U.S. Policy Failures in Afghanistan Leading to the 2021 Withdrawal

This thesis examines the failure of U.S. policy in Afghanistan and the subsequent collapse of the Afghan government following the 2021 withdrawal. Despite two decades of military engagement and substantial financial investment, the U.S. was unable to establish long-term stability. It argues that the outcome was not the result of a single miscalculation, but rather a combination of long-term structural and strategic shortcomings. Using a qualitative analysis of primary documents and secondary literature, this study traces these policy failures from the initial intervention through the 2020 Doha Agreement. It concludes that the U.S. mission was characterized by incoherent strategy and a disconnect from ground realities, offering critical lessons for future foreign interventions regarding the necessity of cultural awareness, realistic goals, and sustainable local partnerships.