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Summary:
Afghanistan is a fragile state that appears to be gradually stabilizing after more
than 22 years of warfare, including a U.S.-led war that brought the current
government to power. Before the U.S. military campaign against the Taliban began
on October 7, 2001, Afghanistan had been mired in conflict since the Soviet invasion
of Afghanistan in 1979. The Taliban ruled most of Afghanistan from 1996 until its
collapse in December 2001 at the hands of a U.S.-led military campaign.
Since the defeat of the Taliban, Afghanistan no longer serves as a base of
operations for Al Qaeda. Afghan citizens are enjoying new personal freedoms that
were forbidden under the Taliban, about 2.5 million Afghan refugees have returned,
and women have returned to schools, the workforce, and some participation in
politics. Although with some difficulty, political reconstruction is following the
route laid out by major Afghan factions and the international community during the
U.S.-led war. A loya jirga (traditional Afghan assembly) adopted a new constitution
on January 4, 2004, with some minor changes. Presidential and parliamentary
elections were to be held by June 2004, although Afghan leaders now say the
elections will be postponed until September 2004. At the same time, an ongoing
insurgency by Taliban remnants, particularly in the Taliban's former power base in
the southeast, has created a perception of insecurity and slowed reconstruction. Other
major problems include continued exercise of authority by regional leaders and
growing trafficking in narcotics.
On May 1, 2003, the United States and the Afghan government declared major
U.S.-led combat ended and asserted that U.S.-led forces would henceforth
concentrate on stabilization. U.S. stabilization measures focus on strengthening the
central government, which has been widely viewed as weak and unable to control
many regional and factional leaders. The United States and other countries are
building an Afghan National Army; deploying a multinational International Security
Assistance Force (ISAF) to patrol Kabul and other cities; setting up regional
enclaves to create secure conditions for reconstruction (Provincial Reconstruction
Teams, PRTs), and disarming militia fighters. To foster reconstruction, the United
States is giving Afghanistan a total of about $1.6 billion for FY2004, most of which
($1.2 billion) was provided in a supplemental appropriation (P.L. 108-106). The
United Nations and the Bush Administration have lifted sanctions imposed on
Afghanistan during Taliban rule.
This paper will be updated as warranted by major developments.
