August 31 marks the withdrawal of the last American soldier from Afghanistan and the end of Washington’s 20-year presence in the country.

The US and its allies invaded Afghanistan 23 years ago under the banner of fighting terrorist groups, but after a two-decade presence in the country, the last US soldier left Afghanistan on August 31, 2021.

US forces entered Afghanistan in 2001, following the deadly September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center towers in New York City, under the slogan of fighting terrorism.

At the time, US President George Bush stated: “On my order, the United States military has begun strikes against al-Qaeda training camps and military installations of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.”

American troops, supported by British forces, began their attacks on the then-government of Afghanistan on October 7, 2001. On December 5 of the same year, following the signing of the Bonn Agreement, Hamid Karzai was appointed as the interim president of Afghanistan.

During the two decades of US presence in Afghanistan, the number of American troops fluctuated. Ultimately, after U.S. forces killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan, then-President Barack Obama ordered the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan.

At that time, Barack Obama stated: “The United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda and a terrorist who is responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women and children.”

In 2014, the mission of US and NATO forces ended, and the responsibility for the war was transferred to the Afghan government forces. Between 2015 and 2018, attacks by the Islamic Emirate intensified.

After taking office, US President Donald Trump appointed Khalilzad as the US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation. As a result, a peace agreement between the US and the Taliban was signed in Doha, Qatar, in 2020. According to this agreement, US forces had until May 2021 to completely withdraw from Afghanistan.

Joe Biden, the fourth US president involved in the Afghanistan war, declared 2021 the final deadline for the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan.

Political analyst Moeen Gul Samakni told TOLOnews: "They signed an agreement under the name of the Doha Peace Agreement, which led to their [American] departure from Afghanistan."

That year, provinces fell one by one, and with the escape of former President Ashraf Ghani on August 15, Islamic Emirate forces entered Kabul and took control of the Presidential Palace.

Finally, on August 31, 2021, the last US soldier left Afghanistan, marking the end of America’s 20-year presence in the country.