Mr. President Biden,
We are writing to inform you that the untimely withdrawal from Afghanistan will have catastrophic consequences. As you are aware, the decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan was made years ago, but the actual negotiations between the previous U.S. government and the Taliban began in 2018; though without engaging any official representative from the elected government in Afghanistan. Mr. President, it is a fact that the Taliban’s terrorist organization have killed tens of thousands of Afghans and non-Afghan citizens and, further, have destroyed the country’s manufacturing and development infrastructure.
Mr. president, the free and democratic people of the world cannot comprehend the urgency, haste and untimely withdrawal from Afghanistan; a manner of withdrawal which actually facilitated the establishment of an “Islamic Emirate” in the country by the Taliban! This is certainly at odds with all human rights standards; both the human rights and citizen rights of the Afghan people. Abandoning Afghans to the devices of a terrorist organization is incomprehensible, un-strategic and unnecessary. It will never serve the interests of the free and democratic world, and especially not the interests of the people of Afghanistan. It must be noted that you also appear to have not paid attention to the advice of the coalition politicians in the process of making your decision. Indeed, it must be said that the U.S.A. left Afghanistan in an unimaginably chaotic haste.
Mr. Biden, your hasty act of withdrawal could have the following consequences:
- A civil war is now very likely in Afghanistan. The National Resistance Front is currently fighting Taliban forces in the Panjshir Valley.
- The establishment of the “Islamic Emirate” governance based on Islamic sharia, is in contravention of international conventions, human rights, and Afghans’ citizen rights; especially of women. The “Islamic Emirate” governance will be the same as the Taliban governance from 1996 to 2001.
- With the “Islamic Emirate” and the civil war, Afghanistan will once again become the den of terrorists such as ISIS and al-Qaeda. The impending terrorist attacks of Jihadist groups, including Daesh (ISIS), will be the cause of more and more international instability in the Middle East region and the rest of the world.
- Production and growth of narcotics will increase, with subsequent trafficking to Europe and the United States; helped by forces within the Islamic Republic of Iran.
- Pakistan’s interference and support for the Taliban’s “Islamic Emirate” will cause insecurity at the borders of neighboring countries.
- With the creation of the “Islamic Emirate”, what Afghan people have toiled to achieve over the past 20 years will be destroyed.
- The number of refugees applying for residency in the United States and Europe will increase dramatically.
Mr. President, we believe that you have made a grave mistake in the untimely withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, and in order to compensate for the mistakes made, we make the following recommendations from the Iran Transition Council (ITC) and ask that you would give it your careful attention:
- Without delay, form a council consisting of free and democratic countries of the world, including those in Europe, using their combined experiences to effectively combat the emergence of radical Islam in the world.
- Issue an ultimatum to Taliban leaders, that they must respect the citizen and human rights of Afghan people, and especially the rights of women, particularly for their human dignity.
- Taliban leaders must be placed under maximum pressure to fulfill at least their obligations under the agreement with the U.S.A.; to disband their military forces and amalgamate them in the existing Afghan army. They must refrain from establishing sharia courts. They must work closely with other ethnic groups in Afghanistan until a constituent assembly is elected to draft a new constitution like the 2004 Constitution. The new constitution must ensure establishment of a government which represents all Afghans.
- It is vitally important and necessary that you, Mr. President, consult and support the National Resistance Front and the Afghan’s ethnic groups, compelling the Taliban to accept the ethnicity constituent of Afghan people, resolving political and social issues peacefully, thus avoiding civil war in Afghanistan. Any support to the future Afghan government must be made subject to Taliban compliance.
- Place political and economic pressure on Pakistan to stop military, intelligence, and political support for the Taliban terrorist groups.
- Pressurize the Islamic Republic in Iran to stop any direct and indirect support for the Taliban.
- Do not free the blocked assets (money) of Afghanistan until Taliban respect the citizen and human rights of Afghan people.
- Prepare the necessary and correct plans for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq. With the knowledge we have of the region, the likelihood of a repeat of a similar scenario as we have witnessed with the Afghanistan withdrawal is very high.
Mr. President, with announcement of the withdrawal from Afghanistan, and with the prevailing chaotic situation, only 90 percent of the U.S. military and civilians were evacuated from Afghanistan. Given the presence of Taliban, ISIS and other terrorist groups, the fate of the remaining individuals is deemed to be gravely in danger. To gain trust in your government and country, the remaining 10 percent left in Afghanistan need to be evacuated as soon as possible.
Mr. President, the ITC requests that you pay attention to the proposals outlined above. We are willing to offer our help and consultation, without prejudice, to your government officials in any way you deem appropriate, especially through the Iran Desk at the State Department.
To expedite the necessary measures, the ITC will be sending a similar open letter to some European leaders.
Signed by:
Hassan Shariatmadari
Secretary General of the ITC
