The U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, initiated in October 2001 in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, had profound and far-reaching consequences. The primary objective was to dismantle the Taliban regime, which had provided a safe haven for Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaeda, the terrorist group responsible for the September 11 attacks.
Initially, the U.S. military intervention achieved swift success in toppling the Taliban government and disrupting Al-Qaeda operations. However, over the years, the mission evolved into a complex and protracted nation-building effort. The U.S. and its allies faced challenges in establishing stable governance, addressing socio-economic issues, and countering a resurgent Taliban insurgency.
The conflict became the longest-running war in U.S. history, lasting nearly two decades. It exacted a significant human toll, with thousands of American and coalition forces, Afghan security personnel, and civilians losing their lives. The financial cost was staggering, amounting to trillions of dollars.
Despite efforts to establish a functional Afghan government and security forces, the situation remained precarious. The withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces in August 2021 marked a turning point, leading to the rapid collapse of the Afghan government and the Taliban's return to power. This turn of events sparked concerns about the potential resurgence of terrorism and raised questions about the long-term impact of the intervention.