STATE DEPT/SIGAR, KEY EVENTS MAY-JULY 2021
April 21: Secretary of State Blinken says Administration is working with Congress to provide $300 million more civilian assistance to Afghanistan in 2021.
May 1: U.S. Central Command formally begins military drawdown from Afghanistan.
May 3: UNODC summary of 2020 Afghanistan
Opium Survey indicates 37% increase in opium-poppy cultivation since 2019.
May 13–15: Afghan government and Taliban declare three-day ceasefires for Eid al-Fitr holiday
May 29: Afghan government closes schools for third time
in COVID-19 pandemic.
June: NATO transfers full control of Mazar-e Sharif and Herat airports to Afghan government
June 4: State Department announces additional $266 million in humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan.
June 17: Joint Chiefs chair General Mark Milley says USA
intends to continue funding Afghan security forces.
June 22: Taliban seize Sher Khan border crossing
to Tajikistan.
June 23: General Milley says 81district centers are
under Taliban control.
Jun 25: President Biden meets with President Ghani and High Council for National Reconciliation Chairman Abdullah in Washington, DC.
July 1: Bagram Airfield turned over to Afghanistan’s
Ministry of Defense.
July 8: Taliban capture Islam Qala border crossing in
Herat Province, key trade route to Iran.
July 9: First 1.4 million doses of U.S.-provided Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine arrive in Kabul
July 12: General Austin Miller relinquishes command of U.S. Forces-Afghanistan and NATO Resolute Support Mission.
July 12–15: Four media outlets publish maps indicating
Taliban control majority of Afghan districts, with many
taken since May 1.
July 14: Taliban capture border crossing at Kandahar Province’s Spin Boldak, connecting Afghanistan and Pakistan
July 17: High-level Afghan delegation meets with Taliban
in Doha to expedite stalled peace talks.
July 21: General Milley says Taliban control more
than 210 districts.
“The partnership between Afghanistan and the United States is not ending. It’s going to be sustained. And, you know, our troops may be leaving, but support for Afghanistan is not ending, in terms of support and maintenance of their military, as well as economic and political support.” —Joseph R. Biden, 06/25/2021
https://t.me/georgenews/1979