ROMSO Cyprus Knowledge Base

War in Afghanistan (2001-2021)

The war in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, with an invasion led by a US-backed coalition under Operation Enduring Freedom, in response to the September 11 attacks carried out by Al-Qaeda and its Taliban allies. The operation aimed to capture Osama bin Laden, destroy Al-Qaeda's bases in the country, and overthrow the Taliban regime.

In 2004, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan was established, but the Taliban, led by Mullah Omar, had reorganized and launched a widespread insurgency against the new government and coalition forces. Despite US offers for immediate extradition of top Taliban leaders and closure of Al-Qaeda camps in Afghanistan, the US proceeded with the invasion.

The conflict escalated into a full-scale guerrilla war, with the Taliban employing tactics such as ambushes and roadside bombings to target coalition forces and Afghan government officials. In 2007, NATO formalized its combat operations in Afghanistan under the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) umbrella, officially transferring security responsibility to the Afghan government.

As part of this agreement, the Taliban pledged to prevent any militant group from launching attacks from Afghan territory against US interests or their allies. However, the insurgency continued, with estimates suggesting that by 2012, the Taliban were active in approximately 72% of Afghan territory.

The war resulted in significant human costs, with around 176,000-212,000 civilians killed, including 46,319 civilians. The conflict also had a profound impact on Afghanistan's politics and economy, with the country struggling to establish a stable government and rebuild its infrastructure.

In August 2008, foreign troops began withdrawing from major cities, but by 2013, only a small number of US military personnel remained in the country. On August 30, 2021, the last US military plane departed Afghanistan, marking the end of nearly two decades of conflict.