Ruqayyah Snyder
The war in Afghanistan ended on 30 August 2021, when the last US military forces left the country. This marked the end of the US's longest war, which lasted 20 years.
The war began in 2001 when the US invaded Afghanistan to oust the Taliban regime, which had refused to hand over terrorist leader Osama bin Laden in the wake of al-Qaeda's 9/11 attacks. The US-led coalition quickly toppled the Taliban, but the group continued to wage an insurgency against the Western-backed government in Kabul, Afghan national security forces, and international coalition troops.
In February 2020, the US and the Taliban signed a peace deal, the Doha Agreement, which set a timeline for the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. However, the Taliban quickly resumed attacks on Afghan security forces and civilians. In April 2021, US President Joe Biden announced that US military forces would leave Afghanistan by September 2021.
The Taliban rapidly seized territory across the country and, on 15 August 2021, entered the capital, Kabul. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled the country, and the Afghan government collapsed. The speed of the Taliban's advance and the collapse of the Afghan government surprised US officials and allies.
The US completed its troop withdrawal on 30 August 2021, bringing an end to the war. However, thousands of Afghans who had assisted the US and its allies remained in the country, and the US has continued efforts to evacuate them.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the end of the war in Afghanistan | 30th of August 2021 |
| Who ended the war | The United States |
| Who won the war | The Taliban |
What You'll Learn
The Taliban's resurgence and the future of Afghanistan
The Taliban's resurgence in Afghanistan has been facilitated by the withdrawal of US and NATO troops, the failure of the Afghan government to maintain control, and the Taliban's ability to exploit the country's rugged topography.
The Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan has resulted in a rollback of the freedoms Afghans gained since 2001, particularly for women and girls. The Taliban's rule is marked by authoritarianism, repression, and the exclusion of minorities from decision-making roles.
The future of Afghanistan is uncertain. The Taliban's commitment to preventing terrorist groups from operating in Afghanistan is questionable, and the group has already been accused of harbouring al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri. The Taliban's treatment of women and girls has been widely condemned, with the group banning them from secondary education and employment and imposing strict rules on their travel and appearance. The Taliban's harsh rule has led to a worsening of the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, with the UN launching the largest single-country aid appeal in its history to finance humanitarian assistance for the country.
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The role of the US in Afghanistan
The United States invaded Afghanistan in October 2001, following the 9/11 attacks, to oust the Taliban regime and capture Osama bin Laden. The US-led coalition quickly toppled the Taliban government and installed an interim administration led by Hamid Karzai. However, the Taliban regrouped and waged an insurgency against the Western-backed government, Afghan security forces, and international coalition troops.
The US-led coalition formally ended its combat mission in 2014, handing over security responsibilities to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF). However, the Taliban continued to attack rural districts and carry out suicide attacks in major cities, with the ANDSF suffering heavy casualties.
In February 2020, the US government and the Taliban signed a peace deal, the Doha Agreement, setting a timeline for the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. However, the Taliban quickly resumed attacks on Afghan security forces and civilians, and violence escalated across the country.
In April 2021, US President Joe Biden announced that US military forces would leave Afghanistan by September 2021. The Taliban ramped up their offensive and rapidly seized territory across the country. By mid-August 2021, the Taliban had captured most of Afghanistan's provincial capitals and entered the capital, Kabul, leading to the collapse of the Afghan government.
The speed of the Taliban's advance and the collapse of the Afghan government took US officials by surprise. The Biden administration authorized the deployment of additional troops to assist with the evacuation of US and allied personnel, as well as Afghans who had worked with the United States. The evacuation was marred by a suicide bombing outside the Kabul airport that killed over 180 people, including 13 US service members.
The last US military forces departed Afghanistan on August 30, 2021, marking the end of America's longest war. The United States has shifted to a position of pragmatic engagement with Afghanistan and is working with the international community to provide humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people.
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The impact of the war on the Afghan people
The war in Afghanistan has had a devastating impact on the Afghan people. The war has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians, with the United Nations documenting a record high of 10,993 civilian casualties in 2018. The war has also caused mass displacement, with 2.7 million Afghans forced to flee the country and a further four million internally displaced.
The war has also had a detrimental impact on the economy, public health, security, and infrastructure in Afghanistan. 92% of the population faces some level of food insecurity, and 3 million children are at risk of acute malnutrition. The war has also exacerbated the effects of poverty, malnutrition, poor sanitation, lack of access to healthcare, and environmental degradation on Afghans' health.
The war has also impacted the rights of women and girls. Since the Taliban's return to power, girls have been barred from secondary schools, and women are required to have a male-relative companion when traveling significant distances and to cover their faces in public.
The war has also had a severe impact on the mental health of Afghans, with two-thirds of Afghans suffering from mental health problems in 2009.
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The influence of Pakistan on the war
Pakistan has played a significant role in the Afghanistan War. In the 1980s, Pakistan was the base for the Saudi-American alliance behind the mujahideen, and today, Pakistan is the safe haven of the Taliban insurgency and its logistical supply line. Pakistan also serves as the major logistical line for NATO forces in Afghanistan. Over 80% of the supplies coalition forces depend on to survive arrive via Pakistan from the port of Karachi.
Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate (ISI) contributes to making the Taliban a highly effective military force. Pakistani landmines have been found in Afghanistan, and include both antipersonnel and antivehicle mines. Pakistan's notoriously porous border with Afghanistan has facilitated the transshipment of men and materiel.
Pakistan's support of the Taliban has been a source of tension between the two countries. In 2020, the U.S. government and the Taliban signed a peace deal, the Doha Agreement, that set a timeline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. However, the Taliban continued to attack Afghan security forces and civilians. In 2021, the Taliban took control of the country, and the Afghan government collapsed.
The U.S. has an interest in attempting to preserve the political, human rights, and security gains that were achieved in Afghanistan since 2001. The Taliban takeover of the country could once again turn Afghanistan into a terrorist safe haven, as the group is believed to maintain ties with al-Qaeda.
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The future of Afghanistan's government
The Taliban's ban on women working for NGOs in Afghanistan has had devastating consequences. The ban has led to the suspension of major international NGOs' operations in Afghanistan, and the humanitarian situation in the country remains excruciating. Almost half of the Afghan population was projected to be acutely food insecure between November 2022 and March 2023, with 6 million on the brink of famine.
The international community has adopted a pragmatic approach to dealing with the Taliban, seeking to deepen trade ties and build stability to avoid the collapse of the country. However, if the Taliban does not respond to the needs of all elements of Afghan society and urgently engage with the international community, it is unclear what could come next.
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Frequently asked questions
The United States' goal in Afghanistan is to prevent it from becoming a platform for terrorist attacks against the United States or the world.
The United States plans to achieve its goal in Afghanistan by maintaining a small military presence in the country, conducting counterterrorism operations, and providing training and support to the Afghan security forces.
The United States faces several challenges in Afghanistan, including the presence of terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda and the Taliban, the weak and corrupt Afghan government, and the high cost of the military and economic assistance provided to the country.
