The Lasting Legacy Of British Troops In Afghanistan

British troops were first sent to Afghanistan in 2001 as part of a NATO-led military intervention following the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the USA. The Taliban regime that governed Afghanistan at the time had sheltered the Al Qaeda terrorist network responsible for the attacks. The UK forces joined the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and became part of a multi-national force. The British combat mission in Afghanistan ended in 2014, and the last of the British soldiers left the country in 2021.

British troops were first sent to Afghanistan in 2001 to respond to the 9/11 attacks

The British troops were first sent to Afghanistan in 2001 as part of the response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the USA. The Taliban regime that governed Afghanistan from 1996 had sheltered the Al-Qaeda terrorist network responsible for the attacks.

The US accused the Taliban, then the ruling power in Afghanistan, of protecting the mastermind of the attacks, Osama Bin Laden, and declared war. Britain became involved in November 2001, deploying ground troops. The early stages of the campaign saw a massive aerial bombardment of Taliban and Al-Qaeda targets, while special forces went in on the ground to fight alongside the Afghan Northern Alliance, which opposed the Taliban. Kabul was the first city captured by the Northern Alliance, on 13 November.

On 7 December, the Fall of Kandahar saw the Taliban driven from its last stronghold. Then-British Prime Minister Tony Blair hailed it as a victory, calling it "a total vindication of the strategy we have worked out from the beginning". Meanwhile, Afghan groups agreed on a deal for an interim power-sharing government, and Hamid Karzai, a former mujahideen spokesman, was sworn in as its head.

After the Taliban regime had been driven out, UK forces stayed in Afghanistan to help provide security for the new transitional government. They became part of a multi-national force, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Most UK troops were based in Afghanistan's capital city, Kabul, and a small number in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif, near where the UK operated a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) to help with reconstruction projects.

The UK formed and commanded the first International Stabilisation and Assistance Force (ISAF)

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The ISAF was headquartered in Kabul and led by the UK until February 2002, when Turkey took over. The ISAF expanded its mission in October 2003 to cover the whole of Afghanistan, and in August 2003, NATO assumed command of the ISAF. The ISAF's mission objectives included:

• Conducting stability and security operations throughout the country in conjunction with the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF)
• Mentoring, training and equipping the ANSF
• Providing humanitarian and reconstruction assistance
• Supporting the counter-narcotics efforts of the Afghan government

The Taliban regime that governed Afghanistan from 1996 sheltered the Al-Qaeda terrorist network

The Taliban regime, which governed Afghanistan from 1996 until 2001, sheltered the Al-Qaeda terrorist network. The Taliban's leader, Mullah Omar, provided a safe haven for Al-Qaeda, allowing them to freely recruit, train, and deploy terrorists to other countries.

Al-Qaeda, led by Osama Bin Laden, was responsible for the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, which killed close to 3,000 people. The attacks led to the US-led war in Afghanistan, which drove the Taliban from power.

The Taliban and Al-Qaeda have long-standing ties, with Al-Qaeda's leader, Bin Laden, being a major supporter of the Taliban. Bin Laden was able to use Afghanistan as a base to plan and carry out attacks, with the Taliban's protection.

The Taliban's provision of safe haven for Al-Qaeda was not without consequences. The UN Security Council imposed sanctions on the Taliban for harbouring Al-Qaeda, and the US offered a $25 million bounty for information leading to Bin Laden.

Despite the Taliban's ouster from power in 2001, concerns about their support for Al-Qaeda persisted. In 2015, the UN reported that the Taliban remained close to Al-Qaeda, providing them with a safe haven. This was further evidenced by the killing of Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in a US drone strike in Kabul in 2022.

The Taliban's return to power in 2021 has raised fears that Afghanistan could once again become a safe haven for terrorists. While the Taliban have pledged not to allow Afghan soil to be used against the security of other countries, international observers remain concerned about their support for terrorist organisations.

The UK has supported a wide range of projects to improve education, healthcare, economic growth and local governance in Afghanistan

The UK has supported a plethora of projects in Afghanistan, focusing on improving education, healthcare, economic growth, and local governance.

In the realm of education, the UK has been working to enhance opportunities for women and girls. The Farkhunda Trust, for instance, supports young women in their academic and professional pursuits so that they can achieve financial independence. Similarly, the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attacks (GCPEA) works to safeguard educational facilities and personnel from attacks and military occupation. The Swedish Committee for Afghanistan is another initiative that advocates for increased international donor pledges for education development and safeguarding.

In the healthcare sector, the UK has provided critical support through organisations like the World Bank, which delivers essential health services to the Afghan people. UNICEF, in collaboration with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), has also played a vital role in addressing the healthcare needs of children.

To stimulate economic growth, the UK has been a key contributor to the Afghanistan Resilience Trust Fund (ARTF), managed by the World Bank. This fund supports critical sectors such as health, education, food security, and livelihoods. Additionally, the UK has been instrumental in facilitating trade and investment opportunities, such as the Qosh Tepa Canal (QTC) project, which aims to boost irrigation and agriculture.

In terms of local governance, the UK has collaborated with the Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG) and the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) to launch the "ACCESS" project. This initiative, with a budget of $6.7 million, aims to improve service delivery in areas like training, health, power supply, education, and water supply, ultimately benefiting over a million Afghans across six provinces.

These projects reflect the UK's commitment to supporting Afghanistan's development across various sectors, with a particular focus on empowering women and improving essential services for citizens.

The last British combat troops left Afghanistan in 2014

The last British combat troops left Afghanistan on 26 or 27 October 2014, marking the end of Operation Herrick, the codename for all British operations in the War in Afghanistan. The troops' departure came 13 years after Britain's most recent war in Afghanistan began in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States.

In the years following the 9/11 attacks, British troops were part of a coalition tasked with intervening in Afghanistan to find the leaders of al-Qaeda. By the end of 2001, the Taliban regime had collapsed, but an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) remained in the country. In 2006, British troops were deployed to Helmand in the south, where they faced a violent response from a resurgent Taliban.

In 2010, UK troop numbers in Afghanistan reached their peak, with around 10,000 deployed across the country. In 2011, US President Barack Obama announced the planned withdrawal of US soldiers, and over the next few years, UK forces concentrated their efforts on training Afghanistan's own security forces.

In 2014, Britain formally ended all combat operations in Afghanistan, and most UK troops returned home. A small contingent of British forces remained in the country to train and assist Afghan security forces.

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