The War on Terror in Afghanistan

Overview of the Conflict

War on Terror refers to the U.S.-led coalition - Operation Enduring Freedom launched to overthrow the Taliban regime, which supported Al-Qaeda.

It began as a reaction to the 9/11 attacks carried out by Al Qaeda. It lasted two decades, from 2001 to 2021.

The 9/11 attacks, also referred to as the September 11 attacks, were four planned acts of terror by Islamist suicide groups that Al-Qaeda carried out against the United States on 11th September 2001. Nineteen terrorists took control of four commercial aircraft that were flying from the East Coast to California that morning. In an attack on the nation’s capital, the hijackers directed the following two planes toward targets in or around Washington, DC, after the first two crashed into the Twin Towers in New York City.

The fourth plane crashed in rural Pennsylvania during a passenger uprising, while the third managed to strike the Pentagon, the headquarters of the US Department of Defense.

The deadliest terrorist strike in history, the September 11 attacks claimed 2,977 lives and sparked a multi-decade worldwide war on terror that was fought in Afghanistan, Iraq and other places.

Operation Enduring Freedom

The September 11 attacks were orchestrated by Osama bin Laden to unite Islamic countries against non-Muslims.

US officials demanded Bin Laden’s extradition from Afghanistan. CIA's Robert Grenier negotiated with the Taliban for Bin Laden’s surrender, but negotiations failed.

President Bush issued an ultimatum demanding Bin Laden's immediate handover but the Taliban refused. In response, the US launched a military operation to dismantle Al-Qaeda and overthrow the Taliban government in Afghanistan.

The US targeted numerous Taliban and Al-Qaeda locations during Operation Enduring Freedom, forcing Bin Laden and other Al-Qaeda officials to escape Afghanistan. Al-Qaeda was essentially destroyed, and in the interim, the United States began to work with and assist the Northern Alliance, which was already engaged in an insurgency against the Taliban.

The United States, the United Kingdom and Afghanistan collaborated on Operation Enduring Freedom, which was distinct from the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) operations involving the United States and the United Kingdom.

The Bonn Agreement

The Bonn Agreement, signed on 5th December 2001 in Bonn, Germany, established a framework for Afghanistan's political reconstruction following the Taliban's collapse.

It created the Afghan Interim Authority (AIA) with a six-month mandate, to be succeeded by the Afghan Transitional Authority (ATA) which would conduct national elections.

The agreement also called for the establishment of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to ensure security and support the new administration.

The 30-member Afghan Interim Authority (AIA) was tasked with drafting a new constitution and integrating armed groups into the Afghan Armed Forces.

The Bonn Agreement aimed to restore peace, security, and human rights, addressing military demobilisation and international peacekeeping.

The Evolution of the Conflict Through the Years

The first phase of the conflict saw the end of Taliban control and the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

President Obama authorised Operation Neptune Spear, which was executed by SEAL Team 6. The SEALs killed bin Laden in Pakistan on 2nd May 2011, effectively concluding the primary rationale for America's involvement in the war on terrorism.

Despite the assassination of Osama bin Laden in 2011, the Taliban insurgency persisted and posed a challenge to the new government and international forces. Efforts to militarily defeat and reconstruct Afghan institutions during the second phase failed due to the Taliban's continued militant presence. As foreign soldiers began to withdraw, Afghanistan's military and police struggled to preserve security.

During the third phase, a counterinsurgency strategy was implemented, with a focus on protecting people and increasing force strength, however it fell short of expectations. In 2014, the US and NATO officially terminated Operation Enduring Freedom, but the fight continued under the name “Freedom's Sentinel”.

The Doha Agreement in 2020 laid the groundwork for the final withdrawal of US-led forces. The Taliban's offensive resulted in the fall of Kabul and the formation of a new temporary government in 2021.

Role of UN and NATO

Following the 9/11 attacks, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 1368, denouncing the assaults and affirming the right to self-defence.

The United Nations tasked the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to help establish a secure environment and support the newly formed Afghan Transitional Authority by providing security and supporting reconstruction work.

Agencies including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have offered crucial support to the Afghan populace affected by the fighting.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has addressed the opium trade as a source of funding for insurgent groups. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) was established to oversee elections and promote peace.

The UN has urged regional organisations, including the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), to collaborate on counter-terrorism operations and solve the humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan.

The Resolute Support Mission (RSM) was a NATO-led non-combat mission in Afghanistan that began on 1st January 2015, following the end of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) combat role.

US Withdrawal and Fall of Kabul

A turning point was reached in 2020 when the Trump administration decided to leave Afghanistan after the US-Taliban agreement was signed in Doha.

After Osama bin Laden was killed, the agreement called for troop withdrawals in return for Taliban counterterrorism guarantees.

The Afghan National Security Force (ANSF) collapsed in September 2021 because of the eventual full withdrawal under the Biden administration.

The ANSF's efforts to counter the Taliban insurgency were hindered by reduced US air support, which led to the Taliban's quick conquest of Kabul in August 2021, which put an end to America's longest conflict.