Afghanistan's Post-War Recovery: Security, Infrastructure, and Extremism

Introduction and Context

Afghanistan has experienced war and lack of infrastructure for over a decade. Ever since the end of the civil war in Afghanistan, which began in 1996 and ended in 2001, the country has had to contend with the Taliban (a faction of Islamic extremism) and intervention by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and other allied forces. Although the War in Afghanistan was intended to address the civil war, it has created additional obstacles to Afghan recovery. Afghanistan currently faces three major challenges: enhancing security, constructing civil society and infrastructure, and controlling Islamic extremism. The seeds of each obstacle can be traced to the beginning of the 1996 Afghan civil war, when the Taliban first formed and the country began to lose its infrastructure to bombings and missile attacks. Since then, only a few places in Afghanistan remain safe, with Kabul being the best protected example and rural areas and border regions along Pakistan being the least secure.

Afghanistan has long experienced economic and political instability. Located in a landlocked position bordering Iran, China, and Pakistan, the country has endured numerous civil wars and military campaigns. Within the last two decades, it experienced two distinct civil wars: the first from 1989 to 1992, and the second from 1992 to 1996, followed by the ongoing War in Afghanistan.

The civil wars were fueled primarily by instability generated through Saudi Arabian and Iranian support of various Afghan militias. Full-scale war developed as conflicts between these militias escalated. With Afghanistan having recently achieved statehood, the government lacked sufficient security capacity and authority to prevent militia fighting. Civilians received very little protection from rape, murder, and extortion.

Enhancing Security

In the chaos of the 1990s, over half a million people fled Afghanistan. The country no longer remained a safe place to live, and even after the civil wars ended, the rise of the Taliban—which originated in 1994 among Afghan refugees in Pakistan—made living in Afghanistan one of the most dangerous places in the Middle East. Rural areas and border towns near Pakistan remain especially vulnerable, witnessing numerous atrocities against civilians. Even Kabul, the only relatively safe major city, maintains extensive drills and additional training to ward off military combatants and protect against missile strikes and suicide bombings. Security remains a major issue and has only worsened in recent years.

Women and girls suffer most amidst the bombings and warfare. Afghan women have endured decades of violence and rape, and efforts are being made to increase security and protect their rights. As one analysis documents, "International efforts to assist women have produced mixed results: while Afghan women have won the right to participate in public life and have gained improved access to health care, education, and local economic development, escalating violence has jeopardized these gains in many provinces" (Cortwright and Wall, 2014).

Although women have gained some rights in Afghanistan, the constant warfare undermines most of these gains, leading to assassination attempts and increased violence. International efforts meant to reduce civil warfare have paradoxically increased violence within the country. According to the same source, "The presence of foreign troops has been identified as a major factor driving the insurgency, along with widespread resentment of a corrupt central government and the abuses of predatory strongmen. The resulting climate of insecurity and impunity has produced new forms of powerlessness for many Afghan women and girls" (Cortwright and Wall, 2014).

Women are no longer able to process grief over losing husbands, sons, and other male family members. Of those who survive military insurgency, some are trafficked and sold into servitude. Very few women can feel safe in Afghanistan, a situation largely resulting from the central government's poor efforts to protect its citizens.

Afghanistan has suffered enormous losses in the continual wars fought within and around its borders. Although international efforts have attempted to rebuild the country's infrastructure, the current situation suggests an eventual complete collapse of both infrastructure and government. Citizens flee the country annually, and the government does little to protect them. Understanding Afghanistan's infrastructure challenges requires examining what is specifically lacking.

Constructing Civil Society and Infrastructure

The bombings of the last decade have destroyed roads, cities, and the economic infrastructure of Afghanistan. The country lacks viable banking networks and legitimate currency. With the central government exercising limited or no authority in some areas, the country has become fragmented, with some regions overrun and governed by warlords. There are hardly any well-maintained airports or roads, making it impossible to import or export goods. Workers seeking employment in Afghanistan cannot find jobs or effective transportation to workplaces. The power grid has been severely damaged, with only roughly six percent of the population having access to electricity.

Because labor opportunities are scarce, many Afghans have begun growing poppies to trade opium. Efforts from countries like the UK to curtail poppy cultivation have failed, as money intended for farmers has been diverted to other purposes—much like funds from Japan and the United States meant to strengthen the central government. The drug trade has become a significant economic actor in the absence of legitimate commerce.

For infrastructure to be rebuilt, Afghanistan must develop a strong government and effective leadership. Corruption must be minimized, and critical infrastructure like roads and airports must be rebuilt and properly maintained. Afghanistan must project stability to the outside world to attract international aid and create internal security and prosperity. Without this, warlords may come to control most or all of the country.

Such instability is precisely why many countries are reluctant to offer aid to Kabul and why private investment is nearly nonexistent. During the 1990s, several oil companies attempted to negotiate deals with the unpredictable Taliban without success. UNOCAL of the U.S. and Bridas of Argentina were the two largest companies attempting to secure natural gas and oil pipeline deals in Afghanistan. Ultimately, the country was too unstable, and the Taliban were unwilling to take the necessary steps to provide the security measures investors required (YellowTimes.org, 2002).

Conclusion

In conclusion, Afghanistan has faced many serious issues in recent times. Over the last few decades, it has experienced continuous warfare from two civil wars and the recent War in Afghanistan, which has been aided and worsened by international powers. The civil wars have destroyed Afghanistan's infrastructure, with roads and airports destroyed or poorly maintained. People lack employment, and the currency is nearly worthless. Beyond infrastructure damage lies the lack of security for Afghan civilians, particularly women. Women face sex trafficking, rape, and escalating violence in recent years. The Taliban, which originated in 1994, has only made conditions worse as warlords and Islamic extremists stemming from the Taliban and likeminded groups have consolidated power in many regions.