Terror's Toll: Unraveling The Gendered Impact Of Terrorist Attacks In Afghanistan

Terrorist attacks in Afghanistan have claimed the lives of thousands of civilians in recent years. In 2021, 5,837 people were killed by terrorists, with civilian casualties reaching a record high of 10,993. Women and children made up close to half of these casualties, with 14% of civilian casualties being women. The Taliban's strict interpretation of Islamic law has resulted in harsh restrictions on women's rights and freedoms, with reports of gender-based violence and femicide. The Taliban's offensive in 2021, coupled with the withdrawal of international troops, has further exacerbated the situation, leading to a sharp rise in casualties.

The impact of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan on terrorism and civilian casualties

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan has had a significant impact on terrorism and civilian casualties in the country.

Impact on Terrorism

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan has had a mixed impact on terrorism in the country. On the one hand, the removal of US and NATO forces has eliminated a target for terrorist groups such as the Taliban and allowed them to regain control of the country. This has created a sense of victory for these groups and may embolden them to carry out more attacks. Additionally, the withdrawal has left a security vacuum that terrorist organizations can exploit to plan and carry out attacks.

On the other hand, the US withdrawal has also removed a key source of support and protection for the Afghan government, which was a target of terrorist attacks. With the Afghan government weakened, terrorist groups may find it easier to carry out attacks and gain control of more territory.

The impact of the US withdrawal on terrorism is complex and depends on various factors, including the ability of the Afghan government and security forces to maintain control and stability in the country.

Impact on Civilian Casualties

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan has had a significant impact on civilian casualties. With the Taliban regaining control of the country, civilians, especially women and children, are at an increased risk of violence and human rights abuses. According to the United Nations, a record number of women and children were killed or wounded in Afghanistan in the first half of 2021, during the US and NATO withdrawal. The Taliban and other extremist groups have been accused of deliberately targeting civilians, including women and children, and carrying out extrajudicial killings, abductions, and other human rights violations.

The withdrawal of US and NATO forces has also led to a reduction in air support and military assistance to the Afghan security forces, which previously helped to protect civilians and reduce casualties. With the Taliban advancing and the security situation deteriorating, civilian casualties are likely to increase.

Overall, the US withdrawal from Afghanistan has had a significant impact on terrorism and civilian casualties in the country. While the removal of US and NATO forces has eliminated a target for terrorist groups, it has also weakened the Afghan government and security forces, leaving civilians more vulnerable to attacks and human rights abuses. The future of Afghanistan remains uncertain, and the impact of the US withdrawal on terrorism and civilian casualties may evolve over time.

The Taliban's treatment of women and girls, and its impact on their safety

Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, they have imposed a series of restrictions on women and girls, severely limiting their rights and freedoms. These restrictions have impacted all aspects of their lives, from education and employment to public services and access to justice.

Education

The Taliban have banned girls from attending school past the sixth grade and barred them from studying certain subjects, such as civil engineering, journalism, and veterinary medicine. They have also prohibited boys and girls from being educated together and have banned female students from all university education. In addition, the Taliban have closed schools for girls in grades 7 and up and prevented foreign NGOs from providing educational programs, impacting half a million students.

Employment

The Taliban have barred women from working in most sectors, including government offices, the justice system, and international organizations. They have also banned women from working for NGOs and prohibited them from working on women's empowerment projects. Women are further restricted from working for government agencies and from holding decision-making and managerial positions.

Movement and Dress

The Taliban have imposed strict rules on women's movement and dress, including a requirement to wear a burqa or Arab-style hijab in public and a ban on travelling long distances without a male chaperone. Women are also banned from visiting public parks, baths, and historic places.

Access to Services

The Taliban's restrictions have limited women's access to essential services, such as health care and education. Women are prohibited from being examined by male physicians and female doctors and nurses from working, impacting their access to routine and emergency health care. The Taliban have also banned beauty salons, impacting thousands of women-owned businesses.

Safety and Security

The Taliban's restrictions and policies have had a significant impact on the safety and security of women and girls in Afghanistan. The dismantling of the Women's Affairs Ministry and the formal police force has left women vulnerable to gender-based violence and intimidation by Taliban authorities. Women who worked for foreign organizations or the previous Afghan government are particularly at risk, with reports of Taliban members extorting money, food, and services from communities. In addition, the Taliban's restrictions on education and employment have left many women without a source of income, affecting their ability to provide for their families and access basic necessities.

The Taliban's treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan has been widely condemned by the international community, with UN experts characterizing it as "gender apartheid" and calling for investigations into potential crimes against humanity.

The role of the Islamic State in Khorasan (ISIS-K) in terrorist attacks and civilian casualties

The Islamic State – Khorasan Province (ISIS–K) is a regional offshoot of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, primarily active in Afghanistan and Pakistan. ISIS-K seeks to destabilize and overthrow the governments of the historic Khorasan region – which includes parts of modern-day Iran, Central Asia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan – to establish an Islamic caliphate under its strict interpretation of Sharia law.

ISIS-K has been responsible for numerous high-profile attacks against civilians in Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as clashes with security forces. The group's attacks have targeted Taliban personnel, foreign aid workers, religious and ethnic minority groups, and civilians whom they perceive as enemies opposing their interpretation of Islamic law. They have employed ambushes, military-style assaults, targeted killings, bombings, and beheadings. ISIS-K also attacked US military personnel before the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

ISIS-K's attacks have resulted in thousands of deaths and injuries since its inception in 2015. Some notable attacks include:

• The 2021 Kabul airport attack, which killed 13 US military personnel and at least 169 Afghans.
• The 2018 twin suicide bombings at election rallies in Pakistan, killing at least 131 people.
• The 2016 twin bombings in Kabul, which killed 97 Hazara protestors.
• The 2019 suicide bombing at a wedding in Kabul, killing at least 92 people.
• The 2020 attack on a maternity ward in Kabul, killing 24 civilians.
• The 2020 attack on Kabul University, resulting in 22 deaths.
• The 2022 attack on a school in Kabul, killing at least 52 people.

ISIS-K's attacks are not limited to Afghanistan and Pakistan. The group has expanded its operations beyond its traditional area, conducting attacks in Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Russia. ISIS-K claimed responsibility for the 2024 attack on a concert hall in Krasnogorsk, Russia, which killed 144 people.

ISIS-K's leadership has been targeted by US airstrikes, and the group has faced opposition from the Taliban and other regional powers. However, the withdrawal of US and partner forces from Afghanistan has provided ISIS-K with strategic breathing room to regroup and potentially increase its attack frequency. The group's ability to recruit fighters and the success of counterterrorism efforts will be crucial factors in determining its future trajectory.

The effectiveness of US and international efforts to reduce civilian casualties in Afghanistan

In 2017, the US military relaxed its rules of engagement for airstrikes in Afghanistan, which resulted in a dramatic increase in civilian casualties. From the last year of the Obama administration to the last full year of recorded data during the Trump administration, the number of civilians killed by US-led airstrikes in Afghanistan increased by 330%.

In 2020, the US and the Taliban signed a peace deal, the Doha Agreement, which set a timeline for the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. However, no official ceasefire was put in place, and the Taliban quickly resumed attacks on Afghan security forces and civilians.

In 2021, as international military forces began withdrawing from the country, the Taliban launched an offensive to take territory from government forces, resulting in a sharp rise in civilian casualties. The United Nations reported that more women and children were killed and wounded in the first half of 2021 than in the same period of any year since records began in 2009.

The US has also armed and funded Afghan militia groups, which have been implicated in serious human rights abuses and the killing of civilians. In addition, the war has had indirect consequences for civilians, including the war-induced breakdown of the economy, public health, security, and infrastructure. According to the Afghan Ministry of Public Health, two-thirds of Afghans suffer from mental health problems.

Despite these issues, there have been some efforts to reduce civilian casualties. In 2009, General Stanley McChrystal, the commander of international forces in Afghanistan, made changes to military tactics that led to a 28% drop in civilian casualties. In 2011, an analysis of strike data and civilian harm led to further improvements that reduced civilian deaths.

Overall, however, the effectiveness of US and international efforts to reduce civilian casualties in Afghanistan has been limited, and civilians continue to bear the brunt of the conflict.

The impact of the Taliban's rule on the human rights situation in Afghanistan

The Taliban's rule has had a devastating impact on human rights in Afghanistan. The group has imposed severe restrictions on the rights of women and girls, suppressed the media, and arbitrarily detained, tortured, and executed critics and opponents. They have also committed war crimes and crimes against humanity with impunity.

Impact on Women and Girls' Rights

The Taliban have imposed strict rules that prevent women and girls from exercising their fundamental rights to expression, movement, and education and affect their access to healthcare, food, and water. They have prohibited women from travelling or working without a male chaperone and barred them from many jobs. The Taliban have also denied girls access to secondary education and, in some cases, banned women from working for non-governmental organisations. These restrictions have limited women's ability to access humanitarian assistance and healthcare and have led to an increase in child and forced marriages, gender-based violence, and femicide.

Suppression of Media and Freedom of Expression

The Taliban have suppressed media freedom and cracked down on freedom of expression, with journalists facing arbitrary detention, harassment, and violence. More than half of registered media outlets have closed, and two-thirds of journalists have lost their jobs.

Arbitrary Detentions, Torture, and Executions

The Taliban have arbitrarily detained, tortured, and executed critics and opponents. They have also committed war crimes, including mass extrajudicial executions of people associated with the former government and members of armed groups resisting them.

Persecution of Ethnic and Religious Minorities

The Taliban have persecuted ethnic and religious minorities, including the Hazara Shia community, who have faced widespread and systematic attacks. The group has also settled disputes over land and livestock in favour of Pashtun communities and forced Hazara communities to pay compensation for missing livestock.

Economic and Humanitarian Crisis

The Taliban's rule has contributed to a devastating economic and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. The country's economy has collapsed, and millions of Afghans are facing severe food insecurity. The Taliban's restrictions on women's employment and their ban on women working for non-governmental organisations have further exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, making it more difficult to deliver aid to those in need.

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