US pullout from Afghanistan has to be done responsibly

That more than 80 people, most of them schoolgirls, were killed in the recent explosions near a girls middle school in Kabul, once again highlights the complexity and fragility of the security situation in Afghanistan.

It shows that if the United States and NATO cannot withdraw their forces in a responsible manner, that will pose a greater security risk to the violence-torn country. Any act of terrorism, regardless of motive, and when, where, and by whom it is committed, is a criminal act that is inexcusable. The serial bombings in Kabul that have killed so many civilians in such a violent manner are a grave challenge to human civilization and should be strongly condemned by the international community.

For domestic political reasons, the US announced last month that it would unconditionally withdraw troops from Afghanistan by Sept 11 to end the nearly two decades of war. The US' decision had an immediate impact on the situation in Afghanistan. Since the US and NATO troops officially started their withdrawal from Afghanistan on May 1, frequent bombings and attacks have taken place across the country and the security situation has become increasingly grim, posing a serious threat to peace, stability and people's lives in Afghanistan.

The US has waged many wars across the world, bringing chaos and disaster to many countries and regions. It is reported that more than 30,000 Afghan civilians have been killed, 60,000 wounded and about 11 million people have become refugees since the US forces entered Afghanistan in October 2001.

The US is now in a hurry to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, but the security risks arising from this will be borne by the Afghan people. According to The New York Times, the Taliban forces have launched offensives in southern and northern Afghanistan since the US and NATO forces began to withdraw, killing at least 44 Afghan civilians and 139 soldiers in the past week, the highest weekly death toll since October.

The settlement of the Afghan issue needs concerted efforts and coordinated actions from internal and external players. The international community should abide by fairness and justice, do all it can to promote peace talks and jointly contribute more to the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan.

Given that the US is the biggest external factor in the Afghan issue, it cannot evade its due obligations when deciding to withdraw troops. Washington should act responsibly to prevent further escalation of the violence in Afghanistan and create a favorable environment for negotiations among the Afghan people.