Today marks the 18th anniversary of the US invasion of Afghanistan. Eighteen years ago today, American forces launched attacks on Taliban targets in Afghanistan with the aim to oust the Taliban regime and eliminate the al-Qaeda network which was blamed for the 9/11 attacks. Although the United States accomplished the two objectives in the early months of their mission, American goals gradually began to alter, embroiling US forces in a conflict with no end yet in sight.
After almost two decades of war, hundreds of thousands of deaths and billions of dollars spent, the situation in Afghanistan remains volatile. Terrorism not only has not been eliminated but also strengthened, and the number of terror groups has increased multifold. Prior to the US invasion of Afghanistan, only al-Qaeda as a foreign terrorist group was operating in the country, but there are now, according to Afghan and US officials, about 20 active terrorist outfits. Besides the surge in number, they have also grown in strength.
The US has been unsuccessful not only in the war on terror but also in its efforts for state building and promotion of democracy. In spite of receiving massive financial and technical support from the international community, Afghanistan is unfortunately yet to get a government capable of independently prevailing over domestic and foreign challenges and threats. While Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) have assumed leadership of the fight against terrorism, they still heavily rely on foreign troops in terms of air and logistical support, and have not yet achieved the capabilities to fight the militants by their own. Moreover, the endeavors to strengthen democracy and Afghan government institutions have not come to fruition. Afghanistan still lacks the capacity to hold transparent, nationwide, and acceptable election despite the international support over last two decades. The state institutions have not been able to win public trust.
Considering past experience and failures, the United States must bring a foundational change to its policies in Afghanistan. By ensuring the success of peace talks, Washington can contribute to Afghanistan’s stability and the strengthening of democratic values through political and economic support after troop withdrawal.
