The American Shadow: Examining The Us Role In Afghanistan's Civil War

The War in Afghanistan was an armed conflict from 2001 to 2021, which was a direct response to the September 11 attacks. The conflict began when an international military coalition led by the United States launched an invasion of Afghanistan, declaring Operation Enduring Freedom as part of the war on terror. The Taliban and its allies were expelled from major population centres by US-led forces, but Bin Laden relocated to neighbouring Pakistan.

The US-led coalition remained in Afghanistan, forming a security mission with the goal of creating a new democratic authority in the country that would prevent the Taliban from returning to power. However, by 2003, the Taliban had reorganised and began a widespread insurgency against the new Afghan government and coalition forces. Insurgents from the Taliban and other Islamist groups waged asymmetric warfare, fighting with guerrilla warfare in the countryside, suicide attacks against urban targets, and reprisals against perceived Afghan collaborators.

The conflict officially ended with the 2021 Taliban offensive, which overthrew the Islamic Republic and re-established the Islamic Emirate. The war killed an estimated 176,000-212,000+ people, including 46,319 civilians.

While the US is not solely to blame for the war, it has been criticised for its handling of the conflict. For example, the US was mistaken in its belief that the Taliban and Al-Qaeda were almost inseparable when, in fact, they had very different goals and leaders. The US also failed to capture Bin Laden or negotiate with the Taliban, or include them in any way in the new government, which set the course for a long war.

The US-British invasion of Afghanistan

The US-led coalition invaded Afghanistan to dismantle al-Qaeda and topple the Taliban government, which had provided sanctuary for al-Qaeda. The Taliban had seized around 85% of Afghanistan's territory, including the capital city of Kabul, and confined the Northern Alliance to Badakhshan Province and smaller surrounding areas.

The US-British invasion was supported by Australia, Canada, France, and Germany, and later by a large multinational force. The invasion made rapid progress, capturing Kabul on 13 November and toppling the Taliban by 17 December. 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 Taliban's expulsion from major population centres

The US-led coalition's invasion of Afghanistan was a direct response to the September 11 attacks. The Taliban had refused to hand over al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden to the US.

The Taliban were expelled from major population centres with the support of the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance. The US-led coalition's invasion of Afghanistan marked the beginning of the War in Afghanistan, which lasted from 2001 to 2021.

The US-led coalition's formation of a security mission

The coalition's security mission was two-fold: to create a new democratic authority in the country and to prevent the Taliban from returning to power. The coalition forces supported the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance and expelled the Taliban and its allies from major population centres.

The coalition's security mission was known as the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). The ISAF was established by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1386, pursuant to the Bonn Agreement, which outlined the establishment of a permanent Afghan government following the US invasion in October 2001. The ISAF's initial mandate was to secure the Afghan capital of Kabul and its surrounding area against opposition forces to facilitate the formation of the Afghan Transitional Administration headed by Hamid Karzai.

The ISAF was led by NATO and included troops from 26 NATO member countries and 11 non-NATO countries. The ISAF's initial mandate did not extend beyond the boundaries of Kabul. However, in 2003, the UN Security Council expanded ISAF's mission to provide and maintain security beyond the capital region. The ISAF incrementally broadened its operations in four stages, and by 2006, it took responsibility for the entire country.

The ISAF's primary goal was to train the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and assist Afghanistan in rebuilding key government institutions. The ISAF also aimed to create the conditions whereby the Afghan government could exercise its authority throughout the country and build the capacity of the ANSF, including in the fight against international terrorism.

The ISAF was completed in December 2014 when the ANSF assumed full responsibility for security across Afghanistan. The ISAF was succeeded by the Resolute Support Mission (RSM) in January 2015. The RSM focused on training, advising, and assisting Afghan security forces and institutions to fight terrorism and secure their country. The RSM was terminated in September 2021 following the withdrawal of all RSM forces.

The Taliban's resurgence

In 2002, the Taliban regrouped under their founder, Mullah Omar, and began a widespread insurgency against the new Afghan government and coalition forces. Insurgents from the Taliban and other Islamist groups waged asymmetric warfare, fighting with guerrilla tactics in the countryside, suicide attacks in urban areas, and reprisals against those perceived to be Afghan collaborators.

By 2005, the Taliban had introduced suicide bombings into their tactics, and by 2007, large parts of Afghanistan had been retaken by the group. In response, the coalition sent a major influx of troops for counter-insurgency operations, with a "clear and hold" strategy for villages and towns. This influx peaked in 2011, with roughly 140,000 foreign troops operating under the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) command across Afghanistan.

In 2014, ISAF combat operations in Afghanistan officially ended, and security responsibilities were transferred to the Afghan government. However, the Taliban continued to gain strength due to several factors, including the withdrawal of most foreign forces, which reduced the risk of airstrikes and raids. The group was also emboldened by a lack of international interest, as attention shifted to other global crises.

In 2020, the US and the Taliban signed a conditional peace deal, which called for a prisoner exchange and the withdrawal of US troops by 2021. However, the Afghan government was not a party to the deal, and President Ashraf Ghani criticised the agreement, stating that the US had no authority to negotiate on behalf of his government.

Despite the peace deal, the Taliban resumed offensive operations against Afghan security forces and continued to make territorial gains. In 2021, the group launched its last major offensive, culminating in the fall of Kabul and the end of the war. The Taliban's offensive coincided with the withdrawal of US and allied troops from Afghanistan, and the group was able to capitalise on the Afghan government's political infighting and weakness.

In conclusion, the Taliban's resurgence was a result of several factors, including the group's ability to regroup and adapt its tactics, the withdrawal of foreign forces, and a lack of international attention and support for Afghanistan. The peace deal signed with the US in 2020 further emboldened the Taliban and ultimately led to the group's victory in the country's civil war.

The US-Taliban deal

The agreement was the result of over a year of direct negotiations and addressed four issues: reducing violence, withdrawing foreign troops, starting intra-Afghan negotiations, and preventing Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for terrorists.

The deal stipulated that the US would reduce its troops in Afghanistan from 12,000 to 8,600 within 135 days and that all US and foreign troops would leave within 14 months if the Taliban upheld its commitments. In return, the Taliban agreed to prevent terrorist groups from using Afghan territory and to enter negotiations with the Afghan government.

However, no official ceasefire was put in place, and the Taliban quickly resumed attacks on Afghan security forces and civilians after a brief reduction in violence. Direct talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban faced multiple delays and made little progress.

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