The United States is reassessing its policy on Afghanistan, aiming to tighten controls to ensure that no aid ends up in the hands of the Taliban, two senior State Department officials revealed in an interview with an Afghan media outlet.
Describing the current situation in Afghanistan as “catastrophic,” the officials acknowledged that the U.S. withdrawal in August 2021 “should never have happened the way it did.” The review is focused on preventing the re-emergence of Afghanistan as a safe haven for terrorist groups and pressing the Taliban to abandon its ongoing “hostage diplomacy” by releasing detained American citizens.
“The priority of the United States is that Afghanistan never again becomes a training ground for terrorists,” one official stated. He further noted that President Donald Trump “will take all necessary measures to protect America.”
The officials cited the recent visit to Kabul by Adam Boehler, Trump’s special envoy for hostage affairs, as a signal that the issue remains a top priority for Washington.
Focus on Human Rights and Women’s Freedoms
The U.S. officials also raised serious concerns about the deteriorating condition of women and girls in Afghanistan. They accused the Taliban, designated as a terrorist organisation by the U.S., of systematically violating human rights and, most recently, obstructing female aid workers following the devastating earthquake in eastern Afghanistan.
“We know the nature of the Taliban,” one official said. “They have no regard for human rights, especially the rights of women and girls.”
The restrictions, they claimed, directly contributed to additional casualties. To counteract Taliban interference, Washington is now supporting initiatives for Afghan women and girls operating from outside the country, to ensure aid “reaches its intended beneficiaries.”
U.S. Watching China’s Moves in Afghanistan
The officials further described China as a “global challenge,” noting that Beijing is actively seeking influence in Afghanistan, particularly through its interest in the country’s untapped mining sector. The U.S. is monitoring the situation closely, especially developments that could tilt strategic control in China’s favour.
On the contentious issue of the Bagram air base, formerly a key U.S. military installation in Afghanistan, one official said, “The president’s remarks clearly reflect his view. He has stated exactly what he wants,” without offering further details.
Context: Rising Global Alarm Over Afghanistan
While Washington reviews its approach, Afghanistan’s security crisis is also spilling across its borders. In Pakistan, five terrorists attempting cross-border infiltration from Afghan territory were neutralised in recent encounters with Pakistani forces. The continued use of Afghan soil for launching attacks has heightened regional alarm and raised further questions about Taliban control, or the lack thereof.
Adding to international concerns, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in his address to the UN General Assembly yesterday, referenced Afghanistan as an example of extremist takeover, saying the Taliban have “plunged the entire country into darkness.”
