Former British PM Blasts US, Feels Pullout From Afghanistan Is Disastrous Move

As far as former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is concerned, the move by the United States to pull out its troops from Afghanistan is wrong. He brands it as an imbecilic move and adds that it has given every Jihadist group around the world a reason to celebrate.

Further, he believes the decision to pull out the troops has now endangered the world. Blair deployed British troops to Afghanistan 20 years ago.

“The abandonment of Afghanistan and its people is tragic, dangerous, unnecessary, not in their interests and not in ours,” Blair stated in an essay posted on The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change website. “The world is now uncertain of where the West stands because it is so obvious that the decision to withdraw from Afghanistan in this way was driven not by grand strategy but by politics.”

The pullout was part of US President Joe Biden’s push to end forever wars. But for Blair, it is an imbecilic political slogan, citing the difference between now and then.

Blair held office from 1997 to 2007 and witnessed how the US sent troops to Afghanistan following the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks. British troops were also deployed.

With the Taliban now returning to power. Blair believes that Biden has put American civilians and Afghans at risk. It also raises questions on the West’s commitment to its allies.

“It may have been a misplaced ambition, but it was not an ignoble one. There is no doubt that in the years that followed we made mistakes, some serious. But the reaction to our mistakes has been, unfortunately, further mistakes,” Blair stated.

Civilians have been trying to find ways to get out of Afghanistan with the Taliban taking over the country. As far as Blair is concerned, the West needs to give a tangible demonstration that they are not in retreat.

He also pointed out how they and other countries need to provide sanctuary to those who have been displaced, particularly the Afghans who stood by them out of humanity and responsibility.