Afghanistan Peace CampaignThe twenty-year presence of the United States in Afghanistan was also costly for Washington.
September 11 was a significant global event that had extensive economic, political, and security repercussions for Afghanistan.
After the attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States and NATO member countries sent their military and economic forces to Afghanistan. The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001 under the banner of fighting terrorism and narcotics. This invasion led to the fall of the first rule of the Islamic Emirate and marked the beginning of a new era in Afghanistan’s political history.
Salim Paigir, a political analyst, said: “During the twenty years after the September 11 attacks, the Americans even used the Mother of All Bombs in Afghanistan. The Americans achieved no success in Afghanistan, and they failed in all three of their objectives—fighting terrorism, fighting narcotics, and state-building.”
Despite these international efforts, Afghanistan continued to face serious security and economic challenges. In the twenty years following September 11, Afghanistan witnessed the influx of billions of dollars in financial aid from the international community.
Sayad Akbar Sial Wardak, a political analyst, told TOLOnews: “The Islamic regime that existed was overthrown by the international community, and another system based on democratic values emerged in Afghanistan, bringing about significant changes in political, economic, and other sectors.”
The twenty-year presence of the United States in Afghanistan was also costly for Washington. Nearly 2,460 American soldiers were killed, and over 21,000 others were wounded.
Abdul Zuhoor Mudaber, an economic analyst, commented: “It is said that around four trillion dollars flowed into Afghanistan; however, unfortunately, it was not spent on a productive economy but rather on a consumptive one.”
Now, twenty-three years after the events of September 11 that led to the US invasion of Afghanistan, the Islamic Emirate has once again taken power in the country, with over three years passing since its re-establishment. Despite expanding its political and economic relations with regional and trans-regional countries, it has yet to be officially recognized by any country.