In addition to the withdrawal of US soldiers from Afghanistan, there are other reasons on the ground that are leading to the rapid end of resistance against the Taliban. Military leadership changes frequently, pay and logistics are poor. President Ghani also plays an inglorious role.
According to a US report, distrust and chaos reigned in the Afghan government and military before the Taliban took power. According to an investigation by the US Inspector General for Reconstruction in Afghanistan, the main reason for the collapse of the Afghan military was the US decision to withdraw.
Because of the Afghan armed forces' dependence on the Americans, the morale of the Afghan soldiers has been destroyed. In addition, the Afghan government has failed to develop a national strategy and plan for nationwide security following the withdrawal of US troops, it said. Instead, the then Afghan President Ashraf Ghani frequently changed the military leadership. He reportedly promoted military personnel he considered loyal. At the same time, well-trained officers were excluded. The constant changes would have weakened chains of command and trust. Low wages, poor logistics leading to shortages of food, water and ammunition, and corrupt commanders all further eroded the Afghan military's morale.
The most important factor was the Afghan government's lack of support for the military, the report concludes. President Ghani also distrusted the US government after then-US President Donald Trump signed an agreement with the Taliban. Ghani then suspected that the US wanted to oust him.
With the withdrawal of the last US soldiers from Kabul Airport at the end of August 2021, the international Afghanistan mission came to an end after almost 20 years. Two weeks earlier, the Taliban had taken the capital Kabul without a fight because the Afghan security forces offered no resistance.
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