Thread: U.S. leaves its last Afghan base, effectively ending operations

Might still be one or two bits of unpleasantness left in this thoroughly unpleasant and futile saga, but good riddance. Happy to leave the bastardry to them.

Amazing footage and information . . . and can we stick with the news instead of constantly trying to make smug anti-American commentary?
It's become ridiculous

^ Yes but do they have any pilots?

Originally Posted by panama hat

Amazing footage and information . . . and can we stick with the news instead of constantly trying to make smug anti-American commentary?
It's become ridiculous

Jesus. Must have been part of the payment to The Taliban

shameful to see how the worlds police have done a runner and left all this stuff behind

Afghanistan Is Just the Latest Case of U.S. Arms Ending Up With U.S. Adversaries

Staggering Costs – U.S. Military Equipment Left Behind In Afghanistan

Well, the Taliban have really enjoyed a significant upgrade in weapons and transportation after their ride into town on 125cc motorbikes and Toyota pickup trucks toting 50 year old Russian assault weapons.

I hope the defence contractors remembered to let the air out of the tires and dump sugar in the fuel tanks before they left..🙄

Yes unfortunately are American cousins are that caught up in propaganda wars,that they fail to care about human life.

all in the name of $

Uzbek closed border with Afghanistan


TASHKENT (TASS): The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan reported that the border with Afghanistan is completely closed, and there is no ground crossing through the Termez checkpoint.


“In order to ensure security, the Uzbek-Afghan border is currently completely closed, and there is no ground crossing through the Termez checkpoint. In the near future, the opening of the Termez checkpoint on the Uzbek-Afghan border is not planned,” the press service informed on Monday. diplomatic departments.


The ministry warned that any attempts to cross the border, regardless of their reasons, will be suppressed in accordance with the legislation of Uzbekistan.


As the Foreign Ministry recalled, over the past 12 days, Uzbekistan has provided assistance to a number of states in the implementation of humanitarian operations to evacuate its citizens from Afghanistan, who arrived and left Uzbekistan exclusively by air.


“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterates that the Republic of Uzbekistan does not accept Afghan refugees on its territory, provides assistance in transit, providing for their strictly limited time in the country. We emphasize again that the Uzbek side is firmly committed to maintaining traditionally friendly and good-neighborly relations with Afghanistan and principles of non-interference in the internal affairs of a neighboring country, “the Foreign Ministry concluded.


The situation in Afghanistan escalated after US President Joe Biden announced in April his decision to end the operation in Afghanistan.


https://thefrontierpost.com/uzbek-cl...h-afghanistan/

As Afghanistan adjusts to Taliban rule, music goes silent


Aug 31 (Reuters) - Even before the last U.S. flight left Kabul at midnight on Monday, many of the bright and garish sights and sounds of city life in Afghanistan were changing as those left behind tried to fit in with the austere tone of their new Taliban rulers.


The Taliban have so far been at pains to show a more conciliatory face to the world, with none of the harsh public punishments and outright bans on public entertainments that characterized their previous time in power before 2001.


Cultural activities are allowed, they say, so long as they do not go against Sharia law and Afghanistan's Islamic culture.


Taliban authorities in Kandahar, the birthplace of the movement issued a formal order against radio stations playing music and female announcers last week but for many, no formal order was necessary.


Already, colourful signs outside beauty parlours have been painted over, jeans have been replaced by traditional dress and radio stations have replaced their normal menu of Hindi and Persian pop and call-in shows with sombre patriotic music.


"It's not that the Taliban ordered us to change anything, we have altered the programming for now as we don't want Taliban to force us to close down," said Khalid Sediqqi, a producer at a private radio station in the central city of Ghazni.


"Also no one in this country is in the mood for entertainment, we are all in a state of shock," he said. "I am not even sure if anyone is tuning to radio anymore."


During the 20 years of Western-backed government, a lively popular culture grew up in Kabul and other cities with a mashup of body building, energy drinks, extravagant sculpted hairstyles and jangly pop songs. Turkish soap operas, call-in programmes and television talent shows like 'Afghan Star' became major hits.


'TOXIC'


For senior Taliban, many raised in religious madrassas and with the experience of years of fighting and hardship, the change is overdue.


"Our culture has become toxic, we see Russian and American influence everywhere even in the food we eat, that is something people should realise and make necessary changes," a Taliban commander said. "This will take time but it will happen."


Across the country, the change has been noticeable.


While senior Taliban officials have said repeatedly their forces should treat the population respectfully and not hand out arbitrary punishments, many mistrust them or don't believe they can control the footsoldiers on the streets.


"There is no music in all Jalalalad city, people are scared and afraid because Taliban are beating people," Naseem, a former official in the eastern province of Nangarhar.


Zarifullah Sahel, a local journalist in Laghman province near Kabul said the head of the Taliban's local cultural commission told the state-run public radio and six other private stations to adjust their programming to ensure it was in line with Sharia law.


Since then music programmes and political, cultural and news programming not related to religious issues had dried up.


But even where formal orders have not been issued, the message that the freewheeling era has come to an end and that it is safer not to stand out has been clear.


"I fear the Taliban may target me if was seen wearing jeans or western shirts or a suit," said Mustafa Ali Rahman, a former tax official in Lagman province. "One just doesn't know what they can do to punish us."


A former civil activist in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif said shops and restaurants appeared to have decided for themselves and turned off their radios.


"There is no warning about music, but people themselves have stopped," he said.


As Afghanistan adjusts to Taliban rule, music goes silent | Reuters

Originally Posted by Chico

shameful to see how the worlds police have done a runner and left all this stuff behind

Afghanistan Is Just the Latest Case of U.S. Arms Ending Up With U.S. Adversaries

Staggering Costs – U.S. Military Equipment Left Behind In Afghanistan

Or to be factual, it's a shame the Afghan government chose to take the cash and run, abandoning both their people and their military.

But the US deserve a fucking slap for not seeing that one coming.

Theyy (Afghan officials and military) left plenty of cash, weapons and equipment to the Talibans, why? I mean if they knew they would retreat, they should have burnt the cash and disabled as many weapons and equipment as they could to avoid strengthening their opponents.

Al Qaeda Kingpin Resurfaces In Afghanistan Surrounded By Taliban Security


A video has emerged online today that reportedly shows Dr. Amin Al Haq, who served for a time as the personal security chief for Al Qaeda founder Osama Bin Laden, traveling in the open in Afghanistan for the first time in a decade with a Taliban escort. If the description of this video is accurate, it can only raise questions about the current relationship between the Taliban and Al Qaeda and whether the former group will again give the latter safe haven in the country.


At the same time, a controversial American drone strike in Kabul yesterday, which, regardless of its intended targets, increasingly appears to have killed a number of innocent civilians, highlights the potential limits of future "over-the-horizon" counter-terrorism capabilities that will be available to the U.S. government going forward. All of this comes on the eve of the final withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan and the end of what American officials now say is set to be the largest evacuation airlift operation in U.S. military history.

MORE Al Qaeda Kingpin Resurfaces In Afghanistan Surrounded By Taliban Security

Pentagon: Gear left behind in Afghanistan was demilitarized and made unfit to use


Following the complete withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, images from the airport in Kabul showed members of the Taliban making their way through an abandoned hanger strewn with equipment, including helicopters, that the US left behind.


However, the equipment was demilitarized and made unusable before troops left, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said.


"They can inspect all they want. They can look at them, they can walk around, but they can't fly them. They can't operate them. We made sure to demilitarize, to make unusable, all the gear that is at the airport — all the aircraft, all the ground vehicles. The only thing that we left operable are a couple of fire trucks and forklifts so that the airport itself can remain more operational going forward," Kirby told CNN.


Since the departure of the last US troops from Afghanistan, the Pentagon is relieved about safely evacuating 123,000 people out of the country, but concerned about those who were left behind, he added.


"Although we don't think the numbers are large, we are obviously concerned about our friends, allies and fellow American citizens that are still there," he said, adding that the US government will remain mindful of its commitment to those citizens that remain behind.

In the meantime, the threat in Afghanistan "remains high."


"Obviously, we are concerned about the potential for Taliban retribution going forward," he said Tuesday. "We certainly are mindful of the threat ISIS-K continues to pose inside Afghanistan."


However, Kirby does not foresee the need for military involvements to get the remaining citizens and allies out.

Pentagon: Gear left behind in Afghanistan was demilitarized and made unfit to use

Originally Posted by Farang Ky Ay

Theyy (Afghan officials and military) left plenty of cash, weapons and equipment to the Talibans, why? I mean if they knew they would retreat, they should have burnt the cash and disabled as many weapons and equipment as they could to avoid strengthening their opponents.

The cash was with the government.

That's already in Gulf banks.

Stole this from retired CWO Jim Wright:

"So, if I'm understanding this correctly: America should have "got out" of Afghanistan like Trump campaigned on and Republicans have been demanding (and also, in fairness, Joe Biden too), but -- BUT! -- America should ALSO have, somehow, maintained control of the country even after we left and essentially continued, again somehow, to keep the Taliban in check, the very SAME Taliban who the Trump Administration via Mike Pompeo negotiated a deal with in Qatar and then Donald Trump himself invited to Camp David on the 2019 anniversary of 911 but later rescinded the invite when the secret meeting become public but STILL made a deal with that same Taliban ANYWAY behind the backs of Americans and the very allied Afghan government and Afghan citizens the Taliban is targeting right now and Americans are all screaming about how we gotta get our friends out but also we don't want them HERE because they are our allies, sure, but also somehow terrorists because basically we spent 20 years, thousands of lives, and trillions of dollars to take Afghanistan away from the Taliban and then ... give it right back to the very same Taliban and anyway even though Republicans and Democrats all hate each other the one thing they and the news media can all agree on is that this is all somehow Joe Biden's fault.

I have that correct?

Show me THAT plan. Go ahead. Show me that plan in detail. Show me how the US abandons Afghanistan and turns the Taliban loose BUT somehow magically STILL maintains control over the country. Show me that fucking plan. Show your work.

Let's see it".

Originally Posted by Storekeeper

I have that correct?

Quite amazing, isn't it . . .

Originally Posted by misskit

Uzbek closed border with Afghanistan

And the country that actually harboured Osama bin Laden and supported the Taliban:

Watching the news channels today I see that the Taliban are very upset with the American infidels. It seems all the nice helicopters and planes they inherited don't work anymore. All the navigation and fire control systems have been ripped out or destroyed.....total write-offs by the look of things....

They do look quite dapper in their new American combat gear holding M16s and other small arms more fitting a modern fighting outfit. Don't know if these weapons are still working but they do look the part
God is great 🤗

Disabled, it seems

And then . . . of course they can

As an example of how great Islam is, the Taliban will fix the disabled high tech aircraft with mud, goat hair and cow hide....all held together with Islamic prayers.

Originally Posted by Hugh Cow

An Interesting take from the ABC in Australia.

https://www.abc/news/2021-08-31/us-exit-afghanistan-questions-swirl/100418698

canceled cannot get link to work.

Use tinyurl.com

Security Council urges Taliban to provide safe passage out of Afghanistan

30 August 2021 Peace and Security





"The UN Security Council passed a resolution on Monday that calls for the Taliban to facilitate safe passage for people wanting to leave Afghanistan, allow humanitarians to access the country, and uphold human rights, including for women and children."

"Thirteen of the 15 ambassadors voted in favour of the resolution, which further demands that Afghanistan not be used as a shelter for terrorism.


Permanent members China and Russia abstained.

Airport attack condemned


Countries condemned in the strongest terms the deadly blasts at Kabul airport on Thursday, which killed more than 150 people and injured upwards of 200 more. The terrorist group Islamic State in Khorosan Province (ISKP) claimed responsibility.
The attack targeted people fleeing Afghanistan in the wake of the Taliban’s takeover two weeks ago, and international forces assisting the evacuations.
Thousands of Afghans have been trying to escape from the country ahead of the full withdrawal of the United States by its self-imposed Tuesday deadline.

USA: Live up to commitment


The resolution was tabled by the United States, alongside fellow permanent Council members France and the United Kingdom.
“The Security Council expects the Taliban to live up to its commitment to facilitate safe passage for Afghans and foreign nationals who want to leave Afghanistan, whether it’s today, tomorrow, or after August 31,” said US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

“Consistent with the right to leave any country, including one’s own, everybody must be allowed to safely leave Afghanistan, for whatever reason, whenever they want, by air or by land. This is of the utmost importance to us.”

Since July, the USA has evacuated more than 122,000 Americans, foreign nationals and at-risk Afghan citizens, she reported. Ms. Thomas-Greenfield added that the resolution also reflects the Council’s "crystal clear" commitment to assisting those who remain in Afghanistan.
“It underscores that all parties need to facilitate humanitarian assistance, and that humanitarian actors be given full safe and unhindered access to continue service delivery to those in need,” she said.
France: Reach all in need

The resolution takes note of a Taliban statement this week which allows Afghans to leave the country at any time. Nathalie Estival-Broadhurst, Deputy Permanent Representative of France, called for that commitment to be upheld.


“This resolution calls on everyone to make all efforts to secure the airport and the surrounding area.,” she said, speaking through an interpreter.

“And to create this safe passage and protection is a sine qua non condition to ensure that threatened Afghans who wish to leave can do so safely, but also to ensure that humanitarian assistance can reach all of those who need it through the airport, of course, but also over land borders.”
UK: Protect rights gains

On the issue of human rights, UK Ambassador Barbara Woodward emphasized the need to protect gains made over the past two decades, stressing that the rights of women, children and minorities must be safeguarded.


She described the resolution as an important step towards a unified international response to the situation in Afghanistan.
“We will continue to build on this to ensure the Council holds the Taliban accountable on its commitments. The Taliban will be judged by the international community on the basis of their actions on the ground, not their words,” she stated.

Russia: Concerns not included

In explaining his vote, Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said Russia was forced to abstain because certain “principled concerns” were not reflected in the draft text, which was circulated on Friday.


“Firstly, despite the fact that the resolution was proposed against the backdrop of a terrible terrorist attack, the authors categorically refused to refer to a passage on the fight against terrorism containing internationally recognized terrorist organizations ISIL and the East Turkistan Islamic Movement,” he said, speaking through an interpreter.

“We see this as a reluctance to acknowledge the obvious, and a desire to divide terrorists into ‘ours’ and ‘theirs’; and that is to say, to downplay the terrorist threat coming from these groups.”

China: Reflection and correction

Ambassador Geng Shuang of China stated that given the fragile situation on the ground, and the uncertainties, any Council action should help ease tensions, and not intensify them.

“The recent chaos in Afghanistan is directly related to the hasty and disorderly withdrawal of foreign troops,” he said. “We hope that relevant countries will realize the fact that withdrawal is not the end of responsibility, but the beginning of reflection and correction.”"

Security Council urges Taliban to provide safe passage out of Afghanistan | | UN News

Originally Posted by OhOh

Permanent members China and Russia abstained.

What a surprise!