The Lingering Presence: Contractors In Afghanistan's Complex Landscape

The withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan has also seen the departure of thousands of private contractors. These contractors, who are often from poor countries in Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe, perform a range of tasks, from cooking meals to repairing aircraft. The Pentagon has spent over $100 billion on contracted services in Afghanistan since 2002, and as of April 2021, there were 6,399 contractors from other countries working for the US in Afghanistan. However, the number of contractors has dropped significantly in recent months, signalling the Biden administration's departure from the strategy of its predecessors, who relied on contractors to stabilise the security vacuum left by departing troops.

The number of contractors in Afghanistan has dropped from 17,000 to 7,800 in three months

The decrease in contractors coincides with the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan and indicates that the Biden administration is not retaining on-the-ground military support for local allies. This approach differs from previous U.S. presidents, who relied on contractors to stabilise security vacuums left by departing troops.

The departure of contractors poses significant problems for the Afghan military, which has relied heavily on them for various tasks, including repairs, maintenance, fueling, training, and intelligence gathering. The Afghan Air Force, in particular, faces challenges as it is heavily dependent on contractors to maintain its aircraft.

The reduction in contractors has also impacted Third Country Nationals (TCNs), who often work for lower pay and in more dangerous conditions than their American counterparts. Many TCNs are now seeking employment in other conflict zones or returning to their home countries.

The U.S. government's evacuation efforts have focused primarily on U.S. troops and Afghan interpreters, guides, and contractors with direct U.S. government ties. Other contractors, particularly those from foreign countries, have faced challenges in returning to their home countries due to travel restrictions and visa issues.

Contractors are a force both the US and Afghan governments have become reliant on

Contractors are a force that both the US and Afghan governments have become reliant on. Since 2002, the Pentagon has spent $107.9 billion on contracted services in Afghanistan, with the Department of Defense currently employing more than 16,000 contractors in the country. Contractors provide key maintenance and military support, from training and gear maintenance to intelligence gathering and close air support.

The US has relied on contractors to fill in the gaps in troop numbers, as service members are expensive and hard to recruit. In fact, in October 2020, there were 43,800 contractors to 15,000 military personnel in the CENTCOM region, and in Afghanistan, the ratio of contractors to military personnel increased from 1:1 in 2010-2011 to 3:1 at the end.

The Afghan government has also become reliant on contractors, particularly for maintaining its air force. The Afghan National Security Forces were not expected to be able to maintain self-sufficiency, and so contractor support was deemed necessary to keep US-supplied aircraft operational.

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan has seen a significant reduction in the number of contractors in the country, with the total number dropping from almost 17,000 in April to 7,800 in July 2021. This has left the Afghan government without the support it had become reliant on, and the Afghan military has struggled to maintain equipment such as Black Hawk helicopters and C-130 transport aircraft.

Contractors are often Third Country Nationals (TCNs) who are workers from poor countries in Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe

TCNs are typically paid less than their US counterparts, even though they take on greater risks. They are often exploited by their employers and are subject to poor working conditions. The accommodations, security, and treatment of TCNs can vary greatly from those of US and multinational coalition personnel. Their contracts often require them to work for four years continuously without a break to return to their home countries.

In the context of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, TCNs have been left stranded in Dubai, unable to return to their home countries due to travel restrictions. These contractors worked on US bases as cleaners, cooks, construction workers, servers, and technicians. They faced rocket attacks and other risks of war while on base.

The US military's use of TCNs in Afghanistan highlights the reliance on contractors to support military operations. As the US withdrew its troops, the number of contractors also decreased significantly, leaving a void for the Afghan forces.

TCNs are not protected by laws against discrimination or workplace safety

Third Country Nationals (TCNs) are a vital part of the U.S. war effort in Afghanistan, performing roles such as guarding convoys, cooking meals, and defusing mines. However, TCNs are not protected by laws against discrimination or workplace safety that are commonplace in the United States. This means that TCNs can face discrimination and unsafe working conditions without legal recourse.

In the United States, there are laws in place at both the federal and state levels that protect employees from discrimination and ensure workplace safety. These laws cover a range of areas, including hiring, promotion, compensation, and working conditions. For example, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enforces laws that make it illegal to discriminate against someone based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetic information. Additionally, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin.

However, these laws do not extend to TCNs working for U.S. contracting companies in Afghanistan. As a result, TCNs can face discrimination and unsafe working conditions without the same legal protections as employees in the United States. For instance, TCNs may be assigned more dangerous tasks or given inadequate housing and protective equipment. In the event of injury or death, TCNs and their families may struggle to receive compensation from contracting companies.

The lack of legal protections for TCNs in Afghanistan contributes to their exploitation and vulnerability. TCNs often earn far less than their U.S. counterparts while taking on greater risks. They may also face challenges in obtaining compensation for injuries or deaths occurring during their employment. This highlights the need for greater legal protections for TCNs to ensure they are treated fairly and have access to safe working conditions.

Contractors are stuck in Dubai without a way to get home

The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan has disrupted the lives of thousands of private security contractors from some of the world's poorest countries. These contractors, who worked as cleaners, cooks, construction workers, servers, and technicians on sprawling American bases, now find themselves stranded in Dubai without a way to get home.

In the rushed evacuation, many of these foreign workers have become stuck in limbo at hotels across Dubai while trying to get home to the Philippines and other countries that restricted international travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Philippines, along with Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, halted flights to the United Arab Emirates in mid-May 2021 due to fears of the fast-spreading Delta variant, and the travel ban was repeatedly renewed.

The contractors, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described their predicament as one of anxiety and unrelenting boredom. With their cash dwindling, most said they couldn't afford to do anything but wait. They while away their time watching TV and video-calling their families from the hotel, where their daily meals are provided by Fluor, the Texas-based construction giant that was the biggest defense contractor in Afghanistan.

The U.S. military's Central Command declined to comment on private security contractors, referring all questions to their companies. The U.S. military's contracting office and the Philippines Consulate in Dubai also did not respond to repeated requests for comment on the stranded Filipino contractors.

With little publicly known about the evacuation process for these contractors, it has become apparent that the Pentagon's long-invisible foreign fleet may remain so. Experts say the chaotic departure of the Pentagon's logistics army lays bare an uncomfortable truth about a privatized system long susceptible to mismanagement—one largely funded by American taxpayers but outside the purview of American law.

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