Joe Biden to rescind designation of Afghanistan as major non-NATO ally

US President Joe Biden has notified Congress of his intent to rescind the designation of Afghanistan as a major non-NATO ally, according to a statement published by the press service of the White House on Wednesday.

“In accordance with section 517 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended (22 U.S.C. 2321k), I am providing notice of my intent to rescind the designation of Afghanistan as a Major Non-NATO Ally,” Biden wrote in a letter to Congress, addressed to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), according to the White House.

Meanwhile, Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), reacted to the Biden decision, added that the title didn’t have any benefit for Afghanistan.

The IEA spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid wrote in a tweet that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is not worried about the action of the United States, which said that it will rescind designation of Afghanistan as major non-NATO ally, and neither did this title have any benefit to Afghanistan.

“Over the past two decades, Afghans have suffered from this point and do not have good memories of it. Of course, in the diplomatic and commercial sectors, IEA wants positive and reliable relations with the countries around the world,” Mujahid tweeted.

The U.S. designated Afghanistan as a major non-NATO ally in 2012, more than 10 years after NATO forces first deployed to the country following the Sept. 11 attacks on the U.S.

Its status as a major non-NATO ally allowed Afghanistan to receive military assistance and training from the military alliance, which, along with the U.S., withdrew all its troop forces in August 2021 following the swift retaking of the country by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA).