US and Nato withdrawal from Afghanistan...- threadbanned users in OP

Yes they have even now removed most of their physical military presence , but they did say that they would continue to defend their interests /allies there.....so I guess that will mean long distance strikes. The "warcry" and propaganda of the taliban about removing foreign invaders and restoring Islam to Afghanistan rings hollow when the talibs are just invaders themselves, (ex Pakistani Madrassa's,) and why bring Islam to an already Islamic Country? Poor Afghani's.

After the Russians ( and the Americans) left, all of the tribes and clans who had fought together to oust the Russians, turned on each other to the extent that had the Taliban not intervened, what was left of the Afghan cities after the Russian / Afghan war, would have been destroyed completely. They were welcomed initially, as they restored the peace, and brought stability and security to the part of the Country they controlled. And now these self same tribes and clans will wheel and deal to make the best of the present situation for them selves. So the Taliban didn't have to fight for all the land they are now claiming. Meetings were held, discussions took place,and agreements were made.Had all the cash and material that the US pumped into Afghanistan made its way to where it was actually intended for, then you can be sure that the Taliban would not be getting so many easy walk overs....but for many Afghans, especially in the rural areas, a deal with the Taliban might make better sense to them,and of course you have the religious obligation to remove the infidel invaders. So maybe you will have the Norther Alliance organizing a region in the North, but in the major cities? Kabul? Mazar-i Sharif? Herat? The resistance in the cities will come from powerfull individuals, who literally stand to lose everything if the Taliban take full control again. The Taliban followed Mullah Omars directive when it came to the poppy dealing...he turned that tap on and off when it suited him. Will be interesting to see who will control it now, and what they will do with this cash crop.

I have seen that in a number of African airports in the last year, lovely new terminal buildings but there is a missing stretch of concrete so aircraft can’t use it, my guess is that the Chinese are waiting for final payment before they add the concrete.

Last time they were in charge, they "levied" taxes on the areas they controlled...Farmers, business people, imports / exports etc. All paid taxes. But as to buying them off?? How do you mean?

That's a new one

"China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, called the Taliban “a pivotal military and political force,” but urged their leaders “to hold high the banner of peace talks,” according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He pressed the group to work to burnish its diplomatic image and extracted a public pledge that the group would not allow fighters to use Afghan territory as a base to carry out attacks inside China, according to the statement."

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/28/world/asia/china-taliban-afghanistan.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur

Looks like the Taliban wants friendly relations with China, for now.

China Seeks Taliban Promise to Wage War on Uighur Fighters in Afghanistan (newsweek.com)

Taliban outlaws Uyghur Muslim fighters in bid to befriend China (telegraph.co.uk)

In an earlier precedent, Erdogan's Turkey have gone silent on the Uigher issue, in exchange for good relations with China.

The main international fallout I see from this is the Afghan Taliban's ally, the Pakistan Taliban (TTP). in a complicated situation, the Pakistan Intelligence services are aiding the Afghan Taliban - who are aiding the Pakistan Taliban, who are fighting the Pakistan Military.

Opinion | The Taliban is playing a double game - The Washington Post

The Afghan Taliban have been reassuring everyone of their good intentions. "That looks like a smart strategy — yet we’ve just seen a striking departure from this pattern. On July 26, the head of the Pakistani Taliban gave an extraordinary interview to CNN in which he declared that his group intends to seize control of Pakistani territories along the Afghan border and “make them independent.” Why did the Taliban leadership allow him to make such a provocative statement?"

Trillions of dollars, hundreds of thousands of deaths later what have the Americans achieved........? Nothing!

It all plays out like some sick demented joke, infrastructure destroyed, resources/money wasted, trauma/misery caused, human loss, fortunes made, war crimes committed etc etc . And the end result is what?! Nothing has been achieved.

Not nothing at all; that money and effort bought the experience of what the country could be like if not run by the taliban.

You get your info from some Afghans? Or where? So 20 years of secure education and health services, especially for women, was a waste of money? I've mentioned this earlier but in case you missed it:- If there was a referendum in Afghanistan on whether the US should stay or go, which way would it go??? Believe me , the Taliban are also invaders, but of a most unwelcome kind....they are not bringing peace, stability,prosperity and security. Wait and see what Afghanistan will be like after even one year of Talib rule.

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