Afghanistan

Question 1

What is the principle of the Responsibility to Protect?

Answer 1

• Each state has legal responsibility to maintain stability and enforce human rights
• States must protect citizens and resolve tense situations
• If states are unable to protect their populations, the international community must be prepared to take appropriate collective action in a timely and decisive manner

Question 2

What constitutes a ‘just’ war?

Answer 2

• Must be justifiable (innocent life must be at risk, not used as a method of punishment)
• Comparative justice (injustice suffered by one party must outweigh the suffering of the other(s))
• Probability of success (must actually be feasible)
• Right Intention (force must be used for right reasons, not for material gain)
• Last resort (all other options must have failed
• Competent authority (can only be waged by legitimate states driven by justice)
• Proportionality (benefits must outweigh costs)

Question 3

How has intervention occurred in the history of Afghanistan?

Answer 3

• 1979, USSR intervened against uprisings by Afghans against Hafizullah Amin (Communist leader), who adopted state-atheism and banned expressions of religious identity
• done to prevent spread of Islam into neighbouring Soviet Republics
• USA funded (via ISI) Mujahideen who fought against USSR
• Post 9/11, invasion of Afghanistan by US and allies to eliminate Taliban and Al Qaeda presence and support + Bin Laden

Question 4

What were the short term benefits of US intervention in Afghanistan?

Answer 4

• Removal of Taliban allowed aid to be delivered
• £3.8bn/yr
• Afghan Police and Security Forces were trained
• Women’s rights were protected
• 2003, Women’s Rights were outlined in law
• 2009, “Elimination of Violence against Women” law created

Question 5

What were the short term costs of the US intervention in Afghanistan?

Answer 5

• 450 UK and 2300 US troops killed
• 20,600 US troops injured
• 45,000 Afghan Security Forces killed
• Destruction of housing and infrastructure
• Disruption to livelihood and economy
• Loss of Afghan sovereignty
• Triggered ISIS to come into existence due to perceived crimes committed by US forces
• Led to bigger wars in Iraq/Syria
• Public support in US of government and intervention waned

Question 6

What were the long term gains of the US intervention in Afghanistan?

Answer 6

• Al Qaeda has not been able to orchestrate a single successful international terrorist attack
• bases in Afghanistan destroyed led to this
• Osama Bin Laden was eliminated
• Taliban seems to be inclined to prevent Al Qaeda and ISIS from operating on Afghan soil and hinder general opearations
• have cracked down on unregulated money transfer traders in Kabul

Question 7

What were the long term costs of the US intervention in Afghanistan?

Answer 7

• $1tn was spent overall in Afghanistan
• £100bn/yr at the height of intervention
• $1.3tn extra spent on veteran care in US + to repay debt incurred by fighting in Afghanistan and Pakistan
• Deaths due to explosives is highest in Afghanistan than entire world
• Al Qaeda and IS are still active, may be emboldened by departure of western forces
• are angry and resentful about abuses committed
• 1.2 million people internally displaced

Question 8

What positives have come out of Taliban rule of Afghanistan?

Answer 8

• Capital controls have prevented money from leaving the country
• resulted in currency stabilising
• Implementation of Sharia law penalties for bribery have reduced corruption amongst custom officials
• border control is strong
• Roadworks have been forced through
• Drug addicts are in rehab
• dogs have been inoculated
• spread of rabies curbed

Question 9

What downsides have come with Taliban rule?

Answer 9

• Removed access to education and freedom across country
• 80% of girls are not in education
• Middle class families have lost jobs and there is no aid for them to rely on
• Taliban is not sharing power with rival groups (eg. Pashtuns)
• increases likelihood of future conflict