Introduction
The tales of war in Afghanistan are filled with dark and bitter narrations, and peace has always been a distant dream for the people. This article aims to explore the four decades of conflict in Afghanistan and its impact on citizens’ life, revealing the myriad consequences of perpetual war on human life. The return of the Taliban rule has brought about the reinforcement of ultraconservative notions which hinder societal progress. This review focuses on the Afghan migrant crisis in a historical context, the impact of war on migration, and other costs of the war. Individual narratives pertaining to life in war-torn regions in Afghanistan have been reflected in media such as the Internet and television. This paper, by focusing on data, reports, and research and by applying Meta-Data analyzing methods, aims to show the multiple dimensions of war and its consequences. The article is divided into three sections. Each section delineates the financial, humanitarian, and environmental costs of the war, respectively.
Financial costs
The four decades of conflict that persists till now began in 1978 following the communist revolution, which saw the establishment of a communist government buttressed by Soviet military aid. The decade that followed was defined by military coups and frequent clashes between the communist government and Mujahideen groups. This culminated in the complete withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan in 1992. Subsequently, a Mujahideen coalition government was formed, and it became embroiled in yet another civil war.
According to the CIA report, the Soviet Union spent an estimated 15 Billion Ruble (50 Billion Dollars) on the invasion of Afghanistan during 1979- 1986. (CIA,2000,2). Another statistical estimate suggests that 76-152 billion Dollars were involved in Soviet actions (Ewans,2005,12). The total expense that entailed the Soviet invasion till the complete withdrawal of its troops is estimated as 80-100 Billion Dollars. The war expenses on the part of the Afghan government in the military sector were around 11.7 billion dollars.
On the opposing side, the USA spent 3 billion dollars from 1980-1989 as assistance to Mujahideen groups and other Jihadist outfits seeking to overthrow the Soviet-sponsored government. Pakistan received 5 billion from the US and its allies for cooperation with the Jihadist factions. (Goodson, 2001. 182-184). Another source of foreign aid was Saudi Arabia, which contributed 4 billion dollars to the jihadist cause. (Pear, New York Times,1988)
The establishment of the Islamic Republic in Kabul led by the Mujahideen coalition was met with staunch opposition from various quarters. Consequently, a civil war broke out, in which the Hamahangi council aiming to overturn the government, played a decisive role. This war entailed heavy economic loss on both sides. By extrapolating the cost involved in the Soviet invasion during this period, 10-14 billion dollars ( 3 billion internal+ 12 billion external ) are estimated to accompany the Civil War.
The Taliban government provided a safe haven for many terrorist organisations such as Al-Qaeda. Aiming to stop the growing militant Islamism in the region, the US allies carried out airstrikes against the Taliban, thus marking the beginning of the American invasion of Afghanistan. This military offensive cost 2 trillion dollars to International Allies (Myers, Military times,2021). This amount included the aid provided for the Afghanistan Army and the NATO forces deployed. 110000 army soldiers were deployed in Afghanistan under the leadership of the United States of America. This war in Afghanistan was the most expensive campaign for the US since World War II. The Taliban’s fiscal resource was primarily from opium cultivation and external aid.
Poverty and unemployment were the immediate impacts of the war in Afghanistan. Afghanistan, since the Red Revolution, saw a steady income decline. Farmlands were widely destroyed. Prices of food and other essential commodities soared by 50%. In 2019, unemployment was at an unprecedented 74.5%. The poverty rate, as per current UNDP estimates, is projected to increase to a disastrous 97%.
Humanitarian costs of the Conflict
The communist rule led by Noor Mohammad Taraki, which ensued during the Red Revolution, was characterized by acts of violence across the country.
The government organized mass killings of political opponents and brutally repressed democratic uprisings and dissenting ideas. During the first two years of Taraki’s rule, 12000 political opponents were executed by the government. One of the most brutal episodes of government violence was the Herat Uprising of 1979, locally known as the Uprising of 24th Hoot, which was a series of insurrections against the communist regime. The government reacted with aerial bombardment of the Herat province and the ruthless massacre of the protestors. The death toll is estimated to be between 3000 and 25000. Subsequently, in 1989, the USSR launched an invasion of Afghanistan which entailed the loss of an estimated 800,000 to 1 million lives. (Khalidi,1991,107). The Civil War between the ruling Mujahideen factions and the Taliban involved massive destruction of life and property.
During 1992-1993 approximately 30000 citizens were killed and 100000 citizens injured in Kabul. Statistical estimates indicate that, during 1978-2000, around 1.8 million citizens were killed, and 1.5 million were maimed, among which 30000 were children.
According to research by The International Red Cross Committee, before 1999, 1.7 million were killed and 2 million injured due to the war in Afghanistan. (IRCR, 199, 2). The death toll among the 115000 Russian soldiers stationed in Afghanistan was 14454.
The perpetual state of war in Afghanistan has marred the social atmosphere of the country, making it a dangerous place to survive. The war in Afghanistan triggered a mass migration of Afghans across and out of the country. The four decades of internal conflict have produced 6 million refugees in Afghanistan, thereby making it the third country in the world worst affected by the refugee crisis. During 1978-1992, about 6 million citizens fled the country and sought refuge in Iran and Pakistan. Another 2 million were internally displaced. (Goodson, 2001, 92). After the establishment of the Islamic Republic following the complete withdrawal of the Soviet troops, about 1.2 million Afghan expatriates returned to their homeland. But, the civil war that soon ensued compelled the returnees to seek shelter elsewhere. Pakistan, by restricting its borders, sought to restrain the influx of Afghan refugees, while Iran continued to welcome them. During 1992- 1997, the country suffered an internal displacement crisis affecting 1.5 million. The refugee crisis was exacerbated as the Taliban took over. Ethnic violence reached unprecedented levels under the aegis of the Taliban rule. As of 2000, Afghanistan had 5 million external and 2 million internally displaced citizens.
The constant atmosphere of war prevailing in Afghanistan is primarily responsible for the protracted migrant crisis. The persistent conflict had the direct involvement of 5 percent of the population.
To demonstrate the enormity of the conflict, the Jihadist army comprised 321,000 men, while the opposing factions had a manpower of 274,000. Even after 1992, 321,000 Jihadist troops were involved in fighting the communist forces. Thus, about 0.7 million of the 16.5 million population of Afghanistan were involved in the war.
Environmental costs
According to a SIGAR report, since 1995, the cultivation of opium has increased from 56,828 hectares of farmland to 300,000 hectares in 2018, contributing to the surge in the production of the drug on a global scale from 75% to 84%. The drug was priced at 100,000 dollars in the global market. But opium cultivators in Helmand province were paid only 50-80 dollars, which was just 10% of the whole price.
Drug cultivation thrived in an atmosphere mired in instability and despondency, rendering around 4 million addicted to drugs and prone to early mortality. (Farahmand, 1399, 158)
As many as 14000 villages were ravaged in constant wars till 2000. Afghanistan is predominantly rural, and its villages are the basis of collective life where humans, plants, and animals share a sustainable relationship. The destruction of villages shows the extremities of the disaster in Afghanistan. As per estimates of the CIA report, the Russian invasion brought forth environmental damage equivalent to 6.7 billion dollars. (CIA, 1987, 7)
Furthermore, during the four decades of conflict, Afghanistan became a testing ground for weapons of mass destruction. During the Soviet invasion, it was apprehended that Russia would launch nuclear weapons on Afghan soil. But nuclear weapons were deployed for the first time during the early stages of the American invasion, in the Battle of Tora Bora. Nuclear fallout following the Tora Bora engagement, if calculated, would be 100-400% more than that of the Gulf War Battlefield. Secondly, cluster bombs with immense destructive potential have been widely used by the American military against Afghan civilians during the period. (McDonald, 2007, 55)
Conclusion
The ramifications of the four decades of war in Afghanistan are unfathomable. Prior to the American invasion in 2001, Afghanistan had a very low prevalence of civilian deaths, emigration, and drug dependence. Since 2001, 60-70% of the population has been on the verge of these above humanitarian issues. Quoting data from the article, 20.3 million of its citizens have been directly affected by these issues, among which 6 million emigrated, 3 million were internally displaced, 2.3 million killed, 3 million injured, 2 million were disabled, and 4 million under severe drug dependence. Now, with the re-establishment of the Taliban rule, prospects of a better life in Afghanistan are extinguished, as the Taliban doggedly refuses to change its regressive notions centered on religious extremism and partisanship.
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Mohiden Farahmand is a researcher and human rights defender. He studied school in Bamyan provice, graduated from law and Political science faculty of Herat University in 2013. He completed his Mater Degree in Political Science at Payame Noor University. He worked as lecturer in Estiqamat, Noorin and University of Afghanistan since 2014. He published some researched books such as Political Thought in Afghanistan (2016), Nation-Building in Afghanistan (2014), Globalization in Afghanistan (2020). He is one of the founders of 6 May as National Pen Day in Afghanistan Calendar. He leaded many protests for human rights, minorities rights and social justice since 2012 and worked with Civil Society and Human Rights Network as admin/finance manager in central zone (2014-2016).