Abstract

Afghanistan has been in a state of perpetual civil war since the late 1970s, marked by foreign occupation in the form of two invasions: the Soviet invasion in 1979 and the US-led invasion in 2001 that overthrew the Taliban administration. Afghanistan's ability to affect neighboring countries' politics and societies has increased its significance. This study uses information gathered from secondary sources to examine the causes of the US war on terror in Afghanistan and how it has affected Pakistan.

Key Words

USA, Afghanistan, Pakistan, War on Terror, Impacts on Pakistan

Introduction

The landlocked nation of Afghanistan is situated in the center of South and Central Asia. The history and culture of Afghanistan have been significantly influenced by the country's physical terrain. One of the most remarkable aspects is the intricate network of mountains in the center of the nation. The primary social element of Afghan life is the separation of people into local clans or ethnic groups. Afghanistan is strategically vital to the region that connects the Middle East, South and Central Asia, and both. Afghanistan's strategic location has made it a target for numerous invasions. In order to establish their empires, local powers also used it as a base of invasion. After all, the heated rivalry between Britain and Russia during the 19th century was mostly caused by Afghanistan's strategic location. Following the Third Anglo-Afghan War, Afghanistan reclaimed its independence from Great Britain on August 19, 1919. Afghanistan has been in instability as a result of civil conflict between different Afghan warlords since the late 1970s. Foreign occupation—first by the USSR in 1979 and again by the US in 2001—toppled the Taliban government and made this even worse (Mead, 2002).

The government and the media frequently utilize the word "terrorism" in their communications. On the other hand, the attacked group's members and allies might identify as freedom fighters or use less derogatory terminology. It is therefore beneficial to define the phrase precisely. Terrorism is defined by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States as the unlawful use of force or violence against individuals or property with the intention of forcing a government or its citizens to adopt the political or social views of terrorists in order to influence them to change their minds. It's likely that terrorism has been around for a while. It appears that certain factions have consistently rebelled against the established order and employed illicit tactics to sway the governing body. For instance, Palestinian suicide bombers have killed several people in Israel by blowing up numerous buildings in recent times (Yusuf, 2018).

By providing food to Islamic jihadists, the United States trained and armed forces in Afghanistan to fight the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Following its disastrous invasion of the Soviet Union, the US withdrew entirely, leaving armed groups in the area and endangering global security. After the 9/11 attacks, the United States became a prime target and casualty of its own policies. As part of the Bush Doctrine, the United States invaded Afghanistan among other nations in order to combat the terrorist group and impose democracy in the nations it supports and harbors. For the first time in its history, NATO acted under Article 5 and took part in a collective intervention, meaning that the United States did not carry out this invasion alone. After winning, the US disappointed its NATO partners by leaving everything as it was and swiftly withdrew from the area, leaving the Taliban table (Mead, 2002).

Nineteen hijackers crashed two planes into the World Trade Center Twin Towers in New York, one jet into the Pentagon in Virginia, and a fourth airliner into a Pennsylvanian field on September 11, 2001. In all, 2,996 people—including the hijackers—were slain. Osama bin Laden, an Afghani resident at the time and a citizen of Saudi Arabia, was charged by the US with planning the attacks. George W. Bush responded by directing fruitless airstrikes against bin Laden in Afghanistan on October 7, 2001. It was frequently stated that nothing would remain the same in the world going forward following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It was therefore expected that US foreign policy would shift dramatically, particularly in the Middle East. A number of Middle Eastern nations were crucial in determining US foreign policy both during and after the Cold War. Nonetheless, following 9/11, US foreign policy did not drastically shift. There have undoubtedly been fresh perspectives and avenues for action, but they could better be defined as the development of foreign policy than as anything entirely novel (Mustafa, 2021). 

The United States began efforts to bring about 

peace in Afghanistan following the overthrow of the Taliban regime in December 2001. When the Taliban administration was defeated by the United States, its allies in the West, and the Northern Afghan Alliance, the Taliban's rival in the civil war, many Afghan technocrats and Western diplomats aspired to build a stable and representative government. Between 2001 and 2003, the Bush administration paid little attention to these issues because of the United States. However, it has proven to be a challenging challenge to impose a Western-style democracy on a country that has recently suffered two decades of anarchy, especially considering Afghanistan's underdeveloped economy. There are several ethnic and sectarian conflicts among the different ethnic groupings. The warlords, who control separate sources of power within the government, have become increasingly strong over the previous 20 years of instability, but the main problem is that they are now posing a threat to the legitimacy of the central government in all domains, including tax collection, security, and law enforcement. The military intended to withdraw swiftly from Afghanistan. Their goal was to "kill or capture" the leaders of Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. However, when insurgencies became more violent after 2004, the Bush administration changed its strategy for fighting in Afghanistan to focus on state-building. This strategy also proved problematic for a number of reasons: first, the Afghan leadership lacked experience in democratic national governance, which made it difficult to implement a representative system with fair elections; second, the United States and other Western countries were focused on developing Kabul. Still, this disdain for rural communities has facilitated the Taliban's resurgence and their challenge to state control over large swaths of the country. The US-led efforts to build a strong, centralized state in Kabul to maintain the rule of law in Afghanistan following the Taliban's defeat have not progressed very far. Because of its inexperience and incompetence, Kabul's leadership has created a corrupt system that is hard to overthrow. The Afghan war has little significance under the "America First" ideology of the Trump administration. Politicians in the Trump administration have already given up on nearly ten years of efforts to establish a centralized, democratic, and stable government in Kabul, losing faith in their Afghan friends. Politicians in the Trump administration have already lost faith in their Afghan allies, giving up on over ten years of work to create a centralized, democratic, and stable government in Kabul.

There has been a dearth of clarity and consistency over policies, strategic objectives, and simultaneous execution around the US intervention in Afghanistan. In 2001, the Bush administration penalized al-Qaeda and the Taliban by using just a war model. Following the initial military victories, the US government attempted to establish a democratic government in Afghanistan modeled like Weber's. In the meantime, the Taliban launched insurgent attacks against the coalition forces led by the US after regrouping and consolidating in Afghan territories. Despite implementing a counterterrorism strategy, the Bush administration has not been able to stop the Taliban's march. The Obama administration then put forth the plan for force build-up and departure, which, considering the unstable security environment in Afghanistan, may be partially implemented. The Trump administration was able to strike a peace agreement with the Taliban towards the end of 2020, but it was unable to achieve a political settlement within Afghanistan (Yusuf, 2018). 

In February 2020, after more than a year of direct negotiations, the Taliban and the US government signed the so-called Doha Accord. A deadline for the US military's withdrawal from Afghanistan was part of this agreement. In accordance with the agreement, the US will begin the withdrawal of approximately 8,500 troops in 135 days and complete it in 14 months. In return, the Taliban pledged to negotiate with the Afghan government and prevent terrorist groups from operating within their sphere of influence. However, there hasn't been a formal cease-fire. For a brief period, the violence abruptly stopped, but the Taliban quickly resumed attacking Afghan military personnel and civilians. Direct negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan government began months after they had agreed to begin in March 2020. However, not much was achieved at the end of the negotiations due to numerous delays. The conflict in Afghanistan continued in 2020 and 2021 as a result of intensified US airstrikes and operations against the Taliban. The Taliban gained a significant amount of fresh land by attacking ANDSF and Afghan government targets in retaliation. In April 2021, US President Joe Biden announced that US forces would leave Afghanistan by September of the same year. The Taliban began seizing more territory shortly after they intensified their attacks against ANDSF outposts and barracks. Despite ongoing peace efforts with the Afghan government, the Taliban have been occupying and contesting territory around the country. In May 2021, the US military increased the rate of soldier departures. By the end of July 2021, the United States had completed around 95% of its withdrawal, leaving only 650 personnel to secure the US embassy in Kabul. The government of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani collapsed after his departure. Later that day, the Taliban announced that they had taken control of Kabul, entered the presidential mansion, and set up checkpoints to maintain security. The rate at which the Taliban acquired territory and the disintegration of the ANDSF and the Afghan government surprised US officials, allies, and even the Taliban themselves, despite their earlier astute assessment of the situation on the ground. On August 26, 2021, after the Taliban took control, the Biden administration authorized the deployment of 5,000 additional troops to help evacuate American and allied personnel as well as thousands more Afghans who were working with the US and attempting to flee. At least 169 Afghans and thirteen American soldiers were killed in two suicide attacks that occurred near the Kabul airport in 2021. The attacks have been attributed to the Islamic State. The US military has completed its withdrawal, according to a Pentagon announcement on August 31, 2021. As a result, personnel and any remaining US citizens must evacuate via diplomatic channels (Mustafa, 2021).




Statement of the Problem

Afghanistan saw the start of a global war in 2001 as a result of the September 11 attacks. The cause of the Afghan war is the main topic of this study. It examines how conflict affects Afghanistan as well. It learns how and when the Afghanistan War came to a conclusion. 




Research Questions

? What was the major cause of US involvement in the Afghan war?

? What are the impacts of the Afghan war on Pakistan?                              




Significance of the Study

Afghanistan is a nation rich in natural resources,

with resources estimated to be worth $1–3 trillion hidden beneath its surface. It has resources of gold, lithium, copper, iron ore, and valuable jewels. Because of its lithium riches, nations including China, Russia, India, and the United States are fighting for access to these reserves. The reader will benefit from this research by gaining a comprehensive understanding of the Afghanistan War. This research will elucidate the factors that led to the conflict. It will draw attention to the effects of conflict. 

Methodology

Qualitative research methods were used in this study. The information was obtained via reading through a variety of sources, including literature reviews. The majority of the secondary sources used to collect the information were books, journals, and internal sources. 




Geo-Strategic Relevance since World War II 

The vast Hindu Kush mountain range divides Afghanistan into its northern and southern regions. Macro Polo referred to the northeastern Pamir Mountains, which straddle Tajikistan, Pakistan, and China, as the "roof of the world." The Suleiman range's passes, including the well-known Khyber Pass, offer access to the Indian subcontinent to the east. 

However, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 thrust the nation back into the spotlight, and as more regional powers intervened, the geopolitical balance of the subcontinent drastically shifted. In the aforementioned background, Afghanistan's geostrategic significance cannot be understated, and its significance increased with the fall of the Soviet Union. Infecting the nation has evolved into a new terrorist hotspot (Galdo, 2020).




Taliban and the Impact on the Geo-Strategic Environment

After Russia eventually left Afghanistan, the mujahideen, who were supported by the US, took over. America's subsequent retreat from the region produced a power vacuum, which allowed sectarian groups (the Taliban) to seize control, instead of continuing to assist neutral states. Russia and the West had given up on Afghanistan, so the Taliban only wanted to push their agenda rather than serve as mediators. In addition to serving as a land bridge from Afghanistan to Central Asia, the country has given rise to a number of extremist groups, including Uyghur separatists and Kashmiri jihadists, and has served as a suitable launchpad for their operations. Asia Central. Afghanistan's historical and geopolitical background has made matters more difficult. Because they vowed to put an end to the prevailing chaos, the war-torn populace originally welcomed the Taliban. But their later ascent to power and mental shift—from a lack of desire to hold political office to a flat reluctance to cede authority—have thrust Afghanistan into yet another unstable era. Afghanistan was therefore a legally indivisible territory with fractured power up to December 2001. 

The threat of Islamic extremism that has hovered over Central Asian states since 1991 soon became a reality thanks to the Taliban, who were guests of Al-Qaeda and its leader, Osama bin Laden (Khan, 2009).

The security situation in the region has gotten worse due to the strengthening linkages between terrorist groups including the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, Chechen rebels, Uyghur separatists, and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. 

The US and the Taliban were headed toward conflict after the US embassy attacks in 1998. But the assaults on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, roused the world and made it face the threat posed by the Taliban and their sympathizers.

The United States and its allies' global war on terror had caused a great deal of unrest in the area. The United States presence in Afghanistan presents an opportunity to control the nuclear states of the area, including Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran, and India. Work toward this goal has already begun, as seen by the pressure placed on Iran and Pakistan (Galdo, 2020).




Causes of US Intervention in Afghanistan

Following the World Trade Center and Pentagon bombings, the US government justified its invasion of Afghanistan by citing the need to combat terrorism, provide humanitarian aid, and advance freedom and democracy in the country. The Bush administration chose to focus on these as the most significant demands from the Afghan populace. However, the conflict in Afghanistan had more underlying causes and objectives. Above all, they were economic, geopolitical, and political (Khan, 2009).

The Political Reasons

The 9/11 Attacks: The American Excuse to Invade Afghanistan

Following the events of September 11, 2001, the Pentagon's headquarters in Virginia and the World Trade Center's towers in New York have been declared unsafe. The US government immediately denounced Al-Qaeda and then accused it of carrying out the attacks. Bush's administration declared war on bin Laden, the al-Qaeda organization, and the terrorists who threatened to kill bin Laden and al-Qaeda members. Less than two months after the September 11 attacks, the United States began its war in Afghanistan. Following the 9/11 attacks, the United States of America invaded Afghanistan. Their primary goals were the removal of the Taliban from power, particularly when they had begun to support bin Laden and al-Qaeda members, the capture of bin Laden, and the bombing of al-Qaeda headquarters. Meanwhile, as Bush has said, the installation of a democratic government in Afghanistan and the delivery of humanitarian relief to the Afghan people were unavoidable (Mustafa, 2021).




Humanitarian Intervention

Paradoxically, Americans asserted that their 9/11-related US operation in Afghanistan was a humanitarian effort. Millions of tons of food aid have been provided to the starving Afghan people as a result of US assistance, particularly since the Taliban seized most of the country's territory and turned it into opium production. In addition, Bush stated in his nationally televised speech: "We will leave food, medicine, and supplies for the starving and sick men, women, and children of Afghanistan as we strike military targets." (Thomes, 2021)




The War on Terror

The US administration claims that its invasion of Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks was an attempt to eradicate terrorism there. Afghanistan was perceived by Americans as a terrorist organization's sponsor and source of new recruits for the attacks on the United States of America in 2001. In his January 29, 2002, State of the Union address, President Bush gave this assurance. Although our fight against terrorism is far from over, it is already well underway. I won't wait for things to happen until the dangers mount. Because the danger is approaching, I won't resist. The United States of America will not allow the most dangerous regimes in the world to use the most devastating weapons to attack us. On the other hand, a lot of detractors connected the 9/11 events to the US war on terror rhetoric and its occupation of Afghanistan. American economist Michel Chossudovsky of the University of Ottawa has harshly chastised the Bush administration for its use of force in Afghanistan. According to Chossudovsky, the United States justified its war crimes in Afghanistan by using the fight against terror. In addition, he denounced the abuses committed against the civilian populace of Afghanistan and verified that the US government was utilizing the country's mountains and territory as a nuclear weapons testing ground. For instance, the impacts of low-yield nuclear weapons on the Afghan population and environment were not taken into account during their testing. Thus, the American call to test nuclear weapons during the raids on the American attacks on the Taliban and al-Qaeda headquarters was part of the American war against terrorism. Chossudovsky also asserted that the Americans were merely employing bin Laden as a pretext to fabricate an external adversary in order to fulfill their imperialist ambitions in Central Asia. Chossudovsky has given himself to Le Figaro, a French daily, to argue his case against the American claims regarding the capture of Bin Laden, the guy the American government is most interested in after the assaults against two American embassies in East Africa  (Wahab, 2021).

This newspaper claims that two months prior to the assaults on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center in New York, bin Laden was receiving medical care at the American hospital in Dubai. In addition, the CIA visited bin Laden in the hospital together with some of his family members and several Saudi and Emirati officials, demonstrating that they were aware of his presence there. On this premise, they may have captured Osama Bin Laden in Dubai prior to 9/11. However, they would not have a reason to launch a significant military action in Central Asia and the Middle East. Noam Chomsky, an American political essayist, linguist, and historian, has condemned the use of violence in Afghanistan following the September 11 attacks. Chomsky stated that the 1998 American bombing of Sudan, in which the country destroyed the Al-Shifa pharmaceutical complex and slaughtered countless innocent civilians prior to the September 11 attacks, would be extremely severe in an interview with Salon.com on January 16, 2002. the cause behind the 2001 American bombings. Chomsky argued that Afghanistan's foreign policy throughout the globe was the reason behind the 9/11 attacks, characterizing the 1998 actions in Sudan as massacres. Chomsky went on to claim that the US war on terror is nothing more than propaganda designed to enhance US interests in Central Asia. 

In addition, he endorses a plan put forth by Anglo-American military historian Michael Howard. Howard thinks that rather than using force and going to war in Afghanistan after the events of 9/11, the US should have looked into the attacks and attempted to bring those guilty to justice.

Chomsky also offered his thoughts on the US's assertion that it is using military force against Afghanistan in self-defense. He claimed that as a result, there was no armed attack on the United States. However, in order to further its own imperialist objectives, it broke the law and invaded Afghanistan. Last but not least, in response to a query concerning the difference between the US and the Al-Qaeda group, Chomsky characterizes US participation as state terrorism and Al-Qaeda's operations as private terrorism. Chomsky's portrayal of the US seems accurate in that it emphasizes the terrible crimes the US carried out in Afghanistan under the pretext of the War on Terror, leaving countless civilians dead, homeless, and orphaned. Ironically, in order to accomplish its own imperialist objectives and intervene in Afghanistan, the US employed al-Qaeda, which it had founded during the Afghan-Soviet conflict, to carry out the foreign enemy's strategies. In conclusion, US foreign policy in Afghanistan and around the world during the post-Cold War era was largely to blame for the 9/11 attacks (Rasouli, 2020).

Democracy Promotion

The advancement of democracy was one of the objectives that Bush, as the US, sought to accomplish in Afghanistan following the invasion in 2001. The Bush administration prioritized the establishment of a democratic government in Afghanistan. The goal of the US administration was to overthrow the allegedly oppressive Taliban government and install a duly elected one in its place. Thus, democracy and reforms will make [Middle Eastern states] stronger and more stable and make the globe safer by undercutting terrorism at its source. This would help remove radical extremism and protect American security. There has been a void in the political landscape since the fall of the Taliban regime. As a result, on November 26, 2001, in Bonn, Germany, the United States and the NATO coalition met with the backing of the United Nations to discuss establishing a legal government and assessing the political climate in Afghanistan. Thus, presidential elections were held in Afghanistan in 2004 following the development of a new constitution. Hamid Karzai, a pro-Western and anti-Taliban coalition, won the elections in Afghanistan and was backed by the invaders (Kondrasuk, 2004).

The US administration backed Hamid Karzai, the first elected president of Afghanistan following the US invasion. Latif, Abbas, and Sardar claim that Karzai's presidential campaign was aided by US assistance. Moreover, they contended that Vice President Dick Cheney and his spouse's attendance at President Karzai's inauguration on December 2, 2002, provides strong proof of US backing for Karzai (Ilardi, 2009).

Additionally, on May 23, 2005, President Bush endorsed Hamid Karzai during a joint news conference, saying, "It is an honor to stand with the first democratically elected leader in Afghanistan's 5,000-year history." As a leader, I trust this man. He showed incredible bravery in the face of adversity. He was an effective leader. He is one of our nation's closest friends. There must be a reason for America to back Hamid Karzai. In order to finish building an oil pipeline across Afghanistan, which has been planned since the 1990s, the US administration sought to designate a significant figure in that country. The US needed Karzai to carry out their plan. had also collaborated extensively with US energy firms to construct the pipeline on Afghan territory when the Taliban were in power. The US's assertion that it had extended democracy in Central Asia following its invasion of that country was merely a front for its imperialist objectives. In an attempt to overthrow the Taliban administration and build a new one that will allow it to appoint whoever it wants as president and then manipulate it to further its own agenda(Kondrasuk, 2004). 




The Geo-Political Reasons: The Geo-Strategic Location of Afghanistan

Afghanistan occupies an area of about 652,230

square kilometers and is situated in both Central and South Asia. It shares borders with Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Pakistan on the west and north, Iran on the east, and China on the northeast. Because of its location in the middle of the area, it has significant strategic significance. Afghanistan also has an abundance of natural resources, including natural gas, oil, copper, iron, and other minerals. The natural richness of the Afghan landscape is another well-known feature. Its significance is increased by several tall, powerful mountains, long, flowing rivers, and valleys like the Helmand River. Afghanistan is seen as being crucial because of its location in the center of Asia. It is also referred to as the entry point to the Silk Road, a path used for global trade, and the Indian subcontinent. The Afghan territories have been a battleground for numerous superpowers in the present and numerous invaders in the past due to their geostrategic importance and vigor. The most recent occupation in Afghan history occurred during the US occupation in 2001.

Afghanistan's unique geostrategic location in Asia and the world defines its geography. After the events of 9/11, these characteristics would have had a significant impact on the American decision to go to war in Afghanistan. Furthermore, American goals and projects in Central Asia will come to fruition with the invasion of Afghan territory. The American administration's long-standing fixation on establishing a favorable government and eliminating the Taliban from the political, economic, and geostrategic spheres of influence in Central Asia is evident. Afghanistan's geopolitical location is important since it will help the Americans in their Caspian operations. From an economic standpoint, the United States had to ship gas and oil from Oman over the sea to other countries that needed to ship gas and oil from Afghanistan's neighboring countries. Therefore, using Afghan territory to do this was appropriate: Afghanistan's geographic location as a possible transit route for its oil and gas exports from Central Asia to the Arabian Sea accounts for much of the country's significance from an energy standpoint. Moreover, the deployment of US forces in Afghanistan could be construed, from an ideological standpoint, as an attempt by the US to consolidate power and expand its influence throughout Central Asia. Afghanistan is an excellent place for Americans to live next door as it borders most of the country's rivals, such as China, Iran, and Russia. US Congressmen have argued in this regard. The United States, therefore, has a crucial interest in this region of the world and must take the lead in helping to determine an outcome if Central Asia today turns out to be the center of a big new game. advantageous for the entire area. This is a mutually reinforcing game in which the impact of opponents will undoubtedly diminish as US power and influence in Central Asia grows. Building military bases was another of the US's post-invasion military objectives in Afghanistan. For a number of reasons, the US administration intends to maintain a permanent presence in Central Asia. One possible justification for the establishment of permanent military outposts in Afghanistan is the protection and upkeep of US interests in the Caspian Sea; Washington and its NATO allies have established a permanent military presence in Afghanistan as part of the Afghanistan-US security alliance formed under Obama's Asian axis, with military outposts situated close to China's western border. The purpose of the event was to enable the US to keep its nine permanent military bases, which are positioned strategically near Iran, China, Pakistan, and the frontiers of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. In this post-Cold War age, the United States of America plays the role of global policeman. In fact, it fabricates justifications for war and involvement in other nations, including counterterrorism, humanitarian intervention, and appeasement, in order to achieve its hedonistic goals. The clearest illustration of US self-interest is the US engagement in Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks. Afghanistan's natural gas and oil resources are insufficiently rich. However, it is essential to the region's efficient connectivity. For this reason, the nation and its citizens have become victims in the area. Everyone is attempting to work together with Afghanistan in order to use this nation as a tool to further their objectives (Ilardi, 2009).




The Economic Reasons: Gas and Oil Pipelines and Mineral Resources

It is generally asserted that the United States of America sent soldiers to Afghanistan in order to combat terrorism and expel extremists. But there are a lot of incentives, including monetary ones. Indeed, the Caspian region's oil riches have always piqued the curiosity of the United States. They ended up in this situation for other, more financial reasons. Chevron was among the American oil firms that substantially invested in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan starting in 1991. In this instance, Russia has declined to grant permission for them to move these energy resources to oil terminals via its pipelines. Americans have had a strong interest in Central Asia's energy resources, particularly the Caspian Sea, since the 1990s. The Americans moved to further their imperialist objectives as soon as they set foot on Afghan territory. After the invasion, American interests in Afghanistan extended beyond oil and gas. Additionally, the Americans tried to steal from Afghanistan's mineral reserves. The New York Times reported on June 13, 2010, that the US found $1 trillion in undeveloped mineral deposits in Afghanistan: Afghanistan may eventually rank among the world's most significant mining centers due to the previously undiscovered deposits, which include enormous veins of iron, copper, cobalt, gold, and critical industrial metals like lithium. US officials claim that these deposits are so vast and contain so many minerals that are vital to modern industry. All of these changes in US-Afghanistan relations demonstrate that US strategy in Afghanistan is driven more by self-interest than by the desire to see Afghanistan develop and flourish as they had previously stated (Eggers, 2017).




Impacts on Pakistan

South Asian security has been significantly impacted by the US-led conflict in Afghanistan. The Taliban rule was first overthrown in 2001 as a result of the conflict, which was intended to topple the Taliban and destroy the al-Qaeda terrorist organization. The Taliban were able to reorganize and mount a persistent insurgency against the Afghan government and its Western backers, although not totally vanquished. The conflict in Afghanistan has also had a major impact on Pakistan's security condition. Due to the two nations' porous borders, which permit terrorists to travel freely between Afghanistan and Pakistan, a number of militants have emerged in Pakistan's tribal areas. These organizations have increased the level of unease in the nation by launching attacks on both military and civilian targets. A significant refugee problem has also been brought on by the US war in Afghanistan, with millions of Afghans escaping to nearby nations like Pakistan and Iran. These nations' resources have been stretched, and social and economic difficulties have also resulted from this. The resources of these host countries are being taxed due to the increasing number of refugees. For instance, Pakistan's government has had difficulty meeting the needs of the vast number of refugees residing there by offering basic amenities like healthcare and education. Along with social and economic difficulties, it has intensified rivalry for housing and employment.

Pakistan has suffered greatly as a result of the US war in Afghanistan, in part due to its close proximity to the battle zone and its importance as a transit hub for Afghan fighters and refugees. Following are some specifics regarding the influence in Pakistan along with citations:




Refugee Crisis

For more than 40 years, Pakistan has provided shelter to Afghan refugees. As of December 2020, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that there were over 1.4 million Afghan refugees registered in Pakistan, making it the country with the second-highest refugee population globally, after Turkey. 

Pakistan's infrastructure, social system, and economy are all suffering from the refugee crisis. Since militants have a history of using refugee camps as hideouts and recruiting grounds, it has also added to security worries (Bellal, 2011).




Militancy

In Pakistan's tribal regions, especially in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) that border Afghanistan, the US war in that country has increased militancy. For an extended period, FATA has served as a refuge for extremists, and the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan has stimulated militancy in the area. Despite multiple military operations by the Pakistani government against FATA militants, the region is still insecure. 

"The Pakistan-Afghanistan border region remained a haven for terrorist organizations in 2020," a US Department of Defense assessment states. The research highlights the fact that the Pakistani government has not done enough to impede the Taliban and other militant groups from continuing their attacks on Afghanistan from Pakistan (Connah, 2021).




Economic Impact

Pakistan was also impacted economically by the war in Afghanistan. Trade and commerce have been hampered by the closing of border crossings between the two nations, particularly the border post at Torkham. The Pakistani economy has lost more than $1 billion as a result of the shutdown of the Torkham border crossing alone, according to a report by the Pakistan Business Council. 

All things considered, Pakistan has suffered greatly from the US war in Afghanistan, particularly with regard to the refugee issue, militancy, and economic upheaval. Even though the Pakistani government has made progress in addressing these issues, serious and persistent worries still exist.

(Azizian, 2021) 

Conclusion

It is concluded that thousands of people died on September 11, 2001, as a result of an attack on American soil by Osama bin Laden's terrorist organization, al Qaeda. The World Trade Center in New York City was destroyed when two hijacked jets flew into it. A second hijacked aircraft crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., in the meantime. After passengers regained control of the aircraft, a fourth hijacked aircraft crashed. This plane was most likely intended to crash into the US Capitol or the White House. Attackers quickly pinpointed Osama bin Laden and his terrorist organization, al Qaeda, as the cause of the strikes. President Bush ordered Afghanistan to hand over Osama bin Laden on September 20. Around this time, the US and the Taliban regime began their appeasement process over Osama bin Laden's surrender. Invoking Article V of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the United States called on its allies, including Britain, to stand with it against the Taliban and al Qaeda on October 4. The US began bombing Afghanistan on October 7 and began its invasion of that country. After considering the issue from a number of perspectives, it became clear that the US invasion of Afghanistan following 9/11 was not carried out to combat terrorism or aid the Afghan people. The 9/11 attacks were utilized by the US to occupy Afghanistan and further its avaricious goals that the US administration had established a long time before the assaults happened. US troops in Afghanistan are purportedly there to defend the country's battle against terrorism. In addition, the United States of America sought to advance democracy and establish a democratic government in Afghanistan in order to safeguard its self-serving objectives and offer free services to its citizens in Central Asia and Afghanistan. This is precisely what the Americans accomplished when they safeguarded Hamid Karzai's election. the Afghan leader who supported America, and kept him in office. The security environment in South Asia has been significantly impacted by the US war in Afghanistan. There are now worries about terrorism and instability in the region due to the Taliban's comeback and the emergence of other militant groups. These developments have a significant impact on the security and stability of the region. Millions of Afghans have fled to neighboring countries as a result of the US war in Afghanistan, creating a serious refugee problem. These countries' resources are now heavily burdened, and social and economic difficulties have resulted. Last but not least, on April 14, 2021, President Biden announced that instead of releasing a plane for a full withdrawal by September 11, 2021, the United States would not meet the May 1 date set by the Taliban agreement to remove all troops. He says that the longest-running struggle in US history ought to end. The 3,500 remaining troops in Afghanistan will be withdrawn regardless of the outcome of intra-Afghan peace talks or the Taliban's reduction in attacks against Afghan security forces and civilians. NATO forces will also be withdrawing from Afghanistan. Biden stated that Washington will maintain the peace process and support Afghan security forces. Biden stated that Washington will maintain the peace process and support Afghan security forces. The Taliban says that until all foreign forces are out of Afghanistan, they will not take part in any talks about the country's future. 

References

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