As US retreats from policeman role, rest of world pressed to fill void

Afghan withdrawal points to Japan and allies assuming greater defense burden

President Joe Biden walks off after speaking about the bombings at the Kabul airport that killed at least 13 U.S. service members, from the East Room of the White House on August 26. © AP

HIROYUKI AKITA, Nikkei senior staff writer

August 27, 2021 18:07 JST

TOKYO -- The blasts near Kabul's airport Thursday that killed 13 U.S. service members mark a tragic end to two decades of American presence in Afghanistan.

Despite the recent evacuations conducted by the U.S. and other nations, another a few hundred thousand Afghans who cooperated with the Americans reported still remain in the country, according to some estimates. These people could be subject to retribution from the Taliban, despite the assurance of asylum from Afghanistan's new rulers.