Disclaimer: My conclusion is based on a compilation of facts from various news sources and is solely my opinion on the matter. 

In April of 2021, the Biden Administration decided to pull out United States troops in Afghanistan by September 11th, 2021. This decision was made on the conclusion that the United States has done what it needed to do in Afghanistan, which includes justice towards the treacherous acts committed by Osama Bin Laden, attack and capture the terrorists involved in 9/11, and lastly, decrease the threat that Afghanistan could be a hub for terrorists to attack the United States in the future. 

Withdrawing troops out of Afghanistan with many risks. The Taliban could take control which would destroy the democracy created in Afghanistan and further hinder women and girls’ rights. The progress Afghanistan has shown in having a more stable government and life for its citizens will start to seize as power is shifted in the hands of what the United States government has tried to prevent for two decades. 

Over the past two decades, women’s and girls’ rights have drastically improved compared to the 1990s. The post-Taliban regime gave 87 percent of Afghan people the right to medical facilities, medical care, and medical services available for women. Education for women and girls also improved. Secondary education for girls went from 3 percent in 2003 to 39 percent in 2017. Lastly, women had their voices heard in government. Twenty-one percent of women were civil servants compared to zero while the Taliban was in control, and today, 27 percent of women are currently members of parliament. Ensuring more women and girls attain education and have the resources to be able to have their voices heard through government and the workforce is the change that is necessary to improve Afghanistan as a country. The past two decades have allowed Afghanistan to also grow its GDP from almost 2 billion in 1990 to 19.81 billion US dollars in 2020. This GDP increase has allowed for more opportunities for its citizens, but it is at risk of being taken away.

As the Taliban takes control of more provinces in Afghanistan, they will also control the rights of the people occupying the land. They will continue to do this, being that there are no troops to stop them. As they continue to take control, they will also restrict the rights of people, especially women and girls. The increased GDP and education in the country will decrease and will be left in the same condition found by United States troops in 2001. 

The United States should pull out its troops from Afghanistan but not in the country’s current condition. They should leave when they know that the Taliban is not a risk to Afghanistan and its citizens. As precedent has shown, the Taliban will soon take control over Afghanistan if there are no occupying forces in the country to stop its control.