Veterans and policy hands involved in the two-decade, American-led Nato mission in Afghanistan are still digesting President Joe Biden's decision to end the longest-running war in US history.
But they are concerned that without a political settlement, the military withdrawal will result in only further chaos across the region.
Another 7,000 Nato troops will leave Afghanistan alongside about 3,500 US troops by September 11 under Mr Biden's deadline.
Canadian Maj Gen David Fraser, who led the Nato mission in Afghanistan's south in 2006, told The National that Mr Biden's withdrawal did not surprise him.
But he said it could leave a vacuum that terrorist groups could exploit, as well as regional powers China and Russia.
“Three presidents have been trying to get out: Obama, Trump, Biden,” Maj Gen Fraser said.
“Biden has said he is committed to the diplomatic process and still committed to fight terrorism whenever terrorism raises its head.
"Time will tell whether either one of those things they actually do.”
He described the situation in Afghanistan as a period of great flux.
There is "great concern about what is going to happen to the future of Afghanistan", Maj Gen Fraser said.
"The Taliban’s intent is well understood. They want to overthrow the Afghan government and bring it back to pre-2001.
"The Afghan government has been asleep at the switch because they haven’t really been pushing for a peaceful reconciliation with the moderate side of the Taliban.”
He said Mr Biden “is trying to force the hand of the Afghan government”, but doing so carries “a huge political risk".
“Whether or not they can do it, I’m not sure. I’m probably more sceptical than I am optimistic,” Maj Gen Fraser said.
Stephen Biddle, a Columbia University professor who served on Gen Stanley McChrystal’s Initial Strategic Assessment Team in Kabul in 2009, called the withdrawal “a mistake".
"I think the administration's stated rationale doesn't make a lot of sense," Mr Biddle told The National. "Outright defeat and failure is most likely.
“The administration said that it’s still interested in a negotiated settlement, which I think is the better course.
"But we only have two sources of meaningful leverage in those talks: a promise of aid and the US troop presence.
“We just gave away one of only two important sources of leverage in exchange for nothing.
"There were no concessions from the Taliban side. This is not an exchange for a settlement that ends the war.”
Mr Biden’s September 11 withdrawal date misses the May 1 deadline the US agreed to in last year’s deal with the Taliban under the Trump administration by only a few months.
Thousands of American troops have already left Afghanistan since the deal was signed in February 2020.
But the Taliban have already used the slight delay in the full US withdrawal deadline as an excuse not to attend peace talks that Turkey intends to convene this month.
The congressionally mandated Afghanistan study group report released in February advised against US withdrawal until the Taliban met the conditions in last year's agreement, reduced violence against Afghan people and formed a comprehensive political settlement with Kabul.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's surprise visit to Afghanistan on Thursday to meet President Ashraf Ghani was no doubt intended to reinforce US support for the government.
He also met Mr Ghani's rival, Dr Abdullah Abdullah, who was appointed to oversee peace talks for the Afghan government.
It remains unclear whether Mr Biden's withdrawal will threaten the cohesion of the US-backed government and Afghan forces, which could further add to the chaos and conflict plaguing the country.
“It’s also likely to reduce the willingness to co-operate among a host of Afghan warlords and power brokers who are likely to see the case for self-sacrifice and a larger good that’s going to produce a better Afghanistan as a losing prospect right now,” Mr Biddle said.
“I think it’s going to be every person for themselves.”
If the political process fails – both with the Taliban and among its opponents – the prospect of increased violence continues to loom over the long-suffering Afghan people.
Andrea Prasow, Human Rights Watch's deputy Washington director, told The National that "no party" in the Afghanistan war has "adequately protected civilians", including the US.
“The Taliban, in the areas they currently govern, have a very mixed record with respect to human rights,” Ms Prasow said.
“The Afghan government also has a mixed record with respect to human rights.
“We are concerned about backsliding the gains that the Afghan people have sustained in the last 20 years.”
She called on the US and other governments to “increase where possible their support for human rights in Afghanistan, in particular for women’s rights and the rights of girls".
“We would love to see them boosting the funding for education and health, for independent media, for civil society, really see them support human rights defenders in Afghanistan,” Ms Prasow said.
The Biden administration's deputy envoy for Afghanistan, Molly Phee, is set to brief the Senate on the military withdrawal, behind closed doors on Monday.
Ms Phee will have her work cut out for her as she fields questions from a bipartisan group of senators who feel the administration has yet to provide them with a clear grasp of policy implications of the withdrawal.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
The years Ramadan fell in May
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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More on animal trafficking
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The five pillars of Islam
Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Our legal advisor
Rasmi Ragy is a senior counsel at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Prosecutor in Egypt with more than 40 years experience across the GCC.
Education: Ain Shams University, Egypt, in 1978.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
The years Ramadan fell in May
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
SCORES
Multiply Titans 81-2 in 12.1 overs
(Tony de Zorzi, 34)
bt Auckland Aces 80 all out in 16 overs
(Shawn von Borg 4-15, Alfred Mothoa 2-11, Tshepo Moreki 2-16).
box
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Letstango.com
Started: June 2013
Founder: Alex Tchablakian
Based: Dubai
Industry: e-commerce
Initial investment: Dh10 million
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 300,000 unique customers every month
More on Yemen's civil war
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
How it works
Each player begins with one of the great empires of history, from Julius Caesar's Rome to Ramses of Egypt, spread over Europe and the Middle East.
Round by round, the player expands their empire. The more land they have, the more money they can take from their coffers for each go.
As unruled land and soldiers are acquired, players must feed them. When a player comes up against land held by another army, they can choose to battle for supremacy.
A dice-based battle system is used and players can get the edge on their enemy with by deploying a renowned hero on the battlefield.
Players that lose battles and land will find their coffers dwindle and troops go hungry. The end goal? Global domination of course.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
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Team Angel Wolf Beach Blast takes place every Wednesday between 4:30pm and 5:30pm
