The Afghanistan War: A Conflict Revisited

The War in Afghanistan, which lasted from 2001 to 2021, was the longest war in the history of the United States. It was triggered by the September 11 attacks and involved three phases. The first phase was to topple the Taliban, which was achieved in two months. The second phase, from 2002 to 2008, was marked by a US strategy to defeat the Taliban and rebuild core institutions of the Afghan state. The third phase, a turn to classic counterinsurgency doctrine, began in 2008 and was accelerated by President Barack Obama's decision to increase the US troop presence in Afghanistan. The new approach largely failed to achieve its aims, and by the time the US and NATO combat mission formally ended in 2014, the Afghanistan War had become the longest war ever fought by the United States.

The Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan

The Taliban, a Sunni Islamic fundamentalist and predominantly Pashtun movement, controlled most of Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. In October 2001, U.S. and allied forces invaded the country and quickly ousted the Taliban regime following its refusal to hand over terrorist leader Osama bin Laden in the wake of al-Qaeda's 9/11 attacks.

The Taliban regrouped and, in 2021, returned to power in Afghanistan, twenty years after their ouster by U.S. troops. The insurgents stormed across the country, capturing all major cities in a matter of days, as Afghan security forces trained and equipped by the U.S. and its allies melted away.

The Taliban's return to power has also heightened the risk of Afghanistan once again becoming a safe haven for terrorists. The group has close ties with al-Qaeda, and experts warn that Afghanistan could become a base for international terrorist attacks.

The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan has been exacerbated by an economy on the verge of collapse and international isolation. Afghans are suffering from cascading and compounding crises and face the largest humanitarian crisis in the world, according to the United Nations.

The US's longest war

The War in Afghanistan was the longest war in American history, lasting 20 years. It was triggered by the September 11 attacks and consisted of three phases. The first phase was the toppling of the Taliban, which was brief, lasting just two months. The second phase, from 2002 until 2008, was marked by a US strategy of defeating the Taliban and rebuilding core institutions of the Afghan state. 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 US-led coalition formally ended its combat mission in 2014, and the conflict officially ended in 2021 with the Taliban offensive, which overthrew the Islamic Republic and re-established the Islamic Emirate. The war cost the US more than $2 trillion and resulted in the loss of thousands of US troops and tens of thousands of Afghan lives.

The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan

Afghanistan is facing one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with millions of Afghans in need of humanitarian assistance. The crisis is a result of four decades of conflict, poverty, repeated disasters, and an economic downturn. The Taliban's takeover of the country in August 2021 has exacerbated the situation, with the country's economy contracting by 25% since then and international assistance being cut off.

The complex humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan is affecting all Afghans, but women and girls are particularly impacted. The Taliban's restrictions on their daily lives have hindered their ability to access services and limited their involvement in life outside the home. Women have been barred from secondary and higher education and forced out of jobs. They are not allowed to participate in political or public life and cannot move around without a male chaperone. The Taliban's policies have also made it difficult for humanitarian organizations to deliver aid, as they must navigate trying to provide assistance while ensuring they do not reinforce the Taliban's abusive diktats.

The international community is struggling to find a balance between providing desperately needed aid and pressuring the Taliban regime to moderate its hardline policies. While short-term emergency assistance is crucial, Afghanistan will continue to deal with cycles of crises until its deep-seated economic challenges are addressed. There is a need for increased humanitarian assistance, economic stability, and resumed development aid.

The US's exit strategy

The US Exit Strategy

The US exit strategy from Afghanistan has been a long time coming. The war in Afghanistan was the longest war in US military history, lasting 20 years. The US exit strategy was a phased withdrawal of troops, with the final troops leaving in August 2021.

The Phased Withdrawal

The US exit strategy was a phased withdrawal of troops, with the final troops leaving in August 2021. The exit strategy was first announced in February 2020 with the signing of the Doha Agreement between the US and the Taliban. The agreement stipulated that all US troops would be withdrawn by May 2021. However, this deadline was pushed back to September 2021.

The Reasons for Withdrawal

The US exit strategy was motivated by several factors. Firstly, the war was incredibly costly, with the US spending over $2 trillion and losing over 2,400 service members. Secondly, there was a recognition that the war was unwinnable and that the Taliban could not be defeated militarily. The Taliban controlled large swathes of the country and had strong support from Pakistan. Additionally, there was a desire to reallocate resources to other strategic priorities, such as the competition with China and Russia. Finally, there was a recognition that the war had lost public support, with many Americans believing that the war was no longer worth fighting.

The Challenges of Withdrawal

The US exit strategy faced several challenges and was ultimately unsuccessful in achieving a stable peace. The Afghan government and security forces were unable to maintain control of the country, and the Taliban rapidly regained territory. There were also concerns about the fate of Afghans who had worked with the US, as well as the rollback of human rights, particularly for women and girls. The withdrawal also led to a humanitarian crisis, with Afghanistan facing food shortages, economic collapse, and a rollback of human rights.

The Way Forward

The way forward for Afghanistan is uncertain. The US will need to continue to provide diplomatic, economic, and humanitarian support. Additionally, there may be a need for continued counterterrorism operations to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for terrorist groups. The international community will also need to step up and provide assistance, particularly to address the humanitarian crisis.

The future of Afghanistan

The Taliban's strict laws have prompted even Qatar and China, some of its closest partners, to lobby for an easing of restrictions. However, international condemnation has failed to change Taliban behaviour. The group maintains its position on women and girls, which the UN has characterised as "gender apartheid".

Afghanistan is also suffering from cascading and compounding humanitarian crises and faces the largest humanitarian crisis in the world, according to the United Nations. The country is on the verge of economic collapse, and international isolation has crippled the Afghan economy.

The humanitarian situation has been exacerbated by climate change, which has increased the frequency and intensity of natural disasters and extreme weather, elevating the population's exposure to food shortages.

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