US Withdrawal and Transition of Afghan Government: Implications for Afghanistan and Pakistan

Abstract

This article attempts to explain the implications of withdrawal of US military forces from Afghanistan in 2021 onwards. The twenty years long war between US and Taliban came to an end on 15th August 2021. This transition of government from Ashraf Ghani’s administration to Taliban, took place according to the agreement signed between US and Taliban on 29th February 2020 in Doha, Qatar. The implications of US withdrawal are explained with the help of proposed rational choice model, which is applicable to the case of Afghanistan. Methodologically, this study used qualitative methods approach to collect primary data and secondary data in terms of different tools of data collection. As a result of its model-guided empirical analysis, this study finds the post-withdrawal situation, to be more complicated. This complexity could be (re)solved positively if the engaged actors prefer to negotiate. If not, divergence of interests would lead to more confrontation.