Mason Pazhwak ‘23
Events Editor
Like many other Americans, I have been glued to every available form of media over the last ten days trying to make sense of the catastrophic events that have so radically altered Afghanistan in so short a period. My thoughts about whether the overall policy of withdrawal from the country was in the best interests of the U.S. quickly became a sideshow to a more immediate question: how was such a chaotic, horrendous exit allowed to occur? How, after twenty years of continuous operations and one of the largest foreign policy investments of the twenty-first century, was the U.S. military backed into a civilian international airport adjacent to Taliban-occupied Kabul trying to regain control of the tarmac from thousands of terrified, desperate civilians? In a war that has been defined by unclear objectives, shifting goalposts, untold waste, and gross miscalculations, it is easy to be cynical and say that it was inevitable that the conclusion of the U.S.’s involvement would be a mess. Yet, it was the one thing about the mission that the U.S. still had very much within its control, even if it meant prolonging our presence just a bit longer.
While such a choice would have imposed its own costs, a dignified exit was the last opportunity to pay tribute to the enormous efforts of the Soldiers, diplomats, and civilians from across our country, Afghanistan, and many of our allied nations who gave everything to honorably carrying out the work that was asked of them. Over the course of my life, starting from the 9/11 attacks when I was seven years old to my last job before starting law school at age 26, I had various opportunities to observe and later contribute to the U.S. and international mission in a civilian capacity, and I intimately understand the dedication brought and sacrifices made by so many of these individuals over so many years. While there remain conflicting accounts about the mission they were asked to carry out, and various ways to characterize what has been gained by their toils, it should be acknowledged that the work they did made the tragic desperation of the current moment far from inevitable, and our decision-makers need to take a long, hard look at why it was allowed to happen this way.
My observation of events over the last few days has also been strongly informed by my Afghan heritage. I know many Afghans who wholeheartedly embraced the U.S. and international mission, believing in the vision of a democratic Afghanistan where rights would be protected, and free expression could be exercised. They put themselves out there in the public sphere based on that belief, and now face the fear and uncertainty of watching that vision collapse. Even worse, they were given no opportunity to plan their response to the enormous shift and its consequences. While I have not yet heard of evidence of mass reprisals, they have good reason to fear for their futures, or at least to believe that they will face a new reality where many of the freedoms that they enjoyed for a generation will be rolled back. It is easy to forget, sitting in the U.S. and talking about matters of policy, that our country’s choices have very real implications for the lives of people. While the rapid Taliban takeover may prevent some of the worst consequences of our withdrawal — such as protracted, bloody civil conflict, mass displacement, and destruction of infrastructure — their shocking sweep, unmoderated by political compromise, means an almost certain return to silence for millions of women and deep anxiety by those who dared to believe in a liberal order. Not much can be done about this now, besides helping those put most at risk by the Taliban’s return to resettle in new parts of the world. However, Afghanistan must be a lesson to those who have the hubris to attempt massive undertakings like reengineering a country, and who do not have to live with, or even have an inkling of, the everyday consequences of those decisions.
Like many others in the diaspora community, I remain committed to seeing Afghanistan thrive, and hope one day it can be a country that is not only talked about in terms of its problems. It is a beautiful land, with a vibrant, ancient culture, friendly, hospitable people, and so much to contribute to humanity. The takeover by the Taliban will not take away those attributes, but it will mean that generations of Afghans will not be able to count on a government that will protect fundamental human rights. This is a very unfortunate reversal, and even if the now deposed government was far from ideal, it at least was premised on values that promoted self-governance and equality for all. If there is any silver lining to the last twenty years of effort, it will be that Afghans will not accept an end to the progress that was made, and even as they transition to a new system there will be those who remain steadfast in demanding a country where all can live with dignity and reach their full potential as human beings.
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mwp8kk@virginia.edu