Is Afghanistan now up for grabs?

In theory, the transition will now be genuinely Afghan-owned, Afghan-led and Afghan-controlled. But how much of it will translate into reality?by Ashok K MehtaAfghanistan President Ashraf Ghani and Chairman of High Council of National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah met US President Joe Biden last Friday at the White House, four days before the accelerated withdrawal of US troops by July 4, leaving behind 650 US combatants and 18,000 contractors for security of the US Embassy and counterterrorism missions.

Biden has pledged to support the Afghan Government in diplomatic and humanitarian work as well as financially. Biden's political, diplomatic, military and material support is open-ended coupled with the counsel that Afghans had to determine their own future: the transition in Afghanistan will now be genuinely Afghan-owned, Afghan-led and Afghan-controlled.

Nato will coordinate with Turkish troops for Kabul airport's security and training of Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). National Security Advisor Hamdullah Mohib has said Afghanistan does not need US troops but US combat support and logistics.

Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has said US will have very effective over-the-horizon counterterrorism capabilities from bases in...