Damon Mcknight
The US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 was motivated by the 9/11 terrorist attacks, with the goal of overthrowing the Taliban regime and eliminating Al-Qaeda. However, the Taliban regrouped and continued to wage an insurgency against the US-backed Afghan government. Despite the US spending billions of dollars and losing thousands of troops in the war, the Taliban swept back into power in 2021 as US troops withdrew. The Taliban's resurgence has raised concerns about a potential safe haven for terrorists and a rollback of human rights, particularly for women. The Islamic world's view of the US occupation is complex and multifaceted, influenced by religious, cultural, and geopolitical factors. While some may see the US presence as a necessary evil to combat extremism, others may perceive it as a violation of Afghanistan's sovereignty and a threat to their religious and cultural identity. The presence of US forces in Afghanistan has been a contentious issue, sparking debates about the justification of the occupation, the effectiveness of nation-building efforts, and the impact on the region's stability.
What You'll Learn
The US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001
The US-led coalition included troops from the UK, Australia, Canada, France, and Germany. The war's early phase mainly involved US airstrikes on Al-Qaeda and Taliban forces, supported by about a thousand US special forces, the Northern Alliance, and ethnic Pashtun anti-Taliban forces. The first wave of conventional ground forces arrived twelve days later.
The Taliban regime unravelled rapidly after its loss at Mazar-e-Sharif on November 9, 2001, to forces led by Abdul Rashid Dostum, an ethnic Uzbek military leader. Over the next week, Taliban strongholds fell one after another following coalition and Northern Alliance offensives. On November 13, the Taliban retreated from Kabul without a fight.
Despite the initial success of the invasion, Osama bin Laden escaped capture and fled to Pakistan. Most members of Al-Qaeda and the Taliban were not captured, and during the Battle of Tora Bora, several fighters escaped into neighbouring Pakistan or retreated to remote regions within Afghanistan.
The invasion led to the formation of a transitional government in Afghanistan, supported by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Hamid Karzai was selected as the interim leader. However, the Taliban regrouped and waged an insurgency against the US-led war effort, leading to protracted fighting that continued for two decades.
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The Taliban's return to power in 2021
The Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan in 2021 after two decades of insurgency against the U.S.-backed government in Kabul has had far-reaching consequences. Within less than ten days, the Taliban swept across every province and entered the presidential palace in Kabul, causing U.S.-backed President Ashraf Ghani to flee the country. This marked a significant shift in the country's political and social landscape, with the Taliban imposing their interpretation of Islamic law and restricting various freedoms, particularly those of women.
The Taliban's rule has been characterised by a crackdown on women's rights and a neglect of basic services. Most women have been banned from working, and girls over the age of 12 have been largely excluded from education. The Taliban have also restricted press freedoms, with journalists and civil society activists facing intimidation, detention, and in some cases, disappearance. The group has re-established its Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, enforcing prohibitions on behaviour deemed un-Islamic.
The Taliban's return to power has also had a detrimental economic impact. Afghanistan's economy has floundered, with malnutrition soaring and hundreds of thousands of jobs lost. The country's security situation has improved, with civilian casualties declining, but violence remains widespread, particularly from attacks by the Islamic State in Khorasan, a terrorist group.
The Taliban's interpretation and enforcement of Islamic law have been a source of contention, with human rights violations documented by the UN. The group's harsh rule has included public floggings and executions, and their actions have drawn condemnation from the international community, with many countries refusing to formally recognise the Taliban government.
The Taliban's return to power has also raised concerns about the group's ties to terrorist organisations, particularly al-Qaeda. There are fears that Afghanistan could once again become a safe haven for terrorists, despite Taliban statements to the contrary. The Taliban's leadership maintains close ties with al-Qaeda, and experts worry that the group could provide safe havens and allow for the launch of international terrorist attacks.
The Taliban's swift offensive and return to power in 2021 can be attributed to the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops from Afghanistan as outlined in a 2020 peace agreement. The U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 had initially ousted the Taliban, but the group regrouped and gradually regained territory. The withdrawal of foreign forces, coupled with the disintegration of Afghan security forces, paved the way for the Taliban's rapid advance and subsequent return to power.
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The US-Taliban peace deal
The deal was the first step towards ending the 18-year war in Afghanistan, which had killed over 157,000 people and cost the US $2 trillion. The agreement was also the first step towards achieving a peace agreement between the Taliban and the Afghan government.
The deal addressed four main issues:
- Ceasefire: A temporary reduction in violence and a lasting ceasefire among US, Taliban, and Afghan forces as part of intra-Afghan negotiations.
- Withdrawal of foreign forces: The US agreed to reduce its troops in Afghanistan from 12,000 to 8,600 within 135 days, with all troops to be withdrawn within 14 months if the Taliban kept its commitments.
- Intra-Afghan negotiations: The Taliban agreed to start talks with the Afghan government in March 2020.
- Counterterrorism assurances: The Taliban guaranteed that Afghanistan would not be used by any of its members or terrorist groups to threaten the security of the US and its allies.
The deal was met with disappointment by Afghan leaders, who pointed to the continued rise in violence by the Taliban, which had taken a toll on civilians. The intra-Afghan talks were also stalled due to a rift between the Afghan government and the Taliban over the release of 5,000 Taliban prisoners.
The deal was criticized by analysts and policymakers, who argued that it did not augur peace and stability in Afghanistan. Some experts believed that the deal was a face-saving device for the Trump administration and an election gimmick to win over Trump's voter base. Others pointed to the role of regional powers, such as Iran and Pakistan, and their interests in Afghanistan, which could impact the peace deal and stability in the region.
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The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
The Taliban, an Islamic fundamentalist group, first came to power in Afghanistan in 1996, imposing a harsh brand of justice and strict Islamic law. They were ousted by US troops in 2001 but regrouped and waged a twenty-year insurgency against the US-backed government in Kabul. In 2021, the Taliban swept back into power as the US withdrew its remaining troops from Afghanistan.
The Taliban's return to power has had severe consequences for Afghanistan's economy, security, and human rights situation. The country's economy has floundered, with malnutrition soaring and hundreds of thousands of jobs lost. The Taliban have also imposed strict restrictions on women, banning most girls from attending secondary school and all women from attending and teaching at universities, as well as prohibiting them from working.
The Taliban's interpretation of Islamic law and their ties to terrorist organisations like al-Qaeda have caused concern among the international community. The US initially invaded Afghanistan because the Taliban refused to hand over Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks. There are fears that under Taliban rule, Afghanistan could once again become a safe haven for terrorists capable of launching attacks against the US and its allies.
The US government has spent billions of dollars and two decades trying to rebuild Afghanistan, but their efforts have been largely unsuccessful. The challenges of rebuilding a country with a complex social, economic, and political landscape, coupled with the constant presence of violent conflict, proved too difficult for US agencies to navigate effectively.
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The US-led coalition's withdrawal in 2021
The US-led coalition withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 marked the end of the longest war in US history. The US-Taliban deal, signed in February 2020, stipulated fighting restrictions for both parties and provided for the withdrawal of all NATO forces from Afghanistan in return for the Taliban's counter-terrorism commitments. The deal was the first critical event that triggered the collapse of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). The second was the Biden administration's final decision in April 2021 to pull out all US troops by September 2021 without leaving a residual force.
Following the deal, the US reduced the number of air attacks on the Taliban, which negatively impacted the ANSF's fight against the Taliban insurgency. The Taliban began a final offensive on May 1, 2021, and, on July 8, Biden moved up the completion date to August 31. The US also launched Operation Allies Refuge to airlift American translators and select Afghan citizens considered at risk of reprisals.
On August 15, 2021, the Taliban seized the capital city of Kabul as the Afghan government dissolved, surprising the US government. The US embassy evacuated and retreated to Hamid Karzai International Airport, where fleeing Afghan forces had handed over control to NATO. As the security situation in the city deteriorated, other countries began to shutter and evacuate their respective embassies to the airport, which became the centre of the withdrawal for all US and NATO personnel.
The unexpected outcome of US disengagement stirred controversy at home for Biden, as Republican and some Democratic leaders criticised his administration for misjudging the strength and resolve of both the Taliban and Afghan government forces. Many called on the president to delay or reverse the withdrawal, but Biden reiterated his commitment to a full withdrawal by August 31.
The withdrawal of US troops was completed on the night of August 30, shortly before the midnight deadline, and America's longest war came to a definitive end.
Frequently asked questions
The primary reason for the US invasion of Afghanistan was to topple the Taliban regime and eliminate al-Qaeda following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
The initial response from the Islamic world varied. Some Muslim-majority countries, such as Pakistan, provided support to the US-led efforts, while others remained neutral or opposed the invasion. Public opinion within Islamic countries was mixed, with some supporting the removal of the Taliban but others viewing the US presence as a foreign occupation.
The US occupation had significant impacts on Afghanistan. While there were some improvements, such as in healthcare and education, the country also faced continued insecurity, economic struggles, and human rights violations. The US spent trillions of dollars on the war and reconstruction efforts, and there were numerous casualties on all sides.
Over time, the view of the US occupation among Muslims likely became more negative. The presence of US troops was seen as a violation of Afghan identity, national pride, and religious values, and it prolonged the conflict by empowering local warlords and fueling insurgency groups like the Taliban.
The US withdrawal from Afghanistan led to swift advances by the Taliban, raising concerns about a potential return to Taliban rule and the country becoming a safe haven for terrorist groups like al-Qaeda. The withdrawal also left a power vacuum, leading to fears of civil war and further instability in the region.
