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Members of the Biden administration have repeatedly claimed that only 100 or so Americans left behind in Afghanistan wanted out.  Throughout the disorganized hurried withdrawal, Biden and other US officials constantly claimed that only 100 Americans were trying to leave Afghanistan.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized in his Aug. 30 remarks that  “there are still a small number of Americans – under 200 and likely closer to 100,” after the chaotic withdrawal.

But in mid-October, the State Department informed congressional staff it is in touch with 363 US citizens in Afghanistan, 176 of whom want to leave.

It has been confirmed that more than 200 US citizens have been evacuated with the help of the US government since August 31. This means that around 400 Americans are still requesting help leaving the country in the nearly two months since the military withdrawal.

Veterans groups rescue Americans left behind

In September veteran-led rescue groups insisted that the Biden administration’s estimates of no more than 200 U.S. citizens left in Afghanistan are way too low. And that the Biden count overlooks hundreds of other people they consider to be equally American: permanent legal residents with green cards.

Some groups say they are in contact with American citizens in Afghanistan who were not able to register with the U.S. Embassy before it closed. And by others not included in previous counts because they expressed misgivings about leaving loved ones behind.

As for green card holders, many have lived in the U.S. for years, paid taxes, become part of their communities, and often have children that are U.S. citizens. Yet the administration says it is uncertain of the number of such permanent residents who are in Afghanistan and desperately trying to escape Taliban rule.

Special representative resigns

Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation resigned on October 18th. Khalilzad served as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations under President George W. Bush and, briefly, President Barack Obama.

He decided it was time to step down because "we are entering a new phase in our Afghanistan policy.

“I was asked by the former president to negotiate our withdrawal from Afghanistan and get commitments from the Taliban. ... That has been achieved. We are out. Our longest war is over,” said Khalilzad. He was appointed in 2018 by former President Donald Trump as a negotiator on the withdrawal.

Khalilzad claims the decision was “made by the presidents, with President Obama, to negotiate directly with the Taliban.” And to leave the Afghan government out of the negotiations.

In an October 23rd CBS “Face the Nation” interview Khalilzad claims there could still be hundreds of Americans in the country.

“Truth of the matter is, we don’t know … but my judgment is there could still be hundreds of Americans there,” Khalilzad said.

Khalilzad still defends the withdrawal. He still has concerns regarding the fate of women and US citizens in Afghanistan. 

Trump's plan was always to keep pressure on the Taliban, including freezing assets and other sanctions. Khalilzad says that sanctions can be used to make sure that schools for girls are reopened. And Americans left behind are able to leave safely.

And where the Taliban is concerned he remains skeptical, "There is a lack of trust between us and them.”