The 18-year attempt cost the United States alone $2.26 trillion, along with the cost in lives comprises 2,442 American troops and 1,144 employees among U.S. allies, based on statistics from Brown University. NATO doesn't keep a list of people who perish in its own operations.
Those casualty figures dwarf Afghan losses, including over 47,000 civiliansup to 69,000 members of their federal armed forces and authorities, and more than 51,000 resistance fighters.
Few specialists assert that it attracted long-term stability, purposeful democracy or safety.
"At this time, you have the impression that NATO leaders practically need to downplay and depart quietly, instead of making too big a deal of it, and moving on to concentrate on other company," explained Erik Brattberg, director of the Europe Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Together with the U.S. leading the withdrawal, European allies and Canada wish to listen to Biden's considering how safety will be ensured at their embassies, along with major transportation routes and over all at Kabul's airport.
Many wonder if the Afghan authorities can endure a resurgent Taliban. Some believe Kabul's capitulation is merely a matter of time.
"We're in intense talks with our member nations, the USA, NATO and the United Nations about the lack of essential security requirements for our ongoing diplomatic presence. It'll be tricky to maintain it" in position, European Union foreign policy leader Josep Borrell stated.
For the time being, NATO intends to depart civilian advisors to help build up government associations. It is unclear who will shield them.
As a company, NATO won't offer refuge for Afghans who worked together with its powers -- regularly risking their own lives -- even though some individual members will. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says it is just time to leave.
"Afghanistan has come a very long way, both in regards to building powerful, competent security forces, but also in regards to economic and social advancement," he told The Associated Press. "At a certain point, it needs to be the Afghans that require complete responsibility for stability and peace within their country."
Few Afghans reveal that evaluation of their nation, that has a 54 percent poverty rate, runaway crime, rampant corruption and an illegal economy that outstrips the legal market.
When NATO took control of global security operations in 2003, Afghanistan has been its first significant mission outside Europe and North America. The goal was to stabilize the authorities, develop local safety forces and eliminate a possible foundation for extremist groups.
Nevertheless 18 decades after, safety is at its lowest prices for the majority of Afghans. The funds is rife with criminal gangs, many connected to powerful warlords, also you will find regular attacks by an upstart Islamic State.
The Taliban couldn't be hauled from outlying locations, but could its fighters grab and maintain big cities.
Troop surges made small difference, and it soon became evident that NATO's military training campaign was its exit plan. Only by producing a significant army capable of standing on its feet could the company wind up its operations.
However, the Afghan military was plagued with corruption, desertion and very low morale. Experts say it is, and this remains a significant concern as NATO insists upon financing the country's security forces after it has gone.
It highlighted NATO's weakness: European members and Canada just cannot sustain big surgeries without logistical support in their main partner.
Biden's choice to pull on U.S. troops from the 20th anniversary of their 9/11 strikes on New York and Washington changed little, but he failed consult allies that moment.
James Dobbins, a former Afghan envoy who currently works for the RAND Corporation think tank, predicts that the departure will indicate the reduction of government legitimacy.
"The U.S. departure will be regarded as a success for the Taliban and a defeat for the USA," he explained in a comment piece.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani wasn't encouraged to NATO's summit.
"There is not much appetite left to keep on investing in Afghanistan," Brattberg explained. "There is a feeling of being fed up at lots of NATO states, and today it is time to pack the luggage and get out with minimal thought about the consequences which can have on the floor."