Washington: For the first time since 2001 there are no American troops in Afghanistan after the United States completed the evacuation of most of its citizens and thousands of at-risk Afghans. The United States completed the withdrawal of its forces from Afghanistan on Monday, ending 20 years of war that culminated in the militant Taliban’s return to power.
Thirteen fallen US service members, mostly in their 20s and born just around the time of the 9/11 attacks in 2001, returned 24 hours ago in the last of the caskets from Afghanistan, draped in the US flag.
“I announce the completion of the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan and the end of the military mission to evacuate American citizens and Afghans. The last C-17 lifted off from Hamid Karzai Airport on August 30 this afternoon at 3:29 pm,” said US General Kenneth F. McKenzie.
Meanwhile, “Now our 20-year military presence in Afghanistan has ended. I want to thank our commanders for their execution of the dangerous retrograde from Afghanistan as scheduled in early morning hours of Aug 31, Kabul time with no further loss of American lives,”said US President Joe Biden
“The Taliban have made commitments on safe passage and the world will hold them to their commitments. It will include ongoing diplomacy in Afghanistan…coordination with partners to reopen the airport for continued departure for those who want to leave Afghanistan,” added US President.
The last task US troops completed before catching the final plane: They disabled the C-RAMS (Counter Rocket, Artillery and Mortar System).
The last people to board the final US plane out of Kabul: Maj. Gen. Christopher Donahue, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division and acting US ambassador to Afghanistan Ross Wilson. Donahue coordinated the final evacuation effort for the US.
The US Department of Defense tweeted “The last American soldier to leave Afghanistan- Major General Chris Donahue, boarded C-17 aircraft on August 30, marking the end of US mission in Kabul.”
“The last American soldier to leave Afghanistan- Major General Chris Donahue, boarded C-17 aircraft on August 30, marking the end of US mission in Kabul,” tweets US Department of Defense pic.twitter.com/nScjl4Hfao
— ANI (@ANI) August 31, 2021
