WILLIAM WEST
In view of the impending international troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, Australia has announced the closure of its embassy in Kabul. The diplomatic mission will be temporarily closed on May 28 and only reopened “as soon as circumstances permit,” said Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Tuesday. Observers fear that the NATO troop withdrawal, which has already begun, could plunge Afghanistan into new chaos.
The administration of the former US President Donald Trump concluded an agreement with the Taliban in Doha in February 2020 to end the longest war effort in US history. The USA and NATO as a whole then began withdrawing troops at the end of April.
US President Joe Biden has announced a complete withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan by September 11th at the latest. The Taliban recently stepped up their attacks on the Afghan security forces.