World

Last US soldier’s departure marks national holiday in Afghanistan

Taliban acknowledges August 31, 2021 as final day of troop withdrawal

Updated 10 months ago · Published on 18 Jun 2023 12:00PM

Last US soldier’s departure marks national holiday in Afghanistan — The United States invasion of Afghanistan, which commenced on October 7, 2001, concluded on August 31, 2021, when the last US soldier left the country, leading to the Taliban’s declaration of a national holiday. – Unsplash pic, June 18, 2023

ISTANBUL – The Taliban administration declared yesterday that the day the last United States soldier left Afghanistan would be a national holiday.

The decision taken by the Council of Ministers was announced in a statement by the administration office of the Taliban interim government, Anadolu Agency reported.

It was announced that August 31, the day when US forces completely withdrew from Afghanistan, was declared a national holiday.

With inconclusive negotiations between the government and the Taliban, conflicts between the parties intensified in the summer of 2021, and the Taliban began to take control of the cities one by one.

In parallel, foreign powers within Nato had accelerated the withdrawal of their troops.

Thus, the US invasion of Afghanistan, which started on October 7, 2001, ended with the withdrawal of the last US soldier on August 31, 2021. – Bernama, June 18, 2023