The 1996 Global Abandonment of Afghanistan Let the Taliban Take Over the First Time

The recent American and North Atlantic Treaty Organization withdrawal from Afghanistan is not the first time the United States and the international community let the Taliban take over the central Asian State after abandoning Afghanistan. After the withdrawal of Soviet forces in 1989, Pakistan created the Taliban to counter its arch-rival India in Afghanistan. The Islamist Taliban militia began to fight with the Afghan government by 1992. Bill Clinton mostly ignored Afghanistan and did little to prevent the Taliban from seizing most of Afghanistan and taking power by 1996, although he continued to recognize the Northern Alliance-led government. The Taliban then provided sanctuary to al-Qaeda, the Islamist terrorist organization founded by the Saudi Osama bin Laden that was responsible for the September 11 Attacks, after they left Sudan. Clinton conducted one missile strike against al-Qaeda after the twin American embassy bombings in 1998 in Kenya and Tanzania, but did not follow through. After the September 11 Attacks, President George W. Bush led an international coalition to overthrow the Taliban and deny safe haven to al-Qaeda, which had been using Afghan soil to plot and train. After the recent American and NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Taliban, whose organization remains intertwined with Islamist terrorists, quickly seized power, as feared. Al-Qaeda’s leader as sworn an oath of loyalty to the Taliban’s leader. The Islamist terrorists provided support to the Taliban’s takeover. Therefore, there are concerns that the Taliban will again provide safe haven to al-Qaeda and other violent jihadists. Instead of withdrawal and isolationism, continued vigilance and support for allies is essential for American and global security.