Lexi Webster
The US withdrawal from Afghanistan has been a long-awaited decision, with the war in Afghanistan being America's longest war. The Biden administration's decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan by September 11, 2021, marks an end to a two-decade-long conflict that has cost the lives of over 2,300 US military personnel, wounded tens of thousands more, and spent over $2 trillion in taxpayer money. The US presence in Afghanistan was initially justified as a response to the 9/11 terror attacks, with the aim of targeting Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. However, the war's longevity and lack of clear progress have led to growing war weariness among Americans, with many questioning the continued presence of US forces in the country.
What You'll Learn
The US's longest war
The war in Afghanistan was the most protracted war in American history, lasting nearly two decades and spanning four presidencies. It was the longest war in US history, longer than World War I, World War II, and Vietnam combined.
The war began in 2001, when President George W. Bush authorised the invasion of Afghanistan in response to the 9/11 attacks. The Taliban-ruled country had been providing refuge for al-Qaeda, the terrorist organisation that orchestrated the attacks.
The initial goal of the war was to defeat al-Qaeda and overthrow the Taliban. The Taliban regime fell within weeks, and al-Qaeda's leader, Osama bin Laden, was killed in 2011. However, the US remained in Afghanistan for many years, with the goal of preventing al-Qaeda from taking root again and supporting a new government in Kabul.
The war cost the US close to $1 trillion and led to the deaths of more than 2,000 American soldiers and hundreds of thousands of Afghans. It also had a significant impact on the mental health of US veterans, with an average of 18 veterans dying by suicide every day in America.
Despite the enormous cost and loss of life, the war failed to achieve its objectives. Al-Qaeda was weakened but not eliminated, and other anti-American terror groups continued to operate in Afghanistan. The Taliban regrouped and gradually regained power, eventually retaking control of the country in 2021.
The US withdrawal from Afghanistan was marked by chaos and a rushed evacuation of US citizens and Afghan allies. Many Afghans who had worked with the US were left behind, facing reprisals from the Taliban.
The war in Afghanistan highlighted the challenges of nation-building and counterinsurgency in a complex and distant society. It also demonstrated the limitations of military force in achieving long-term political and security goals.
The consequences of the war for Afghanistan are dire, with women's rights and human rights under threat and the country facing a dire humanitarian crisis. The war also had a significant impact on the US, with questions raised about the effectiveness of its foreign policy and the cost of prolonged military engagements.
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The Taliban's rise to power
The Taliban, which means "students" or "seekers" in Pashto, emerged in the early 1990s as a predominantly Pashtun, Islamic fundamentalist group. They sought to impose a strict interpretation of Islamic law and establish order in the wake of the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989. The group was initially comprised of Afghan mujahideen, or Islamic guerrilla fighters, who had resisted the Soviet occupation, as well as younger Pashtun tribesmen who studied in Pakistani religious schools called madrassas.
- Power Vacuum: After the Soviet withdrawal, Afghanistan was plagued by lawlessness and rampant warlordism. The new Afghan government failed to establish control beyond Kabul, and various militias and warlords exerted control over different regions. This power vacuum provided an opportunity for the Taliban to present themselves as a force for stability and Islamic values.
- External Support: The Taliban received significant support from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and other Gulf states. Pakistan's intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate (ISI), played a crucial role in providing military assistance, training, and logistical support. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states provided financial backing and promoted a conservative Islamic ideology that aligned with the Taliban's beliefs.
- Failure of US and Allies: The US and its allies failed to adequately address the complex ethnic, political, and social dynamics in Afghanistan. They underestimated the Taliban's strength and popularity, particularly among Pashtuns, who felt marginalized by the new government. Additionally, the US initially viewed the Taliban as a stabilizing force and a potential ally against Iran.
- Popular Support: The Taliban gained popularity among Afghans weary of corruption, brutality, and incessant fighting among Mujahideen warlords. They capitalized on the desire for stability and their promise to impose Islamic law. However, their interpretation of Islamic law led to harsh restrictions, particularly on women, and human rights abuses.
- Military Strategy: The Taliban employed effective military strategies, including guerrilla warfare and the use of surprise attacks. They also benefited from the surrender of local warlords and the disintegration of opposition forces.
- Internal Divisions: Chronic divisions among non-Pashtun ethnic groups, such as the Tajik, Uzbek, and Hazara, weakened the opposition to the Taliban. These divisions allowed the Taliban to exploit existing rivalries and consolidate their power.
By 1996, the Taliban had seized control of Kabul and established the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, imposing their harsh interpretation of Islamic law on the country. Their rule was characterized by strict restrictions on women, brutal punishments, and the suppression of cultural and educational institutions.
The threat of terrorism
The primary objective of the US in Afghanistan since 2001 has been to degrade the threat of terrorism against the US and its allies. While this goal was largely achieved, with al-Qaeda's capabilities being a fraction of what they once were, the threat of terrorism remains.
The Taliban government has close links with several terrorist groups, including al-Qaeda, and has allowed them to rebuild and re-establish training camps in the country. Afghanistan's status as a weak and failing state, with a struggling economy and a lack of control over law and order outside of major cities, provides the ideal conditions for terrorist groups to operate and gain new recruits.
Al-Qaeda's primary goal remains the establishment of a pan-Islamic caliphate and the overthrow of corrupt regimes in the Islamic world. With the Taliban in power, al-Qaeda now has a sympathetic regime and enjoys a refuge in Afghanistan. While al-Qaeda will likely have difficulty conducting a centrally planned attack on US soil due to improved intelligence and security measures, they could inspire or conduct attacks against US and Western targets in other regions, including Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia.
In addition to al-Qaeda, other terrorist groups such as ISIS-K, the Islamic State's affiliate in Afghanistan, pose a significant threat. ISIS-K is a sworn enemy of both the Taliban and the US and has carried out dozens of attacks, including a 2021 attack on Kabul airport that killed over 180 people.
The presence of these terrorist groups and their ability to operate and plan attacks in Afghanistan underscores the ongoing threat of terrorism and the potential for it to impact not just Afghanistan but also the wider region and beyond.
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The impact on women's rights
The Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021 has had a devastating impact on the rights of women and girls in the country. The Taliban's policies have created huge barriers to women's and girls' health and education, curtailed freedom of movement, expression, and association, and deprived many of earned income.
Education
The Taliban have banned women and girls from secondary and higher education, and altered curricula to focus more on religious studies. Girls in Afghanistan have been banned from secondary school and women from tertiary education. In other parts of the country, girls are allowed to attend primary school, but many are still unable to access education due to a lack of nearby schools and the long distances they must travel to reach them.
Employment
The Taliban have banned women from working in NGO offices. Women have also been banned from working in other fields, with the exception of primary education or healthcare. However, even those who are still allowed to work often go unpaid due to the financial crisis in the country.
Freedom of movement
The Taliban dictate what women must wear, how they should travel, workplace segregation by sex, and even what kind of cell phones women should have. They enforce these rules through intimidation and inspections. Women are required to adhere to a strict dress code and are not permitted to travel more than 75 km without a male chaperone.
Healthcare
The Taliban have dismantled the formal police force and the Women's Affairs Ministry, making it difficult for women to report gender-based violence and seek help. Healthcare services have also been affected by the financial crisis, with most health workers going unpaid.
Political participation
The Taliban have excluded women from public life and political participation. There is currently no female minister in the new Afghan government, and women are not permitted to participate in the judicial system.
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The evacuation of US citizens
Since August 14, the US has evacuated at least 4,500 US citizens and likely more, with over 500 evacuated in the last day alone. The State Department has been in direct contact with Americans in Afghanistan, providing specific instructions on how to safely reach evacuation sites. They have utilized multiple channels of communication, including phone calls, emails, and text messages, to reach US citizens multiple times a day. This has been an unprecedented operation, with hundreds of consular officers and locally employed staff working around the clock to assist in the evacuation efforts.
The US government has also assisted in the evacuation of citizens of allied and partner nations, Afghans who have partnered with the US, and other Afghans at risk. This includes the Special Immigrant Visa program participants and locally employed staff at the US embassy. The total number of people evacuated by the US and its allies is over 120,000, making it one of the largest airlifts in history.
However, there are still Americans and Afghan allies who remain in Afghanistan and want to leave. The Biden administration has pledged to help those who wish to depart, even after the military evacuation deadline of August 31. The Taliban has made commitments to allow safe passage for Americans and third-country nationals, and the US government will use diplomatic, economic, and assistance tools to uphold these commitments. The US will also work with the international community to ensure that people who want to leave Afghanistan after the military evacuation can do so safely.
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Frequently asked questions
The US invaded Afghanistan in 2001 following the 9/11 terror attacks in New York, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania. The aim was to target Al-Qaeda, the international terror network behind the attacks, which was operating under the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.
The US invasion of Afghanistan has had a significant human and economic impact. Over two decades, more than 2,300 US military lives were lost, tens of thousands were wounded, and countless Afghan casualties occurred. The financial cost exceeded $2 trillion in taxpayer money.
The Biden administration's decision to withdraw from Afghanistan was based on the assessment that the US military engagement was no longer effective in altering the political and military dynamics in the country. The primary objective of degrading the terrorist threat against the US and its allies had been achieved, and resources could be better spent addressing more pressing strategic priorities, such as threats from China and Russia.
The US withdrawal from Afghanistan may lead to a power vacuum that could be exploited by extremist groups like the Taliban. There are concerns about a potential intensification of civil war and a deterioration of security, political, and humanitarian conditions in the country. However, the US plans to remain engaged diplomatically and provide support to mitigate these negative outcomes.
