Reviewed Date: March 8th, 2022
The withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops pushed Afghanistan into chaos and crisis. They left the country that has no solid military they could rely upon. Eventually, the Taliban captured Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. Who are the Taliban anyway?
After facing humiliation in Vietnam, the US was looking for an opportunity to restore its influence in Asia. That was when Afghan people protested against a communist regime that was backed by the Soviets. The US and Pakistan supplied arms and money support to the Mujahideen, which comprised several radical Islamist groups, including the Taliban.
The Soviets backed off, and the communist regime fell. But having no common enemy, these groups started to fight against each other. The civil war began between Shia, Sunni, and Tajik. Uzbek and Pashtun. The Taliban won. But only to be invaded by US troops.
The Taliban hosted Al-Qaeda, the deadliest terrorist organization. After the 9/11 attacks, the US invaded Afghanistan, and the Taliban took shelter in many parts of Pakistan. The US called it a victory, but it was a premature one. Al-Qaeda disintegrated into branches (ISI, IS West Africa), spread over the Middle East. War with the Taliban continued till the agreement of withdrawal happened in 2020.
No one is happier than China. China is the first nation to recognize the Taliban as the government. Of course, China has its interests. Though, the media repeatedly said China would extract copper mines. But there is no infrastructure. China won’t repeat mistakes made by the US.
Though the US spent 2 billion dollars in Afghanistan, there isn’t an industrial base and there is no proper transportation. More than anything, China is looking for security and stability in Afghanistan. Will the Taliban be recognized by the international community? Will the Taliban unify and bring all ethnic tribes under its umbrella? For the time being, China will wait.
Though the Taliban is stronger than ever, sooner or later it will fall. As of now, for food, it is looking for international aid. There is no progressive economy. Only time will tell of the Taliban’s fall.
Afghanistan, once called the center of Asia, has now become a graveyard of regimes.
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