NATO Accuses "Afghan Power Loser" For The Taliban's Fast Takeover.

Stoltenberg's remarks came a day after President Joe Biden criticized Afghanistan's political leadership for mishandling the Taliban's swift victory across the country following the withdrawal of US and NATO troops.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg blamed the Afghan government for the Taliban's stunning and swift power grab, repeating what President Joe Biden had said the day before. "In the end, the Afghan political leadership failed to stand up to the Taliban and achieve the peaceful solution that the Afghan people so desperately wanted," Stoltenberg told reporters at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

"Despite our significant investments and sacrifices over two decades, the collapse was swift also sudden." There are many models to be learned," he said, adding that "the failure of the Afghan leadership has led to the tragedy we are witnessing today. "

In April, the 30-member military Alliance and the United States announced the withdrawal of Afghan troops. The beginning of the NATO mission in Afghanistan stems from the group's mutual safeguard clause known as Article 5.

The US armed forces toppled the Taliban in 2001 after Osama bin Laden's group and other al-Qaida leaders launched an 11-year terrorist attack. Two years later, US troops invaded Iraq to overthrow Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

"NATO allies and partners invaded Afghanistan after September 11 to prevent the country from becoming a haven for international terrorists to attack us. "In the least 2 decades, there has been no terrorist attack organized by Afghanistan on allied territory," Stoltenberg said.

Stoltenberg's remarks came a day after Biden criticized Afghan political leaders for allowing the Taliban to make quick victories across the country as US and NATO forces withdrew.

The truth is, it has progressed faster than we expected," Biden said in a speech at the White House, adding that he believed ousted President Ashraf Ghani that trained and equipped Afghan troops would defend their own.

"Mr. Ghani insists that Afghan forces go to war, but he is wrong," Biden said. Although the Afghan military, long backed by the US and coalition forces, was outnumbered, the Taliban overran Kabul. Ghani fled the country on Sunday as western countries rushed to evacuate embassies amid deteriorating security conditions.

"American troops cannot and must not fight and die in a war in which Afghan forces are not willing to fight for themselves," Biden said. "We give them every opportunity to determine their future. 

"I stand firmly behind my decision. "After 20 years, I've learned the hard way that there is never a right time to withdraw American troops," Biden said in a memorable speech from the East Room of the White House.