The Spark That Ignited Afghanistan's Long War

The war in Afghanistan was America's longest war, lasting 20 years. It began in 2001 after the September 11 terrorist attacks, which were orchestrated by al-Qaeda terrorists working from Afghanistan, then under the control of the Taliban. The conflict spanned four US presidencies and resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and a $2 trillion price tag.

The Taliban's refusal to extradite Osama bin Laden to the US

The war in Afghanistan began on September 11, 2001, when terrorists working from Afghanistan, which was under the control of the Taliban, an extremist Islamic movement, hijacked four commercial airplanes, crashing two into the World Trade Center towers in New York City, one at the Pentagon, and one in a Pennsylvania field. The attacks, which killed more than 2,700 people, were orchestrated by Osama bin Laden, leader of the Islamic militant group al Qaeda.

In the aftermath of the attacks, President George W. Bush demanded that the Taliban hand over bin Laden and other al Qaeda leaders to the United States. The Taliban refused, instead offering to try bin Laden in Afghanistan under Islamic law or turn him over to a third country that would not be under pressure from the US. Bush rejected these offers, reiterating his position that the Taliban must surrender bin Laden and his associates unconditionally.

The Taliban's refusal to extradite bin Laden to the US was a major factor leading to the US-led invasion of Afghanistan, which began on October 7, 2001, with Operation Enduring Freedom, an airstrike campaign against al Qaeda and Taliban targets. With the help of Northern Alliance forces, the US quickly overtook Taliban strongholds, including the capital city of Kabul, and by December, Kandahar, signaling the end of Taliban rule in Afghanistan.

The US war in Afghanistan lasted for 20 years, spanning four US presidencies, and resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and a $2 trillion price tag. The conflict ended on August 30, 2021, with the US military withdrawal from the country and the Taliban regaining control.

The US's 20-year occupation of Afghanistan

The US declared a "War on Terror" and stated that defeating terrorism was now the world's fight. The stated goal of the invasion was to dismantle al-Qaeda and to deny Islamist militants a safe base of operations in Afghanistan by toppling the Taliban government. The UK was a key ally of the US, offering support for military action from the start of the invasion preparations.

The invasion was swift, with the Taliban's outdated equipment and training no match for the US and its allies. The Taliban's capital, Kandahar, fell on December 6, marking the end of Taliban power. The US-led coalition forces then set up international military bases near major cities across the country.

However, most members of al-Qaeda and the Taliban were not captured. Osama bin Laden, the founder of al-Qaeda, escaped into neighbouring Pakistan, and the Taliban's founding leader, Mullah Omar, reorganized the movement to wage asymmetric warfare against the coalition.

In December 2001, the United Nations Security Council established the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to oversee military operations in Afghanistan and train the new Afghan National Security Forces. Hamid Karzai was selected to lead the Afghan Interim Administration.

In 2002, the US's focus shifted to Iraq, and "major combat" in Afghanistan was declared over. However, protracted fighting continued for the next two decades, with the Taliban launching an insurgency against the US-led war effort.

In 2009, the US and NATO allies agreed to a transition of power to local Afghan security forces by the end of 2014. In 2011, Osama bin Laden was killed in Pakistan by US Special Forces, and the US began to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan.

Despite the withdrawal of US and NATO troops, the Taliban continued to gain power, and by mid-2021, the international coalition and the US had begun a full withdrawal from the country amidst a nationwide Taliban offensive. In August 2021, the Taliban captured Kabul and toppled the Afghan government, re-establishing their rule.

The consequences of the conflict for Afghans continue to be devastating, with the Taliban imposing their fundamentalist interpretation of Islam, restricting the rights and freedoms of women and girls, and engaging in human rights abuses.

The Taliban's recapture of Afghanistan

The speed of the Afghan government's collapse shocked NATO allies and prompted condemnation from both sides of the US political divide. The militants encountered little or no resistance from Afghanistan's US-trained military. Key provincial centres close to Kabul and in far-flung corners of the nation fell in quick succession.

The US's failed attempts to train Afghan security forces

• Lack of sustainment support: Once the US military and contractors left Afghanistan, the Afghan forces lacked critical air support, logistics, transportation, and communication systems. This left them vulnerable and unable to effectively coordinate their defense against the Taliban.
• Weak political leadership: The Afghan government was characterized by corruption and weak leadership, which trickled down to the security forces. Commanders and troops lost faith in Kabul and were unmotivated to fight, ultimately surrendering to the Taliban.
• Insufficient national ethic: The selection of personnel for the security forces was often based on ethnicity rather than merit, leading to a lack of cohesion and commitment to serving the country. Many soldiers were more interested in having a job than in serving the nation.
• Corruption: Corruption was rampant within the Afghan security forces, affecting soldiers' pay, morale, and availability. "Ghost" soldiers who did not report for duty were also on the payroll, allowing commanders to pocket the extra money. This corruption extended to logistics and contracting, further hindering the effectiveness of the security forces.
• Inadequate training: The US attempted to train the Afghan security forces too quickly and without sufficient resources. The training programs were ill-designed, poorly coordinated, and thinly staffed. There was a lack of certified law enforcement professionals, and regular troops who knew little about police work were assigned to the job. The rapid expansion of the security forces led to a sacrifice in quality, as recruits were rushed through boot camp without adequate training.
• Literacy and cultural barriers: Only about 20% of Afghan recruits could read or write, and they received only a few weeks of literacy training. There were also significant cultural and language barriers, with US trainers needing to teach basic human anatomy and having to explain that urinals were not drinking fountains.
• Lack of long-term influence: The short-term deployments of US military officials, typically lasting only six to twelve months, made it difficult to establish long-term influence and build trust with the Afghan security forces. This led to a lack of continuity and a constant need for retraining.
• Inability to adapt technology: The US failed to adapt its technology to the specific needs of the Afghan theater, where heavily armored but light vehicles that could navigate dusty roads and survive improvised explosive devices were required. Instead, the US continued to invest in Cold War-era platforms that were of limited use in Afghanistan.

The US's longest war

The War in Afghanistan was the longest war in American history, lasting 20 years from 2001 to 2021. It began in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, which were orchestrated by al-Qaeda terrorists working out of Afghanistan, then under the control of the Taliban. Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda, was believed to be hiding in Afghanistan after the attacks.

On September 20, 2001, President George W. Bush demanded that the Taliban hand over bin Laden and other al-Qaeda leaders to the United States. When the Taliban refused, the U.S. and its allies invaded Afghanistan on October 7, 2001, marking the start of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The initial invasion was swift and successful, with the U.S. and its allies overtaking Taliban strongholds, including the capital city of Kabul, by mid-November. The official end of Taliban rule came on December 6, when Kandahar fell. Al-Qaeda and bin Laden fled to Pakistan, where bin Laden remained until he was killed by U.S. forces in 2011.

However, the war in Afghanistan dragged on for nearly two more decades. The U.S. shifted its military focus to Iraq in 2003, allowing the Taliban to regroup and launch an insurgency. American troops in Afghanistan peaked at around 110,000 in 2011, and the war spanned four U.S. presidencies.

In 2021, the U.S. began withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan, and the Taliban swiftly regained power. By mid-August, the Afghan government had collapsed, President Ashraf Ghani had fled the country, and the Taliban had seized control of Kabul. The U.S. military departed Afghanistan on August 30, 2021, bringing an end to America's longest war.

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