Reflecting on 25 Years of U.S. Military Involvement in Afghanistan

The U.S. Department of State marked the 25th anniversary of its military actions in Afghanistan by emphasizing the need to prevent the country from becoming a haven for terrorists again, questioning the Taliban’s role in ensuring regional security.

The U.S. State Department Stresses the Need for Regional Stability

On the 25th anniversary of the U.S. military invasion of Afghanistan, the State Department stated that it is crucial for Afghanistan not to revert to being a secure base for terrorists and for the country to uphold its international commitments, as this aligns with the interests of Washington and the global community. The department accused the Taliban of violating the Doha Agreement, asserting that the group has not demonstrated the capacity or willingness to play a constructive role in regional security.

U.S. Attacks and the Fall of the Taliban Regime in 2001

On October 7, 2001, in response to the September 11 attacks and the Taliban’s refusal to surrender Osama bin Laden, the United States launched extensive air and missile strikes targeting al-Qaeda positions and Taliban military sites in Kabul and Khost. This action led to the collapse of the original Taliban regime and initiated a 20-year presence of foreign troops in the country.

Reflections from a Former Taliban Official on That Historic Night

Mawlawi Mohammad Qasim Halimi, a former official at the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reminisced about that fateful night, noting that the Taliban leadership had not anticipated a direct attack by the U.S. He described the fear caused by cruise missiles striking Kabul and the intense shaking of the ground, mentioning that glass windows in the Shahr-e Naw area had shattered.

Casualty Figures During 20 Years of War

According to statistics from the Associated Press, during the two-decade conflict that ended with the signing of the Doha Agreement in February 2020 and the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, 2,448 U.S. military personnel, approximately 66,000 members of the Afghan security and defense forces, and over 51,000 Taliban fighters lost their lives.