Taliban, not US, will now decide the future of Afghanistan
The war that went for two-decades has finally taken a different course in Afghanistan. With the announcement of the US president- Joe Biden, the American forces will completely shut down its operations by 11th September, the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, in Afghanistan. Most of the troops and equipment have returned to the US soil, leaving 650 plus 300 American soldiers to guard and protect the US Embassy and Kabul Airport.
Many American families must be celebrating the return of their fathers, sons, brothers and friends from an endless war, but there are still many who are mourning the decision back in Afghanistan. US military experts are saying that the Afghanistan government may fall in the upcoming 12 months after the US troops leave Afghanistan. The danger of Taliban and Al-Qaeda unifying again is hovering over the heads of Afghan government and rest of the world. Thousands of people of Afghanistan have started applying for visas to get out of the country as they believe that the country is going towards the doomsday.
What was US doing in Afghanistan?
After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the US forces went deep down on the Afghanistan soil to neutralize Taliban who were harboring and giving support to Al-Qaeda and their terrorists activities. Since then, it has been fighting war with the Taliban and also has been reconstructing Afghanistan as a democratic nation. US has invested more than $145 billion in Afghanistan in the past 20 years, and half of it (around $88 billion) has been used to build Afghan security forces.
Has America accomplished its mission in Afghanistan?
On 2nd May 2011, US navy seals were successful in taking down the founder of Al-Qaeda- Osama Bin Laden. But it was not the only reason why the American forces were there in the Afghanistan. They were there to stop Taliban from giving roof to terrorist organisations. Up to some extent, America was successful in setting up a democracy in Afghanistan- even if it is weak. It has helped protect children and women rights. According to Global Partnership for Education (GPE), the largest global fund solely dedicated to transforming education in lower-income countries, the number of children enrolled in general education has increased from .9 million to 9.2 million with 39% girls since 2001. The number of schools in Afghanistan has increased by 382 percent. Out of 250 seats in the Afghanistan parliament, 68 seats are governed by women- that makes 27.2% of the total seats.
What were the consequences when the US forces had left Iraq?
Under the leadership of Barack Obama, US forces left Iraq after almost defeating the ISIS in 2011. But after three years, the US forces had to be re-sent to fight the rising Islamic States in the year 2014. The same is expected to happen in Afghanistan.
The American forces had invaded Iraq in 2003 to oust Saddam Hussain from power. In the eight years (2003–2011), America had lost more than 4000 men fighting the terrorist groups and stabilizing the government.
People and experts have been raising concerns against the incumbent president of America, Biden, over the decision to withdraw its forces form Afghanistan. The people of Afghanistan fear the rise of Taliban once again, which will exacerbate the present conditions of the country. According to a report of Asian Development Bank (2020), around 48% of the people in Afghanistan fall below the poverty line. The rising poverty and the dominance of the Taliban over the country will force men to pick weapons. The lives of the children and women will be pushed towards the never-ending atrocities over the period of time.