Approximately two decades after the start of the ‘The War on Terror’, $6.5 trillion dollars spent collectively and more than 46 thousand civilians dead, the Afghanistan war appears to be coming to a close. To understand the cost of this, a more in-depth understanding of the events leading up to this must be addressed.

The Taliban completely took over Kabul, Afghanistan on Aug. 15th, when American troops withdrew the military forces stationed there, per Biden’s request, after 2 decades of resistance.

Immediately after the official transfer of power, two suicide bombings happened.

13 U.S. military personnel have died at the expense of the attack. The Taliban had bombed Kabul airport. Hundreds of Afghan soldiers resettled in the North Dallas Area as refugees as a result of the scale of unsafety in Afghanistan.

The Story-

Taliban was founded by Jihadists (in Arabic this means ‘internal struggle’, but it has been perceived as a militant movement against the Western World) in the ’80s. The group was created to defend Afghanistan from Soviet forces as they were trying to take over. Nine years of continued war, money and weaponry (which was provided by the CIA) helped defend the nation against the militant group. The Taliban began to enforce personal interpretations of Islamic law on people within the region they controlled. They wanted Afghanistan to be more ‘pure’, and separate from Western ideas.

The Taliban’s funds are also significant; they have made millions annually by mining/trading minerals, producing meth, distributing drugs, and more.

2001: After the 9/11 attack, U.S. forces rapidly invaded Afghanistan, the original goal being combat with their attackers. However, after arrival on Afghanistan soil, The United States made a new goal to ‘reconstruct’ Afghanistan and protect the territory so stability and rebuilding were possible. The Ring Road, originally made by the Soviet Union, was reconstructed by the U.S. to help significantly with transportation. It was also the defining piece in connecting the community and unifying the government.

Iraq Invasion (2003-2011): Pre-occupation in Iraq had motivated Taliban forces to take control over the region after funds for maintaining the re-construction of the regions came to a pause.

2009: The Surge happened: US troops were sent to protect and many attacks/bombings/suicide bombers increased as the will of Jihad increased. The Afghan Government was falling apart despite the $3 Billion spent towards attempting to finish the highway and protecting security from the Taliban.

“It is not our war to fight.” President Biden said after being questioned of the reason why the U.S. was pulling out of Afghanistan, as billions of dollars had been spent by the U.S. government.

Currently, hundreds of Afghan refugees have made the Dallas metroplex area their new home. After the recent travel ban set by the Taliban, many are now prohibited from seeking asylum. The new government set by the Taliban is being led by Haibatullah Akhunzada.

US troops are still being deployed to Iraq despite the removal of troops in Afghanistan.

More updates are to come as time progresses. This is a live, continuous story.