Pentagon Refutes Allegations Of Leaving Behind Military Dogs In Afghanistan
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After a 20 year-long campaign in Afghanistan, US soldiers finally left the country on August 31. The agreement to leave Afghanistan was earlier taken in trilateral talks – US, Afghan Govt, and Taliban – but it was the extremist unit Taliban which has taken control over the country.
Reports and visuals have been pouring since August 15, the day when the Taliban took over Afghanistan and elected president Ashraf Ghani fled the country, that the nationals want to leave the country. With the evacuation process being done by various countries, Afghan nationals also sought refuge in other countries by various means.
Turmoil in Afghanistan is not limited to humans as animals are impacted as well. The latest images on social media have riled up many, as it can be seen that dogs in cages are allegedly left behind by the US forces.
After news reports emerged claiming dozens of dogs left by the US forces, the Pentagon responded to the allegations on the microblogging site saying them ‘erroneous’.
“The US military did not leave any dog in the airport and the photos and videos that are doing the rounds on social media are not those of the military,” tweeted Pentagon press secretary John Kirby.
READ: ‘Not Done With ISIS-K Yet’: Joe Biden On Withdrawing US Troops From Taliban Ruled Afghanistan
Several conservative activists and animal lovers shared their concerns on social media that the US was not evacuating its service dogs and went on to circulate images of dogs captured inside cages in front of a demilitarised helicopter.
The Pentagon out rightly denied such allegations saying that those dogs did not belong to the US military. Kabul Small Animal Rescue was in the custody of those dogs, Kirby said.
“To correct erroneous reports, the US Military did not leave any dogs in cages at Hamid Karzai International Airport, including the reported military working dogs. Photos circulating online were animals under the care of the Kabul Small Animal Rescue, not dogs under our care,” Kirby said.
What are the claims of animal welfare groups?
Last week, Kabul Small Animal Rescue, an animal welfare group that is tending to animals injured or displaced during the war in Afghanistan, tweeted saying it was trying to evacuate animals in the cargo hold of planes leaving Kabul’s airport.
As per the report in the British tabloid The Sun, a statement issued on its behalf by animal rescue organisation SPCA International, said efforts are underway to save 130 dogs.
According to the report, SPCA mentioned that dogs were not allowed on board military aircraft, and private charter aircraft were not permitted into Kabul to rescue the animals.
“We are heartbroken that the aircraft we secured to transport the rescued dogs of Kabul Small Animal Rescue out of Afghanistan were not ultimately allowed to take the animals and their caretakers safely out of the country,” said Lori Kalef, director of Programs at SPCA International.
On Sunday, Veteran Sheepdogs of America also tweeted some animals in crates in front of a damaged military aircraft. The post says the aircraft is at Hamid Karzai International Airport.
These images were reposted on social media by lawmakers critical of the broader US withdrawal.
“Infuriating. Biden stranded Americans. He stranded our allies. Now, he’s stranded our loyal K-9 warriors,” Senator Rick Scott, R-Fla., wrote on Twitter, posting American Humane’s letter.
Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis had also echoed similar sentiments.
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