Afghanistan Social

Question 1

Impacts on UK:

Answer 1

• Opium production increased once troops had left so cheaper heroin in UK lead to more overdoses
• 300 British soldiers killed 2001-10
• 2006-09 218 UK soldiers suffered life-changing injuries including 50 amputations
• UK helped train 350,000 strong Afghan National Security Force

Question 2

Impacts on Women:

Answer 2

• Presence of Western troops has lead to improved lives for women
• The women of Afghanistan fear the day that western troops leave as this will lead to them being devastatingly vulnerable to Taliban men
• Protected by western troops from Patriarchal attitudes
• Limited education has lead to fertility rate remaining high (5.14 births per woman)

Question 3

Impacts on Taliban:

Answer 3

• 12,000 troops lost
• 7000 troops taken prisoner
• Dec 2006 Senior Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Osmani is killed in an airstrike by the U.S
• 21st May 2016 Key orchestrator Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour is killed by US air strike

Question 4

Impacts on civilians:

Answer 4

• Drug addiction among the Afghan population rose with over 1 million Afghans addicted, as opium production increased
• 26,000 killed
• 55% of the country’s children are stunted because of inadequate food as a result of poor access to resources
• 36% of population living below poverty line
• High numbers of orphans (figures not known)
• Civilians forced to join Taliban and fight with the militia
• 700 interviewed by OXFAM, 76% forced from homes, 13% imprisoned and 21% tortured