Unveiling The Afghanistan War: A Documentary Journey

There are many documentaries about the Afghanistan War, which began in 2001 and ended in 2021. The conflict was America's longest war and was waged in a bid to destroy Al Qaeda and oust its ruling ally, the Taliban.

Some notable documentaries about the war include: Taliban Takeover (2021), which investigates how the Taliban's return to power transformed daily life in Afghanistan; America After 9/11 (2021), which examines how the U.S. response to the September 11 attacks changed the country and the world; and Retrograde (2022), which captures the final nine months of America's 20-year war in Afghanistan from multiple perspectives.

The British army's involvement

British forces were sent to Afghanistan as part of a coalition tasked with intervening to find the leaders of al-Qaeda. By the end of 2001, the Taliban regime had collapsed, and an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), backed by the United Nations, was put in place. ISAF's role was to oversee the transition to a new government and provide security for the redevelopment of the war-torn country.

In 2006, British troops were deployed to the southern province of Helmand. Their intended role was to provide stability and security for reconstruction projects. However, their arrival provoked a violent response from the Taliban, who had regrouped. The British launched several operations to push Taliban insurgents from key locations and maintain control. One such operation was Operation Panther's Claw, which aimed to provide security for the 2009 presidential election.

The British also participated in the largest joint offensive in Helmand at the time, with over 15,000 allied and Afghan troops attacking the town of Marjah, which was controlled by the Taliban and drug traffickers. The British faced heavy casualties, with 108 fatalities among British troops in 2009, more than twice as many as the previous year.

In 2010, the British Army's Apache attack helicopters flew their 50,000th hour on the operation in Afghanistan. The following year, in 2011, US Special Forces killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. This led to British Prime Minister David Cameron announcing the withdrawal of 500 British troops, reducing the total number to 9,000 by September 2012.

The British combat mission officially ended in October 2014, with the handover of Camp Bastion to Afghan forces. A small number of British troops remained in Afghanistan to help train and advise the Afghan National Security Forces, but they were no longer engaged in active combat operations.

In total, 454 British service personnel lost their lives in Afghanistan, and it is estimated that over 2,000 were wounded in action. The conflict cost the British government approximately £37 billion.

The Taliban's resurgence

The documentary "Taliban Country" (2020), by Afghan journalist Najibullah Quraishi, offers an on-the-ground perspective on the Taliban's resurgence and the threat posed by ISIS in Afghanistan. Quraishi also investigates the consequences of America's withdrawal from Afghanistan in the 2021 documentary "Leaving Afghanistan", including the Taliban's ascent and fears of escalating sectarian violence.

The documentary "Taliban Takeover" (2021) reveals how the Taliban's return to power transformed daily life in Afghanistan, with a focus on the impact on women and ethnic minorities. It highlights the evolving threats from Al Qaeda and ISIS, as well as a clampdown on women's rights and harsh consequences for ethnic minorities.

"Afghanistan Undercover" (2022) explores the harsh realities of life for Afghan women and girls under Taliban rule, including stories of women jailed without trial, girls forcibly married, and women living in hiding, fearing for their lives.

Other documentaries, such as "Return of the Taliban" (2006) and "The Dark Side" (2006), provide insights into how the Taliban and Al Qaeda continued to operate and launch attacks despite being toppled from power.

The impact on women

The impact of the Afghanistan War on women has been profound and devastating. Women's rights have been severely restricted under Taliban rule, with women facing imprisonment, abduction, and violence.

In the documentary "Afghanistan Undercover," correspondent Ramita Navai investigates the Taliban's crackdown on women, revealing the harsh realities of their lives under the regime. Navai meets women who have been jailed without trial, families of girls who have been abducted and forcibly married, and women living in hiding, fearing for their lives. The Taliban has restricted women's freedom of movement, requiring them to have a male escort from their family when travelling. Women must also adhere to strict Islamic law regarding their dress, covering their faces and hair.

The documentary "Taliban Takeover" by Najibullah Quraishi also highlights the rapid transformation of daily life for women in Afghanistan following the Taliban's return to power. Women's rights have been severely restricted, and they face harsh consequences for any perceived "immoral behaviour." The documentary includes an interview with a woman who tried to commit suicide after being beaten by her husband, illustrating the desperate situation many women face.

The film "Bread and Roses," co-produced by Jennifer Lawrence and shown at the Cannes Film Festival, follows three Afghan women in the weeks after the Taliban's return to power. It showcases how women's lives changed overnight under Taliban rule, with restrictions on leaving the house without a veil.

The impact of the war on women in Afghanistan has been devastating, with their rights and freedoms severely curtailed. Women face violence, imprisonment, and abuse, often living in constant fear. The future for women and girls in Afghanistan remains uncertain, with education and career opportunities limited and the threat of sectarian violence looming.

The US military's withdrawal

The withdrawal was initially negotiated by the Trump administration, which, in February 2020, signed the United States-Taliban deal in Doha, Qatar. This deal stipulated fighting restrictions for both the US and the Taliban and provided for the withdrawal of all NATO forces from Afghanistan in return for the Taliban's counter-terrorism commitments. The agreement also included a reduction of US forces from 13,000 to 8,600 troops by July 2020, followed by a complete withdrawal by 1 May 2021, if the Taliban kept to its commitments.

However, the Taliban began a final offensive on 1 May 2021, and on 15 August, they seized control of Kabul, with the Western-backed government collapsing. This prompted the US to deploy additional troops to Kabul Airport to facilitate evacuations. The last few weeks before the 31 August deadline saw the US focus on evacuating refugees, with some level of cooperation from the Taliban.

The withdrawal of US troops was completed on the night of 30 August, with the Taliban declaring victory as US forces left. The US military's withdrawal led to the Taliban regaining control of the country and a refugee crisis as many Afghans fled, with fears that Afghanistan would become a safe haven for terrorists.

The evacuation of US and UK nationals was carried out with additional military personnel deployed to assist. The UK deployed 600 military personnel, while the US had about 650 troops in Afghanistan in early August, increasing to 7,000 by mid-August.

The US also launched Operation Allies Refuge to airlift American translators and select Afghan citizens at risk of reprisals. US Forces Afghanistan Forward was established on 7 July 2021 to oversee the evacuation of diplomatic, security, advisory, and counter-terrorism personnel.

The war's aftermath

The war in Afghanistan has left a devastating impact on the country and its people. The conflict, which began in 2001, saw the US-backed government collapse in August 2021 as the Taliban seized control of the country. The aftermath of the war has been characterised by a rollback of human rights, particularly for women and ethnic minorities, and the resurgence of extremist groups such as Al Qaeda and ISIS.

The Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan has resulted in severe restrictions on the rights and freedoms of women and girls. Under Taliban rule, women have been denied access to education and employment, restricted from travelling without a male chaperone, and forced to adhere to strict dress codes. The Taliban has also cracked down on dissent, with journalists and women's rights activists facing harassment, intimidation, and violence.

Ethnic and religious minorities in Afghanistan, such as Hazaras, Shiites, and Sikhs, have faced persecution, discrimination, and violence at the hands of the Taliban. There have been reports of targeted killings, forced conversions, and displacement of minority communities.

The war has also had a devastating impact on Afghanistan's economy, with the country facing a severe humanitarian crisis. The Taliban's takeover led to the freezing of international aid and access to foreign reserves, causing a liquidity crisis and economic collapse. This has resulted in widespread poverty, food insecurity, and limited access to basic services such as healthcare and education.

The security situation in Afghanistan remains precarious, with extremist groups such as Al Qaeda and ISIS posing a significant threat. These groups have exploited the country's instability to gain a foothold and expand their influence. There are concerns that Afghanistan could once again become a safe haven for terrorist organisations, posing a threat to regional and global security.

The war in Afghanistan has had a profound and lasting impact on the country, shaping the political, social, and economic landscape. The aftermath of the war has been characterised by human rights abuses, economic collapse, and the resurgence of extremist groups. The international community's response to the situation in Afghanistan will be crucial in addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis and preventing further deterioration.

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