McKenzie: The consequences of our withdrawal from Afghanistan are a bitter memory that will stay with me forever

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA): In an interview with C-SPAN, McKenzie said the withdrawal of US-led international forces from Afghanistan was a success. "This decision was ultimately made by the US national leadership," he said.

The retired general also said he and other senior military leaders were aware of the possibility of the fall of the Afghan government after the withdrawal of international troops.

"We said that if we retreat, I think the Afghan government will fall and a disaster will happen," McKenzie said.

"I did not recommend that we retreat," McKenzie repeated. We have withdrawn from Afghanistan, we have withdrawn our forces, we have withdrawn our people.”

But he pointed to the delay in evacuating civilians, including US citizens, Afghan colleagues, and said the decision would not begin until mid-August 2021.

The retired general said the withdrawal operation was fraught with challenges and failed to evacuate all Afghans who had cooperated with US forces.

He expressed regret over the deaths of US troops, Afghan civilians during the evacuation process, as well as those Afghan colleagues who remain in Afghanistan, saying that this part of the operation, especially the release of many Afghan colleagues, was something that It still weighs on him.

"It [the evacuation process] was not without casualties, both Americans and Afghans," he added. It is a bitter story that will stay with me forever."

During the evacuation process, 13 US soldiers were reportedly killed in a suicide attack near the gate of Kabul International Airport on August 26, 2021. The attack, which ISIS claimed responsibility for, also killed 170 Afghan civilians.

McKenzie said that during his mission, he delegated his duties to

"History will judge whether it was a wise decision to withdraw from Afghanistan," McKenzie said.

He also said the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan may have affected global actors such as Russian President Vladimir Putin and may have strengthened Putin's decision to invade Ukraine.

The commander also criticized the delay in the evacuation of US citizens and vulnerable Afghans, which began only after the completion of the military withdrawal in July 2021.

"The fundamental mistake in this decision was that we started the evacuation after the military withdrew," he added.

More than three years after the withdrawal of US-led international forces from Afghanistan, the issue remains a hot topic among US political leaders.