America's Evolving Role In Afghanistan: From Combat To Support

The United States invaded Afghanistan in 2001, in response to the September 11 attacks, to topple the Taliban-ruled Islamic Emirate and to capture Osama bin Laden. The US-led coalition forces drove the Taliban from power and established the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The Taliban regrouped and began a widespread insurgency against the new Afghan government and coalition forces.

The US-led coalition forces remained in Afghanistan, forming a security mission (ISAF) to create a new democratic authority in the country that would prevent the Taliban from returning to power. The US continued to play a leading role in the ISAF, which was sanctioned by the United Nations.

In 2014, NATO formally ended ISAF combat operations in Afghanistan and officially transferred full security responsibility to the Afghan government. The US continued to provide military support to the Afghan government and remained in Afghanistan until 2021.

In February 2020, the US and the Taliban signed an agreement on the withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan by May 2021. In August 2021, the Taliban launched a broad offensive and re-established their control over Afghanistan. The last US military aircraft departed from Afghanistan on 30 August 2021, ending the protracted US-led military presence in the country.

The US and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001, in response to the 9/11 attacks, to prevent the country from becoming a safe haven for international terrorists

The US and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001 in response to the 9/11 attacks, to prevent the country from becoming a safe haven for international terrorists. Here are some paragraphs to expand on this:

The US and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001

In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, the Bush administration declared a "war on terror" and subsequently led a multinational invasion of Afghanistan. The stated goal was to dismantle al-Qaeda, which had executed the attacks under the leadership of Osama bin Laden, and to deny Islamist militants a safe base of operations in Afghanistan by toppling the Taliban government.

To prevent Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for international terrorists

The US and its allies wanted to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for international terrorists. The US had demanded that the Taliban government extradite Osama bin Laden to the United States and also expel al-Qaeda militants from Afghanistan. When the Taliban refused, the US launched Operation Enduring Freedom on 7 October 2001, alongside the United Kingdom.

The US and its allies invaded Afghanistan

The US and its allies invaded Afghanistan. The invasion consisted of American, British, Canadian, and Australian forces, with other countries providing logistical support.

In response to the 9/11 attacks

The US declared a "war on terror" in response to the 9/11 attacks. The hijacking and crashing of four US jetliners on September 11, 2001, brought instant attention to Afghanistan. The plot had been hatched by al-Qaeda, and some of the 19 hijackers had trained in Afghanistan.

The US and its allies toppled the Taliban-ruled Islamic Emirate and established the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

The US and its allies invaded Afghanistan following the September 11 attacks, overthrowing the Taliban's first government—the Taliban-ruled Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The Taliban's harsh rule saw a crackdown on women's rights and a neglect of basic services, with the regime controlling about 90% of the country before its overthrow in 2001. The US-led international coalition helped maintain internal security, gradually transferring the burden of defence to the Afghan Armed Forces after 2013–2014.

The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan was a presidential republic that ruled Afghanistan from 2004 to 2021. The state was established to replace the Afghan interim (2001–2002) and transitional (2002–2004) administrations. Under the leadership of Hamid Karzai, a transitional government was formed following the US invasion. After the 2003 loya jirga, a unitary presidential Islamic republic was proclaimed under a new constitution, and Karzai was elected for a full term as president.

In 2012, the United States and Afghanistan signed their Strategic Partnership Agreement, with Afghanistan becoming a major non-NATO ally. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) was established in 2002 to help the country recover from decades of war. ISAF forces also began to train the Afghan National Security Forces, and nearly five million Afghans were repatriated following 2002.

In 2012, the leaders of NATO-member countries endorsed an exit strategy during the NATO Summit. ISAF Forces would transfer command of all combat missions to Afghan forces by mid-2013, while shifting from combat to advising, training, and assisting Afghan security forces. The UK and the US officially ended their combat operations in Afghanistan on 26 October 2014. However, continued operations by US forces within Afghanistan were under Operation Freedom's Sentinel, and the new NATO mission was Operation Resolute Support.

The US-led coalition remained in Afghanistan to create a new democratic authority in the country that would prevent the Taliban from returning to power

The US reconstruction efforts focused on improving education, healthcare, and community development. They also supported and funded the creation of an Afghan army in early 2002, although this process was slow due to competing interests and the belief that the Taliban no longer posed a significant threat. The US sought to instill democracy and women's rights, and the international community contributed to the development of institutions to run the country.

In 2011, Canada withdrew its combat troops and transitioned to a training role, with other NATO countries following suit and announcing troop reductions. The leaders of NATO-member countries endorsed an exit strategy during the NATO Summit in 2012, planning to transfer command of all combat missions to Afghan forces by mid-2013 and shift their focus to advising, training, and assisting Afghan security forces.

The US-led coalition's presence in Afghanistan faced several challenges, including a rise in anti-American and anti-Western sentiment among Afghans due to the slow pace of reconstruction, allegations of prisoner abuse, widespread corruption in the Afghan government, and civilian casualties caused by US and NATO bombings. Despite these issues, the coalition remained committed to its goal of establishing a stable and democratic Afghanistan.

The Taliban regrouped and began a widespread insurgency against the new Afghan government and coalition forces

The Taliban's resurgence was also aided by Pakistan, which continued to arm and support the group, providing them with a safe haven. The Taliban's resurgence was also due to the US's failure to adequately train and equip the Afghan National Security Forces, particularly the Afghan National Police. The US's focus on counterterrorism rather than countercorruption also allowed corruption to flourish, which the Taliban used as a recruiting tool.

The US and its allies responded to the Taliban's resurgence with a troop surge and a shift to a counterinsurgency strategy. However, the Taliban continued to make gains, and by 2007, large parts of Afghanistan had been retaken by the Taliban. The US and its allies then sent a major influx of troops for counter-insurgency operations, with a "clear and hold" strategy for villages and towns. This influx peaked in 2011, when roughly 140,000 foreign troops were operating under ISAF command across Afghanistan.

The US and its allies responded to the Taliban insurgency with counter-insurgency operations

The US and its allies initially focused on defeating the Taliban militarily and rebuilding core institutions of the Afghan state. However, this approach was hampered by a lack of resources and the diversion of attention to the war in Iraq. The US and its allies also struggled to build a national army and police force in Afghanistan, and the Afghan security forces that were established were ill-prepared to hold off the Taliban.

In 2008, the US and its allies shifted to a classic counter-insurgency strategy, which involved protecting the population from Taliban attacks and supporting efforts to reintegrate insurgents into Afghan society. This strategy was coupled with a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan. However, this approach largely failed to achieve its aims, and the Taliban continued to make gains.

The US and its allies also attempted to negotiate with the Taliban, but these efforts were complicated by the fact that the Afghan government was not a party to the negotiations. In February 2020, the US and the Taliban signed an agreement on the withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan, but this was followed by a broad Taliban offensive that culminated in the fall of Kabul in August 2021.

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