NATO Chief Calls Afghanistan Mission A Catastrophe

NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels

NATO's outgoing chief, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, has described the mission in Afghanistan as a catastrophe for the military alliance. Stoltenberg, who is set to step down at the end of this month, expressed his views on the situation in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of U.S. and allied forces in August 2021 after nearly two decades of conflict with the Taliban.

The Taliban, the militant group that the coalition forces were fighting against, has now regained power in Afghanistan despite the extensive efforts and significant financial investment made by the U.S.-led coalition, with Washington alone spending approximately $2 trillion on the mission.

Stoltenberg acknowledged that NATO's objective in Afghanistan, which aimed to establish a democratic and free society with equal rights for all, proved to be overly ambitious and challenging to achieve. He emphasized that the resources and forces required to sustain such a goal were lacking, leading to the realization that the mission was unsustainable in the long term.

Taliban regains power in Afghanistan post U.S. and allied forces withdrawal in August 2021.

NATO's mission in Afghanistan termed a catastrophe by outgoing Secretary-General.

Coalition's extensive efforts and $2 trillion investment fail to prevent Taliban resurgence.

Reflecting on the outcome of the mission, Stoltenberg lamented the return of the Taliban to power, describing it as a catastrophic development, particularly for the people of Afghanistan, especially women. He recounted encounters with Afghan women, including members of parliament and journalists, who implored NATO to remain in the country to safeguard the progress made in terms of rights and freedoms.

Despite the initial commitment to a conditions-based approach for withdrawal, Stoltenberg highlighted that after two decades of engagement and significant sacrifices in terms of lives lost and resources expended, NATO allies and the United States ultimately concluded that the mission could not be sustained indefinitely. The decision to withdraw from Afghanistan was made in recognition of the challenges and limitations faced by the coalition forces in achieving their objectives.

The withdrawal from Afghanistan marks a significant turning point in NATO's history, prompting reflection on the lessons learned and the implications of the mission's conclusion for the future of the military alliance.