Washington: The withdrawal of the US troops was completed to mark the end of the brutal 20-year war, which is America’s longest. It kicked off and signed out with the hardline Taliban in power, despite incurring expenditure of billions of dollars to rebuild the conflict-wracked country.
Celebratory gunfire rang out in the Afghanistan capital in the early hours of Tuesday, and elated senior Taliban officials termed the event as a watershed moment.
The withdrawal came after the fraught final days of a frantic mission to evacuate thousands of Americans and Afghans who had helped the US-led war effort — and which left scores of Afghans and 13 US troops dead following a suicide attack last week.
The withdrawal took place before the end of August 31, the actual deadline set by President Joe Biden to call time on America’s longest war. The war eventually claimed over 2,400 US service members’ lives.
“I’m here to announce the completion of our withdrawal from Afghanistan and the end of the military mission to evacuate American citizens,” US General Kenneth McKenzie was quoted as saying reporters by news agency AFP on Monday.
“Tonight’s withdrawal signifies both the end of the military component of the evacuation but also the end of the nearly 20-year mission that began in Afghanistan shortly after September 11th, 2001.”
The last flight left at 1929 GMT on Monday — just before the start of Tuesday in Kabul, McKenzie said.
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