Afghanistan, Resolute Support and (Sad) Epilogue

The transition from the ISAF mission (International Security Assistance Force) to the "Resolute Support" mission represents a significant change in NATO's strategy in Afghanistan. The ISAF mission, which began in 2001, had the primary objective of ensuring security and supporting the Afghan government in maintaining public order, as well as fighting insurgent groups like the Taliban.

On December 31, 2014, the ISAF mission officially ended, marking the end of an era of direct military involvement and active combat by international forces in Afghanistan. The following day, on January 1, 2015, the "Resolute Support" mission was launched, also under NATO leadership. However, this new mission has a significantly different approach and objectives compared to its predecessor.

Resolute Support focuses primarily on training, advising, and assisting the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and the country's governmental institutions. The idea is to provide high-level support, working at the highest levels of the Afghan security forces' hierarchy. The goal is to improve the functionality and capacity of the ANSF to be self-sustaining, meaning to make the Afghan forces more autonomous and capable of managing the country's internal security without massive foreign military support.

This change of direction reflects a recognition that a lasting solution to the situation in Afghanistan requires a strong and independent Afghan national security force, capable of addressing internal challenges such as terrorism and insurgency. At the same time, "Resolute Support" also aims to strengthen Afghan governmental institutions to promote greater political and social stability in the country.

The DOHA Agreement

The Doha Agreement, signed on February 29, 2020, represents a pivotal moment in the long conflict in Afghanistan.

Reached between the Taliban and the United States during Donald Trump's presidency, it marked a significant turning point in the war that had lasted since 2001. The agreement provided for the withdrawal of U.S. armed forces from Afghanistan within 14 months, a crucial step towards ending the United States' direct military intervention in the country.

Subsequently, in April 2021, NATO's Atlantic Council ministers announced a withdrawal plan that would follow a similar trajectory. This decision, coordinated with the Doha Agreement, indicated that the withdrawal of NATO forces from the "Resolute Support" mission in Afghanistan would begin on May 1, 2021.

This withdrawal was expected to conclude within a few months, with the aim of being orderly and coordinated, to avoid any security vacuum that could be exploited by insurgent groups.

Despite the troop withdrawal, NATO commits to continue its support to Afghanistan, albeit in a different form. In the communiqué issued by the Atlantic Council ministers, the alliance's intention to promote peace and security and to defend the progress achieved over the past 20 years was emphasized. This included support for political, social, and economic reforms, as well as efforts to protect human rights, especially those of women and minorities.

In parallel with these developments, U.S. President Joe Biden announced in the same month of April that the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan would be completed by September 11, 2021, symbolically marking the end of nearly two decades of American military presence in Afghanistan.

However, the withdrawal began to raise concerns about Afghanistan's future stability and the potential risk of a resurgence of internal conflict in the vacuum left by foreign forces.

The Taliban Offensive in May 2021

In May, an intense Taliban offensive began to regain control of Afghanistan, taking advantage of the NATO troop withdrawal from the country.

Faced with the worrying advance of the Taliban, U.S. President Joe Biden announced on July 8, 2021 that the withdrawal of U.S. troops would be completed by August 31, 2021, thus anticipating the previously set date of September 11.

A significant moment occurred on July 12 with the evacuation of Bagram Air Base, the largest U.S. airbase in Afghanistan.

On this occasion, General Austin S. Miller, commander of the "Resolute Support" mission, proceeded to lower the mission's flag, thus formally marking the conclusion of the American military commitment in Afghanistan. On the same day, General Miller submitted his resignation as commander of U.S. and NATO forces. In his place, General Frank McKenzie assumed command of U.S. forces with the task of overseeing the withdrawal of the last American citizens still present in Afghanistan, carrying out the final phase of an extremely complex operation.

The Surrender of the Regular Army: NATO's Failure

The regular Afghan army, lacking direct military support from NATO, was unable to withstand the offensive and surrendered to the Taliban. After capturing the most important Afghan provinces between July and August, on August 15, 2021, the Taliban triumphantly entered Kabul, shortly after government members and President Ashraf Ghani had fled.

Thus began the final phase of the evacuation of NATO countries' troops and citizens, personnel from many embassies and consulates, and many Afghans who wanted to leave the country, especially those who had collaborated with NATO projects.

To this end, many countries organized airlifts. During those days, the Afghan capital's airport was the scene of particularly dramatic scenes broadcast by TVs worldwide.

The last evacuation plane left Kabul on August 30, and the Taliban militias, who had secured control and continuity of services for banks, hospitals, and the state apparatus, temporarily closed the airport.

123,000 people were evacuated after the fall of Kabul, but tens of thousands of Afghans who feared Taliban reprisals were unable to leave the country, and many of them gathered at border crossings waiting to be admitted to neighboring countries.

The Taliban announced an amnesty for citizens who had collaborated with foreigners during the 20 years of war. However, similar promises had been broken 25 years earlier, when they first took power. Consequently, a large part of the population was distrustful of them.

The Resolute Support mission represents NATO's biggest failure since its existence, a 20-year-long failure that begins with ISAF. ISAF, a COMBAT mission, had not even remotely weakened the Taliban's military strength, and Resolute Support had not served to prepare Afghanistan as an autonomous and independent nation. The sacrifice of 3,612 coalition soldiers had served no purpose. Afghanistan, 20 years later, was back in the hands of the Taliban.