Withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan (2020–2021)

Withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan (2020–2021)
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Conflict	Withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan (2020–2021)
Partof	the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
Date	29 February 2020 – 30 August 2021
Place	Afghanistan
Result	Full withdrawal of U.S. military forces; collapse of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan; Taliban return to power
Combatant1	United States, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (until 15 August 2021)
Combatant2	Flag of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.svg Taliban
Commander1	United States Donald Trump, United States Joe Biden, United States Mark A. Milley, United States Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani
Commander2	Flag of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.svg Hibatullah Akhundzada, Flag of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.svg Abdul Ghani Baradar, Flag of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.svg Mullah Yaqoob

Withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan (2020–2021) was the final stage of the United States military disengagement from the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021). Initiated under the Trump administration and completed by the Biden administration, the process culminated in the departure of the last U.S. troops on 30 August 2021. The withdrawal precipitated the rapid collapse of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the seizure of power by the Taliban, ending America's longest war.

Background

The conflict began with the United States invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, following the September 11 attacks orchestrated by al-Qaeda, which was harbored by the Taliban regime. Over two decades, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force and subsequent Resolute Support Mission aimed to build a stable Afghan state. However, by the late 2010s, a protracted military stalemate, war fatigue in the United States Congress, and shifting strategic priorities toward great power competition with China and Russia created strong political pressure for an exit. Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump had both sought to reduce the U.S. footprint, setting conditions for a final withdrawal.

Negotiations and agreement

Direct negotiations between the United States and the Taliban began in 2018 in Doha, led by U.S. Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad. After extensive talks, the two parties signed the Doha Agreement on 29 February 2020. The accord stipulated a full withdrawal of all U.S. and NATO troops within fourteen months, in exchange for Taliban counter-terrorism guarantees against groups like al-Qaeda and Islamic State – Khorasan Province. The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, sidelined from the talks, was pressured to release thousands of Taliban prisoners and engage in intra-Afghan negotiations. The Biden administration, upon taking office, reviewed but ultimately upheld the agreement, setting a new deadline of 31 August 2021.

Execution of the withdrawal

President Joe Biden announced the final withdrawal plan in April 2021, and the systematic drawdown of forces from major bases like Bagram Airfield began in earnest. The Taliban, violating the spirit of the Doha Agreement, launched a major nationwide offensive in May 2021. As U.S. troops departed, Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police forces, plagued by corruption and dependent on U.S. air support, collapsed with stunning speed. Key provincial capitals, including Kandahar and Herat, fell in rapid succession throughout August 2021.

Evacuation and humanitarian crisis

The fall of Kabul on 15 August 2021 triggered a frantic emergency evacuation. The United States Air Force, alongside allies like the British and German militaries, conducted a massive airlift from Hamid Karzai International Airport. The operation evacuated over 120,000 people but was marred by chaos, the 2021 Kabul airport attack by Islamic State – Khorasan Province that killed over 180 people, and the tragic deaths of Afghans. Thousands of eligible Afghan interpreters and at-risk civilians were left behind, creating a protracted humanitarian and refugee crisis.

Aftermath and consequences

The completion of the withdrawal on 30 August 2021 marked the end of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) and the immediate restoration of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan under Taliban rule. The United States Department of State suspended diplomatic operations at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. The collapse triggered a severe economic and human rights crisis, particularly for women in Afghanistan, and led to a congressional investigation by the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs. The operation's planning and execution faced intense scrutiny from media like The New York Times and think tanks such as the Brookings Institution, becoming a defining foreign policy event for the Biden administration.