Washington: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has revealed that the Trump administration is once again considering whether to classify Afghanistan’s Taliban government as a “foreign terrorist organization.” Rubio made the statement during a hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday.
His comments follow a directive issued by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who on Tuesday called for a full review of the U.S. military’s 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan. The chaotic evacuation from Kabul that August, which claimed the lives of 13 American troops and approximately 150 Afghan civilians in a bombing by the Islamic State (ISIS-K), has long been the subject of scrutiny.
In a memo, Hegseth emphasized the need for a fresh examination of the withdrawal, citing the high casualty count and the loss of military equipment. “This remains an important step toward regaining faith and trust with the American people and all those who wear the uniform,” Hegseth wrote.
The Biden administration, which oversaw the final pull-out, has largely attributed the disorder to decisions made under President Donald Trump first term in office. The Trump administration negotiated a deal with the Taliban in Doha in February 2020, agreeing to withdraw U.S. forces in exchange for Taliban promises to prevent terror groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS-K from operating in Afghanistan. The agreement set a withdrawal deadline of May 2021.
President Biden, upon taking office in early 2021, said he had little choice but to follow through on the agreement or face renewed conflict. However, the withdrawal drew harsh criticism, especially from Trump, who has repeatedly called it “the most embarrassing day in our country’s history,” accusing Biden of handling the exit without strength or dignity.
While numerous inquiries into the withdrawal have already taken place—featuring testimony from former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and General Mark Milley—it remains to be seen how Hegseth’s review will differ in scope or findings. U.S. Central Command has previously investigated the ISIL bombing at Kabul airport.
The war in Afghanistan, which began in 2001, remains the longest military engagement in U.S. history. The latest developments signal continued debate over how the final chapter of that war unfolded and what lessons, if any, have been learned.
