An update on Afghanistan.

News | Peyton Alch | Aug 22nd, 2021.

On August 15th 2021, the Taliban took control of Kabul after the government collapsed. This ended the 20-year effort by the US and other Western nations to remodel Afghanistan as a modern democracy. The Pentagon has ordered US commercial airlines to help evacuate Afghan citizens from Europe and the Middle East. Since August 14th, the US has evacuated around 17,000 people.

However, many American and Afghanistan citizens are still stuck in the country, with thousands of people swarming airports.

Many of these people are those that were part of the effort to actually fight the Taliban, allies of the United States military, and translators for the American effort. They are the ones that the Taliban is most likely to target now that they have control, as those citizens originally fought against the terrorist group.

Nevertheless, due to the speed to which the Taliban overtook the capitol, American forces were unable to get them out in time. Now, they wait in airports waiting for visas in America’s long and treacherous immigration process.

Many citizens are fearful that under the Taliban’s rule, Afghanistan will become a hub of human rights abuses and limited individual liberties. There is also a strong fear of the expected women’s rights abuses.

According to ABC News, Pentagon officials have stated that “their focus remains on maintaining the airport perimeter and increasing the number of evacuees out of Kabul.” The US has taken steps to provide housing for Afghan evacuees at US military bases.

After Kabul's collapse, the Taliban's takeover, and thousands of citizens trying to evacuate in fear for their lives, the world waits to see what will happen next.