This week we shall be posting a series of blogs about countries and societies of the world that exist in a state of tension and conflict. We start off by examining the history of Afghanistan, a country defined by its past 170 years of warfare:

• 1839 to 1842 - The First Anglo-Afghan War (also known as Auckland’s Folly) was fought between British India and Afghanistan. It was one of the first major conflicts during the Great Game, the 19th century competition for power and influence in Central Asia between the United Kingdom and Russia.
• 1878 to 1880 - The Second Anglo-Afghan War was fought between the United Kingdom and Afghanistan.. After the war most of the British and Indian soldiers withdrew from Afghanistan. The Afghans were permitted to maintain internal sovereignty but they had to cede control of their nation’s foreign relations to the British.
• 1919 - Afghanistan regains independence after third war against British forces trying to bring country under their sphere of influence.
• 1926 - Amanullah proclaims himself king and attempts to introduce social reforms leading to opposition from conservative forces. This only lasts for three years as in 1929 he is forced to flee.
• 1933 - Zahir Shah becomes king and Afghanistan remains a monarchy for next four decades.
• 1953 - General Mohammed Daud becomes prime minister. Turns to Soviet Union for economic and military assistance. Introduces a number of social reforms, such as abolition of purdah (practice of secluding women from public view).
• 1963 - Mohammed Daud forced to resign as prime minister.
• 1964 - Constitutional monarchy introduced - but leads to political polarisation and lengthy power struggles.
• 1973 - Mohammed Daud seizes power in a coup and declares a republic.
• 1978 - General Daud is overthrown and killed in a coup by leftist People’s Democratic Party.
• 1979 - Power struggle between leftist leaders Hafizullah Amin and Nur Mohammed Taraki in Kabul won by Amin. Revolts in countryside continue and Afghan army faces collapse. Soviet Union finally sends in troops to help remove Amin, who is executed.
• 1980 - Babrak Karmal, leader of the People’s Democratic Party Parcham faction, is installed as ruler, backed by Soviet troops.
• 1985 - Mujahideen (partly funded by the US) come together in Pakistan to form alliance against Soviet forces. Half of Afghan population now estimated to be displaced by war, with many fleeing to neighbouring Iran or Pakistan. New Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev says he will withdraw troops from Afghanistan.
• 1996 - After years of factional conflict Taliban seize control of Kabul and introduce hard-line version of Islam.
• 1999 - UN imposes an air embargo and financial sanctions to force Afghanistan to hand over Osama bin Laden for trial.
• 2001 October - US, Britain launch air strikes against Afghanistan after Taliban refuse to hand over Osama bin Laden, held responsible for the September 11 attacks on America.

 
Since 2001 corruption, drugs and an insurgent Taliban have marred Afghanistan’s progress towards democracy. There have been 2684 military casualties (1746 of them American) and an estimated 10,000+ civilian casualties. In a country that has not known stable government for so long, were the democratic ambitions of the invasion of 2001ever realistic? We’ll be discussing the merits of the War on Terror at our upcoming debate on September 6th “The War on Terror was the right response to 9/11“