The Forgotten Tragedy: Afghanistan's Dark Chapter Of Ethnic Cleansing

The War in Afghanistan, which lasted from October 2001 to August 2021, has resulted in a devastating loss of life. While there is no single official figure for the number of civilian deaths, various sources provide estimates ranging from 46,319 to over 432,000. The Costs of War Project estimates that 176,000 people were killed in Afghanistan during the conflict, including civilians, military and police personnel, and opposition fighters. The war has also had indirect consequences, with estimates suggesting that up to 360,000 additional people may have died due to disease, loss of access to food, water, infrastructure, and other war-related issues. The true death toll may be even higher, as some deaths go unaccounted for. The Afghanistan war has not only taken countless lives but also left deep scars on the country, with high rates of mental health issues, malnutrition, and environmental degradation affecting the lives of those who survived.

US airstrikes in 2017 led to a 330% increase in civilian casualties

The war in Afghanistan has resulted in a devastating loss of life, with hundreds of thousands of people killed and millions more displaced. The conflict has inflicted profound wounds on the country, exacerbating issues such as poverty, malnutrition, poor sanitation, lack of access to healthcare, and environmental degradation.

In 2017, the United States military made a fateful decision to relax its rules of engagement for airstrikes in Afghanistan. This change had catastrophic consequences for Afghan civilians, as it led to a staggering 330% increase in civilian casualties caused by US-led airstrikes compared to the final year of the Obama administration. This represented a dramatic escalation in the number of innocent lives lost due to aerial bombings.

The consequences of this policy shift were severe and far-reaching. The number of civilians killed by international airstrikes surged by approximately 330% from 2016, during the Obama administration, to 2019, under President Trump. Airstrikes in 2019 alone killed 700 civilians in Afghanistan, marking the deadliest year for civilian casualties since the early phase of the war in 2002. The annual average of civilians killed rose sharply by nearly 95% from 2017 to 2019, with an average of 1,134 civilian deaths per year during this period.

The US and its allies significantly intensified their aerial bombardment, releasing more weapons from the air in 2018 and 2019 than at the peak of US military presence in Afghanistan in 2011. This increase in airstrikes was part of a broader offensive strategy, which included the deployment of the Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), also known as the "Mother of All Bombs," against ISIS forces in April 2017. This marked the first time such a powerful weapon was used in any war zone.

The impact of these airstrikes extended beyond the direct loss of life. They also contributed to the destruction of infrastructure, displacement of populations, and the creation of hazardous conditions due to unexploded ordnance. Even in the absence of active fighting, unexploded bombs and landmines continue to pose a deadly threat to civilians, particularly children, as they go about their daily lives.

The war in Afghanistan has had a devastating and lasting impact on the country and its people. The 2017 decision to relax rules of engagement for airstrikes had a profound effect on civilian casualties, exacerbating the human toll of the conflict and causing widespread suffering that will persist for years to come.

92% of Afghans face food insecurity, 3 million children risk malnutrition

The war in Afghanistan, which lasted from October 2001 to August 2021, has had devastating consequences, with high numbers of civilian casualties and a dire humanitarian crisis. The conflict has resulted in widespread destruction, displacement, and a breakdown of the economy, public health systems, and infrastructure.

One of the most pressing issues currently facing Afghanistan is food insecurity, which has reached unprecedented levels. According to the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, more than half of Afghanistan's population, approximately 22.8 million people, faced acute food insecurity as of November 2021. This number included an estimated 3.2 million children under the age of five who were at risk of acute malnutrition. The situation is expected to worsen, with almost half of children under five and a quarter of pregnant and breastfeeding women projected to need life-saving nutrition support in the coming year.

The factors contributing to the food crisis in Afghanistan are multifaceted. The country has been grappling with the impacts of drought, conflict, COVID-19, and an economic crisis, which have severely disrupted livelihoods and access to food. Additionally, job losses, a lack of cash, and soaring food prices have further exacerbated the situation. The economic collapse has been so severe that over 80% of the population is now facing debt.

The consequences of food insecurity are far-reaching and devastating. According to the United Nations Resident Coordinator, 95% of Afghans are not getting enough to eat, with that number rising to nearly 100% in female-headed households. This has led to a significant increase in malnutrition rates, particularly among children. Hospital wards are filled with malnourished children, some of whom are so weak that they are unable to move. The situation is further compounded by a struggling healthcare system, with limited capacity to deliver vital nutrition programs.

The food crisis in Afghanistan has been described as a "humanitarian catastrophe" that requires immediate and sustained action. Humanitarian partners have been providing life-saving food assistance, but more funding is needed to scale up response efforts and prevent a further deterioration of the situation. The United Nations and its partners are working to increase their reach, particularly in previously underserved and remote areas. However, without sufficient resources and support, Afghanistan faces the very real risk of famine.

243,000 killed in the Afghanistan/Pakistan warzone since 2001, 70,000+ civilians

The war in Afghanistan, which lasted from October 2001 to August 2021, has resulted in a devastating loss of life. According to the Costs of War Project, about 243,000 people have been killed in the Afghanistan/Pakistan warzone since 2001, with more than 70,000 civilians among the dead. This figure includes not only Afghan civilians but also those from Pakistan, where a separate but related conflict has resulted in a high number of casualties. The true death toll is likely higher due to unaccounted deaths from disease, lack of access to food and water, and other indirect consequences of war.

The war in Afghanistan was initiated by the United States in response to the September 11 attacks, with the goal of overthrowing the Taliban-ruled Islamic Emirate. The conflict lasted for two decades and became the longest war in US military history. During this period, the US-led coalition forces fought against the Taliban, its allies, and various insurgent groups. The war was marked by intense combat, with US forces engaging in ground operations, airstrikes, and special forces missions.

The human cost of the war extends beyond those directly killed in combat. The conflict has caused immense suffering, displacement, and destruction in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. Millions have been displaced, and the breakdown of the economy, public health infrastructure, and security has had devastating consequences for the surviving population. The war has also exacerbated existing issues such as poverty, malnutrition, and lack of access to healthcare and clean water.

The impact of the war on civilians has been profound. In addition to the high number of civilian deaths, countless more have been injured, traumatized, and left vulnerable to disease and malnutrition. The use of airstrikes and explosive ordnance by US and NATO forces has resulted in significant civilian casualties and the contamination of Afghan land. The arming and funding of Afghan militia groups by the CIA has also led to serious human rights abuses and extrajudicial killings of civilians.

The war has also taken a toll on US service members and contractors. As of 2019, over 7,000 US troops had died in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, with thousands more suffering injuries and disabilities. The true toll of the war on US personnel is even higher when considering the high rates of suicide among veterans struggling with psychological wounds such as PTSD.

1978-1989 Soviet invasion: 500,000+ Afghans killed, 2.8 million fled to Pakistan

The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan was a protracted armed conflict that lasted from 1979 to 1989. The invasion was triggered by the internal power struggle in Afghanistan, which saw the communist People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) overthrow the nationalist regime led by Mohammad Daoud. The PDPA government, led by Babrak Karmal, was unstable and unpopular, facing fierce resistance from conservative and religious leaders and opposition throughout the Afghan countryside.

The Soviet Union had long considered Afghanistan a crucial strategic ally and was concerned about the possibility of Afghanistan turning to the United States for support. In late 1979, the USSR deployed its combat forces across Afghanistan, with around 30,000 troops taking control of major cities and highways. The Soviets aimed to suppress the rebellion and prop up the faltering PDPA government. However, the Mujahideen rebels, backed by foreign support from countries like the US, Iran, Pakistan, and China, fought back fiercely.

The Soviet invasion led to a massive humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. The Soviets attempted to crush the insurgency by bombing and depopulating rural areas, causing a mass exodus of refugees. By 1982, around 2.8 million Afghans had fled to Pakistan, and another 1.5 million had sought asylum in Iran. The brutal conflict resulted in significant loss of life, with an estimated 500,000 Afghans killed, in addition to 90,000 Mujahideen fighters, 18,000 Afghan troops, and 14,500 Soviet soldiers.

The war in Afghanistan became a quagmire for the Soviet Union, with their troops unable to effectively suppress the insurgency. The conflict also sparked international condemnation and contributed to the strain on the Soviet economy and national prestige. Eventually, the Soviets agreed to a withdrawal, and the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 1989. The Soviet invasion and its aftermath had devastating consequences for Afghanistan, leaving the country in a state of civil war and political instability for decades to come.

Hazaras: a persecuted ethnic group, targeted by the Taliban, at risk of ethnic cleansing

The Hazara people of Afghanistan have been subjected to a long history of persecution, violence, and discrimination, making them one of the most persecuted ethnic groups in the country. With roots tracing back to the 13th century, the Hazaras are believed to be descendants of Genghis Khan's Mongol invaders. They primarily reside in the central highlands of Afghanistan, known as Hazarajat, and constitute one of the largest ethnic and religious minorities in the country, comprising around 9-20% of the population.

The persecution of Hazaras is not a new phenomenon and has been ongoing for centuries. One of the earliest instances of their persecution dates back to the 19th century when Pashtun and Tajik groups perpetrated land confiscation, slavery, ethnic cleansing, and persecution against them. During the reign of Amir Abdur Rahman from 1880 to 1901, millions of Hazaras were massacred, expelled, or displaced, with estimates suggesting that about half of the Hazara population was affected. This led to Pashtuns and other groups occupying parts of Hazarajat, the traditional homeland of the Hazaras.

The discrimination and violence against Hazaras continued under subsequent regimes, with the community facing severe political, social, and economic repression. They were forced into slavery and denied public services, and subjected to various forms of oppression due to their religious beliefs as Shi'a Muslims in a predominantly Sunni country. The systematic discrimination and recurrent periods of targeted violence have resulted in a significant decline in the Hazara population and their standing in the social hierarchy of modern Afghanistan.

In the mid-1990s, under the Taliban regime, the Hazaras faced another wave of brutal persecution. Maulawi Mohammed Hanif, a Taliban commander, issued a ruling that Hazaras could be killed, causing many to flee the country. One of the most notorious massacres occurred in 1998 in the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e-Sharif, where the Taliban killed approximately 2,000 civilians. The Taliban's scorched-earth takeover of the country in the late 1990s resulted in the slaughter of thousands of Hazaras, and their areas were subjected to vicious shelling.

Even after the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001, the Hazaras continued to face attacks and discrimination. They were targeted by extremist groups such as the Taliban and the regional affiliate of the Islamic State, also known as Islamic State - Khorasan Province (ISKP). The main road connecting Hazarajat with Kabul became known as the "Death Road" due to the frequency of kidnappings and deadly Taliban attacks. The Hazaras also faced violence in the cities, with their schools, hospitals, rallies, and mosques being bombed and commuters ambushed.

In recent years, the situation has become even more dire for the Hazara community. With the Taliban regaining control of Afghanistan, the fear of ethnic cleansing and further massacres looms large. The Taliban's history of targeting Hazaras using brutal methods of torture, abductions, and executions has not been forgotten. Despite the Taliban's attempts to portray a more moderate image, the Hazaras remain vulnerable and at risk of persecution.

The international community must recognize the urgency of the situation and take immediate action to protect the Hazaras and prevent further atrocities. The well-being of the Hazara community is at stake, and their existence in Afghanistan is threatened by systemic oppression, marginalization, and the ongoing genocide as defined by the International Criminal Court (ICC). It is imperative that concerted international humanitarian efforts are made to safeguard the rights and improve the living conditions of the Hazara people.

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