OPINION:
As the fifth anniversary of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and of the final U.S. military withdrawal approaches, that country has largely disappeared from American political consciousness.
It is understandable. After 20 years of war, thousands of American lives lost and trillions of dollars spent, Americans were exhausted and ready to move on.
Still, the danger Afghanistan poses to the United States and the region has not receded.
Instead, Afghanistan has backslid into a haven for terrorism and a playground for America’s adversaries. Al Qaeda is rebuilding on Afghan soil. Pakistan faces mounting terrorist pressure. China is expanding its economic footprint. Iran is deepening ties with the Taliban.
While the United States disengaged, rival powers and extremist groups moved in.
Start with the reason America entered Afghanistan in the first place: al Qaeda.
Reports indicate that Hamza bin Laden, Osama bin Laden’s son and heir to the al Qaeda network, has been helping rebuild the organization from Afghan territory. The Taliban regime, which once sheltered the architects of 9/11, has shown neither the ability nor the desire to stop it.
Yet we did not spend two decades dismantling al Qaeda’s sanctuary only to have it quietly regenerate while the West looks away. The next major terrorist plot against the U.S. or its allies could once again emerge from Afghanistan.
The consequences of the 2021 withdrawal are also affecting one of America’s most important regional partners: Pakistan.
A major non-NATO ally, Pakistan has worked alongside successive U.S. administrations on counterterrorism and regional security for decades. It has suffered devastating attacks from groups operating out of Afghanistan, as have Tajikistan and other Central Asian states.
That pattern is unlikely to stop while Afghanistan remains a source of instability. This is among the most dangerous outcomes of American neglect.
Washington should deepen intelligence cooperation with Pakistan, expand border surveillance support and provide the tools needed to disrupt terrorist networks operating from Afghan territory. President Trump and Congress should pursue that strategy now, before the situation deteriorates further.
The administration should also revisit the Doha Agreement. The Taliban have failed to uphold their most important commitments, including forming an inclusive government, protecting basic human rights and preventing terrorist organizations from operating on Afghan soil.
Yet Afghanistan continues to receive roughly $80 million every two weeks through a United Nations support mission. Continuing business as usual despite these violations is not merely wasteful; it also undermines the sacrifices made by Americans and our allies alike.
Then there is the broader strategic reality.
The Trump administration has rightly identified competition with China as the defining geopolitical challenge of this century. Afghanistan sits atop vast reserves of lithium, cobalt, rare earth elements and other critical minerals essential to advanced technologies and modern defense systems.
China understands the country’s value. Beijing has expanded ties with the Taliban and recently linked Afghanistan to its Belt and Road Initiative through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. While the U.S. is distracted, China is positioning itself to gain economic and strategic advantage.
Iran is also expanding its influence. Before the recent conflict between Iran and the U.S. and Israel, trade between Iran and Afghanistan exceeded $2 billion, diplomatic relations were fully restored, and agreements gave Afghanistan access to Iran’s Chabahar port.
Whatever government emerges in Tehran, Afghanistan is likely to remain strategically important. Washington cannot afford to ignore a region where China and Iran are actively increasing their presence.
There is also a moral dimension Americans should not ignore.
Thousands of Afghans risked their lives because they believed American promises meant something. Interpreters, soldiers, civil society leaders and intelligence partners were hunted down, imprisoned or killed after the withdrawal.
Future allies around the world are watching closely. If America abandons those who stand beside it, then fewer people will stand beside America the next time it matters.
None of this requires another invasion or nation-building project. Yet it does necessitate sustained engagement: a strategy to counter terrorist networks before they mature, greater support for frontline partners such as Pakistan and clear recognition that Afghanistan remains a battleground for influence among major powers.
For 20 years, Americans paid dearly to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a terrorist sanctuary and geopolitical prize for hostile actors. Today, al Qaeda is rebuilding, Pakistan remains under pressure, China is expanding its reach, and Iran is strengthening its position.
Yet Washington increasingly treats Afghanistan as a closed chapter.
America may want to put Afghanistan behind it, but unfortunately, Afghanistan is not finished with us.
• Christopher H. Shays represented Connecticut’s 4th Congressional District. Richard Swett represented New Hampshire’s 2nd Congressional District. Mr. Swett also served as U.S. ambassador to Denmark.
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