The Elusive Endgame: America's Enduring Presence In Afghanistan

The War in Afghanistan was an armed conflict from 2001 to 2021, making it the longest war in US military history. The conflict was sparked by the September 11 attacks, which were plotted by al-Qaeda, a terrorist group that operated in Afghanistan under the protection of the Taliban.

The US-led invasion of Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, with the stated goal of dismantling al-Qaeda and removing the Taliban from power. The invasion was swift and successful, with the Taliban government collapsing within two months. However, most members of al-Qaeda and the Taliban escaped into neighbouring Pakistan or retreated to remote regions.

The US and its allies remained in Afghanistan, forming a security mission to create a new democratic authority and prevent the Taliban's return. This marked the beginning of a protracted counterinsurgency campaign, as the Taliban regrouped and launched a widespread insurgency against the new Afghan government and coalition forces. Despite the presence of international forces, the Taliban gradually regained control of large parts of Afghanistan.

The conflict in Afghanistan resulted in significant casualties and displacement. It is estimated that between 176,000 and 212,000 people were killed, including over 46,000 civilians. Millions of Afghans became refugees during the war, and many more were internally displaced.

The US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 was a direct response to the September 11 attacks

On September 11, 2001, al-Qaeda carried out four coordinated attacks on the United States, employing four hijacked jet airliners. The attacks killed almost 3,000 people and injured more than 6,000 others. The hijackers were terrorists from Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations. Al-Qaeda, a terrorist network led by Osama bin Laden, was quickly identified as being responsible for the 9/11 attacks.

In the aftermath of the attacks, the administration of US President George W Bush coalesced around a strategy of first ousting the Taliban from Afghanistan and dismantling al-Qaeda. Bush demanded that the Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar "deliver to [the] United States authorities all the leaders of al-Qaeda who hide in your land", and when Omar refused, US officials began implementing a plan for war.

The campaign in Afghanistan started covertly on September 26, with a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) team known as Jawbreaker arriving in the country and, working with anti-Taliban allies, initiating a strategy for overthrowing the regime. US officials hoped that by partnering with the Afghans they could avoid deploying a large force to Afghanistan. Pentagon officials were especially concerned that the United States not be drawn into a protracted occupation of Afghanistan, as had occurred with the Soviets more than two decades prior.

The US-led invasion of Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, with air strikes on 31 targets across the country. The US-led forces overthrew the Taliban regime and formed a new government. The invasion marked the first phase of what would become the 20-year-long War in Afghanistan.

The US declared war on terror and aimed to dismantle al-Qaeda and topple the Taliban government

The 9/11 attacks on the United States in 2001 prompted President George W. Bush to declare a "War on Terror", targeting al-Qaeda and the Taliban government in Afghanistan. The Taliban had provided sanctuary to al-Qaeda, and its leader, Osama bin Laden, was responsible for the attacks.

In the wake of the attacks, Bush demanded that the Taliban hand over bin Laden and other al-Qaeda leaders to the United States. The Taliban refused, and the US launched Operation Enduring Freedom on October 7, 2001, with the support of the United Kingdom. The operation involved airstrikes on Taliban and al-Qaeda targets, and the deployment of special forces.

The US-led coalition forces worked with the Northern Alliance, an anti-Taliban coalition, and within two months, the Taliban regime had fallen. However, bin Laden and other al-Qaeda leaders escaped to Pakistan.

The US-led coalition remained in Afghanistan, with the goal of creating a democratic government and preventing the Taliban from returning to power. The Taliban regrouped and launched an insurgency against the new Afghan government and coalition forces. The US and its allies responded with counter-insurgency operations and increased troop deployments.

The war in Afghanistan lasted for two decades and resulted in heavy casualties and significant economic costs. The US spent trillions of dollars on the war, and thousands of American and allied troops lost their lives. The war also caused widespread destruction and displacement in Afghanistan, with millions of Afghans becoming refugees.

The US eventually negotiated a peace deal with the Taliban in 2020, agreeing to withdraw all troops by 2021. The Taliban launched a major offensive in 2021, and the Afghan government collapsed as US and NATO forces withdrew. The Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, marking the end of America's longest war.

The Taliban and its allies were expelled from major population centres by US-led forces

The War in Afghanistan was an armed conflict that lasted from 2001 to 2021. It was the longest war in US military history, surpassing the Vietnam War by approximately six months. The conflict was a direct response to the September 11 attacks, with the US declaring a war on terror.

Before the US-led invasion, the Taliban had seized approximately 85% of Afghanistan's territory, including the capital, Kabul. The Islamic fundamentalist group had imposed strict rules on women in areas under their control, forbidding them from working or attending school, and enforcing harsh rules on veiling.

The US-led invasion of Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, with the goal of toppling the Taliban regime and capturing al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. The invasion consisted of American, British, Canadian, and Australian forces, with other countries providing logistical support. The Taliban and its allies were expelled from major population centres, including Kabul, by the US-led forces supporting the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance.

The defeat of the Taliban at Tarinkot was an important victory for Karzai, who used it to recruit more men to his guerrilla band. However, despite the expulsion of the Taliban from major cities, they were not entirely eradicated, and Osama bin Laden relocated to neighbouring Pakistan. The US-led coalition remained in Afghanistan, forming a security mission (ISAF) sanctioned by the United Nations, with the goal of creating a new democratic authority and preventing the Taliban from regaining power. This effort ultimately failed, as the Taliban retook the country in 2021, leading to the chaotic evacuation of US forces and their allies.

The conflict officially ended in 2021 with the Taliban overthrowing the Islamic Republic and re-establishing the Islamic Emirate

The Taliban insurgency intensified in 2021, coinciding with the withdrawal of US and allied troops from Afghanistan. The Taliban began its last major offensive on 1 May, culminating in the fall of Kabul, a Taliban victory, and the end of the war. In the first three months of the offensive, the Taliban made significant territorial gains in the countryside, increasing the number of districts it controlled from 73 to 223.

On 6 August, the Taliban captured the first provincial capital of Zaranj. Over the next ten days, they swept across the country, capturing capital after capital. On 14 August, Mazar-i-Sharif was captured as commanders Rashid Dostum and Atta Nur fled across the border to Uzbekistan, cutting Kabul's vital northern supply route.

On 15 August, Jalalabad fell, cutting the only remaining international route through the Khyber Pass. By noon, Taliban forces advanced from the Paghman district, reaching the gates of Kabul; Ghani discussed the city's protection with security ministers, while sources claimed a unity peace agreement with the Taliban was imminent. However, Ghani was unable to reach top officials in the interior and defense ministries, and several high-profile politicians had already hurried to the airport. By 2 p.m., the Taliban had entered the city facing no resistance; the president soon fled by helicopter from the Presidential Palace, and within hours Taliban fighters were pictured sitting at Ghani's desk in the palace. With the virtual collapse of the republic, the war was declared over by the Taliban on the same day.

As the Taliban seized control, the need to evacuate populations vulnerable to the Taliban, including the interpreters and assistants who had worked with the coalition forces, ethnic minorities, and women, became urgent. For more than two weeks, international diplomatic, military and civilian staff, as well as Afghan civilians, were airlifted out the country from Hamid Karzai International Airport. On 16 August, Major General Hank Taylor confirmed that US air strikes had ended at least 24 hours earlier and that the focus of the US military at that point was maintaining security at the airport as evacuations continued. The final flight, a US Air Force C-17, departed at 3:29 p.m. ET, 11:59 p.m. in Kabul time, on 30 August, marking the end of the American campaign in Afghanistan. This marked the end of America's longest war.

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan ended America's longest war

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 marked the end of America's longest war, which lasted nearly 20 years. The US-led invasion of Afghanistan began in October 2001, in response to the September 11 attacks on the US by al-Qaeda, which was harboured by the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

The stated goal of the invasion was to dismantle al-Qaeda and topple the Taliban government, denying Islamist militants a base of operations in Afghanistan. The US was joined by the UK and other allies in this effort, with the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan as their local allies. The invasion was swift, with the Taliban regime removed from power within two months.

However, most members of al-Qaeda and the Taliban leadership, including Osama bin Laden, escaped into neighbouring Pakistan during the Battle of Tora Bora in December 2001. This marked the beginning of a protracted counterinsurgency campaign against the Taliban, which would last nearly two decades.

The US strategy shifted over the years, from defeating the Taliban militarily to attempting to negotiate peace deals. The Taliban insurgency was resilient, and the US faced challenges in building an effective Afghan National Security Force. The US also struggled with issues such as corruption and a lack of commitment from the Afghan government.

The US began its withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, with President Joe Biden announcing a complete withdrawal by September 11, 2021, ending America's longest war. The withdrawal was chaotic, with thousands of Afghans who had assisted the US left behind. The Taliban swiftly regained control of Afghanistan, leading to a refugee crisis and a humanitarian crisis in the country.

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan has been the subject of much scrutiny and debate, with questions raised about the decision-making, planning, and execution of the withdrawal. The impact of the withdrawal is still being felt, with ongoing efforts to evacuate remaining US citizens and vulnerable Afghans.

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