The United States turned to a group of post-Soviet countries for help: what American problem they are being asked to solve

The administration of US President Joe Biden has asked the three Central Asian countries to temporarily deploy thousands of Afghans who worked with US troops and could become targets of the Taliban after the withdrawal of US and NATO troops. The edition told in more detail Bloomberg.

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According to three people familiar with the request, who asked not to be named, the United States has approached Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan with a request to host about 9000 Afghans who once collaborated with the American military.

The effort came when US forces handed over Bagram Air Base, their largest facility, late Thursday evening, July 1. This marked an important milestone, symbolizing the effective withdrawal of military forces from Afghanistan 20 years later. The US said it would withdraw most of its troops by 11/650, keeping a contingent of about XNUMX in the country to protect diplomats, but Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the withdrawal could be completed by the end of August.

“Last night, all coalition and US troops left Bagram Air Base,” said Fawad Aman, deputy spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Defense. — The base has been delivered. The Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDS) will defend the base and use it to fight terrorism.”

But the broadcast raises the potential threats faced by many Afghan translators, drivers, and other workers and their families who helped maintain the American presence after the US-led coalition toppled the Taliban government following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The Biden administration has pledged to expedite immigration visas for Afghans who have worked closely with the US military, but the process is still ongoing.

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“All the visa applicants are surprised by this news and we hope they transfer us quickly because security is really getting worse and these countries are much safer than Afghanistan,” said Amin Rahimi, an Afghan official on the US government-funded project.

Despite the presence of the United States and NATO, Taliban forces now control half of the country's 400 districts.

A crucial way for the United States to help key Afghan allies will be a special immigrant visa program that allows those who have worked for the US military to claim refugee status. Officials said there are about 18 Afghan applicants, with about 000 just starting the process.

State Department spokesman Ned Price declined to say where the applicants could go. He said that they and their families "will have the opportunity to move outside of Afghanistan before we complete the reduction of our military forces by September."

"Every Option"

“It’s important to note that these are people who are already in the SIV program,” Price explained. “We will undertake any relocation in full compliance with applicable law and in full coordination with Congress.”

Pentagon spokesman Kirby said earlier that the US is negotiating with "neighboring countries" in Afghanistan about the possible relocation of people who helped US troops.

Some officials have proposed sending these Afghans to the American island of Guam in the Pacific Ocean, and the island's governor even tweeted that he supports the idea. But this was never taken seriously, as officials feared that if visa applicants travel to Guam, they will not be forced to leave if their SIV applications are rejected.

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken met with Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov and Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin at the State Department. Blinken thanked Kamilov "for Uzbekistan's unwavering support for a just and lasting peaceful settlement of the situation in Afghanistan."

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Testifying before the House Foreign Relations Committee in June, Blinken said the backlog of immigration applications was pending and asked Congress to raise the 8000-seat limit on special immigration visas for Afghans. Currently, Congress has set a 26 seat cap on the Special Immigrant Visa Program.

The agreement on the temporary placement of thousands of Afghans in the three Central Asian countries will form part of a broader agreement to establish further cooperation with these countries. During the visit of the foreign ministers of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to Washington, the United States is proposing an agreement that will allow them to conduct reconnaissance and surveillance from their territory.

Transfer of Bagram

Afghan leaders have warned of imminent civil war or government collapse following the withdrawal of all foreign forces, despite President Joe Biden's pledge to President Ashraf Ghani and Afghan National Reconciliation Council Chairman Abdullah Abdullah that he will continue to provide billions of dollars in military and financial assistance to Afghan forces.

“The truth is that the survival, security and unity of Afghanistan are at risk,” Abdullah concluded.

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