Joe Biden ramps up US troop deployment to Afghanistan to assist evacuation

US President Joe Biden is taking a lot of criticism over the recent advances by the Taliban in Afghanistan in the heels of the US withdrawal. While doubling down on the US withdrawing from the situation in Afghanistan, Biden has deployed additional troops in making an organized evacuation while deterring possible threats from the insurgent group.

Over the weekend, Biden reiterated his decision to withdraw the US from the wartorn country while also noting that he has ordered to deploy 5,000 troops to help evacuate civilians and warned the Taliban not to threaten the mission of the US. The number of troops comes after consulting with his security advisers, which will help in making an organized exit while also ending the US’ mission after 20 years of being in the region.

Biden warned the Taliban that any action taken against US personnel or put the US’ objective at risk would prompt a strong response from the US military. The announcement of the US leader also comes as the insurgent group took over the main holdout of Mazar-i-Sharif in their mission to take over the country’s capital of Kabul. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani also pledged over the weekend not to let the “imposed war” result in more casualties, and consultations were already taking place.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken also spoke with Ghani at that time, according to his spokesman Ned Price. Biden also said that Blinken was also expected to reach out to “key regional stakeholders” on the rapid Taliban advances towards Kabul.

Previously, US Central Command said more American military personnel arrived in Kabul to oversee the safe evacuation of American embassy employees and diplomats along with Afghan civilians that worked for the US during this time. The decision to withdraw from the war in Afghanistan alone was already subject to debate, with many supportive of the decision while others were critical.

The insurgent group has quickly advanced in taking over provincial capitals in Afghanistan ever since the US and other forces made the decision to withdraw from the ongoing conflict. AP reports that Biden and his advisers were surprised by the Taliban’s rapid advances in the region along with the collapse of the Afghan government. This proves to be a test that has only drawn criticism towards Biden, saying that he had failed in the mission in the war-torn country.

A day after Biden released a statement, administration officials have acknowledged that they were taken by surprise by the sudden collapse of the Afghan government and its security forces.