Global Solidarity For Afghanistan: An Overview Of International Aid Efforts

The United States has been the primary country helping Afghanistan. In 2021, the U.S. and the Taliban signed an agreement on the withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan by May 2021. In April 2021, NATO Foreign and Defence ministers decided to withdraw all Allied troops from Afghanistan within a few months. In August 2021, more than 120,000 people were evacuated in the Allied airlift from Kabul airport as part of the coalition effort.

In 2021, the U.S. pledged $308 million in aid to Afghanistan, raising its total to $782 million since October. However, prominent reporters, experts and lawmakers argue more could be done to help Afghanistan.

The US's role in Afghanistan

The U.S. invaded Afghanistan in 2001 to dismantle Al-Qaeda and capture Osama Bin Laden. The U.S. also aimed to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for international terrorists.

The U.S. has been involved in Afghanistan for over two decades, and its role has evolved over time. The U.S. initially ousted the Taliban and installed Hamid Karzai as the Afghan president. The U.S. also trained and equipped over 300,000 members of the Afghan National Security Force.

The U.S. has provided billions of dollars in humanitarian and reconstruction assistance to Afghanistan. It has also led international efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to the Afghan people.

The U.S. has engaged with the Taliban to ensure they abide by their commitments to prevent groups like Al-Qaeda from using Afghanistan as a base for terrorist attacks.

The U.S. has also played a diplomatic role in Afghanistan, working with international partners to support a negotiated solution to the conflict.

The U.S. has withdrawn its troops from Afghanistan, but it continues to engage with the Taliban and provide humanitarian aid to the Afghan people.

The Taliban's role in Afghanistan

The Taliban is a militant organisation that took over the Afghan government in 2021 and transitioned into a state government. The group's leadership structure has continued to play an important role, with most senior Taliban leaders being appointed as acting ministers. The Taliban's first leader was Mullah Mohammed Omar, who was named "Commander of the Faithful" by his supporters in 1996. Omar's goal was to establish an Islamic government in Afghanistan, with a strict interpretation of Sharia law, in accordance with the Hanafi school of Islamic jurisprudence.

After Omar's death in 2013, he was succeeded by Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour, who led the Taliban until he was killed in a US airstrike in Pakistan in 2016. The current leader of the Taliban is Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada (also known as Sheikh Haibatullah Akhundzada), who holds the final decision-making power for any new governance policies. However, the precise role of the leadership council, called the Rahbari Shura or Quetta Shura, is unclear, and Akhundzada has not been seen publicly in years.

The Taliban's early supporters were mostly Pashtun students from Afghan and Pakistani madrasas, or Islamic religious schools. Many of these schools received foreign support, including from Saudi Arabia, which promoted a hardline interpretation of Islam. The Taliban's strict Deobandi leadership suppressed the Salafi movement in Afghanistan, and the group is known for its aversion to debating doctrine with other Muslims.

During its period of military rule from 1995 to 2001, the Taliban sought to establish law and order in Afghanistan, with a focus on Pashtun dominance within the northern areas. After the US invasion in 2001, the Taliban joined forces with the Salafists to fight against NATO forces, but the Salafists were relegated to small groups under the Taliban's command. The Taliban has criticised the US role in the abuse of Afghan children.

The impact of the US withdrawal

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan has had a profound impact on the country, with the Taliban taking control and imposing strict restrictions on civil society, particularly on women and girls. The country is facing a collapsed economy and a humanitarian crisis, with millions facing food insecurity and malnutrition. The US decision to withdraw has also had diplomatic repercussions, with NATO allies expressing dismay at the chaotic nature of the exit and the lack of an orderly transition.

The US withdrawal has also raised concerns about the potential resurgence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan, with the country once again becoming a safe haven for transnational terror organisations. The Biden administration has emphasised the need to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a base for terrorist attacks against the US and its allies, but critics argue that the chaotic withdrawal has weakened America's credibility and damaged its relationships with its allies.

The withdrawal has also led to a race to evacuate US citizens, Afghan allies, and vulnerable Afghans, with thousands of people rushing to Kabul airport in a bid to flee the country. The evacuation has been challenging, with reports of US allies being told to shelter in place and difficulties in processing Special Immigrant Visas. The Biden administration has been criticised for its handling of the evacuation, with some arguing that it should have acted more swiftly and decisively to protect those at risk.

The US withdrawal has also had a significant impact on the region, particularly Pakistan, which has historically had close ties to the Taliban. There are concerns that the Taliban's return to power could lead to increased instability in the region and a resurgence of Islamic extremism in neighbouring Central Asian states and Pakistan. The US now faces the challenge of countering the threat of terrorism without a military presence in Afghanistan, relying instead on "over-the-horizon" counterterrorism capabilities.

The future of Afghanistan

The international community has a responsibility to support Afghanistan in its time of need. However, there are challenges to providing aid effectively. The Taliban's rule is not internationally recognized, and there are concerns about the diversion of aid funds and the lack of capacity to deliver assistance.

The United States, as the country with the most significant presence in Afghanistan over the last two decades, has a particular responsibility to help stabilize the situation. However, US-Taliban relations are strained, and there are limited options for direct engagement. The US has provided some humanitarian assistance, but it is cautious about engaging with the Taliban and does not want to legitimize their rule.

Other countries and international organizations are also providing aid, but it is not enough to meet the immense needs on the ground. The UN has appealed for $5 billion in funding, but the response has been inadequate.

The role of other countries

The United States and its allies have been involved in Afghanistan for nearly 20 years, and the country has been a central focus of NATO's efforts to combat terrorism. In 2021, the United States and the Taliban signed an agreement on the withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan. This was followed by the collapse of the Afghan government and the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces, leading to a mass evacuation of personnel from Allied and partner countries.

In the aftermath of the Taliban takeover, many countries have been working to assist those seeking to flee Afghanistan. The United States, in particular, has been criticised for its handling of the evacuation process, with accusations that it failed to adequately support its Afghan allies.

Other countries have also played a role in Afghanistan, with varying levels of involvement and success. Pakistan, for example, has been accused of providing sanctuary to the Afghan Taliban, while China has won a bid to exploit Afghanistan's largest copper mine as part of a $3 billion project. India has also been active in the region, constructing a road to provide Afghanistan with a new outlet to the sea.

The future of international involvement in Afghanistan remains uncertain, with the United States and its allies facing difficult decisions about how best to support the Afghan people without providing aid to the Taliban regime.

Frequently asked questions