Module 4: Invasion of Afghanistan

Invasion of Afghanistan

The U.S. invasion of Afghanistan began in October 2001 in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks orchestrated by al-Qaeda under the leadership of Osama bin Laden. The attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people, prompted President George W. Bush to declare a "War on Terror" and demand that the Taliban, who controlled Afghanistan, surrender bin Laden and dismantle al-Qaeda’s operations.  The U.S. launched Operation Enduring Freedom with support from NATO allies and Afghan anti-Taliban forces. The campaign aimed to topple the Taliban regime and eliminate al-Qaeda’s safe havens in Afghanistan. 

The Taliban regime collapsed swiftly under the combined assault of U.S.-led forces and local allies, with Kabul, the capital, falling by November 2001. However, the campaign to capture key al-Qaeda leaders, including bin Laden, proved more challenging. The Battle of Tora Bora in December 2001 became a critical moment in the war. Believed to be hiding in the rugged mountains of eastern Afghanistan near the Pakistan border, bin Laden narrowly escaped a U.S.-led offensive, reportedly fleeing into Pakistan with the help of local supporters. The failure to capture him at Tora Bora highlighted the difficulty of conducting operations in Afghanistan’s challenging terrain and underscored the complex relationship with Pakistan, where elements of the government and intelligence agencies were accused of harboring Taliban and al-Qaeda members.

The initial phase of the U.S. invasion achieved its immediate objectives: the Taliban were ousted from power, and al-Qaeda’s operations in Afghanistan were severely disrupted. However, bin Laden’s escape into Pakistan marked the beginning of a prolonged conflict. As the Taliban regrouped and launched an insurgency from their bases in Pakistan, the war shifted into a grueling and protracted struggle. The focus on Afghanistan also became intertwined with broader geopolitical concerns, including U.S.-Pakistan relations, nation-building efforts, and the challenges of countering a resilient Taliban insurgency, setting the stage for two decades of ongoing conflict.