History of Afghanistan and Pakistan

For over 2 centuries, Afghanistan has known virtually no time without war. Beginning around 326 B.C. with the conquests of Alexander the Great, to the Persians, British, Russians and most recently, America and our NATO allies, Afghanistan has been cultivated into the country that it is today through a trial by fire. Regardless of this relentless onslaught of foreign military power, the Afghan people have tirelessly defended their homeland with no outside power ever being able to subdue them completely. Following the withdrawal of the Soviet Union in 1989, the country fell into civil war, torn even further apart by fiercely dedicated tribal warlords. This power vacuum led to the rise of a group called the Taliban. Led by a one eyed man

The Taliban began to take down the local warlords and feudal system and began to make a name for themselves in the region. This brought the support of neighboring Pakistan, with the ulterior motive of attempting to establish a friendly, stable government in Kabul. The fighting caused a sudden influx of refugees to Pakistan’s border regions, which interfered with Pakistan’s trade. The Taliban eventually gained control of Kandahar, where they acquired their new weapons, and Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. Despite the Taliban’s successes, they had opposition from warlords in the north such as Massoud. Massoud originally had control of Kabul but lost this when the Taliban invaded, pushing him north. Once he was forced to flee, he began to receive outside support from countries such as Russia and Iran. They both feared the growth of the Taliban, and Russia had reason to believe the Taliban was

In 1979, the Soviet Union entered Afghanistan to reclaim a falling economy. Despite their need to introduce a capitalistic society in the country, The Soviet Union was not liked by the Mujahidin,which was a pioneer organization before the current entity. Due to the differences that existed between the United States and the Soviet Union, the former decided to intervene to reduce the influence of Russians in the region. Different anti-Russian troupes were funded by the United States, which was referred to as the Mujahedeen. Other countries like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia contributed to the development of these forces.( Jones, 2008).

The U.S, along with allies; United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Germany refused the offer and launched attacks on the Taliban. After more than 15 years of fighting in Afghanistan the Taliban currently owns 36.6% of the country (CNN, 2016). During the 15 years that the war has been fought over, there have been a total of 111,442 deaths, not just military forces involved but also afghan civilians, humanitarians, journalists and contractors (Yorker, 2015). Over 1.5 trillion (USD) has been spent on operations in Afghanistan by all parties (CNN, 2016). Since the start of the war many countries have been involved, majority for a small period of time, and on the side of the U.S. The Taliban have not received support from any country or major terrorist organisations other that

The modern nation of Afghanistan, as we come to know it today emerged during the eighteenth century. Pashtun tribes in response to the depletion of the Indian and Persian empires within their lands began to band together to form its very own nation, the nation of Afghanistan. “Afghanistan has been a strategic prize for foreign empires for more than two hundred years. The British, Russians the United States have all fought across its inhospitable terrain, in conflicts variously ruthless, misguided, and bloody. This violent history is littered with broken promises and underestimations” (Loyn 1). Many other nations have tried to conquer this rugged region of the world. All of which involved great nations far more superior in weapons and technology than Afghanistan.

After the invasion of the Soviets in 1979, the next ten years for the civilians of Afghanistan would be tumultuous. Communist Russia had one goal upon entering the country and that was to spread influence about their communist way of life. Several groups joined forces to help take down the Soviets, including the US, Pakistan, China, Iran and Saudi Arabia. They offered support to anti-communist Muslim Afghan fighters, also known as the Mujahideen (Aljazeera). It would not be until 1989, exactly ten years after the Soviet invasion, that the Soviets would withdraw from Afghanistan, after losing roughly 15,000 soldiers. After the Soviets leave the country, Afghanistan is split, with several different factions looking to gain control of the country.Fighting ensues and much of the country is left in rubble due to the destruction of these forces. The Taliban gained control in 1996 after former president, Mohammad Najibullah was hanged in Kabul (Aljazeera). In The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini depicts the initial invasion of the Soviets in chapter five. One of the characters, Amir, declares that it is “The beginning of the end.” It is described in the story that once the Taliban came to

Although the European countries were not nearly as alarmed as the United States, the Soviet’s “friends” like the Italian PCI, and the Warsaw Pact countries were concerned about the polarizing effect on East-West relations and the collapse of détente which brought tension among them. Damage to the prestige of the Soviets within the Third World was evident by the fact that Arab states and traditional allies like Iraq provided resources and military assistance to the mujahdin, who was actively fighting against the Soviets. A vigorous covert aid program consisting of money, military equipment, and even anti-aircraft missiles to the Afghanistan resistance groups were funded and supported by the USA, Britain, France, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and China . The United Nations attempted a diplomatic solution with the key parties as early as 1981 and throughout the nine years of the conflict; however, the Soviets did not withdraw from Afghanistan until February of 1989. A major factor keeping the Soviets from a diplomatic solution was the American support of the Afghan

In the last four decades, Pakistan receiving much more from the international communities, than given to the Afghan Muslim refugees. Besides helping the Afghan government's opposition groups like the Taliban, Pakistan was even kind enough to guest the guest of the world in a military base. Zalmay Khalilzad could provide you with much more information than I could. He happens to be an expert, when it comes Afghan and American Taliban. As we witnessed his expertise for the interest of all Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists and the rest of us. By endorsing Donald Trump, he not only stepped on the faces of most the thirty million of Afghans in Afghanistan, but also one and a half billion of other nationalities worshiping as Muslims. You are not naive, neither am I. I saw what you saw. Especially him was being America's Ambassador to his motherland of Afghanistan and the Islamic Republic of of Iraq. Heavenly Earth, United Nations as well. But please remind yourselves to purchase a copy of his next book. Not because all the proceeds directly goes to the Muslim children, but because it will make your head

Even before the war started with the Soviet union, Afghanistan was already in conflict with a different war called the Civil war. So now Afghanistan has two wars going on now, and it must be very difficult for them. On april 27, 1978 a Soviet supported communist government (DRA) and took over the country. The Afghanistan citizens did not like the new government and they began to rebel against it. The afghanistan citizens did not like the new government because the laws went against their muslim religion, they called themselves the Mujahideen. “ In september of 1979, events

The Taliban was one of the Mujahideen factions that formed during the Russian occupation and the civil war in Afghanistan. The Taliban emerged as a powerful force in late 1994 when the Taliban was asked to guard a group trying to open a trade route from asia to Pakistan. With Pakistan providing everything they needed, the Taliban took over several Afghan cities and captured Kabul in 1996. The Taliban was able to control most of Afghan territories even though they were busy with intermittent fighting with Afghanistan’s Northern Alliance, led by Ahmed Shah Massoud, the former defense minister under the coalition government led by President Burhanuddin

The Taliban emerged as a powerful movement in late 1994 when Pakistan chose the Taliban to guard a convoy trying to open a trade route from Pakistan to Central Asia. Pakistan began providing weapons, military training, and financial support, the Taliban gained control over several Afghan cities and successfully captured Kabul in September 1996. The Taliban continued to control most of Afghan territories with intermittent fighting with Afghanistan’s Northern Alliance, led by Ahmed Shah Massoud, the former defense minister under the coalition government led by President Burhanuddin

America and Pakistan have different goals in Afghanistan. While Washington wants to defeat the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, Pakistan wants them to stop violence in its territories and to capture power in Kabul. Islamabad sees the Afghan war as an opportunity to strengthen its military, with Western support, to fend off India and lean on New Delhi to resolve the Kashmir dispute. From Pakistan’s perspective, the Taliban jihadists -- trained in Pakistani madarsas and supported by the Inter-Service Intelligence, the military spy agency – will make the best allies in Kabul and help augment the anti-Indian jihad in Kashmir.

At the 2012 ‘Heart of Asia’ conference Indian intended to support Afghanistan and integrate it into the regional economy through a two lead confidence building measure. India can take a leading position in facilitating trade and commerce opportunities for Afghanistan and the region. The ‘New Silk Road’ narrative where Afghanistan will regain its role as a land bridge between south, central, middle east and Eurasia has some traction in India. If relationship between India, Pakistan is sorted out Afghanistan can be a beneficiary and become a hub for trade, transportation and energy in the region. India hosted an investment summit in Afghanistan in 2012, inviting other Asian countries which sought opportunities to invest in Afghanistan.The emerging sectors highlighted by India as being very productive ‘mining, infrastructure, telecom, agro based and small scale industries,health,pharma.education and IT’. While India shares security concerns about Afghanistan Future ,it is keen to play a role in ensuring a more optimal outcome post 2014.India is especially interested about the lucrative mining industries in Afghanistan.The US government estimated Afghanistan’s mineral wealth at $1 trillion, while Afghan government estimates it to be $3 trillion.

The role and economic significance of the countries of Central Asia have been transformed over the past decade. High oil and commodity prices have been a key factor in their impressive growth, but growth has also followed post-independence reforms in economic

As an active member of SAARC it is India's most important aspect that it would counter the growing influence of China into the region. As well as to change the behavioral and infrastructural condition of Afghanistan for the role of Asian key player. Both India and Afghanistan are SAARC countries and their firm determination committed on the regional cooperation where future strategies will prompted for cooperation in every field. On the other hand India have much more security concerns in stability of Afghanistan.