Afghanistan has had a turbulent history. Having acted as a buffer between the British and Russian Empires in centuries past, and following a brief period of democracy in the twentieth century, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979. This led to other countries, including the United States, becoming involved, and a long and destructive war began.Even after the Soviets withdrew in 1989, civil war continued. In 1996, a hardline movement called the Taliban took control of the capital, Kabul, and within a couple of years their forces occupied almost all of the country.
Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the U.S. and its coalition allies launched a military campaign in Afghanistan in October 2001, which led to the fall of the Taliban later that year.
A conference sponsored by the United Nations and held in Bonn, Germany, in December 2001 created an interim government and established an agreement among four Afghan groups (excluding the Taliban and Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin, an Islamist party) to restore stability and build a permanent government. A new constitution was ratified in January 2004, and in October 2004, Afghanistan held its first national democratic presidential election. More than 8 million Afghans voted, more than 40% of whom were women.
Unfortunately violent conflict remains in parts of Afghanistan and the U.S. maintains a military presence there, which will remain throughout 2016 and draw down with a transition to a lead role by Afghanistan’s own forces. Concerns about the international community’s long-term commitment to Afghanistan following the transition to Afghan-led security are central to current dialogue and decision-making. Efforts to guarantee stability continue to be undermined by the Taliban-led insurgency that has access to safe-havens in Pakistan and the implications of a political settlement with the Taliban and other armed opposition groups.
Despite Afghanistan’s persistent violence, Afghans remain resilient and continue to show progress by laying the foundations for a more representative government that meets the need of its people. With the assistance of international support, Afghans have been able to hold five national elections, enroll millions of children in public school, and establish a robust environment for the media and dramatic improvement in women’s representation in public life and government. Still, as the international presence in Afghanistan lingers, the state remains fragile and reliant on international support to sustain basic functions.
