The Elongated Enigmas Of Afghanistan's Geographic Reach

Afghanistan is a country in Central Asia with a long and complex history. The country has been the site of numerous conflicts and political upheavals over the centuries, including a 20-year war involving US-led international coalition forces that began in 2001 and ended in 2021. This war was sparked by the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the US, which were carried out by Al-Qaeda, a terrorist organisation based in Afghanistan at the time. The US demanded that the Taliban regime, which controlled Afghanistan, hand over Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and close terrorist training camps, but the Taliban refused. This led to a US-led invasion of Afghanistan, with British forces also taking part.

The US War in Afghanistan was its longest war in history

The US War in Afghanistan was America's longest war, lasting 20 years. It began in 2001 as a direct response to the September 11 attacks. An international military coalition led by the US invaded Afghanistan, declaring Operation Enduring Freedom as part of the war on terror. The Taliban-ruled Islamic Emirate was toppled, and the Islamic Republic was established three years later.

The Taliban and its allies were expelled from major population centres by US-led forces, but Osama Bin Laden relocated to neighbouring Pakistan. The conflict officially ended with the 2021 Taliban offensive, which overthrew the Islamic Republic and re-established the Islamic Emirate.

The war was the longest in US military history, surpassing the Vietnam War by approximately six months. It resulted in the deaths of 46,319 civilians and an estimated 176,000-212,000+ people in total. The US government spent $2.3 trillion, and 2,324 US military personnel lost their lives.

The US had several goals in Afghanistan, including counterterrorism, nation-building, and installing a democratic government. However, the Taliban regrouped and launched an insurgency, and the US struggled to build an effective Afghan army and police force. The US also faced challenges such as corruption in the Afghan government and sanctuary for the Taliban in Pakistan.

The US strategy shifted over time, from counterterrorism and counterinsurgency to a focus on protecting the population and reintegrating insurgents. In 2009, President Obama temporarily increased US troop presence, but the war remained protracted. Eventually, the US began withdrawing troops, and by 2014, security responsibilities were handed over to Afghan forces. The US and NATO combat mission formally ended in December 2014, but the war continued until the Taliban victory in 2021.

The US invaded Afghanistan to destroy Al-Qaeda

Afghanistan is a landlocked country in South Asia with forbidding terrain and a harsh climate. The country is approximately 1,500 miles long.

In 2001, the United States invaded Afghanistan to destroy the terrorist organisation Al-Qaeda, which had executed the 9/11 attacks under the leadership of Osama bin Laden. The Taliban government had refused to hand over Osama bin Laden to the United States, and also ignored demands to shut down terrorist bases or extradite other suspected terrorists.

The US invasion of Afghanistan was part of a multinational coalition, with the UK as a key ally. The invasion was the first phase of what would become a 20-year-long war in Afghanistan. The US military presence in Afghanistan bolstered the Northern Alliance, which had been locked in a losing fight with the Taliban during the Afghan Civil War.

The invasion began on October 7, 2001, with air strikes on 31 targets across the country. The coalition captured Kabul on November 13 and toppled the Taliban by December 17. However, most members of Al-Qaeda and the Taliban were not captured, and during the Battle of Tora Bora, several fighters, including Osama bin Laden, escaped into neighbouring Pakistan.

The invasion was justified as an act of self-defence, legal according to Article 51 of the UN Charter. However, some scholars argue that the invasion was illegal because Al-Qaeda, not Afghanistan, was responsible for the 9/11 attacks, and there was no evidence of further imminent terrorist attacks.

The Taliban surrendered Kandahar and their leader fled

Afghanistan is a landlocked country in South Asia with a total area of 652,230 square kilometres. To put that into perspective, it is slightly larger than the US state of Texas, or about the size of the US states of California and Tennessee combined.

Now, here are some paragraphs about the Taliban's surrender of Kandahar and the flight of their leader:

The Fall of Kandahar in 2001 marked a significant turning point in the War in Afghanistan. After the Northern Alliance and US forces captured Mazar-i-Sharif, Kabul, and Herat, Kandahar was the last major city under Taliban control. The city held symbolic value as the birthplace of the Taliban movement and the location of its power base. Despite assumptions that capturing Kandahar would be challenging, the city eventually fell to a coalition of local militia under Pashtun military commanders and their American advisers.

As anti-Taliban forces advanced towards Kandahar, negotiations for the city's surrender began. Hamid Karzai, the head of Afghanistan's interim administration, demanded an unconditional surrender, refusing to negotiate terms or conditions. While these negotiations were ongoing, key Taliban leaders, including Mullah Mohammed Omar, the founder of the Taliban, fled the city to an unknown location.

On December 5, 2001, a stray American bomb landed on an American position, killing three US Special Forces soldiers and wounding Karzai. This incident further accelerated the negotiations for surrender. The Taliban decided to surrender, and Karzai continued the negotiations while also coordinating medical care and evacuations for the wounded.

By December 7, 2001, anti-Taliban forces entered Kandahar, and the city was fully secured by coalition forces by December 9. The surrender of Kandahar signalled the end of organised Taliban control in Afghanistan, and the Taliban leader, Mullah Omar, was reported to have fled to an unknown location.

Two decades later, in July 2021, the Taliban insurgents launched a major offensive and retook Kandahar, along with other provincial capitals. This offensive ultimately led to the collapse of the Afghan government and the Fall of Kabul.

The US completed one of the biggest airlifts in history, evacuating over 120,000 people

Afghanistan is a landlocked country in South Asia with a total length of 2,092 km (1,300 miles) from east to west and 848 km (527 miles) from north to south.

Now, onto the US evacuation efforts in Afghanistan.

The US Completes One of the Biggest Airlifts in History

The US completed one of the largest airlifts in history, evacuating over 120,000 people from Afghanistan. This evacuation was an "extraordinary success", according to President Joe Biden, who praised the skill, bravery, and courage of the US military, diplomats, and intelligence professionals. The operation was challenging, taking place under difficult circumstances with the constant threat of ISIS-K terrorists, a sworn enemy of the Taliban, lurking in the crowds.

A Race Against Time

The evacuation efforts became more urgent as the collapse of the Afghan government occurred sooner than intelligence projections. The Taliban took control of Kabul and declared victory on 15 August 2021, with the NATO-backed Islamic Republic of Afghanistan collapsing. The US and its allies had to act fast, and the evacuation operations began in earnest.

A Complex and Dangerous Mission

The evacuation was a complex and dangerous mission. US troops had to secure Hamid Karzai International Airport, providing runway security and assisting civilian departures. The situation was chaotic, with thousands of Afghan civilians rushing to the airport in a desperate attempt to flee the country. US soldiers used crowd control measures, including smoke grenades and warning shots, to manage the crowds. The urgency of the situation was underscored by tragic incidents, such as people falling from aircraft during takeoff and stampedes that resulted in casualties.

International Cooperation

Several countries participated in the evacuation efforts, including Canada, India, South Korea, the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, and others. These countries launched operations to evacuate their citizens, embassy staff, and vulnerable Afghans. The US worked closely with its allies and partners, providing troops to assist in the evacuation efforts and coordinating with NATO to ensure the safe departure of civilians.

A Testament to American Resilience

The successful evacuation of over 120,000 people is a testament to American resilience and determination. President Biden emphasized that only the United States had the capacity, will, and ability to carry out such a massive airlift. The operation required significant logistical prowess and the dedication of US personnel, who risked their lives to serve others. This evacuation will go down in history as a remarkable achievement, showcasing American strength and resolve.

The US and NATO officially ended their combat mission in Afghanistan in 2014

The US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 was a response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. For nearly two decades, NATO Allies and partner countries had military forces deployed in Afghanistan under a United Nations (UN) Security Council mandate.

In 2014, the US and NATO transitioned from a combat mission to a training and support role. The coalition forces trained, advised, and assisted the Afghan security forces and institutions to fight terrorism and secure their country. This non-combat mission was called the Resolute Support Mission (RSM).

However, the RSM was terminated in September 2021 after the Taliban's offensive that year, which overthrew the Afghan government and re-established the Islamic Emirate. This marked the end of America's longest war and the withdrawal of the US-led military presence in the country.

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