After 20 years since 9/11, the United States is getting ready to pull out troops from Afghanistan. By September 11 this year, 2,500 US troops will be completely out of Afghanistan and nearly 7000 forces from mainly North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries along with Australia, New Zealand and Georgia are also planning to leave.

The UN envoy to Afghanistan has sounded an alarm over 29 percent increase in civilian casualties since January and 50 of Afghanistan's 370 districts have fallen to the Taliban.

248 civilians were killed and 527 wounded in Taliban attacks since May 1, when the US troop withdrawal began. Peace talks between the Afghanistan government and Taliban have been going on in Doha, but the progress has been slow.

India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has highlighted the increase in violence since May and said that while India was supportive of India Afghan talks, the Afghan territory should not be used for terrorism. According to a Qatar government official, India has been engaging with the Taliban quietly.

Amar Sinha, former Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan and Anthony H. Cordesman, Who holds the Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) discussed this further.

For the full interview, watch the accompanying video.

(Edited by : Bivekananda Biswas)

First Published:Jun 25, 2021 9:12 PM IST