The Afghan Chessboard.

In the last twenty-two years, Afghanistan has gone through a long, complex and horrific war in the name of the War on Terror by the US, which caused hundreds and thousands of causalities, destruction of infrastructure, economy and social life. After 9/11, NATO allies were deployed for nearly two decades in Afghanistan to ensure that the country would not become a safe haven for international terrorists planning strikes on NATO member states. The Taliban were ousted out of power with the US intervention. In 2004, a new Afghan government, led by Hamid Karzai, assumed power, but the Taliban's violent attacks persisted. Since his election in 2014, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani claims that more than 45,000 members of his country's security forces have been slain.

The agreement for bringing peace in February 2020 specified a timeline for the complete pullout of foreign forces from Afghanistan if the Taliban upheld the deal. On 13th April 2021, US President Joe Biden announced that all US forces will depart Afghanistan by September 11, 2021. The Taliban surged over Afghanistan, seizing control across the country almost after two decades on 15th August, 2021. The Taliban vowed to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for terrorists against the US and its allies. When Kabul fell, political leaders from Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani, the elected President, and his closest aides, including his National Security Adviser, Hamdullah Mohib, gave up and left the state. Sometimes without even trying to fight, the Afghan troops relinquished. According to Brown University research, the Afghan security forces have suffered 69,000 casualties. The number of civilians and militants killed is estimated to be at 51,000 each. Afghanistan has the world's third-largest displaced population, according to the United Nations. A serious economic catastrophe was precipitated by the political events of August 15, 2021. Afghanistan's economic prospects are bleak. Millions of Afghans are facing extreme food insecurity as a result of lost income, money shortages, and soaring food prices. Growth stagnated, though, as aid dwindled and the security situation grew more dangerous. The prolonged Afghanistan conflict quickly gave birth to an increasing human rights and humanitarian disaster. The Taliban rapidly reversed gains in the realms of women's rights and media freedom.

The Afghanistan Papers is about the American military experience in Afghanistan. Additionally, it serves...