Former US President George W. Bush on Wednesday criticized the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, saying civilians were being abandoned by the Taliban for “blocking”.
“Afghan women and girls will have to suffer indescribable harm. It is a mistake (…). They will simply be abandoned for the slaying of these very cruel people (the Taliban), and this will break my heart,” Bush said in a conversation with German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle.
The former owner of the White House, who sent US troops to Afghanistan after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, has expressed confidence that German Chancellor Angela Merkel “feels the same way”.
The final withdrawal of the US and NATO contingent from Afghanistan began in May and is expected to be completed by September 11.
Most of the 2,000 American soldiers and 7,500 NATO troops still in Afghanistan in April, when current US President Joe Biden approved a timetable for the final withdrawal of troops, have now left the war-torn country.
With the start of the final withdrawal of the foreign contingent, the Taliban insurgents have launched active offensive operations and are now in control of much of Afghanistan.
However, Biden has insisted that it is time to end US involvement in the war and for Afghans to take care of their own future.
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