Anarchy in Afghanistan

Almost 20 years of war have shattered Afghanistan. Today, the country is divided into several hostile fiefdoms and anarchy reigns in much of the countryside. Putting back the pieces has been difficult, and the prognosis for peace in the immediate future is bleak. Although Soviet meddling sparked the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of international affairs (New York) 1997-06, Vol.51 (1), p.37-56
Main Author: Khalilzad, Zalmay
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Afghan foreign relations
Afghan history
AFGHANISTAN
Anarchism
Anarchy
Armed forces
CIVIL WAR
Civil wars
Conflict
Corruption
Countries
Coups d'etat
Ethnic groups
ETHNICITY AND ETHNIC GROUPS
Foreign policy
Government
Government and politics
Guerrilla forces
History
India
Interethnic conflict
International alliances
International cooperation
Invasions
Iran
Military aspects
Militia groups
Minority & ethnic groups
Pakistan
Peace
Peacetime
Political behavior
Political conflicts
Political factions
Political parties
Political systems
Postwar reconstruction
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Soviet foreign relations
State fragmentation
Studies
Tadzhikistan
Taliban
Truces & cease fires
Turkmenistan
U.S.A
Uzbekistan
War
Wars
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Summary:Almost 20 years of war have shattered Afghanistan. Today, the country is divided into several hostile fiefdoms and anarchy reigns in much of the countryside. Putting back the pieces has been difficult, and the prognosis for peace in the immediate future is bleak. Although Soviet meddling sparked the conflict in 1978, their withdrawal in 1989 did not end Afghanistan's woes. Instead, war, anarchy, and fragmentation followed the Soviet withdrawal, as fighting continued against the Soviet-installed Najibullah government. Peace remains an unlikely prospect in the near future because no Afghan group has been able to impose its will on the other factions. In addition to disagreement among the various factions over the division of power, constant competition among outside states for influence has also destabilized Afghanistan. Both the internal and external factors contributing to the continuation of the civil war are analyzed, and future prospects for stability are assessed. The conditions conducive to promoting peace in this war-torn country are identified.
ISSN:0022-197X