Amid Taliban continuing its carnage in Afghanistan, Ex-CIA director David Petraeus claimed that the US will regret pulling troops from Afghanistan. Mr. Petraeus’ statements comes at a time when there’s a huge power vacuum left in land-locked disputed country we all know as Afghanistan.
The power vacuum that has deepened in Afghanistan has led to the Taliban confirming that it has already occupied 85% of the country.
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David Petraeus is a name that comes with a slew of titles and extensive experience in geopolitical security issues. Not only did he serve as the director of Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), he was also the commander of coalition forces and further headed US Central Command in Afghanistan.
Who is David Petraeus?
His extensive experience rests comfortable on the foundation of his PhD from Princeton University and his time as professor at United States Military Academy. With such an elite experience, the geopolitical remarks that may come from him must be considered with some depth and sincerity. He recently claimed that America withdrawing its troops from the war-torn country Afghanistan was a mistake and the country will “come to regret” it.
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Afghan forces will ‘desert posts, flee or surrender’: US General
The 4-star general also claimed that without the support by American troops and diplomats, the Afghan army forces would do “what some have already done – desert their posts, flee the Taliban or surrender”. In an interview with the Times of India, he claimed that Afghanistan will find it challenging to survive in the absence of American troops and its journey henceforth will be “painful one”.
“Withdraw will produce refugees, cause damage to human rights”
“I fear the decision to withdraw has consigned Afghanistan to a bloody civil war, and is likely to produce millions of refugees, cause damage to infrastructure and foist an ultraconservative theocratic regime over much of the country that curtails the rights of women, democratic processes and human rights,”
-he was quoted by the news daily saying.
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What’s to come will be worse
The commander general who ran the Multi-National Force – Iraq also added that while the current political regime in Afghanistan may be inherently flawed, the Talibani regime that will take over the country will be even worse.
“I would have thought that a sustained and sustainable US commitment in terms of ‘blood and treasure’ expended would have been preferable to what will follow our withdrawal,”
-the United States General said.
US and India Security
His statements around Afghanistan and its security comes just a few days after India evacuated as many as 50 of its diplomats and security personnel that worked at the Afghanistan consulates. The individuals were brought by the Indian Air Force through a secret mission. This mission was executed right after Taliban announced that it had 85% of the Afghanistan in its control.
However, when it comes to security of the US, the General claimed that he doesn’t expect Al-Qaida or Taliban to “pose a significant threat to US in the near term”. Further he also had a piece of advice for India.
“The American withdrawal, and the likely strife with the Taliban/Haqqani network taking control of more areas, will make it difficult for India to carry out diplomatic activity, development and other assistance,”
-the General was quoted by the Times of India saying.
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Taliban Gets Control of Border Crossing with Pakistan
After taking control of the border crossings Afghanistan shared with with Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Iran, Taliban fighters were reported to have taken control over a border with Pakistan. In new visuals, the Afghani government’s flag is removed and a new Taliban flag is blowing in the air. After the development, the Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid claimed that its fighters captured a border town called Wesh.
The border crossing conquest is a big strategic victory for the Islamic organization as it gives its members direct access to Balochistan, a province in Pakistan. For the unversed, Balochistan hosts several members of Taliban leadership and is the base of several insurgent fighters.
