The Taliban win, expected to take place in the future between the United States and Afghanistan

Even though the war is over and the situation is taking over “running” in Afghanistan, there is little clarity as to what the future will hold for the Afghan nation or the leading protagonists, the United States and the Taliban.

Judging from their official initial statements, both sides appear to be curbing their ambitions, lowering expectations and moderated their positions after the 20-year war that came after another 20-year conflict, which left Afghanistan in oblivion.

Despite the humiliating loss of America, during the past week, President Joe Biden has insisted that the withdrawal of American and NATO forces was the right decision, ending Washington's longest war.

He argues that Americans should not fight and die on behalf of those who lack the will to do so themselves no less on behalf of a seemingly corrupt government that the United States supported in Kabul, abcnews reports. al

Fair enough.

I think, better late than never. Or, as Winston Churchill said, you can always rely on Americans to do the right thing only after they've tried everything else. ”

Well, not always. But now that the curtains are closed at the American-afgan Death Theatre, what has Washington learned from two decades of war and occupation?

In a report published earlier this month, the Pentagon's special inspector general for the reconstruction of Afghanistan has shown how and why the US has erred in Afghanistan, ranging from strategy, planning and deadlines to spending and supervision.

However, almost all reports are functional, useful primarily to prepare better for the next mission; or the next war. If America hasn't learned from Vietnam lessons, it should learn from Afghanistan before starting another foreign adventure.

Fortunately, Americans are tired of Washington's wars, and about 70 per cent of respondents fully support withdrawing from Afghanistan.

Similarly, it seems that most of Washington's foreign policy is finally supporting the idea that these expensive and exhausting wars in the Middle East are not only costly $6.4 trillion but also weakening the US position in the world, especially in the face of its strategic competitors, China and Russia.

As tragic as it may be, the U.S. Afghan disaster has been put behind the course of the world. The United States may seek to avoid contact with foreigners for at least the foreseeable future, and instead try to gain some of the lost credibility by being more cautious when facing similar security challenges.

However, it is difficult to give up old ways.

As Washington tries to get away from major troop delocations and national construction missions, it is doubling its <x0th) global fight against terrorism” through fearful bombings, secret operations in the Middle East and wider, reports the abcnews. al

In other words, the Benden administration could have surrendered but has not given up anti-terrorism operations.

Rather, he did the opposite. In Afghanistan, he is preserving the right to act in a preliminary way, and, at will, against any threats manifested, real or perceived.

In fact, American officials have protected the withdrawal of military troops from Afghanistan on the basis because they do not need to be on the ground to act when necessary, as they do in other parts of the region.

But to avoid unnecessary escalation, Washington will try to influence the behaviour of Taliban in a way that limits or prevents the appearance of future threats to US interests by working closely with Afghanistan's neighbours, particularly Pakistan and Iran, and other regional actors like Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

But despite repeated failures, the US remains the richest and most powerful nation in the world. To that end, President Biden will currently hold a virtual meeting of G7 leaders next week to discuss a joint strategy on Afghanistan.

But how ready are the Taliban to accept American/Western pressure, and how will they rule in Afghanistan?

The Taliban's original statements and behavior signal a certain pragmatism, readiness for compromise. Taliban leaders may have won a decisive victory, but they do not want to be isolated once again as in the 1990s.

That's why they are already open to dialogue with Beijing, despite his mistreatment of Uygur Muslims in order to gain recognition and help. China has undertaken major infrastructure developments in Pakistan, Iran and other Asian countries, as part of its Regional Initiative and the Road, to replace the U.S. as Asia's main power.

However, judging by their latest statements and by their co-ordination with the American evacuation forces in Kabul this week, the Taliban leaders want to continue dialogue with the US, seeking actual recognition and possibly assistance from Western nations and institutions, knowing that the country cannot stabilise without international assistance, abcnews reports. al

To that end, Taliban have granted amnesty to all civil servants and have called on soldiers of the old regime to join his armed forces. If this signals a real change of mind or is a simple tactic to get out of isolation, it remains to be seen, though most remain sceptical that the conservative Islamic movement would accept Western dictatorships after its hard victory.

Of course, it has become clear that democracy is not compatible with Sheriat or the Afghan tradition. If the Taliban fail to be transformed into a functional government and instead rule as revenge and armed rebels, then Iran and Pakistan will directly intervene or through disgruntled tribal and ethnic groups.

All this will have major implications for other Islamic groups that are inspired by the Taliban's victory, creating a new vicious cycle of attacks and counterattacks. In general, war may have ended, but accounting may soon begin in Afghanistan.

America has testified once again, at a high cost to itself and the world, that it will always be available. 20 years after occupying Afghanistan and later Iraq with ambition to transform the entire region according to its will, we should ask who transformed who.