What was the mission in
Afghanistan? Initially, it was about removing Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, which
was accomplished relatively quickly with Western firepower and money, as the
loyalties of the Afghan tribes were easily purchased. In this sense, the mission
was accomplished a while ago, but the Taliban and Al-Qaeda alliance could
easily return if the US-led troops left, therefore, a long-term solution was
required. Accordingly, the mission morphed into installing democracy,
curtailing poppy production, and promoting women’s rights. The underlying
reason is that a stable government would ensure that Afghanistan does not
become a haven for Al-Qaeda again.
