|THE MONTHLY EPISODE - THE DEN|
After two decades of war, the Taliban took over Afghanistan by capturing Kabul on August 15.
20 Years of US war in Afghanistan
September 11, 2001
9/11
The 9/11 attacks, were a series of four coordinated terrorist attacks by the militant Islamist terrorist group al-Qaeda led by Osama Bin Laden against the United States of America on the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001. Four California-bound commercial airliners, which took off in the northeastern United States, were hijacked mid-flight by 19 al-Qaeda terrorists. Nearly, 3000 people were killed. Days later Bin Laden was recognised as the prime suspect in the attack.
October 7, 2001
First air strikes
Under Operation Enduring Freedom, A US-led coalition bombs Taliban and al-Qaeda facilities in Afghanistan at the early phase of war, targets included Kabul, Kandahar and Jalalabad.
November 13, 2001
First Fall of Kabul
The Northern Alliance entered Kabul, as a part of the United States invasion in Afghanistan and toppled the Taliban government, who had captured Kabul in 1996.
December 2001
Osama bin Laden escape
Osama bin Laden is thought to have left for Pakistan on horseback on December 16.
March 27, 2009
New American Strategy
President Barack Obama announced a new strategy under which the core goal was to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al-Qaeda and its safe havens in Pakistan.
July, 2009
Old Battles, New strategy
The offensive, involving four thousand marines, was launched in response to growing Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan southern provinces. The operation included protection of civilians from Taliban incursion.
May 1, 2011
Osama Bin Laden Killed
U.S. forces overtook Abbottabad of Pakistan and killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. The operation ended a 10 year hunt led by the CIA.
December 2014
NATO officially ends its combat mission in Afghanistan. The US withdraws thousands of troops.
2015
Taliban Upturn
Militants begin operation in Afghanistan, launched series of suicide attacks, car bombing and other assaults.
February 2019
“Peace agreement”
U.S. and Taliban signs agreement over a peace deal in Doha, Qatar. The US agreed to withdraw all troops within 14 months, that is by May 2021, if the militants uphold the deal.
September 2019
Trump calls off peace talk after the assassination of a U.S. soldier in a Taliban attack.
April 13, 2021
US president Joe Biden announces the aim to complete U.S. troops withdrawal by 9/11 2021.
July 5, 2021
The U.S. left Bagram airfield without informing the base’s Afghan commander.
August 15, 2021
Afghanistan Crisis
The Afghan government collapses as the Taliban takes over Kabul, taking control of towns and cities all over the country.
August 16, 2021
Ashraf Ghani left the presidential palace and flew out of Kabul.
August 26, 2021
Suicide bombings occurred outside Kabul airport as thousands of Afghans tried to flee the country with America and a number of countries, which were scrambling to evacuate their citizens and Afghan partners ahead of the August 31 deadline for withdrawal of US troops.
August 30, 2021
U.S evacuation
The U.S. evacuates a final contingent of troops, officially ending America’s longest war.
Indian Evacuation
India had evacuated over 550 people in six separate flights, either from Kabul or Dushanbe till August 27.
September 7, 2021
New Afghan Government
Three weeks after Taliban takeover, militants declared the restoration of their Islamic emirate and announced a new government, including no women or members of shiite minority. Mullah Hassan Akhund, who is listed on the UN terror list, is appointed as the new Prime Minister of Afghanistan.
Women existential threat
Women in Afghanistan are facing rising levels of domestic violence, abuse and exploitation. The Taliban banned women from participating in sports and even beat those who demonstrated on the streets to call for equal rights.Gender segregation and an Islamic dress code issued under restriction on women’s education.
“They cannot eliminate us from society”
- Afghan woman