A collection of photos documenting the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan since the Taliban took over last Sunday.
For many Afghans who were fearful of their country’s future due to the imminent withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, this past week has unfolded into chaotic and hasty evacuations that no one was prepared for. After the Taliban ’s quick takeover of Afghanistan’s capital Kabul on Sunday, the U.S. began rapidly evacuating its embassy as many Afghans who have helped the military throughout 20 years of war or are in fear for their lives desperately sought ways to flee the country. On Monday, images and video footage showed thousands of people flooding the tarmac at Kabul’s international airport and hanging from U.S. military jets as a last-ditch effort to join the remaining diplomatic staff departing Afghanistan. President Joe Biden flew back to the White House on Monday, earlier than expected as he was visiting Camp David, to address the nation on the ongoing evacuations in Afghanistan. Biden defended the decision to withdraw U.S. troops out of the country in his first remarks addressing the fall of government in Kabul, adding that the takeover by the Taliban happened much quicker than his administration anticipated. He also pointed to Afghan forces‘ unwillingness to fight for the quick fall. „American troops cannot and should not be fighting in a war and dying in a war that Afghan forces are not willing to fight for themselves,“ Biden said. „We gave them every chance to determine their own future. We could not provide them with the will to fight for that future.“ „I know my decision will be criticized, but I would rather take all that criticism than pass this decision on to a future president,“ he added. On Tuesday, the U.S. resumed air operations after commercial flights out of Kabul’s airport were cancelled a day earlier. Although the U.S. controls the military side of the airport, the Taliban controls access roads to Hamid Karzai International Airport. International demonstrators protested around the globe calling on world leaders to help the people of Afghanistan, particularly Afghan women and girls.
