08:23 31/08/2021
The last US troops have left Afghanistan, fulfilling President Joe Biden's pledge to end America's longest war after a chaotic and violent evacuation from Kabul, the US military said Monday.
The following is a timeline of United States involvement and major developments in Afghanistan over the past two decades:
September 11, 2001 - The involvement of the United States in Afghanistan is caused by attacks on the United States planned in Afghanistan by the militant group Al Qaeda, led by Osama bin Laden, who was in Afghanistan under the protection of the Taliban.
October 7, 2001 - US forces begin air campaign with attacks on Taliban and Al Qaeda forces. A small number of US special forces and CIA agents were quickly inserted into Afghanistan to help direct the bombing campaign and organize the Afghan opposition forces. However, the Taliban would be quickly overthrown without any major US military deployment on the ground.
November 13, 2001 – US-backed Northern Alliance forces enter Kabul as the Taliban retreat south. Within a month, Taliban leaders have fled southern Afghanistan for Pakistan.
December 2001 – US forces bomb the Tora Bora cave complex in eastern Afghanistan, where bin Laden is said to be hiding, but he manages to cross the border into Pakistan, where he disappears.
2 May 2003 - American officials declare the end of major combat operations in Afghanistan. Under President George W. Bush, the United States' focus shifted to preparing for the invasion of Iraq, which required a diversion of US troops, equipment and intelligence operations from Afghanistan. This allowed the Taliban to gradually regroup, first in the south and east.
2006-2008 - With US forces mostly fighting a strong campaign in Iraq, only a much smaller contingent is deployed in Afghanistan. The Taliban begin major advances, threatening to retake large swaths of territory, especially in the south. In response, an expanded NATO mission brings in thousands more forces, particularly British servicemen, hundreds of whom are killed in intense fighting against the Taliban in Helmand province.
February 17, 2009 - While Washington is withdrawing in Iraq, the newly inaugurated President Barack Obama decides to increase the presence in Afghanistan. In his first major military decision as commander-in-chief, he orders an additional 17 combat troops to reinforce the 000 US forces and 38 forces from some 000 NATO allies already on the ground. Later that year, with generals recommending a "strong" campaign similar to the one waged in Iraq in 32-000, Obama would order an even greater presence. The US contingent would exceed 40 by mid-2006, conducting extensive counterinsurgency operations across the country.
1 May 2011 - Bin Laden is killed in an attack by US forces in Pakistan.
December 2011 - US officials say US diplomats have held nearly a dozen secret meetings with the Afghan Taliban over the past 10 months, mostly in Germany and Qatar.
27 May 2014 - After the surging campaign of former President Obama's first term, Washington quickly withdraws its forces and shifts its emphasis to training and supporting the Afghan military. Obama presents a plan to withdraw all but 9 US forces by the end of 800 by the end of the year.
December 28, 2014 – The US combat mission officially ended after the withdrawal of most combat forces and the transition to an "Afghan-led" war.
August 21, 2017 – US President Donald Trump announces his strategy, calling for a small and indefinite deployment of US forces providing support to Afghans, with the aim of forcing the Taliban to negotiate peace with the Kabul government.
February 29, 2020 – Under former President Trump, Washington signed an agreement with the Taliban in Doha to withdraw all US forces. The Taliban agree to stop attacks on US forces, not to allow their territory to be used for terrorism and to hold talks with the Afghan government, although those talks would later prove fruitless.
April 14, 2021 – President Biden announces that US forces will withdraw unconditionally by September 11, implementing the agreement reached with the Taliban by his predecessor, former President Trump.
July 2, 2021 – US troops suddenly withdraw from their main base at Bagram airfield 60 km north of Kabul.
August 15, 2021 – After a shocking week-long advance capturing cities across the country, the Taliban capture Kabul without a fight. President Ashraf Ghani leaves the country. The United States and Western allies launch an emergency airlift operation from Kabul airport to evacuate their own citizens and the tens of thousands of Afghans who helped them.
August 26, 2021 – Islamic State launches a suicide bombing attack on the crowded gates of Kabul airport, killing a number of civilians and 13 US service members, the deadliest incident for US forces in Afghanistan in more than a decade.
August 30, 2021 – American General Frank McKenzie, head of the United States Central Command, announces the completion of the withdrawal of American forces./VOA
Source of information @TvKlan: Read more at: www.botasot.al
