WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Wednesday that the Biden administration is reassessing whether the Taliban should be officially designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), amid ongoing scrutiny over the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Responding to a question from Representative Tim Burchett (R-Tennessee) during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, Rubio confirmed the matter is back under evaluation.
“I believe that classification is now, once again, under review,” Rubio said, referencing the potential FTO designation.
The discussion comes as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered a full review of the U.S. military’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, an event widely criticized for its chaotic execution and deadly consequences.
In a memo issued by Hegseth, the Defense Department announced the formation of a special review panel tasked with revisiting prior investigations and gathering a complete picture of the events that unfolded.
“We need to conduct a comprehensive review to ensure accountability and to provide the American people with the full truth,” Hegseth wrote.
The panel will examine findings, sources, and witness accounts from previous probes and delve into the decision-making that led to what Hegseth described as “one of America’s darkest and deadliest international moments.”
“This team will ensure ACCOUNTABILITY to the American people and the warfighters of our great Nation,” the memo emphasized.
The hasty U.S. exit in August 2021 enabled Taliban forces to quickly overrun Afghan government positions, prompting a last-minute evacuation from Kabul International Airport. In a matter of days, over 120,000 people were airlifted out.
Tragedy struck on August 26, 2021, when a suicide bombing at the airport’s perimeter killed more than 170 civilians and 13 U.S. service members, marking one of the deadliest days for U.S. forces in recent history.
The renewed investigation and ongoing Taliban status review highlight growing pressure on the administration to address concerns around U.S. foreign policy, national security, and military accountability in the aftermath of the Afghanistan withdrawal.
