A Statement by the Afghanistan War Commission on the 5-year anniversary of the U.S. withdrawal

Five years ago, the final U.S. military forces departed Afghanistan, ending twenty years of American military involvement in the country.

For the many Americans, Afghans, NATO allies, coalition partners, service members, diplomats, aid workers, contractors, and others whose lives became connected through the war, the withdrawal carries different meanings.

The Commission also recognizes the extraordinary effort to evacuate Americans, Afghans, and international partners made by military personnel, diplomats, civil servants, aid workers, and others who worked under extraordinarily difficult conditions.

The events of August 2021 cannot be understood through the final days, weeks, or months of the war alone. They were shaped by two decades of policies that led to both achievements and setbacks, as well as unresolved challenges. Understanding how those factors interacted over time is central to the Commission’s work.

Five years of distance gives us an important opportunity to examine that history with greater perspective. Drawing on approximately 370 interviews, thousands of government records, and other evidence, we are working to produce an account that is rigorous, objective, and attentive to the complexity of the war and its outcomes.

As the withdrawal recedes from public memory, that record will become increasingly important. We look forward to sharing our assessment with the American people in our final report next year.