The insurgency in Afghanistan has remained resilient for nearly two decades. After the forces of the United States of America toppled into the regime, which led to the longest war of the United States.
The terrorists of Al-Qaeda had hijacked four commercial aircraft and then made them crash into the World Trade Center(WTC) on 9/11 in New York and the Pentagon in Washington DC. The fourth plane did crash at the open field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Three thousand people approximately lost their lives in the terrorist attack.
On 18th September 2018, the former US President George W. Bush had signed a joint resolution authorizing the force against those who should be answerable for the terrorist attack on the United States on 9/11. The US-led allied forces had then declared war on terrorism.
On 7th October 2001, the US armed forces, with the support of the British government, started a shelling crusade against the powers of the Taliban. Through this, they have formally created Operation Enduring freedom. Various other countries such as Canada, Australia, Germany had pledged to support in future.
Initially, the US started the war against terrorism by striking Al-Qaeda and the forces of the Taliban. However, they were assisted by a partnership done by about one thousand special forces of the US, the Ethnic Pashtun anti-Taliban forces, and the Northern Alliance.
On 9/11, the face of global terrorism had seen a total change. There was a new brand of terrorist activity that had emerged suddenly whose scope and severity was unknown.
Failure of War Against Terror in Afghanistan
As per recent reports published by the Times of India, the Taliban had been able to seize about two-thirds of Afghanistan. It had occurred because of the starting of the withdrawal of the US and the NATO forces. There have also been reports that the Afghan forces had left their nation and fled.
Before the withdrawal of the US forces from Afghanistan, US president Joe Biden had concluded that the war they have been fighting for the last several years is unwinnable, and the situation is far from a military solution.
The officials of Afghanistan had been pursuing to tone down the effect of the withdrawal of the US forces on the capabilities of their Afghan forces. However, it has been assessed that the withdrawal of the US forces can help the Taliban take a massive lead on the battlefield. Taliban has been able to come to a significantly stronger position than that at any point before 2001.
The forces’ operations, which have an estimated strength of about 60,000 fighters, may rise and continue against the forces of Afghanistan. Many analysts believe that the Taliban forces would agree to shut down the violence and the argument of the intra-afghan political settlement and the reduction of violence. It can also pave the way for a comprehensive ceasefire.
According to the news reports, there are about 2.5 million refugees from Afghanistan.
Way Forward In Afghanistan
The solution to the problem in Afghanistan doesn’t lie in military action. Solution with the aim of political agreement and stability can be the way forward for the recent instability in Afghanistan. As stated by the White House, the US President had indicated that they could not continue the cycle of expanding or extending the military presence of the US in Afghanistan. He had also mentioned in a speech that it’s time to conclude the most extended warfare in the history of America.
Joe Biden is the fourth American president to preside over the presence of the US troops in Afghanistan. He doesn’t want to pass on this responsibility to the fifth president.
To reach a political consensus in Afghanistan, it is required to encourage the terrorists out there to lay down their arms. But it must not be done in such a manner that does not estrange the members of the populace, those who remained loyal to the government of Afghanistan.
The basis of the advancement to happen in Afghanistan would depend on the capability of the government of Afghanistan to rally the people through the inspirations. However, alterations of the perception of Afghanistan would require a long-term strategic approach. The approach has to be merged with both words and actions, which can bring peace and political stability to the country.
So, from the article above, it is clearly understood that military actions cannot end the long problem of terrorism and unrest in Afghanistan. Political agreement is the only way forward to bring an end to this. Having a political solution lies in the hands of the people of Afghanistan only. There has to be a transparent foreign policy exchange which is the way forward.
