The Ever-Present Conflict: Afghanistan's Perpetual War Zone

Afghanistan has been a war zone since the US-led invasion in 2001. The invasion was triggered by the September 11 attacks, which were plotted by al-Qaeda, whose leader Osama bin Laden was based in Afghanistan under the protection of the Taliban regime. The war in Afghanistan has three distinct phases. The first phase was brief, lasting just two months, and involved toppling the Taliban regime. The second phase, from 2002 until 2008, was marked by a US strategy of defeating the Taliban militarily and rebuilding core institutions of the Afghan state. The third phase, which began in 2008, saw a shift to classic counterinsurgency doctrine, with a focus on protecting the population from Taliban attacks and reintegrating insurgents into Afghan society. Despite the US and its allies investing significant resources in the conflict, the war has had a devastating impact on Afghanistan, with high civilian casualties, widespread poverty, and a rollback of human rights, particularly for women and girls.

The impact of the war on civilians

Afghanistan has been a war zone since the US-British invasion in 2001. The war has had a devastating impact on civilians, causing widespread death, injury, displacement, and poverty.

Since 2001, more than 70,000 civilians have been killed in the Afghanistan/Pakistan war zone, with many more wounded. In 2019, the number of civilian casualties surpassed 100,000, and in 2020, civilian deaths and injuries exceeded 10,000 for the sixth consecutive year. The war has also caused mass displacement, with at least 38 million people in and from Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, the Philippines, Libya, and Syria forcibly displaced by the US post-9/11 wars.

The war has destroyed the Afghan economy, public health, security, and infrastructure. 92% of the population faces food insecurity, with 3 million children at risk of acute malnutrition and some regions facing famine. The war has exacerbated the effects of poverty, malnutrition, poor sanitation, and lack of access to healthcare and clean drinking water. Even in the absence of active fighting, civilians continue to be killed and injured by unexploded ordnance and landmines.

The war has also had severe psychological impacts, with two-thirds of Afghans suffering from mental health problems in 2009. In addition, the war has disrupted education, especially for girls and women. Since the Taliban takeover, most secondary schools for girls have been closed, and women have been prohibited from working in most government jobs. The Taliban have also rolled back media freedom, beating and detaining journalists, and causing many media outlets to close or drastically scale back their reporting.

The role of the US and NATO

The US-led war in Afghanistan was triggered by the September 11 attacks and consisted of three phases. The first phase was to topple the Taliban, the ultraconservative political and religious faction that ruled Afghanistan and provided sanctuary for al-Qaeda, perpetrators of the September 11 attacks. The US and its allies invaded Afghanistan in late 2001, relying primarily on the Northern Alliance and anti-Taliban Pashtuns in southern Afghanistan. The CIA also teamed up with anti-Taliban forces, providing arms, equipment, and advice. The US and British air campaign began on October 7, 2001, marking the public start of Operation Enduring Freedom. In late October, Northern Alliance forces, with US assistance, began overtaking towns formerly held by the Taliban. Kandahar, the largest city in southern Afghanistan and the Taliban's spiritual home, fell on December 6, marking the end of Taliban power.

The second phase, from 2002 until 2008, was marked by a US strategy of defeating the Taliban militarily and rebuilding core institutions of the Afghan state. In April 2002, President Bush announced a "Marshall Plan" for Afghanistan, promising substantial financial assistance. However, development efforts in Afghanistan were inadequately funded, as attention had turned to the looming confrontation in Iraq. The US consistently represented the largest foreign force in Afghanistan and bore the heaviest losses. By spring 2010, more than 1,000 US troops had been killed in Afghanistan.

The third phase, a turn to classic counterinsurgency doctrine, began in 2008 and accelerated with US President Barack Obama's 2009 decision to temporarily increase the US troop presence in Afghanistan. The larger force was used to implement a strategy of protecting the population from Taliban attacks and supporting efforts to reintegrate insurgents into Afghan society. The strategy came coupled with a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan. Beginning in 2011, security responsibilities would be gradually handed over to the Afghan military and police.

In February 2020, the US and the Taliban signed an agreement on the withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan by May 2021. In April 2021, NATO foreign and defence ministers confirmed the decision to withdraw all remaining forces from the Resolute Support Mission by September 11, 2021. The rapid collapse of the Afghan government and the swiftness of the Taliban takeover turned the US departure into chaos. The US and its allies had to evacuate their personnel and Afghan associates as the situation around Kabul airport worsened.

The Taliban's treatment of women

• Working
• Being in contact with men other than blood relatives
• Leaving the house without a male chaperone
• Showing their skin in public
• Accessing healthcare delivered by men
• Being involved in politics or speaking publicly

Women who violated these rules could face severe punishments, including imprisonment, torture, or even death. Public flogging and execution of women were common during the Taliban's rule.

Since retaking power in Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban have once again imposed restrictions on women, banning them from:

• Attending secondary school and university
• Working (except in primary education or healthcare)
• Appearing on TV
• Going to parks
• Travelling long distances without a male chaperone

The Taliban have also decreed that women must cover their faces in public and remain in their homes except in cases of necessity. These restrictions have effectively erased women from public and social life in Afghanistan.

In addition to the restrictions on their freedom of movement and access to education and employment, women in Afghanistan also face other forms of oppression under the Taliban. There have been reports of women being brutally beaten, publicly flogged, or killed for violating Taliban decrees. For example, a woman was beaten with a metal cable until her leg was broken because her ankle was accidentally showing underneath her burqa.

The Taliban's rules have also had a devastating impact on women's mental health, with many reporting feelings of insecurity, fear, anxiety, hopelessness, insomnia, and a deep sense of loss and helplessness.

The situation for women in Afghanistan is dire, and the future looks bleak. The hard-fought gains in equality and human rights for Afghan women over the last two decades are being steadily dismantled by the Taliban.

The human rights abuses by the CIA-armed Afghan militia groups

The United States has been involved in the war in Afghanistan since 2001, and the CIA has armed and funded Afghan militia groups to fight Islamist militants. These militias have been responsible for serious human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings of civilians.

The CIA-backed Afghan strike forces have committed summary executions and other grave abuses without accountability. These strike forces have unlawfully killed civilians during night raids, forcibly disappeared detainees, and attacked healthcare facilities for allegedly treating insurgent fighters.

In many of the night raids, strike forces attacked civilians because of mistaken identity, poor intelligence, or political rivalries in the locality. These units have also targeted houses based on intelligence that family members had provided food to Taliban or ISIS insurgents, even if under duress.

In one instance, a resident in Wardak province told Human Rights Watch that the strike force “destroyed the gate to our compound with an explosive device. They killed one of my sons at the back of our home and took the other with them.… The forces accused us, ‘Why are you feeding the Taliban?’ But the Taliban come asking for food. If you don’t feed them, then they harass you.”

In another instance, in Paktia province in August 2019, a paramilitary unit killed eight men who were visiting their families for the Eid holidays and three others in the same village. Witnesses said none offered any resistance before being shot. The forces fatally shot a 60-year-old tribal elder in the eye and his nephew, a student in his 20s, in the mouth.

The CIA-backed Afghan forces have disregarded protections to which civilians and detainees are entitled, and have committed war crimes.

The healthcare challenges in war zones

Afghanistan has been a war zone since the US-British invasion in 2001. The war has had a devastating impact on the country's economy, public health, security, and infrastructure.

The Impact of War on Healthcare in Afghanistan

The war in Afghanistan has severely disrupted the country's healthcare system, making it difficult for people to access essential medical services. The conflict has led to the destruction of healthcare infrastructure, including hospitals and medical facilities. As a result, many Afghans have limited access to basic healthcare and are at risk of preventable diseases and health issues.

Healthcare Worker Shortage

One of the most significant challenges in Afghanistan's healthcare system is the shortage of healthcare workers. Many doctors and nurses have fled the country due to the ongoing conflict and insecurity. This has left the remaining healthcare facilities understaffed and overwhelmed with patients. The lack of healthcare workers also means that those who remain are overworked and often unable to provide adequate care to those in need.

Lack of Resources and Medical Supplies

The war has also led to a shortage of essential medical supplies and equipment in Afghanistan. Many hospitals and clinics lack basic medications, surgical equipment, and diagnostic tools. This makes it difficult for healthcare workers to provide effective treatment to patients, often leading to preventable deaths and complications.

Security Risks for Healthcare Workers

Healthcare workers in Afghanistan face significant security risks while carrying out their duties. They are often targeted by warring factions, making it dangerous for them to travel to areas where they are needed. This security risk further exacerbates the shortage of healthcare workers and limits the accessibility of healthcare services for the population.

Mental Health Issues

The ongoing conflict has also taken a toll on the mental health of Afghans. The constant exposure to violence, trauma, and insecurity has led to high rates of mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. However, due to the limited number of mental health professionals and specialized services, many Afghans do not have access to the necessary treatment and support.

Challenges for Women and Girls

Women and girls in Afghanistan face unique healthcare challenges due to cultural and societal norms. The Taliban, which has been the dominant force in the country for much of the war, has imposed strict restrictions on women's rights and access to education. This has resulted in a lack of female healthcare workers, particularly in rural areas, and limited access to reproductive health services for women.

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