https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56966473 Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has warned of "huge consequences" of President Joe Biden's decision to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan.
Mrs Clinton told CNN there was a risk the Taliban - the Islamist group ousted in 2001 by the US-led invasion - could retake control.
The US aims to complete the withdrawal by 11 September.
However, the Taliban have been carrying out more attacks.
"This is what we call a wicked problem," Mrs Clinton told CNN. "There are consequences both foreseen and unintended of staying and of leaving," she said.
Mrs Clinton, like Mr Biden a Democrat, was a strong supporter of the US intervention in Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks in 2001.
Mr Biden wants to complete the withdrawal by the 20th anniversary of the attacks later this year.
At least 2,500 US troops are currently deployed as part of the 9,600-strong Nato Afghan mission.
The president said the US pull-out was justified as American forces had ensured that the country could no longer be a base for foreign jihadists to plot against the West.
Asked about the president's decision by CNN's Fareed Zakaria on Sunday, Mrs Clinton said, "Our government has to focus on two huge consequences", notably the resumption of activities by extremist groups and a subsequent outpouring of refugees from Afghanistan.
She said the potential collapse of the Afghan government and a possible takeover by the Taliban could result in a new civil war.
Mrs Clinton said it was also important to protect the "many thousands of Afghans" who had worked with the US and Nato during the conflict, and said a large visa programme should be set up to provide for any refugees.
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Hillary Clinton represents the view of foreign-policy experts: The US should show its strength and deploy its military. Her criticism of Biden's plan reflects this sensibility.
Her criticism matters, in part because so many in the foreign-policy establishment, both Democrats and Republicans, agree with her. Condoleezza Rice, who served as secretary of state under President George W Bush, has also warned about the risks of withdrawing troops, and the threat of terrorism.
Yet liberals, such as Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, do not think the troops should be there. Nor do many Americans. A 2019 Gallup poll showed 58% of Democrats think the war in Afghanistan has made the US less safe from terrorism.
Clinton's views are important, but Biden has the support of many Americans. Plus, he's the president, and has made his decision. His views are the ones that matter now, not hers.
Should have been her. Again. She would have been less naive about the situation and at the very least ensured we got all our people out, interpreters and all.
