Battalion Bravery: Tales Of Army Units In Afghanistan

The US-led war in Afghanistan was America's longest war, lasting from 2001 to 2021. The war began in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, when the US and NATO allies invaded Afghanistan to ensure that the country would not become a safe haven for international terrorists. The Taliban regime, which had provided sanctuary for al-Qaeda, quickly fell, but the war continued for two decades as the US and its allies attempted to stabilise the country and prevent the resurgence of terrorist groups.

Throughout the war, US and other NATO troops were deployed to Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), a coalition of up to 130,000 troops from 50 NATO and partner countries. The ISAF mission ended in December 2014, when the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces assumed full responsibility for security across the country. However, US and NATO forces remained in Afghanistan to train and support Afghan security forces.

In 2021, the US and its allies withdrew their remaining troops from Afghanistan, and the Taliban swiftly regained control of the country. This withdrawal marked the end of a war that cost thousands of lives and billions of dollars, and which ultimately failed to achieve its goals of defeating the Taliban and establishing a stable, democratic Afghan government.

The US-led coalition's involvement in Afghanistan

The US-led coalition's initial invasion of Afghanistan was successful in removing the Taliban from power and forcing Al-Qaeda to flee to neighbouring Pakistan. However, the coalition remained in Afghanistan, forming a security mission (ISAF) to create a new democratic authority in the country and prevent the Taliban from returning to power. The coalition also began international rebuilding efforts, with the goal of improving governance and socio-economic development in Afghanistan.

The coalition's efforts in Afghanistan were not without setbacks, however. The Taliban regrouped and began a widespread insurgency against the new Afghan government and coalition forces. Insurgents from the Taliban and other Islamist groups waged guerrilla warfare in the countryside, suicide attacks against urban targets, and reprisals against perceived Afghan collaborators. By 2007, large parts of Afghanistan had been retaken by the Taliban. In response, the coalition sent a major influx of troops for counter-insurgency operations.

The coalition's efforts in Afghanistan continued for many years, with varying levels of success. In 2014, the coalition formally ended its combat operations in Afghanistan and officially transferred security responsibility to the Afghan government. However, the Taliban remained a threat, and the coalition continued to provide military training and support to Afghan security forces.

In 2020, the US government and the Taliban signed a peace deal, setting a timeline for the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. However, the Taliban continued to attack Afghan security forces and civilians, and violence across Afghanistan continued. In 2021, the Taliban launched a broad offensive throughout the country, successfully reestablishing their control over Afghanistan, including the capital city of Kabul on August 15, 2021. On August 15, 2021, the Taliban declared victory, and the US-led coalition's military presence in Afghanistan came to an end.

The Taliban's resurgence and the fall of the Afghan government

The Taliban's resurgence in Afghanistan can be traced back to the group's ability to exploit the country's weak state institutions, economic woes, and social divisions, as well as the withdrawal of US and NATO troops.

The Taliban, a predominantly Pashtun Islamic fundamentalist group, first came to power in Afghanistan in the 1990s, filling a power vacuum left by the country's civil war. They imposed a harsh interpretation of Islamic law, restricting women's rights and freedoms while neglecting basic services and infrastructure development.

Following the US-led invasion in 2001 that toppled the Taliban regime, the group regrouped in Pakistan and began a 20-year insurgency against the US-backed Afghan government. During this time, the Taliban received support from Pakistan, which provided financial and logistical assistance.

In 2020, the US and the Taliban signed a peace deal, agreeing to a complete withdrawal of US and NATO troops from Afghanistan. This decision was driven by US strategic patience and a shift in focus away from Afghanistan.

The withdrawal of foreign troops left the Afghan government and security forces vulnerable. The Taliban swiftly captured provincial capitals and, by August 2021, entered Kabul, leading to the collapse of the Afghan government and the flight of President Ashraf Ghani.

The Taliban's resurgence has had devastating consequences for Afghans, particularly women. The group has restricted women's rights, prohibiting most girls from attending school and banning women from working. The economy has also suffered, with mass unemployment, a collapse in the housing market, and increased malnutrition.

The Taliban's return to power has raised concerns among the international community, especially regarding the group's ties to terrorist organizations like al-Qaeda. The Taliban's inability or unwillingness to break with al-Qaeda was highlighted by the killing of al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in a US drone strike in Kabul.

The future of Afghanistan remains uncertain, with the Taliban struggling to form an inclusive government and address the country's economic and humanitarian crises.

The role of the Afghan National Army

The Afghan National Army (ANA) was established in 2002 by President Hamid Karzai, who issued a decree to re-establish a unified army. The ANA was trained by the US and other NATO allies, and was intended to be a multi-ethnic, professional, and democratically accountable force.

The ANA was initially set a target size of 70,000 soldiers, but this was later increased to 134,000. The ANA was composed of infantry-centric forces, with each brigade consisting of three light infantry Kandaks (battalions), one combat support Kandak, and one combat service support Kandak.

The ANA was plagued by issues such as poor cohesion, illiteracy, corruption, and drug abuse. In addition, the ANA was reliant on foreign military support, and suffered from high rates of desertion.

In 2021, following the withdrawal of US and NATO troops, the ANA largely disintegrated in the face of a rapid Taliban offensive. Remaining ANA soldiers either deserted their posts or surrendered to the Taliban.

The US withdrawal and the Taliban's return to power

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban's return to power was a significant event in world politics. The US-led coalition forces invaded Afghanistan in 2001 following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, aiming to dismantle al-Qaeda and deny them a base of operations in the country. Twenty years later, in 2021, the US and the Taliban signed an agreement for the withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan.

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan was completed in August 2021, marking the end of America's longest war. The departure of US and NATO troops left a security vacuum, which the Taliban quickly filled. The Afghan National Army, despite two decades of training and support from the US and its allies, disintegrated in the face of the Taliban offensive. The rapid collapse of the Afghan government and security forces took many by surprise, including Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who fled the country as the Taliban entered Kabul.

The Taliban's return to power has had a profound impact on Afghanistan and its people, particularly women. The Taliban have imposed restrictions on women's rights, including limiting their access to education and employment. They have also cracked down on civil society, with media workers and activists facing detention and human rights abuses. However, the Taliban have managed to improve security in the country and reduce corruption.

The international community's response to the Taliban's return to power has been mixed. While there is wariness about formally recognizing the Taliban government due to concerns over human rights abuses and the treatment of women, there is also a recognition that engagement is necessary to address the humanitarian crisis and prevent Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for terrorist groups again. The UN has warned that Afghanistan is facing an economic meltdown and a humanitarian catastrophe, with millions of people in need of aid.

The future of Afghanistan

The Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 has left the country in a state of flux. The country's economy is in freefall, and the humanitarian situation is worsening. The Taliban's harsh interpretation of Islamic law has led to a rollback of women's rights, and the group has been accused of human rights abuses. The international community has been reluctant to recognise the Taliban's government, and Afghanistan's neighbours are concerned about the potential for instability and refugee flows.

The economy

Afghanistan's economy is in a dire state. The country is heavily dependent on foreign aid, which has been cut off since the Taliban's takeover. The country's foreign reserves have been frozen, and the country is facing high inflation and unemployment.

Humanitarian situation

The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan is worsening. The United Nations estimates that 22 million people are facing acute food insecurity, and 95% of the population do not have enough to eat. The situation is particularly severe in rural areas, where 70% of Afghans live.

Women's rights

The Taliban's harsh interpretation of Islamic law has led to a rollback of women's rights. Women and girls are now banned from working and attending school, and are required to cover their faces and bodies when in public. The Taliban has also banned women from travelling more than 48 miles without a male chaperone.

Human rights abuses

The Taliban has been accused of human rights abuses, including torture and extrajudicial killings. The group has also been accused of targeting members of the Hazara ethnic group, and of using excessive force against protesters.

International relations

The international community has been reluctant to recognise the Taliban's government, and Afghanistan's neighbours are concerned about the potential for instability and refugee flows.

The United States and its allies withdrew their troops from Afghanistan in 2021, and the Taliban swiftly took control of the country. The country is now ruled by a hardline Islamist government, and the future looks uncertain.

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