The US military has completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan to end a brutal 20-year war, which has been America’s longest. It started and ended with the hardline Taliban in power, despite billions of dollars spent trying to rebuild the conflict-wracked country.
According to the reports, as soon as the last US soldier leaves Afghanistan, celebratory gunfire rang out of Kabul as the Taliban’ erupted in festivities and hailed the event as a watershed moment.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Afghanistan had “gained full independence” with the US withdrawal, and Anas Haqqani, a senior Taliban official, said he was “proud” to witness “these historic moments”.
The withdrawal came a day before the actual deadline set by US President Joe Biden.
“I’m here to announce the completion of our withdrawal from Afghanistan and the end of the military mission to evacuate American citizens,” US General Kenneth McKenzie told reporters Monday Washington time.
“Tonight’s withdrawal signifies both the end of the military component of the evacuation but also the end of the nearly 20-year mission that began in Afghanistan shortly after September 11th, 2001.”
The final flight left at 1929 GMT Monday – just before the start of Tuesday in Kabul, he said.
According to the White House reports, President Biden would address the nation on Tuesday in Washington.
The Last Soldier
According to the US Department of Defence, Major General Donahue was the last soldier to Leave Afghanistan.
The last American soldier to leave Afghanistan: Maj. Gen. Chris Donahue, commanding general of the @82ndABNDiv, @18airbornecorps boards an @usairforce C-17 on August 30th, 2021, ending the U.S. mission in Kabul. pic.twitter.com/j5fPx4iv6a
— Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) August 30, 2021
Major General Donahue is the commanding officer of the 82nd Airborne Division which comes under the Fort Bragg, North Carolina-based 18th Airborne Corps of the US Army. According to a report in USA Today, the officer was deployed this month to help secure the Kabul airport as America’s self-imposed August 31 deadline to withdraw all its troops from Afghanistan neared. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1992 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant.
