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Kabul: David Petraeus, the former head of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), stated that the reality and manner of America’s withdrawal allowed our enemies to claim that America is not a reliable partner and instead a great power in decline.
On the anniversary of America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, he wrote in “Atlantic”: Our fundamental mistake was our lack of commitment. In essence, we have never adopted an adequate, coherent and inclusive approach that we adhere to from one government to another, or even within individual governments.
Once we realized we couldn’t “win” the war, we didn’t even think seriously about how to “manage” it, said the former US and NATO military commander.
Petraeus emphasized that despite the services of military and civilian elements as well as coalition partners and the efforts of the Afghan people, the West has not achieved its goals during its presence in this country.
The American general stated: Another reason for America’s lack of success in Afghanistan was overly optimistic assessments of Afghanistan’s conditions at different times, especially in the years before the final withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Recently, Petraeus called out the Taliban for violating the Doha Agreement, brokered under the Trump administration, by sheltering al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri , noting that the U.S. still has to ensure that there is no militant presence in the country.
U.S. officials confirmed that al-Zawahiri, who became the leader of al Qaeda after the death of Osama bin Laden, was killed in a drone strike last week.
