Former U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates stated that there is reason to fear Afghanistan could become a terrorist state under Taliban rule. Gates made this remark in an interview with "60 Minutes," saying, "I think they are a very real concern. The Taliban have not disavowed their relationship with al-Qaeda, and they have not done so since taking power."
Gates, who served as Defense Secretary under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, oversaw nearly five years of combat during the U.S. war in Afghanistan. He now observes other countries intervening to play a larger role in Afghanistan. He mentioned that even if money might help the U.S. maintain some influence over the Taliban, it is also likely that the Taliban will receive support from China, Russia, and Iran.
In an Op-Ed published in the New York Times last June, Gates further clarified the role he sees these countries playing. He wrote: "Some observers assert that the Taliban will adjust their policies and ideology to gain international recognition and economic assistance," adding, "However, the Taliban may be able to gain both China and other authoritarian nations without easing their harsh rule."
Gates noted that "China will find an incentive to assist the Taliban as entering Afghanistan would give Beijing access to the country’s minerals and its geographic proximity to Iran as part of China's Belt and Road Initiative."
**Was it a Wrong Decision?**
As Defense Secretary, Gates is perhaps best known for the controversial decision to surge troops, sending an additional 47,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan in 2009 and 2010. The goal was to reverse Taliban gains, but the strategy was hotly debated. During the 2020 presidential election, President Joe Biden, who was Vice President at the time of the troop surge, argued against it, stating, "Sending forces to Afghanistan was a colossal and grave mistake." However, Gates maintains his stance on the decision.
Gates explained, "I think I would make the same recommendation today because it improved the security situation in Afghanistan, particularly in areas where the Taliban were most active and it clearly improved the security situation." He was then asked about his comments made in a 2011 interview on "60 Minutes," where he indicated that U.S. forces had "succeeded in Afghanistan." Gates responded, "What we did not realize was that these gains would only last as long as the U.S. maintained that kind of force there."
