10 Facts About the Sudden Takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban That Could Mean the End of a 20-Year War

If you’ve been scrolling through the news in the last few days, you would have seen articles about the Taliban and Afghanistan.

You might have assumed that a war recently broke out between the two, but fighting has actually been going on for 20 years. 

After the long, bloody battle, the Taliban has ousted those in power and seized control of the country. They claim the war is over, but is it really?

To fully appreciate the gravity of this statement, we’ll have to go back to the beginning, when conflict first arose.

Here are 10 facts about the Taliban’s sudden takeover of Afghanistan:

The Taliban Formed in 1989

The Taliban, which means “students” in the Pashto language, was formed in 1989 after Soviet troops withdrew from Afghanistan.

The group vowed to enhance security and combat corruption, but under their own fundamentalist brand of Islam.

In less than seven years, they had managed to seize control in most parts of the country.

Even during their war in Afghanistan with troops from the US and their allies, the Taliban never wavered, seizing more territory whenever it could.

The War Started With a Response to the 9/11 Attacks in the US

It all started in 2001, with the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington where 3,000 people were killed.

Al-Qaeda, a terrorist group, was identified as the perpetrator of the attacks, which is led by Osama Bin Laden.

The US wanted Bin Laden, but he was in Afghanistan under the protection of the Taliban, who had been in power there since 1996.

When the Taliban refused to hand Bin Laden over, the US invaded Afghanistan and removed the Taliban from power, promising to implement democracy.

Allies joined the US in their war, but the Taliban kept pushing back.

Around 51,000 Civilians Have Died in the War

Experts estimate that the number of civilians and militants that were killed in the 20-year war is around 51,000 each.

69,000 personnel in Afghanistan’s security forces have also perished.

What’s more, around five million people have fled their home districts and not been able to return.

Some have managed to find refuge in other countries, while others remain displaced within the country.

The US Recently Agreed to Withdraw its Forces

Last year, the US and the Taliban signed a peace deal in which the US agreed to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan as long as they weren’t attacked by the Taliban.

The Taliban adhered to this condition, but continued to attack Afghan security forces and civilians, and carried out assassinations.

The US withdrawal, signed in Feb 2020, would take more than a year, with the full withdrawal expected to be completed on 11 Sep 2021.

As more and more troops returned to the US, the ever-opportunistic Taliban has been seizing territory all over the country, slowly increasing its control and power.

The Taliban Assumed Control of Afghanistan; Said War is Over

Things came to a head yesterday (15 Aug) as the Taliban assumed control of Kabul, the country’s capital, as well as the presidential palace.

“Thanks to God, the war is over in the country,” a Taliban spokesman told Al Jazeera.

The group said their regime and way of governing would soon be made clear, and called for peaceful international relations.

“We have reached what we were seeking, which is the freedom of our country and the independence of our people,” he added. “We will not allow anyone to use our lands to target anyone, and we do not want to harm others.”

As of 15 Aug, the Taliban had control of 345 out of 398 districts. Just a month ago, they only had control of 90 of these districts.

Afghanistan’s President Has Reportedly Fled the Country

One of the biggest signs that the Taliban are indeed correct in their assessment of the situation is that Afghanistan’s president, Ashraf Ghani, reportedly fled the country.

Mr Ghani said he wanted to avoid more bloodshed, but social media users have called him unpatriotic and a “coward”.

The Taliban’s Objective is to Restore Sharia

The Taliban’s objective is seemingly to restore its own austere version of Sharia, or Islamic law, in Afghanistan.

While the Taliban spokesman said the group respected women’s and minorities’ rights, as well as freedom of expression, within Sharia law, some are unconvinced.

In the five years that they ruled Afghanistan before the US removed them from power, women were not allowed to work and had to cover their faces and be accompanied by a male relative if they wanted to leave their homes.

Those who flouted these rules were flogged in public or even executed.

After the Taliban was ousted, women started returning to the public eye, re-entering educational institutions, returning to work, and become members of Parliament.

The Taliban said they would create laws to ensure women would be able to participate in public life under their rule, but female residents in the country are fearful.

The Taliban Said There Would Be No Revenge on Afghans, But Residents Are Panicking

A spokesman told the BBC that the Taliban would not take any revenge on Afghans, but residents are in a panic.

While the streets of Kabul were silent, chaos erupted at the international airport as residents attempted to flee the country.

Some abandoned their cars while others were forced to walk for hours to the airport.

That’s why…

Countries All Over the World Are Evacuating Their Nationals From Afghanistan

Now, many countries, including the US, the UK, and India, are rushing to evacuate their diplomats and citizens from the country.

Such is the sense of urgency that the US even deployed helicopters to pull embassy workers out of the country.

Other countries, like Canada, are temporarily closing their embassies in Afghanistan.

66 Countries Have Urged the Taliban to Allow Afghans & International Citizens Who Want to Leave to Do So

66 countries, including the US, have urged the Taliban to allow Afghans to leave the country if they intend to do so.

They urged the same for international citizens stuck in Afghanistan who wish to depart.

The joint statement said that the Taliban will be held accountable for the “protection of human life” in the country.

In the meanwhile, Afghan leaders will meet with the Taliban to manage the transfer of power.

So, is this the end of the 20-year war?

Only time will tell.

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