Guwahati News Desk: Just weeks before the US is scheduled to end its war in Afghanistan, the Biden administration deployed over 3,000 troops to Afghanistan to help in the evacuation procedure of diplomats and special visa applicants (SIV).
President Joe Biden, who has remained adamant about ending the 19-year U.S. mission in Afghanistan at the end of this month despite the Taliban sweep, conferred with senior national security officials overnight and then gave the order for the additional deployment of temporary troops on Thursday morning.
As per the sources, the troops are being deployed to the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul.
The 3,000 troops who are to arrive at the Kabul airport in the next day or two, are to assist with security at the airport and to help process the departure of embassy personnel and are expected not to get involved in the Afghan government’s war with the Taliban.
The move of additional deployment clearly highlighted the growing concerns in Biden administration with the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, as a result of the Taliban advancing far more rapidly than anticipated.
Referring to the ongoing evacuation procedure, the State Department spokesman, Ned Price said, “This is not abandonment. This is not an evacuation. This is not a wholesale withdrawalâ¦What this is is a reduction in the size of our civilian footprint.”
Price insisted, “The message we are sending to the people of Afghanistan is one of enduring partnership.”
Meanwhile, the US had already withdrawn most of its troops, but had kept about 650 troops in Afghanistan to support US diplomatic security, including at the airport.
Photo | Representative Image
