RASC News Agency: Former U.S. President Donald Trump canceled flights for nearly 1,660 Afghanistani refugees who were scheduled to be relocated to the United States. Reuters reported this development on Monday, January 20, citing an American official. According to the report, the individuals affected are those at significant risk due to direct threats from the Taliban. Shawn VanDiver, a U.S. veteran of the Afghanistani war and a member of an organization dedicated to evacuating Afghanistani refugees, voiced his deep concerns to Reuters. He emphasized that Trump’s team had been previously warned about the potential dangers of this decision. VanDiver expressed hope that the decision would be reconsidered.
Meanwhile, several Democratic members of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee condemned the move as “shameful” in posts on X (formerly Twitter). Notably, Trump had consistently advocated for anti-immigration policies even before entering the White House. The fate of thousands of Afghanistani citizens living under the Taliban’s oppressive rule remains dire and uncertain. After two decades of military presence, the United States ultimately withdrew from Afghanistan, effectively handing the country over to the Taliban. Ironically, the U.S. transferred control to a group it had long designated as “terrorists.” However, once the Taliban aligned with U.S. “interests,” they were rebranded as “legitimate combatants.”
Not only did the U.S. facilitate their governance, but it also continues to send them regular financial aid to support their administration. This decision raises critical questions about U.S. foreign policy and its long-term consequences for the people of Afghanistan.
