Inside the Afghanistan Evacuation in 2021: An Ambassador’s Perspective

In over four decades of serving as an ambassador, Foreign Service Officer, and staffer in public and private international service organizations, I have lived through countless diplomatic challenges and crises. But nothing could have prepared me for the gravity of what unfolded during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in the summer of 2021. The rapid collapse of the Afghan government and security forces left behind chaos and uncertainty, creating an urgent mission to save our Afghan allies and American citizens stranded in the country. While many have focused on the politics and optics of the withdrawal, my colleagues and I worked tirelessly in the trenches, combining every resource we had at our disposal to ensure their safe passage.

Setting the Scene: A Historic Withdrawl from Afghanistan

This is a story of unsung heroes, public and private entities, volunteers, and ordinary citizens who stepped up. Using office software, satellite maps, messaging apps, and even secret codes to hide our intentions from the Taliban, we worked collectively to guide thousands of people to safety. What we accomplished was nothing short of a miracle, but it was not without immense challenges—many of which were shaped by decisions made long before the final withdrawal.

I’ve seen many difficult situations but nothing compared to the sheer scale and urgency of the evacuation in Afghanistan. Alongside my team, we worked around the clock using every tool at our disposal—tracking satellite images to identify safe routes, coordinating with military personnel, and communicating with people on the ground through messaging apps. With Kabul falling fast and Hamid Karzai International Airport overwhelmed with desperate people, we made split-second decisions that meant the difference between life and death.

The situation was further complicated by the agreements made before the Biden administration came into power. Donald Trump committed the U.S. to a full withdrawal by May 2021 through the Doha Agreement, which was negotiated without the involvement of the Afghan government. This weakened the Afghan government’s legitimacy and severely compromised the morale of Afghan security forces. By the time President Biden took office, U.S. troop levels had already been reduced from around 13,000 to just 2,500, leaving little flexibility in options to stabilize the country. Additionally, the Trump administration released 5,000 Taliban prisoners pursuant to their agreement with the Taliban; many of them were part of the force that subsequently occupied Afghanistan, and participated in the terrorist attack at the airport.

Despite the chaos, we achieved something unprecedented: the largest air evacuation in U.S. history. Over 120,000 people were airlifted to safety within two weeks under the most extreme conditions imaginable; many others were able to escape later using overland routes. But this came at a terrible cost. The attack at Abbey Gate, which resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and over 170 Afghan civilians, shook us all to the core.

There was nothing U.S. forces could do to stop the suicide bomber. But after the dust settled, we took solace in the findings from U.S. Central Command which reviewed the attack and found no evidence of negligence or misconduct by our military. Our troops did everything humanly possible to secure the area and protect the vulnerable, and they gave their lives doing so.

Despite Donald Trump’s attempt to rewrite history, he actually wanted a complete withdrawal before President Biden was sworn into office which is not only grossly irresponsible but reckless.

By the time Biden extended the withdrawal deadline to August 31, 2021, the Afghan government and military were already collapsing. The situation on the ground had deteriorated beyond any reasonable expectation of stability, largely due to the agreements made under the previous administration. The Trump administration’s decision to sideline the Afghan government and negotiate directly with the Taliban set the stage for the rapid collapse we witnessed.

The Biden-Harris administration faced an impossible task: How do you safely evacuate an entire country under siege while maintaining strategic priorities? The decision was made to prioritize the safety of U.S. personnel and allies while redirecting military resources to emerging threats like China and Russia – aligning with U.S. long-term objectives—ending two decades of a war in Afghanistan while refocusing on global security.

Looking back at those days, I remain proud of what we accomplished, but I am also haunted by the human cost of such a tumultuous withdrawal. The reality is that the situation in Afghanistan was shaped long before the final days of evacuation. The Doha Agreement, the rapid reduction of troops, the mass release of Taliban prisoners, and the political decision to negotiate with the Taliban instead of the Afghan government all contributed to the challenges we faced.

What we achieved, despite these challenges, was remarkable. The sacrifices of those in the field, the dedication of career civil servants, and the bravery of our Afghan allies are the true legacy of this moment. When history looks back on the Afghanistan withdrawal, it must refute Donald Trump’s false narrative, recognize the complexity of the situation, the heroism of those who responded, and the broader context that shaped this difficult chapter in American foreign policy.

About the Author:

Ambassador Robert Riley III is a retired Senior Foreign Service career member with over 40 years of experience in various leadership roles at the U.S. Department of State and other international organizations.