Afghanistan: 13 Years On

Over a decade since the US invaded Afghanistan, what is the result?

With Afghan elections ongoing this week I find myself wondering, what has a 13 year occupation brought about? During the 19th century Afghanistan was at the centre of Russian and British rivalry in Asia, part of the so called 'Great Game'. Then during the Cold War of the 20th century, a Soviet occupation turned it once again into a key battleground for global dominance. What about in the 21st?

Occupation and Power Projection 

Referencing Russian and British rivalry. Is Afghanistan still trapped between dangerous foes?

Since 2001 a coalition of countries led by the United States has been occupying Afghanistan as a part of the larger War on Terror and more specifically fighting against the Taliban. The 2014 election will be Afghanistan's first where its own security forces are responsible for ensuring the safety of voters, in which they have been largely successful. Does this mean the Western occupation has been a 'success'? Or will the withdrawal of the majority of foreign troops at the end of this year, see the Taliban victorious?

The answer to the latter is undoubtedly no. The US will be maintaining a strong military presence for years to come, in 2012 the two countries signed the "US- Afghanistan Strategic Partnership Agreement". In short, it categorized Afghanistan as a major non-NATO ally and allowed for a US military presence to continue well beyond the 2014 withdrawal date.

Afghanistan's strategic value is alive as ever, with China, Iran and Russia surrounding it Afghanistan provides an invaluable base of operations for the US military in Asia. Crucial to American foreign policy is preeminence in power projection, the ability to use their power all over the world,one which the occupation of Afghanistan has helped to fulfill.

The reality of US power projection.

Afghanistan Today

Despite over 90 billion dollars invested, more than in any other country, Afghanistan remains extremely poor. Something highlighted by its reliance trading heroin, of which it provides 90% of the worlds supply. However, there are also strong signs of improvement. In the last decade more than 5000 schools have been built, with more than 100,000 teachers recruited and trained. More than 5.7 million refugees have returned to the country, though it remains the largest source of refugees in the world. It is also viewed as the most corrupt country in the world by Corruption Perceptions Index.

Whose paying the price?

13 years of conflict have not brought peace to Afghanistan but there is some hope of a better future.It's easy to be critical of the US, even if necessary, yet they are at least well intentioned. With ruthless drone strikes, comes billions of dollars in investments. On the one hand a bloody fight against the Taliban, on the other more children, particularly girls, are in school.  For every negative there is a positive, but is an estimated 18,000 civilian casualties too high a price? Perhaps that is a question only Afghanistan can answer.