Defeat of War on Terror

 With the imminent fall of Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, to the Talibans, it marks the end of the US goal to totally destroy terror networks and preventing Afghanistan from becoming a terror hub. The withdrawal of the US forces from Afghanistan also marks the end of another chapter of America playing the role of global policeman. The US had spent twenty-long years in trying to prop up a western-style liberal democracy and spending trillions of dollars to woo Afghans away from guns, drugs and terror. It also lost nearly four thousand American lives in Afghanistan while defending the weak Afghan ‘democratic government’ against the Talibans. The Afghan war also cost the Americans nearly $1 billion militarily and nearly $2 trillion overall. The US had invaded Afghanistan by October 7, 2001 in pursuit of Al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda operatives responsible for the terror attacks on the Twin Towers, New York City. During the 90s, the US had allied with Al Qaeda as well as trained, armed and funded the Taliban with the help of Pakistan to fight a proxy war against the Soviet occupation army in Afghanistan. While most countries were aware that both Al Qaeda and the Taliban would one day point their guns at the USA, it was strange that this was largely ignored in Washington. It was only after the 9/11 Twin tower attacks that America was rudely shaken from its make believe world. Al Qaeda and the Talibans are ideologically on opposite sides of the US and it wasn’t long before they became mortal enemies. The Americans have always failed to correctly analyse the geopolitics in the regions they got involved militarily. It was the same with the Russians in the 40s, Korean War in the 50s, the Cuban fiasco in the early 60s, the Vietnam war in from 1961 to the 70s, involvement with the Shah of Iran in the 70s, the Gulf war in 1991, the Iraqi invasion in 2003 , intervention in Libya in the post-Gaddafi period, war with ISIL since 2012, involvement in Syria against the Assad regime etc. According to many analysts, the US should have been aware of the nature and ideology of Al Qaeda and the Taliban with whom it forged the unholiest alliance directed against the Soviets. By ignoring or choosing not to acknowledge the danger of creating terror Frankenstein, the US had to ultimately pay a heavy price. What has the USA gained after 20 years of occupation of Afghanistan? It trained the Afghan military, provided weapons, tanks, jet planes and sophisticated equipments for the nearly 3 to 4 lakh personnel. Yet the Afghan military with 3 to 4 lakh personnel are unable to halt the advance of around 60 to 70 thousand armed Talibans. The US used to spend over $3 to $4 billion for the Afghan army in contrast to hardly $1 billion that the Talibans mange through extortion, heroin trade and smuggling. In the end, for the US it was a déjà vu again like as in Vietnam where it propped up a South Vietnamese Army that was incapable of fighting the lightly armed but determined Vietcongs. Afghanistan will become the most dangerous terror-ruled nation after the Talibans eventually overrun the entire country. This will affect India as both Pakistan and China will seek to play prominent roles in Afghanistan.