TimeLine Layout

August, 2021

  • 20 August

    Did China Outmaneuver the US and Embolden the Taliban?

    It’s no secret Chinese diplomats recently met with Taliban leadership. They likely saw the unfolding situation in Afghanistan as an opportunity to support a winning racehorse and gain more edge on their quest to become the new superpower. Incredibly, Secretary of State Blinken said that Chinese influence in Afghanistan could …

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  • 20 August

    Secretary of Defense: ‘I Don’t Have the Capability’ to Escort Stranded Americans to Kabul Airport

    Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said that the U.S. will continue to evacuate all the Americans “they can” from Afghanistan, although the U.S. is currently unable to “go out and collect large numbers of people” from outside the Kabul airport. “It’s obvious we’re not close to where we want to …

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  • 20 August

    Trump calls Afghanistan collapse ‘most humiliating’ moment for US

    Former President Donald Trump described the recent events in Afghanistan as the worst humiliation in American history but defended the agreement his administration struck with the Taliban last year. “It’s a great thing that we’re getting out, but nobody has ever handled a withdrawal worse than Joe Biden,” the former …

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  • 20 August

    Afghan Leadership Failed To Stand Up To Taliban, Says NATO Chief

    NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday (17 August) called on the Taliban to prevent Afghanistan from lapsing back into being a breeding ground for terrorism, and said the Western defence alliance has agreed to send additional evacuation planes to Kabul. Western powers are scrambling to respond to the fall-out from …

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  • 20 August

    Taliban Declare Amnesty For Afghan Government Officials

    The Taliban has declared a general amnesty for former Afghan government officials, a statement by the Taliban said. “A general amnesty has been declared for all so you should have no doubt about resuming your normal activities,” the statement reads, TASS reported. Taliban members entered Afghanistan’s capital of Kabul on …

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  • 20 August

    Russian and Turkish foreign ministers discuss Afghanistan

    Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu discussed the situation in Afghanistan on Wednesday and called on key players to ensure security there, Russia’s foreign ministry said in a statement. The Taliban said on Tuesday they wanted peaceful relations with other countries and would respect women’s …

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  • 20 August

    Talibans’ Return 20 Years After 9/11: Challenges In Building Peace In Afghanistan – Analysis

    Twenty years ago, the United States waged the Global War On Terrorism (GWOT) in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 (9/11) terrorist attacks. The US declared Afghanistan as the first front in this war with the intention to swiftly crush the Taliban forces for providing safe haven to Osama …

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  • 20 August

    Why The Taliban’s Victory Represents A Victory For Long-Term US Geopolitical Interests – OpEd

    At first glance, the Taliban’s victory over the Afghan government after the US withdrew its troops from the country represents a humiliating defeat for America and its allies. This, at least, seems to be the position taken by analysts and commentators in coverage of this story in most mainstream US …

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  • 20 August

    Fearing Afghan refugee influx, Turkey reinforces border

    Fearing a new refugee crisis, Turkey is sending soldiers to reinforce its border with Iran in order to stop a potential influx of Afghans fleeing the Taliban insurgency. Irregular arrivals are already up as Afghans who fled weeks and months ago show up at Turkey’s rugged border area after a …

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  • 20 August

    The Price Of Biden’s Betrayal – OpEd

    It took a couple of days for US President Joe Biden to interrupt his vacation at Camp David and address his people and a world still in shock at the carnage in Afghanistan. In his 10-minute remarks, Biden defended his handling of the US withdrawal, while blaming his predecessor, former …

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