The Impact Of Conflict On Afghanistan's Development Trajectory

Afghanistan has been in a near-continuous state of conflict since the 1970s. The country has been through several civil wars, the Soviet-Afghan War, and the 20-year-long War in Afghanistan. The conflict has had a devastating impact on the country, causing mass casualties and displacement.

The root cause of the conflict in Afghanistan is complex and multifaceted. One factor is economic failure and a lack of economic development. The country has also been subject to interference from neighbouring countries, such as Pakistan, Iran, and Russia, who have pursued their interests and geopolitical ambitions.

Additionally, the conflict in Afghanistan has been characterised by a struggle between military organisations, with a history of human rights violations, systematic crime, and corruption. The Taliban, in particular, have imposed strict interpretations of Islam and committed atrocities, such as massacres and public beatings.

The international community, led by the US, has also played a significant role in Afghanistan's conflict. The US-led invasion in 2001 toppled the Taliban regime and installed the Afghan Transitional Authority. However, despite the presence of US and NATO forces, the Taliban remained a potent force and eventually regained control of the country in 2021.

The conflict in Afghanistan has had severe consequences for the country's development. It has disrupted economic activities, caused mass displacement, and led to a breakdown of essential services. The education system has been particularly affected, with girls' access to education being a contentious issue and a source of tension between conservative and progressive forces.

Overall, the conflict in Afghanistan has been a significant obstacle to the country's development, hindering economic growth, social progress, and political stability. The complex interplay of domestic and international factors has made it challenging to achieve a lasting peace and create the conditions necessary for sustainable development.

The Taliban's ban on girls' education

The Taliban's justification for the ban stems from their interpretation of Islamic law and cultural practices. They argue that a woman's place is in the home and that girls should not leave the house under any circumstance. However, this perspective contradicts the beliefs of most Muslims, who agree that Islam allows women to receive an education. The Taliban's ban has been widely condemned by the international community, Muslim scholars, and clerics, who assert that it is not rooted in Islamic law but rather reflects cultural biases.

The consequences of the ban are dire, with girls exhibiting signs of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. The lack of access to education has left them feeling hopeless and uncertain about their future. Additionally, the ban has disrupted the progress made by Afghan women in various sectors, such as politics, law, education, and business ownership. Before the Taliban takeover, there were 63 women in the Afghan parliament, and the country's judicial system had 280 women judges and over 500 prosecutors. There were also over 2,000 women-owned small and medium-sized businesses.

The international community's response to the ban has been mixed. While there have been vocal opposition, condemnation, and lobbying efforts, the Taliban has remained resilient to international pressure. Some countries, such as Pakistan, Iran, and Central Asian nations, have their own priorities and agendas that may influence their approach to the issue. However, there is a growing recognition that consistent and firm pressure is needed to allow girls to attend school and open access to female university students and lecturers.

The role of international aid in intensifying ethnic and sectarian divisions

International aid has paradoxically intensified the 'ethnicisation' and sectarianisation of economic and political relations in Afghanistan, contradicting the criteria of good governance advocated by donors. The ethnicisation and sectarianisation of Afghan society have been fuelled by the flow of international aid, the economic opportunities it has generated, and the institutional patterns it has established.

The distribution of international aid has been largely determined by ethnic and sectarian identities. For instance, the influx of NGOs with Western and Japanese financial support in the prefecture of Bamyan has been configured according to interethnic and inter-religious relations. Similarly, the allocation of public resources has been done on an ethno-sectarian basis, with Hazaras, a minority group, being the major beneficiaries of this policy.

The ethnic and religious identity of entrepreneurs and recipients of development aid is self-evident, and foreign actors adapt to it. For example, the Hazaras benefit from institutions or projects connected with human rights, and the Tajiks from scientific and cultural cooperation.

The influx of money from international aid has caused a sharp increase in prices in certain sectors, distorting the balance within Afghan families and communities. For instance, a father may now have to trade his daughter away in marriage for a very high rate.

The monetisation of the marriage market has been judicialised, with the intervention of the Independent Commission for Human Rights in Afghanistan, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, and women's rights NGOs. This has led to an acceleration of the monetisation of this market, with the courts continuing to promulgate financial decisions relative to the amount of the dowry or to blood.

The distortions introduced within Afghan society by the foreign presence and the influx of money have come at a high human cost. They have led to a split or even a generational divide, destabilising social status and conjugal roles. Women are beginning to express their demands with regard to inheritance rights, which is an explosive development from the point of view of customary law and Islamic law.

International aid and its collateral effects are intensifying intra-generational and intra-family rivalries, fanning 'competition among peers, or even between cousins' and rivalry between the descendants of brothers.

The three pillars on which Afghan society still rests—zan (woman), zar (money) and zamin (land)—are, more than ever, factors of competition and confrontation.

To make education a source of unity rather than a source of conflict, national and international policymakers should focus on three distinct areas:

• Move away from a single delivery system perspective of schooling and embrace a larger ecosystem perspective that combines multiple pathways.
• Provide a platform for dialogue within the country—and between the local and global actors—to discuss and identify the larger socio-political sources of division.
• Embark on an overarching and comprehensive system redesign to address local and global aspirations.

The relationship between education and conflict

Afghanistan has been in a near-continuous state of conflict since the 1970s. The relationship between education and conflict in Afghanistan is complex and multifaceted. While it is clear that Afghans value education, schooling has historically been a source of conflict.

The Impact of Conflict on Education

During the Taliban's rule from 1996 to 2001, girls were barred from attending secondary school. When the Taliban returned to power in 2021, they once again barred girls from secondary education. This decision has set back hard-gained advances in educational access over the last two decades. The safety of learners and their schools will depend on how the Taliban govern the country and the new conflict dynamics.

Afghanistan's education system has also suffered directly from attacks during two decades of war. Teachers and students have been injured or killed, and schools have been damaged as a result of airstrikes, shelling, and the use of improvised explosive devices.

The Impact of Education on Conflict

Education can fuel conflict by hardening socioeconomic inequalities and promoting values and ideas that are perceived to be repressive and a threat to local ethnic, religious, and cultural groups. Imported models of education are often seen as being imposed on these groups. Several factors play into how education can fuel conflict, including unequal access to education, biased history being promoted for political purposes, textbook manipulation, and the encouragement of hatred against certain groups.

The Way Forward

To make education a source of unity rather than conflict, national and international policymakers must address the underlying sources of conflict. This includes moving away from a single delivery system perspective of schooling and embracing a larger ecosystem perspective, providing a platform for dialogue within the country and between local and global actors, and embarking on an overarching and comprehensive system redesign to address local and global aspirations.

The impact of conflict on economic development

Afghanistan has been in a near-continuous state of conflict since the 1970s, which has had a devastating impact on the country's economic development. The conflict has led to a breakdown of infrastructure, a decline in foreign investment and trade, and a humanitarian crisis that has left millions of Afghans displaced and food insecure.

The decades of conflict have resulted in the destruction of Afghanistan's infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and other vital transportation networks. This has made it difficult for businesses to operate and has hindered the country's ability to attract foreign investment. The lack of infrastructure has also made it challenging to distribute humanitarian aid, further exacerbating the economic and humanitarian crisis in the country.

The conflict has also led to a decline in foreign investment and trade, as businesses and investors are wary of the unstable political and security situation in the country. Afghanistan's economy is heavily dependent on foreign aid and investment, and the ongoing conflict has made it difficult for the country to attract the investment needed to rebuild and develop its economy. The Taliban's policies, including their restrictive laws on women and girls' education, have further isolated the country internationally and hindered its economic development.

The conflict has also had a devastating humanitarian impact, with millions of Afghans displaced and food insecure. The United Nations estimates that there are currently 3.7 million internally displaced persons in Afghanistan, which is over 10% of the country's population. The conflict has also disrupted agricultural production and contributed to food shortages, leaving millions of Afghans at risk of famine. The economic crisis has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disrupted supply chains and reduced economic activity.

The ongoing conflict has also led to a brain drain, with many skilled Afghans leaving the country in search of better economic opportunities and safer living conditions. This has resulted in a loss of human capital and expertise that could have contributed to the country's economic development.

Overall, the conflict in Afghanistan has had a devastating impact on the country's economic development, hindering progress in areas such as infrastructure development, foreign investment and trade, and humanitarian relief. It has also contributed to a brain drain, further exacerbating the economic challenges faced by the country.

The role of foreign intervention in shaping the conflict

The Soviet-Afghan War, which lasted from 1979 to 1989, was a significant conflict that shaped the trajectory of Afghanistan. The Soviet Union's military intervention in Afghanistan was motivated by its desire to support the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) and prevent the country from falling into the hands of anti-Soviet forces. This intervention had far-reaching consequences, as it led to the rise of the Mujahideen, an anti-Soviet Afghan resistance movement that received extensive support from Pakistan, the United States, and Saudi Arabia. The conflict resulted in significant casualties and displacement, with millions of Afghans fleeing to neighbouring countries.

Following the Soviet withdrawal in 1989, the various Mujahideen factions continued their struggle for power, leading to a multi-sided civil war. During this period, the Taliban emerged as a significant force, capturing Kabul and approximately 90% of the country by 1996. The Taliban's extreme interpretation of Islamic law and oppressive policies, particularly towards women, drew widespread condemnation.

The September 11 attacks in 2001, orchestrated by al-Qaeda, marked a pivotal moment in Afghanistan's history. The Taliban's refusal to extradite al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden prompted the American-led invasion of Afghanistan, which toppled the Taliban regime and established the Afghan Transitional Authority in 2002. This invasion triggered a prolonged War in Afghanistan, with NATO and allied countries fighting alongside the nascent Islamic Republic of Afghanistan against the Taliban insurgency.

The War in Afghanistan was characterised by complex dynamics and shifting alliances. While the United States and its allies sought to combat the Taliban and establish a stable Afghan government, the Taliban received support from various sources, including Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence. The conflict resulted in significant casualties and displacement, once again plunging Afghanistan into a state of turmoil.

The Doha Agreement, signed between the United States and the Taliban in 2020, marked a potential turning point. The agreement set a timeline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan in exchange for the Taliban's pledge to prevent terrorist groups from operating within the country. However, the agreement did not lead to a lasting peace, as violence and instability persisted.

The withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops in 2021 created a power vacuum, allowing the Taliban to regain control of the country rapidly. This development raised concerns about the future of human rights, particularly women's rights, and the potential resurgence of terrorist groups. The international community was left grappling with the consequences of decades of foreign intervention and the ongoing struggle for stability in Afghanistan.

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