Emirate urged all officials in the interim government to avoid discrimination and ethnic prejudice for the sake of preserving the Islamic system in the country, and to consider justice in their decisions.

Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada, speaking at a ceremony marking the third anniversary of the return to power of the Islamic Emirate in the country, said that with each passing day, the Islamic system in the country is becoming more robust, and the forces of the Islamic Emirate must not be negligent.

According to the leader of the Islamic Emirate, the Sharia system is in place in the country, and the rights of all Muslims are preserved.

Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada said, “In the past, people started competition and conflict over positions and power, created factions, ethnic prejudice, discrimination, and regionalism began, and everyone created their own government. Keep yourselves away from such things.”

The leader of the Islamic Emirate also asked the officials of the Islamic Emirate to treat all citizens of the country equally.

The leader of the Islamic Emirate said: “Bring justice. First, implement the command of Allah upon yourself, then upon your children, relatives, and the rest of the people, without making any distinctions.”

“Implementing justice in Afghan society strengthens the foundations of the government and extends its lifespan,” Fazl Rahman Orya, a political analyst, told TOLOnews.

In another part of his speech, the leader of the Islamic Emirate stressed the freedom of Palestine and called for an end to the conflicts in Palestine.

Islamic Emirate Leader Urges Justice, Unity to Strengthen Islamic System
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3 Years On, Islamic Emirate’s Internal, Foreign Policy Reviewed

August 15, 2024
Metra Majeedi
Tolo News
15 August 2024

The foreign and domestic policies of the Islamic Emirate during its third year of governance in Afghanistan have witnessed numerous ups and downs. 

Expanding relations with some countries, activating 39 Islamic Emirate representations in various countries, and sending ambassadors and representatives to several nations are considered important aspects of the Islamic Emirate’s foreign policy.

In its third year of governance, the interim government of Afghanistan has not been recognized by the international community. However, during this period, the Islamic Emirate expanded its interactions with regional and extra regional countries.

Meanwhile, the international community has made the recognition of the Islamic Emirate’s government conditional on the observance of human rights, especially women’s rights, the formation of an inclusive government, the initiation of national dialogue, and the fight against terrorism and drugs.

John Kirby, US National Security Council spokesman, said on October 4, 2023, regarding the recognition of the Islamic Emirate: “We have not recognized them as governing power in Afghanistan, they want the legitimacy, but they need to meet their commitments. How can you effectively govern and how can you have an effective economy when basically half you workforce–all women–are prohibited from being part of that process, so we are going to keep holding them accountable for their commitments.”

The Islamic Emirate has referred to some of these international conditions as Afghanistan’s internal matters and has called on the international community not to interfere in Afghanistan’s internal affairs. Furthermore, the Islamic Emirate has consistently urged the world to recognize the interim government, release Afghanistan’s frozen assets, and lift sanctions on over 24 Islamic Emirate officials.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, responded to some of the world’s demands on July 5, 2023: “The issue of an inclusive government is a matter for Afghans. Afghanistan makes decisions based on national interests in all areas. Regional countries and distant nations should discuss how to organize their relations with Afghanistan and how we can create a cooperative environment in the region.”

So far, the Islamic Emirate has increased its political representations to 39 and has sent an official ambassador to China. The Afghan embassies in the Netherlands and Spain interacted with the Islamic Emirate in October 2023. The Afghan embassy in New Delhi announced the permanent suspension of its activities in November 2023, but the Afghan Consul General in Hyderabad, India, reported in December 2023 that consular services at the Afghan embassy in New Delhi would resume.

In February 2024, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the potential reopening of the Azerbaijan embassy in Afghanistan. Nicaragua appointed Michael Campbell as its non-resident ambassador to Afghanistan.

On July 26, 2024, the Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan accepted Mohammad Sabir as the chargé d’affaires of the Islamic Emirate.

On July 30, 2024, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate declared that consular services provided by the embassies of the previous government in European countries were unacceptable due to the lack of interaction with the Islamic Emirate.

Regarding sanctions, Russia hinted at the possibility of removing the “Taliban” from its blacklist, and in an unprecedented move, Kazakhstan removed the Islamic Emirate from its list of terrorist groups. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on June 6, 2023: “There are challenges in Afghanistan that everyone is aware of, but we must establish relations with the current government. The Taliban are the ones governing the country; they hold power in Afghanistan today, and we must follow the realities and establish our relations accordingly.”

In the past year, some Islamic Emirate officials have traveled to various countries to improve relations. The acting Minister of Defense traveled to Qatar in February 2024. The acting Foreign Minister visited Iran the same year. The acting Minister of Interior traveled to the United Arab Emirates on June 6, 2023, and met with the Emir of that country.

The United Nations Security Council temporarily lifted the travel ban on four Islamic Emirate officials on June 6, 2023, to perform Hajj. In a recent development, Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, the political deputy of the Prime Minister, asked diplomats in Qatar to reopen their political missions in Kabul. Hamdullah Fitrat, the deputy spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate, told TOLOnews on August 5, 2024: “He [Mawlawi Abdul Kabir] asked them to transfer their embassies and representations to Kabul and conduct their work from here.”

Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, said on October 4, 2023, regarding relations and his travels: “Diplomatic relations with many countries are very good and are growing day by day. Allah Almighty brought security to Afghanistan after 45 years, and Afghanistan and its neighbors have achieved security.” Meanwhile, regional countries, including China, Russia, Uzbekistan, and some others, have consistently emphasized engaging with the interim government of Afghanistan.

Yue Xiaoyong, the special representative of China for Afghanistan, said on October 7, 2023, regarding Afghanistan: “The regional and international community should ask the United States to fulfill its commitments and responsibilities towards Afghanistan. As we know, the 20-year occupation of Afghanistan by the United States and NATO has caused significant problems for the Afghan people and destroyed this country. The United States and its allies have cut off aid to Afghanistan, frozen the country’s assets, and imposed unilateral sanctions, exacerbating the problems faced by the Afghan people.”

Asif Ali Durrani, Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Affairs, said on October 7, 2023, about his country’s stance on Afghanistan: “Pakistan believes that by engaging with the current Afghan officials, we can help bring peace to this country and also ensure the prosperity and tranquility of the Afghan people.”

However, the fate of the constitution in the third year of the Islamic Emirate’s rule in Afghanistan remains unclear. The Islamic Emirate’s spokesperson told TOLOnews in February 2024 that efforts are ongoing to draft a constitution but added that the absence of a constitution does not mean Afghanistan is in a legal vacuum.

Mujahid said on February 23, 2024: “We are not in a legal vacuum. Islamic Sharia is a comprehensive law that defines the duties of every individual in the government and the system.”

The Ministry of Justice also stated in a program in Kabul that they have not yet received a decree from the leader of the Islamic Emirate regarding the drafting of a constitution.

In addition to the constitution, the fate of other issues such as the formation of an official cabinet and the tricolor national flag remained unclear in the third year of the Islamic Emirate’s rule in Afghanistan.

3 Years On, Islamic Emirate’s Internal, Foreign Policy Reviewed
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Muttaqi: US Nationals May Return, But ‘Without Uniforms’

August 15, 2024
TOLOnews
TV Network
15 August 2024
In this interview, Muttaqi also said that the interim government seeks good relations with all countries, including the United States.
Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, said in an interview with BBC Persian that US citizens can come to Afghanistan for business and diplomatic relations, but not in military uniforms.

The acting Foreign Minister said, “When we were negotiating with the Americans in Doha, we said there, and we still say now, that we cannot accept an American individual in military uniform in Afghanistan, but if you come in diplomatic attire, there is no problem.”

Amir Khan Muttaqi further clarified that US cash aid does not reach the interim government. According to him, not a single US dollar has been provided to the interim government by the United States in the past three years, and US assistance is being used for international organizations and the evacuation of Afghans abroad.

The acting Foreign Minister also stressed that the interim government does not take transit fees or taxes from aid organizations.

Muttaqi said, “The aid provided by countries, particularly the United States, is given through the system that has been active within the framework of the United Nations for years, whether it be an institution or an organization. Not a single dollar has been given to the government of Afghanistan in the past three years.”

The acting Foreign Minister attributed the suspension of consular activities and embassies in some countries to the presence of corruption, adding that Afghan citizens can visit the nearest political representative office to resolve their issues.

Regarding reports of Ayman al-Zawahiri’s killing in Kabul by the US, he said: “We tried to ensure that these representatives cooperate, maintain contact with the center, and end the corruption and embezzlement there, but unfortunately, it didn’t work. Eventually, we had to declare them incompetent.”

The acting Foreign Minister further said that elections in Afghanistan have not yielded much results, and no decision has been made about them by the interim government.

Muttaqi: US Nationals May Return, But ‘Without Uniforms’
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The Taliban are celebrating 3 years in power, but they’re not talking about Afghans

August 14, 2024

By Riazat Butt 

Associated Press

August 14, 2024

KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban celebrated the third anniversary of its return to power Wednesday at a former U.S. air base in Afghanistan, but there was no mention of the country’s hardships or promises to help the struggling population.

Under blue skies and blazing sunshine at the Bagram base — once the center of America’s war to unseat the Taliban and hunt down the al-Qaida perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks — members of the Taliban Cabinet lauded achievements such as strengthening Islamic law and establishing a military system that provides “peace and security.”

The speeches were aimed at an international audience, urging the diaspora to return and for the West to interact and cooperate with the country’s rulers. No country recognizes the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.

“The Islamic Emirate eliminated internal differences and expanded the scope of unity and cooperation in the country,” Deputy Prime Minister Maulvi Abdul Kabir said, using the Taliban’s term to describe their government. “No one will be allowed to interfere in internal affairs, and Afghan soil will not be used against any country.”

None of the four speakers talked about the challenges facing Afghans in everyday life.

Women were barred from the event, including female journalists from The Associated Press, Agence French-Presse and Reuters. The Taliban did not give a reason for barring them.

Decades of conflict and instability have left millions of Afghans on the brink of hunger and starvation. Unemployment is high.

The Bagram parade was the Taliban’s grandest and most defiant since regaining control of the country in August 2021.

The audience of some 10,000 men included senior Taliban officials such as Acting Defense Minister Mullah Yaqoob and Acting Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani. Supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada was not at the parade.

The Taliban said foreign diplomats also attended, but did not specify who.

Aid agencies warn that humanitarian efforts in the country are gravely underfunded as economic collapse and climate change destroy livelihoods.

They say that Afghans, particularly women and girls, will suffer if there isn’t more diplomatic engagement with the Taliban.

The Bagram parade was also an opportunity to showcase some of the military hardware abandoned by U.S. and NATO-led forces after decades of war, including helicopters, Humvees and tanks.

Uniformed soldiers marched with light and heavy machine guns, and a motorcycle formation carried the Taliban flag.

Pickup trucks crammed with men of all ages drove through Kabul’s streets in celebration of the takeover. Some men posed for photos with rifles.

In a parade in southern Helmand province, men held yellow canisters to represent the type of explosives used in roadside bombings during the war.

The Taliban declared Wednesday a national holiday. As in previous years, women did not take part in anniversary festivities.

The Taliban are celebrating 3 years in power, but they’re not talking about Afghans
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Efforts Resumed With Environmental Projects Worth $58.7M

August 14, 2024
Nazir Shenwari
Tolo News
14 August 2024

Zainul Abideen Abid called on the international community not to politicize the issue of climate change and to engage with the Islamic Emirate on this matter.

The National Environmental Protection Agency, during its annual report presentation, said that significant progress has been made to resume ten projects in the fields of climate change and environmental protection, with a total value of $58.7 million.

Officials at the agency mentioned that over the past year, they have signed five Memorandums of Understanding worth $1 million with non-governmental organizations for the implementation of environmental projects.

The Deputy Director of the National Environmental Protection Agency has called on the international community not to politicize the issue of climate change and to engage with the Islamic Emirate on this matter.

Zainul Abideen Abid, the Deputy Director of the National Environmental Protection Agency, stated: “Unfortunately, 32 climate change projects have been suspended by international environmental financial mechanisms. After extensive efforts, 7 projects worth $27.54 million have been reinstated, and 3 new projects worth $31.16 million have been committed.”

According to the officials of this agency, climate change has also caused significant damage.

They reported that due to climate change, about 21 million people in the country do not have access to drinking water, 2.5 million people have been displaced from their main areas, and annually, farmers suffer damages worth $250 million in the agriculture sector.

The agency also added that to prevent and reduce environmental pollution, they have monitored over 22,000 locations, including townships, high-rise buildings, wedding halls, factories, and other various places.

Officials from the National Environmental Protection Agency further said that the smuggling of forests and wildlife in the country has been curbed, and in the past year, the smuggling of over 17,000 different species of birds has been prevented.

Rohullah Amin, the head of the climate change department of at the National Environmental Protection Agency, said: “Specifically, our agriculture sector suffers $250 million annually from the impacts of climate change. Similarly, the flood data indicates that we have an annual death toll of 270 people, and $300 million worth of our infrastructure is vulnerable due to floods.”

The officials of this agency hope that Afghanistan will be officially invited to participate in the annual UN Climate Change Conference (COP 29), which will be held in Azerbaijan, and that they can represent the country properly at this conference.

Efforts Resumed With Environmental Projects Worth $58.7M
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Acting Def. Min. Highlights Strengthened Military, Vows to Protect Airspace

August 14, 2024
TOLOnews
TV Network
14 August 2024

The high-ranking official also stressed the need for the country’s citizens to set aside regional, ethnic, and linguistic differences and embrace unity.

As the Islamic Emirate marks the third anniversary of its return to power, Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, the acting Minister of Defense, has announced that significant efforts are being made to prevent any violations of Afghanistan’s airspace.

In an interview with RTA, he highlighted the growing strength of the Islamic Emirate’s forces, emphasizing that they are now fully capable of delivering a military response to any form of aggression.

Addressing the timing and methods for preventing airspace violations, Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid  said: “I must say that we have made efforts, we are making efforts, and we will continue to do so. As for when and how it will be fully achieved, that cannot be precisely estimated. A person is responsible only to the extent of their ability, and we have, God willing, employed our full strength in this matter.”

He also said that the Islamic Emirate now commands a well-organized army capable of responding decisively to any form of aggression.

“I can assure the Afghan people that you now have an army that, God willing, can fully protect your country, your honor, your property, and your borders, and can deliver a crushing response to any aggressor,” he added.

The high-ranking official also stressed the need for the country’s citizens to set aside regional, ethnic, and linguistic differences and embrace unity.

Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid urged national unity, stating: “We must support one another, be aware of each other’s problems, and understand them. We should not violate the rights of others due to our power, position, or personal interests.”

Earlier, in a program honoring the security forces on July 25, the acting Minister of Defense had also stated that Afghanistan’s current government would soon take full control of the country’s airspace.

Acting Def. Min. Highlights Strengthened Military, Vows to Protect Airspace
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haman Protesters Vow to Continue Until Demands Are Met

August 14, 2024
Ataullah Omar
Tolo News
14 August 2024

The protesters are calling on international human rights organizations to listen to their voices and assist them in overcoming these challenges.

Residents of Chaman have resumed their protests after a 23-day pause in response to the continued closure of the Spin Boldak-Chaman crossing.

The protesters state that this time their demonstrations will be broader than before, and they will continue until their demands are accepted by the Pakistani government, refusing to yield to any pressure.

Sadiq Achakzai, the spokesperson for the Chaman protest movement, said, “We will continue our new protest and will spare no effort in securing our rights. If the Pakistani government accepts our demands, the protest will end immediately.”

Amir Muhammad, a leader of the Chaman protest movement, said, “I urge all residents of Chaman to come to the streets and participate in this protest because this is our final battle for freedom.”

The protesters are calling on international human rights organizations to listen to their voices and assist them in overcoming these challenges.

Javid Afghan, a member of the Chaman protest, said, “We call on global human rights organizations to hear our voice and restore the rights of Chaman residents who have been deprived of them.”

Hayatullah, another member of the Chaman protest, said, “We will not yield to any pressure and will not give up our demands for our rights. Our struggle is peaceful, and we are seeking our rightful entitlements.”

Residents of Chaman began their protests eleven months ago in response to the Pakistani government’s requirement of visas and passports at the Spin Boldak-Chaman crossing. Several times, Pakistani forces fired at them, but their demands have yet to be addressed.

haman Protesters Vow to Continue Until Demands Are Met
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A timeline of events in Afghanistan in the 3 years since the Taliban’s takeover

August 14, 2024
BY RIAZAT BUTT
Associated Press
August 14, 2024

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Here is a look at key dates since the Taliban returned to power three years ago, as United States and NATO forces withdrew from the country:

Aug. 15, 2021 — The Taliban march into Kabul as internationally backed President Ashraf Ghani flees the country.

Aug. 26, 2021 — Islamic State group suicide bombers and gunmen kill over 170 Afghans and 13 U.S. troops in an attack on the crowds trying to be evacuated at Kabul’s airport.

March 23, 2022 — On the day high schools are opening, the Taliban abruptly reverse a promise to allow girls above the sixth grade to attend school.

May 7, 2022 — The Taliban Virtue and Vice Ministry says women in public must wear all-encompassing robes and cover their faces except for their eyes. It advises them to stay home unless they have important work outside the house.

June 22, 2022 — A powerful earthquake hits a remote region of eastern Afghanistan, killing more than 1,100 people. The Taliban struggle with rescue efforts, underscoring a lack of resources and a reliance on aid groups.

July 31, 2022 — The U.S. kills al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri in a drone strike on a safe house in Kabul. American officials accuse the Taliban of sheltering him.

Sept. 30, 2022 — A suicide bomber strikes an education center in a Shiite area of the capital, killing dozens of people, including teenagers taking university entrance exams.

Nov. 10, 2022 — A nationwide ban on women using gyms and parks comes into force. The Taliban say they imposed the ban because women allegedly disobeyed gender segregation rules or didn’t cover themselves properly.

Nov. 20, 2022 — The Taliban lash 19 people, including alleged adulterers, in the first public flogging since their return to rule.

Dec. 8, 2022 — The Taliban execute a convicted killer before hundreds of spectators in the first public execution since the takeover.

Dec. 21, 2022 — The Taliban bar female students from attending university. Afghanistan is the only country in the world that bans female education.

Dec. 24, 2022 — The Taliban bar Afghan women from working with national and international nongovernmental groups.

July 4, 2023 — The Taliban order beauty salons to shut down for offering allegedly un-Islamic services like eyebrow shaping. The decision affects as many as 60,000 female entrepreneurs.

Sept. 13, 2023 — The Taliban hail China’s new ambassador with fanfare. Months later, the Taliban officially send their new ambassador to Beijing.

Oct. 4, 2023 — Pakistan announces a major crackdown on foreigners living in the country illegally, including 1.7 million Afghans. The Taliban, the U.N. and rights groups condemn the policy.

Oct. 7, 2023 — A 6.3 magnitude earthquake in western Herat province kills thousands of people. More quakes follow, bringing further devastation to the area.

Nov. 15, 2023 – FlyDubai becomes the first international carrier to resume flights to Kabul after a two-year hiatus. AirArabia and Turkish Airlines follow suit.

Jan. 4, 2024 — The Taliban arrest women in Kabul for wearing “bad hijab,” the first official dress code crackdown since they returned to power.

Feb. 22, 2024 — The Taliban hold a double execution at a stadium in the country’s southeast while thousands of people watch.

May 11, 2024 — Flash floods in Afghanistan’s north from unusually heavy seasonal rains kill more than 300 people.

May 17, 2024 — Shooters open fire in central Bamiyan province killing six people, including three Spanish holidaymakers. It’s a blow to the Taliban’s plans to woo tourists. IS claims the attack.

June 4, 2024 — The Taliban publicly flog at least 60 people, including more than a dozen women, accused of crimes such as sodomy, theft and immoral relations.

June 4, 2024 — The leader of the United Arab Emirates meets a Taliban official with a U.S. bounty on his head over his involvement in an attack that killed an American citizen and other assaults. It highlights the growing divide on how to deal with the Taliban.

June 30, 2024 — The Taliban attend a U.N.-sponsored meeting in Qatar. Although it’s the third such gathering, it’s the first time the Taliban are attending. There’s backlash after Afghan women and civil society representatives are excluded.

July 30, 2024 — The Taliban say they no longer recognize Afghan diplomatic missions staffed by diplomats from the former Western-backed government.

A timeline of events in Afghanistan in the 3 years since the Taliban’s takeover
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Afghanistan withdrawal investigator resigns in protest from GOP probe

August 13, 2024
BY LAURA KELLY
The Hill
08/12/24 6:02 PM ET

A senior investigator has resigned from the Republican House Foreign Affairs Committee probe into the Biden administration’s deadly and chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, accusing the panel of holding back its full power in examining the failures of the U.S. pullout.

Jerry Dunleavy, a former journalist and author of a book detailing first-person accounts of the withdrawal, posted his resignation letter Monday to social platform X. He described himself as a whistleblower, criticizing the committee as suffering from “investigative paralysis.”

Efforts to pursue investigative leads were “repeatedly stymied by our chief investigator and by senior staff, and unfortunately, sometimes by indecision from you, Mr. Chairman,” Dunleavy wrote in the letter, referring to House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul (R-Texas).

In a phone call with The Hill, Dunleavy said he was motivated to speak out publicly ahead of the November election to raise an urgency to go after interviews with key administration officials and dig deeper into the responsibility of the military generals and commanders while Republicans are still in the majority in the House.

“There is definitely a significant bias from the chairman, downward, toward not really looking to hold the military commanders and generals accountable for what happened,” Dunleavy said.

He described committee members treating retired Gens. Mark Milley and Kenneth McKenzie with “kid gloves” during a March hearing. Milley served as chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during both the Trump and Biden administrations, and McKenzie is the former commander of United States Central Command.

Dunleavy further said that the committee has taken “zero steps” to look at Vice President Harris’s role in the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, saying “I have received pushback from my superiors related to taking action on this.”

“I have argued repeatedly that Vice President Kamala Harris should be held accountable for her role in the debacle in Afghanistan, especially now that she is the Democratic nominee for President of the United States and could soon be making national security decisions and directing foreign policy for our entire nation,” Dunleavy wrote in his letter.

Emily Cassil, a spokesperson for committee Republicans, responded to Dunleavy’s resignation by saying McCaul “pours his heart and soul into getting answers for our Gold Star families and Afghanistan veterans” and pointed to the committee’s expected publication in September of its final report looking at the decisionmaking surrounding the U.S. pullout.

Separately, a Republican committee aide pushed back on Dunleavey’s assertion that the vice president was off limits, adding that her role in the withdrawal would be addressed in the September report.

McCaul has made investigating President Biden’s 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan a centerpiece of his agenda heading the committee, promising to discover how the two-decade war culminated in a deadly and chaotic end in which 13 U.S. service members were killed in a terrorist attack, along with roughly 170 Afghan civilians.

But Democrats have criticized McCaul as carrying out a partisan investigation that fails to look at former President Trump’s role in setting up the conditions for the U.S. exit from Afghanistan, as well as decisions by previous administrations from Presidents Bush and Obama.

McCaul’s staff published an interim report in August 2022 that detailed a lack of planning on the part of the administration and analyzed a series of missteps and errors that complicated the withdrawal.

The final Republican committee report is expected to be based on more than 20 transcribed interviews with administration officials involved in the withdrawal and conclusions drawn from at least five public hearings carried out over the course of the year.

The U.S. military and diplomatic withdrawal from Afghanistan is largely viewed as one of the darkest moments in Biden’s term in office. Over a fraught two weeks in August 2021, the U.S. watched the Taliban advance a lightning offensive to take over the country, sweeping through Kabul as the internationally recognized Afghan government and military crumbled.

The administration evacuated an estimated 125,000 people over those two weeks, but tens of thousands of vulnerable Afghans who worked alongside U.S. forces were initially left behind, and pathways to immigration to the U.S. got caught up in a bureaucratic backlog.

The withdrawal was marked by hectic scenes of civilians mobbing Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport and departing planes. A deadly terrorist bombing by the group ISIS-K left more than a dozen U.S. forces dead.

“I don’t want there to be more unnecessary Gold Star families in the future,” Dunleavy told The Hill.

“That’s what I worry about, if we don’t pursue real accountability and pursue real answers here is that there aren’t going to be lessons learned. There’s not going to be accountability, no one’s going to feel like there needs to be a big mindset change. No one’s gonna really absorb the fact that this was a big loss. We lost a two decade war, and we better get serious if we don’t want to lose the next one.”

Afghanistan withdrawal investigator resigns in protest from GOP probe
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