RASC News Agency: Several former Afghanistani officials have alleged that prior to the withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan, they had hoped that Kamala Harris would persuade President Joe Biden to safeguard women’s rights and preserve the achievements of the past 20 years in the country. They claim that Harris failed to alter Biden’s stance on the withdrawal.
Republicans in Congress have consistently criticized the manner in which American forces withdrew from Afghanistan, accusing both Biden and Harris of a hasty and irresponsible exit. This, they argue, led to the Taliban regaining control of the country and provided the group with millions of dollars in weaponry. They assert that the withdrawal was both ill-conceived and detrimental. The Washington Post recently examined Kamala Harris’s role and influence as the current Vice President and Democratic candidate for the upcoming presidential election regarding the decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan.
Former American military personnel have indicated that in 2021, Harris did not present a clear stance on the unconditional withdrawal during decision-making meetings, although she consistently participated in discussions about the troop withdrawal. Nader Naderi, former head of the Administrative Reform Commission, told the newspaper that he had hoped Harris could convince Biden to avoid a complete withdrawal of troops in order to pressure the Taliban into pursuing peace.
Nadri added that while Harris supported humanitarian aid for Afghanistani women, she spoke less publicly on this matter. According to Naderi, Biden showed little interest in the issue and tightly controlled information related to the withdrawal. Fauzia Koofi, a member of the negotiating team with the Taliban, expressed hope that Harris could persuade Biden to maintain a sufficient American military presence in Afghanistan to facilitate a peace agreement between the government and the Taliban. However, Biden’s position influenced Harris.
Critics have described Biden’s decision to withdraw from Afghanistan as his worst foreign policy blunder, arguing that the Taliban’s return has led to the resurgence of terrorist groups and the erosion of 20 years of progress in the country. Some suggest that certain voters, including soldiers who served in Afghanistan and Afghananistani-Americans in key states such as Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, may withdraw their support from Biden due to this decision.
In December 2018, Harris visited Afghanistan as part of a U.S. Senate delegation, traveling to Kabul, Kandahar, and Mazar-e-Sharif. Upon her return, she indicated that she was seeking a political solution to bring American troops home. Although Harris supported Biden’s commitment to ending the protracted and bloody 20-year conflict in Afghanistan, she continued to emphasize the importance of protecting Afghanistani women and children after the withdrawal.
During her 2019 presidential campaign, she stated: “I want to ensure that the country remains on a path to stability and that we protect our achievements, including those for Afghanistani women.” Ron Klain, former Chief of Staff to Joe Biden, noted that now that Kamala Harris is a candidate, she will have the opportunity to articulate her policy on Afghanistan. However, she has yet to specify her approach to the Taliban if elected. Klain remarked that vice presidents typically avoid publicly expressing their disagreements with the president. Nevertheless, during the Obama administration, Biden opposed increasing troop levels in Afghanistan and even threatened to resign over the potential deployment of his son to the country.
In early 2021, Harris began holding regular meetings with Biden to discuss the details of the troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. According to Klain, “She provided the President with advice on this matter.” Klain declined to disclose further details about Harris’s discussions. Former Finance Minister Khalid Payenda expressed hope that Harris would recognize that many of the issues that prompted U.S. intervention in Afghanistan remain unresolved, including the country’s ongoing role as a base for terrorist activities.
