America's Enduring Presence In Afghanistan: Strategic Interests And Challenges

America's involvement in Afghanistan began in 2001, in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States. The primary objective was to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for terrorists and to degrade the threat of terrorism against the United States and its allies. Over the last two decades, America, alongside NATO allies and partner countries, has been engaged in military operations and nation-building efforts in Afghanistan, culminating in a war that became America's longest.

The decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, made by the Biden administration, was a strategic choice that acknowledged the limited gains of perpetuating U.S. military engagement in the country. While the threat of terrorism from Afghanistan has been mitigated, with Al-Qaeda's capabilities significantly reduced, the Taliban's resurgence and the Afghan government's struggles with corruption and governance have posed challenges.

The withdrawal of U.S. troops and the subsequent collapse of the Afghan government have raised concerns about the country's future, particularly regarding human rights, civil liberties, and the potential intensification of civil war.

The Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan

The Fall of Kabul

The Taliban's swift offensive in 2021 took both the U.S. and the Western-backed Afghan government by surprise. Within a matter of days, the Taliban had captured all major cities, and on August 15, 2021, they entered the capital, Kabul. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled the country, and the Afghan government collapsed.

The Human Cost

The Taliban's return to power has had a devastating impact on the lives of Afghans, particularly women and girls. The Taliban have banned most girls from attending secondary school and prohibited women from working, owning businesses, or travelling without a male chaperone. They have also reintroduced public floggings, executions, and other harsh punishments. The United Nations estimates that nearly 23 million people in Afghanistan are facing acute food insecurity.

A Broken Economy

Afghanistan's economy has floundered under Taliban rule. Hundreds of thousands of jobs have been lost, malnutrition has soared, and the country is facing an economic crisis due to sanctions, the loss of foreign aid, and the termination of development aid. The Taliban's ban on poppy cultivation has also cut off a significant source of revenue for Afghan communities.

A Safe Haven for Terrorists?

International observers are concerned that the Taliban could once again provide safe haven for terrorist groups, particularly al-Qaeda. The Taliban harboured al-Qaeda before the 9/11 attacks, and experts warn that Afghanistan could become a base for terrorist attacks against the U.S. and its allies. The presence of other terrorist groups, such as the Islamic State in Khorasan, further contributes to the country's instability.

The Biden Administration's foreign policy

In April 2021, President Biden announced his decision to end the war in Afghanistan, setting a deadline of August 31st for American troops to withdraw. This decision was based on the assessment that the war was no longer in the service of vital national interests and that the threat of terrorism had expanded beyond Afghanistan. The Biden Administration believed that the best way to protect America was to focus on counterterrorism efforts and "over-the-horizon capabilities" rather than a ground war.

The withdrawal of troops was completed on August 30, 2021, marking the end of America's longest war. However, the evacuation process was chaotic, with thousands of Afghans attempting to flee the country as the Taliban took control of Kabul. Despite the evacuation of over 120,000 people, the Biden Administration faced criticism for the ill-planned pullout, which took international allies and the Afghan people by surprise.

In the aftermath of the withdrawal, the Biden Administration has continued to engage with Afghanistan through diplomacy and humanitarian aid. The United States remains the largest single donor of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, providing over $2 billion in aid to support the Afghan people amid the ongoing crisis. The Administration has also called on the Taliban to uphold human rights, particularly for women and girls, and has imposed sanctions on the Taliban for their repressive policies.

The US's longest war

The war in Afghanistan was the longest war in American history, lasting 20 years. The conflict began in 2001, when the US-led forces toppled the Taliban regime, and ended in 2021, with the withdrawal of US troops and the Taliban's return to power.

The war was sparked by the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States, which were carried out by Al-Qaeda operatives. Osama bin Laden, the leader of Al-Qaeda, was based in Afghanistan and had ties to the Taliban, who provided him with sanctuary. In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, President George W. Bush vowed to "win the war against terrorism" and targeted Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. The US military, with British support, began a bombing campaign against Taliban forces, officially launching Operation Enduring Freedom.

The early phase of the war involved US air strikes on Al-Qaeda and Taliban forces, assisted by US special forces, the Northern Alliance, and ethnic Pashtun anti-Taliban forces. The Taliban regime unravelled rapidly, with Taliban strongholds crumbling after coalition and Northern Alliance offensives. This was followed by the establishment of an interim government led by Hamid Karzai and the creation of an international peacekeeping force to maintain security in Kabul.

However, the war in Afghanistan proved to be a challenging and protracted conflict. Al-Qaeda and the Taliban continued to pose a threat, and US and coalition forces faced a resilient insurgency. Over the years, the US and its allies made efforts to train and equip Afghan security forces, promote governance, and support reconstruction. However, the Taliban remained a formidable force and regained control of large parts of the country.

The US made multiple attempts to negotiate peace and withdraw its troops, including the 2020 Doha agreement between the US and the Taliban. However, these efforts were often hampered by the complex dynamics on the ground, including corruption within the Afghan government and the Taliban's unwillingness to compromise.

In 2021, President Joe Biden announced the decision to withdraw all US troops from Afghanistan by September 11, 2021, bringing an end to America's longest war. The withdrawal was marked by a chaotic evacuation process, with thousands of people fleeing the country. The Taliban swiftly regained control of Afghanistan, leading to concerns about the future of the country and the potential resurgence of terrorist groups.

The war in Afghanistan had significant costs for both the US and Afghanistan. Thousands of US and NATO troops lost their lives, and the financial cost for the US was estimated to be over $2 trillion. For Afghanistan, the human toll was devastating, with countless civilians killed and millions displaced. The war also set back progress in areas such as women's rights and access to education.

The Taliban's treatment of Afghan citizens

Women's rights have been severely restricted under Taliban rule. Most women have been banned from working, and girls have been prohibited from attending secondary school and university. Women have also been banned from participating in sports and visiting public parks. They are not allowed to travel without a male chaperone and cannot appear in public without wearing a head-to-toe burqa. These restrictions have had a significant impact on women's lives, with reports of women-owned businesses being forcibly closed and an increase in depression and suicide among women and girls.

The Taliban have also cracked down on freedom of expression, targeting journalists and restricting press freedoms. According to Amnesty International, dozens of journalists have been arbitrarily arrested, harassed, or detained for reporting critically on the Taliban or violating their rules. As a result, more than half of the registered media outlets in Afghanistan have closed, and two-thirds of journalists have left their jobs.

Religious minorities, such as Shia Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, Christians, and Ahmadis, have faced marginalisation, prejudice, and discrimination under Taliban rule. The Taliban have imposed restrictions on religious events and celebrations, and have excluded Shia jurisprudence from the education system. Additionally, the Taliban have been accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity, including extrajudicial executions, torture, and enforced disappearances.

The Taliban's policies have also contributed to a deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, with the country facing rapid economic decline, hunger, inflation, and a near-collapse of the public health system. The UN estimates that two-thirds of Afghanistan's population, or 28.3 million people, require urgent humanitarian assistance. The Taliban's restrictions on women have further exacerbated the crisis, as women and girls are excluded from public life and denied access to education and employment opportunities.

Overall, the Taliban's treatment of Afghan citizens has been characterised by repression, human rights violations, and a denial of basic freedoms. Their harsh policies and persecution of minority groups have led to widespread suffering and a decline in living standards for the Afghan people.

The future of Afghanistan

The Taliban continues to object to elections and embraces an Iran-like model of governance, with a supreme religious council where they are the strongest actor. The group also wants to integrate its fighters into the Afghan military and intelligence services. The existing civil war can easily intensify into a far bloodier, fragmented, and protracted conflict before the Taliban comes to power.

The international community has a critical role to play in Afghanistan's future. The United States, in particular, needs to remain engaged in diplomatic efforts and continue providing financial, intelligence, and other remote support to the Afghan security forces. It should also shape the Taliban through prospects of international economic aid, sanctions, travel visas, and occasional strikes from offshore. Additionally, the U.S. should provide visas to Afghans who collaborated with them during the war.

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