War in Afghanistan facts for kids
Afghanistan is a country in Asia that has a very long and complex history, especially when it comes to wars and conflicts. For centuries, different groups and empires have fought for control over its land. This has led to many periods of war, often called the War in Afghanistan or Afghan Civil War.
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Early Conflicts and Empires
Afghanistan's history of conflict goes back thousands of years.
- Around 330 BC, Alexander the Great and his army conquered parts of Afghanistan.
- Later, in the 7th and 8th centuries, Muslim armies expanded into the region.
- In the 13th century, the Mongol Empire invaded, causing big changes.
- The Mughal Empire also had control over parts of Afghanistan in the 16th century.
- From 1748 to 1837, there were several Afghan-Sikh Wars as different groups fought for power.
British and Russian Influence
In the 19th century, Afghanistan became a key area in a rivalry between the British Empire and the Russian Empire. This rivalry was known as the Great Game.
- The Anglo-Afghan Wars involved the British trying to gain influence in Afghanistan.
- The First Anglo-Afghan War happened from 1839 to 1842.
- The Second Anglo-Afghan War was from 1878 to 1880.
- The Third Anglo-Afghan War took place in 1919. These wars were about Afghanistan trying to keep its independence from outside powers.
- In 1885, the Panjdeh incident was a moment when the Russian Empire moved into Afghan territory, showing the tensions of the Great Game.
20th Century Struggles
The 20th century also saw many internal and external conflicts in Afghanistan.
- The First Afghan Civil War in 1928–1929 involved different groups fighting for control, with one group briefly taking over the capital city, Kabul.
The Soviet-Afghan War
A major conflict began in 1978 with the Saur Revolution, when a communist group took power.
- This led to the Soviet–Afghan War from 1979 to 1989. The Soviet Union sent its army to support the communist government in Afghanistan.
- Afghan fighters, known as the Afghan mujahideens, fought against the Soviet forces. They received support from countries like the United States, as part of the larger Cold War rivalry.
- After ten years, the Soviet Union withdrew its troops in 1989.
Civil Wars and the Rise of the Taliban
After the Soviets left, Afghanistan fell into a series of civil wars.
- The Second Afghan Civil War (1989–1992) saw the collapse of the communist government.
- The Third Afghan Civil War (1992–1996) led to the rise of the Taliban. The Taliban is a group that eventually took control of most of Afghanistan and set up their own government, called the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
- The Fourth Afghan Civil War (1996–2001) continued, with the Taliban controlling most of the country and another group, the Northern Alliance, controlling areas in the north.
The War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
This was a long and complex conflict that started after the September 11 attacks in the United States.
- In 2001, the United States invasion of Afghanistan began. The goal was to fight the Taliban and al-Qaeda, a terrorist group that was based in Afghanistan.
- From 2001 to 2014, an international group of countries, including all NATO members, formed the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). They helped the Afghan government fight against the Taliban insurgency.
- From 2014 to 2021, the mission changed to the Resolute Support Mission. This phase focused on training Afghan forces and continuing anti-insurgency operations against the Taliban, al-Qaeda, and other groups like ISIL.
- In 2021, the 2021 Taliban offensive led to the rapid takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban, and the previous government, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, fell.
Ongoing Conflicts
Even after 2021, conflicts continue in Afghanistan.
- The Islamic State–Taliban conflict (2015–present) involves fighting between the ruling Taliban and the Islamic State group.
- The Republican insurgency in Afghanistan (2021–present) is a conflict between the Taliban and rebel groups who oppose their rule.
See also
In Spanish: Guerra de Afganistán para niños
