Lecture on Afghanistan: War and Current Status

Introduction

• American war weariness, particularly with Afghanistan
• August 2017: President Trump announced a troop surge
• Afghanistan: Longest war in American history

Afghanistan Overview

• Large country in South and Central Asia
• Size: ~250,000 square miles, 41st globally
• Geography: Sparse, mountainous, rural
• Major urban center: Kabul
  • Hosts 13% of population
  • Total population: 35 million
  • 75% live in rural areas

Ethnic and Demographic Composition

• Four major ethnic groups: Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek
• Over a dozen ethnicities including influences from Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan
• Languages:
  • Dari (Persian Afghan dialect)
  • Pashto
  • Both are official languages
• Religion:
  • 99.7% Islamic
  • 90% Sunni, 10-15% Shia
  • One Jewish resident

Historical Context

• 1979: Soviet-Afghan War
  • Establishment of a socialist state until 1989
• Post-Soviet withdrawal:
  • Taliban control from 1996
  • 2001: Taliban harbored Osama bin Laden, leading to U.S. invasion
• U.S. installed pro-US government

Economic Situation

• Massive growth due to foreign investment
• GDP increase from $2 billion to $20 billion
• Post-2014 US troop withdrawal: Economic slump
• Economy heavily based on agriculture
• Major crop: Poppies for opium production
• Despite mineral deposits worth over $1 trillion, underdeveloped due to civil unrest
• Economy ranks 190 globally

Military Standing

• Significant U.S. investment, but still lags
• 200,000 troops, defense budget <1% GDP
• Ranks 69th in military power

International Relations

• UN member, part of the Group of 77
• Non-Aligned Movement member
• History of invasion by both Soviet Union and U.S.

Conclusion

• Afghanistan struggles with economic and military development
• Limited urbanization
• Afghanistan's main power: Illicit drug trade
• Neighboring Pakistan: Major opium consumer, heroin epidemic