Taliban's Turn to Govern
Taliban fighters fired guns into the air at the Kabul airport yesterday, celebrating the final departure of US troops. The group now faces the challenge of imposing its strict form of Islamist government on a population of 38 million that analysts say is more educated and cosmopolitan since the group's previous rule from 1996 to 2001.
The country's fragile economy is in a perilous position—more than 40% of its gross domestic product came from international aid, much of which is now frozen. An estimated 44% of the workforce is in the agricultural sector and 90% of its country lives on less than $2 per day. Officials have warned of a humanitarian crisis, depending on near-term decisions by the Taliban government.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US will not have a diplomatic presence in the country, with diplomats from the Kabul embassy relocating to Qatar. Between 100 and 200 Americans who still wish to leave reportedly remain, having been prevented from making it to the airfield in time. President Joe Biden addressed the nation yesterday, defending his decision to stick to an Aug. 31 withdrawal deadline and declaring an end to the US war in Afghanistan.
Maj. Gen. Chris Donahue was the last American soldier to depart Afghanistan; see his photo here.
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