Afghanistan War and history of Conflict

1. 1
HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTION
IN GLOBAL POLITICS
Ayatullah Nemati
Lecturer: Professor Danila
International Law MA Program
TOPIC: Afghanistan Conflict and
Humanitarian Aid

2. Conflict in Afghanistan
• The country has suffered from internal and external conflicts, invasions
including 1979 Soviet Union and 2001 USA.
• Afghanistan was at risk in post 11 September 2001, as Osama Bin laden
was identified as the leader of a terrorist organization Al-Qaeda with
headquarters in Afghanistan.
• The conflict in Afghanistan has persevered in various forms since 1979,
making it one of the longest conflicts since 1945.
• Twice, foreign powers intervened militarily (the USSR from 1979 to 1989;
and the US from 2001 to 30 August 2021), while neighboring countries like
Russia and Pakistan have supported Afghan Military movements.

3. The Soviets
• USSR invades Afghanistan to support the communist
government against Northern India and reduce the American
influence.
• 1979 was during the Cold War, a time when the USA was a
opposing to the Soviet Union. The USA wanted to help
Afghans fight the Soviets.
• The Soviet invasion came to an end, Afghanistan continued to face
an uncertain future and was still riddled with instability
• The civil war broke out in 1980s continued and strengthened in
1992, this let Afghanistan with 10 years of war.

4. Lasting Effects of the Soviet Invasion
The Birth of Global Jihad
The single most lasting effect of the invasion by the Soviet Union
was the gathering of Islamic fighters to the cause of defending
their version of Islam.

5. Rise of the Taliban
 From the withdrawal of the Soviet army in 1989 until
the Taliban -1994 (some were former Mujahadeen)
take control of the capital Kabul, the nation was
thrown into yet another period of destruction.
 In September of 1996 the Taliban became the official
government of Afghanistan. They threw out the
existing constitution and established strict Sharia
Law.

6. When did al-Qaeda form?
• The beginnings of al-Qaeda go back to 1979 when the Soviet Union
invaded Afghanistan.

7. The Birth of Al Qaeda - 1988
 During the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan Osama Bin Laden
played a huge role in recruiting young Muslim fighters to the
cause of global jihad.
 While he participated in few actual battles in Afghanistan, Bin
Laden became known for his generous funding of the jihad
against the Soviets.
 While the Taliban wanted only Afghanistan for their own, Bin
Laden had dreams of spreading this movement all around the
world.

8. Bin Laden in Afghanistan
•Son of a wealthy Saudi
Arabian family, Osama
bin Laden made lots of
like-minded friends.
•He learned that scantily-
armed Muslims could
defeat a powerful army
•The Soviet army left in
1989.

9. U.S. Prepares for Invasion
Following the attacks on September 11, 2001 President Bush gave the
Taliban a challenge.
“Deliver Al Qaeda’s leadership located within the borders of
Afghanistan”
He added “You will hand over the terrorist or you will share their fate”
- NY Times Oct. 1, 2001
- President Bush was later criticized for taking troops and resources
from the War in Afghanistan to fight the War in Iraq.

10. Operation Enduring Freedom
• In October of 2001 U.S. led forces, along with support from
nearly 42 other nations, enters Afghanistan.
• The US Government claimed that the invasion was in retaliation to the 9/11
terrorist attacks

11. The Use of Force in Afghanistan
• The invasion was conducted on the grounds of self-defense
after 11 September attacks in the United State.
• The justification of the invasion was Afghanistan was not
contained thus invasion and collective action was required
for national self-defense that the US claimed.
• An important part of the Charter which needs to be
mentioned is Article 2(3) which states that all
arguments should be solved in a peaceful manner in
order to ensure global peace and security
• the US and UK claimed that the attack was justified under Article
51 of the UN Charter, as military action against Afghanistan was
undertaken with the provisions of Article 51 covering self-defense

12. United Nations Security Council Resolutions
• In the aftermath of 9/11, the United Nations Security Council drafted
two resolutions in response to the attacks:
• The two resolutions adopted were resolution 1368 and resolution
1373, both of which dealt with ‘threats to international peace and
security caused by terrorist acts’.
• Article 2(3) and Article 2(4) of the UN Charter were not followed to, as
peaceful means to resolve the issue were not sufficiently considered
and dialogue between the parties involved was not used as a means
to end hostilities.
• Also, the declaration made by the US that it was acting on the grounds
of self-defense under Article 51 of the Charter is deeply contentious

14. War Spending!
• According to the US Department of Defense, the total military
spending in Afghanistan (from October 2001 until September 2019)
had reached $778bn.
• In addition, the US state department - along with the US Agency for
International Development (USAID) and other government agencies -
spent $44bn on reconstruction projects.
• According to a Brown University study in 2019, which has looked at
war spending in both Afghanistan and Pakistan, the US had spent
around $978bn (their estimate also includes money allocated for
the 2020 fiscal year).
• Since the war against the Taliban began in 2001, US forces have
suffered more than 2,300 deaths and around 20,660 soldiers injured
in action.

19. Goals of the Mission in Afghanistan
• The U.S. and its allies had 3 main goals for Operation Enduring Freedom
 Capture those responsible for the planning of the September 11th
attacks.
Remove the Taliban from power so Afghanistan would no longer be
a safe haven for terrorist organizations.
Establishing a democratic government in Afghanistan

20. The UN Good Offices Mission in Afghanistan and
Pakistan (UNGOMAP)
• United Nations Good Offices Mission in Afghanistan and
Pakistan(UNGOMAP) established in May 1988, The United
Nations Security Council confirmed its establishment
in Resolution 622(1988).
• Between 1989 and 1991, the Security Council was, for a
number of reasons, largely absent from the crisis in
Afghanistan.
• The Council’s Permanent Members did not feel that their
interests were not

21. Pressing Agenda for Afghanistan
•Pressing agenda
•Rebuild the country
•Settle the people
•Achieve stable, internal peace

22. The United Nations Assistance Mission in
Afghanistan (UNAMA)
Abbreviation UNAMA
Formation 28 March 2002
Type Political mission
Legal status UN Security Council Resolution2405
(2018) extended UNAMA until 17 March
2019
[1]
Headquarters Kabul, Afghanistan
Head Tadamichi Yamamoto
[2]
Parent organization United Nations Security Council
Website http://unama.unmissions.org/

23. United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan
• The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan is a political UN mission
established at the request of the Government of Afghanistan to assist it and the people
of Afghanistan in laying the foundations for sustainable peace and development.
• It was established in March 28-2002, United Nations Security Council Resolution 1401,
it was extended to 8 march 2018. by Resolution 2405 (2018).
• United Nations activities are focused on assisting the Afghan people and Government in laying the
foundations for sustainable peace and development.
• The UN Security Council established the political mission in March 2002, at the request of the
Afghan Government, through Security Council Resolution 1401.
• The Council has since extended the Mission’s work until 17 September 2021, stressing the
importance of a comprehensive and inclusive Afghan-led and Afghan-owned political process to
support reconciliation and of advancing regional cooperation to promote security, stability and
development in Afghanistan.

24. UN agencies in Afghanistan/UN Country Team
• UNDP (United Nations Development Program)
• OCHA (UN Office Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs)
• UNCC (United Nations Compensation Commission)
• UNCCD (United Nations Convention to Combat
Desertification)
• UN-HABITAT (United Nations Centre for Human
Settlements)
• UNCSD (United Nations Common Supplier Database)
• UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development)
• UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme)
• UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization)
• UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change)
• UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund for
Afghanistan)
• UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees)
• OHCHR (Office of the High Commissioner for Human
Rights)
• UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development
Organization)
• UN WOMEN (United Nations Development Fund for
• UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)
• UNOPS (UN Office for Project Services)
• WHO (World Health Organization)
• WFP (World Food Programme)
• ILO (International Labour Organization)
• IOM (International Organization for Migration)
• FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization)
• MACCA (Mine Action Coordination Centre of
Afghanistan)
• UN ICT TF (United Nations Information and
Communication Technologies Taskorce)
• UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund)