August 31 marks the third anniversary of U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan – a day when the 20-year of occupation of Afghanistan came to an end and the country was seen controlled once again by Afghans. I believe this day is considered as a joyous moment for the entire Muslims who have always intended to see the country free from the U.S. and NATO military occupation and political colonialism. Therefore, we, Afghan Muslims, need to be extremely watchful to sustain this great achievement as a long-lasting milestone by not allowing the colonialism to return home by any other means, violating our freedom. Indeed, the U.S. occupation of Afghanistan, spanning from October 7, 2001 to August 31, 2021, brought about a multitude of dilemmas and challenges that deeply affected the nation’s political, economic, and cultural landscape. These challenges have left enduring scars on the Afghan people, creating complex and multi-layered difficulties that persist long after the withdrawal of foreign forces.
That’s to say that each aspect of the occupation’s impact, from political corruption to cultural disruption, played a pivotal role in leading Afghanistan towards various kinds of adversities. The occupation not only resulted in immediate civilian and material losses but also introduced long-term issues during the 20- year occupation that continued to hinder Afghanistan’s progress.
Under the following sections, this piece delves into the various facets of adversities caused by U.S. occupation, illustrating how they collectively contributed to the profound difficulties faced by the Afghan nation till now. Horrible Repercussions of 20- year U.S. Occupation 1. Unfortunately, the U.S. started to launch its military invasion of Afghanistan on October 7, 2001 under the guise of the ‘war on terror’ and ‘counternarcotic’ agendas. Later on, the U.S. installed a puppet regime in Afghanistan by convening a Loya Jirga (Grand Assembly) aimed at developing a Constitution for Afghanistan in 2004 – an assembly that was indirectly orchestrated by the U.S. (comprising of Afghan warlords, pro-Western characters and religious scholars) to introduce a new political system. The emerging system (republic) was heavily influenced by Western democratic ideals, which was rap idly implemented without adequate consideration for Afghanistan’s unique social and cultural context. This swift imposition of foreign governance models, coupled with a substantial influx of international aid, inadvertently fostered a culture of corruption within the Afghan republic regime. Besides, former Afghan officials, many of whom lacked experience or were selected based on their affiliations with foreign powers, found themselves in positions of power with little accountability.
As a matter of fact, this environment led to widespread misuse of public funds, with bribery, embezzlement, and nepotism becoming rampant. Thus, the very foundations of governance were compromised, leading to a significant erosion of public trust in the government’s ability to serve the people effectively. Moreover, in an attempt to maintain control and counter the military offensive of the Islamic groups, the U.S. and its allies empowered local warlords and militias, providing them with financial and military resources.
These warlords, many with notorious pasts, capitalized on this empowerment to further entrench their authority, often at the expense of the local populations. In fact, the empowerment of such individuals led to a fragmented political landscape, where power was concentrated in the hands of a few corrupt elites rather than distributed through transparent mechanisms to ensure that the voice of all populace is heard. Consequently, the political corruption that took root during the occupation has had long-lasting effects, weakening Afghanistan’s governance structures and making it challenging to establish a stable, effective administration that genuinely represents the Afghan people. 2. On the other hand, during the two decades of U.S. occupation, Afghanistan’s economy became increasingly dependent on foreign aid, which came to constitute a significant portion (75%) of the country’s GDP. While this aid was ostensibly intended to rebuild Afghanistan, it was often mismanaged or lost to corruption, failing to create sustainable economic development. As a result, Afghanistan’s economy remained shallow and fragile, lacking the necessary foundations for long-term growth. For instance, key sectors such as agriculture, which had historically been the backbone of Afghanistan’s economy, were neglected in favour of short-term projects that provided little enduring value. So, this focus on immediate visible outcomes rather than sustainable development led to an economy that was unable to support itself once foreign troops began to withdraw and international aid diminished. Additionally, despite the billions of dollars in aid and investment, Afghanistan’s infrastructure remained underdeveloped, with many roads, schools, hospitals, and other critical facilities either incomplete or of poor quality, especially in rural areas. The lack of robust infrastructure severely hampered economic growth, stifling business development and limiting the ability of Afghan citizens to access essential services. This infrastructure deficit, coupled with the economy’s reliance on foreign aid, perpetuated cycles of poverty and underdevelopment, leaving Afghanistan in a precarious economic position as the occupation came to an end. 3. It’s worth mentioning that the U.S. occupation of Afghanistan also brought about significant cultural transformation in urban settings, particularly through the influence of Western culture and lifestyle.
Courtesy of the Kabul Times, Daily. 31st August 2024.
