Afghanistan War

Introduction

Afghanistan has been at constant war and is still engaged in what is known today as the "Afghan War." Due to continuous conflict, Afghanistan's healthcare system, economy, and education have been devastated. But how has the war truly affected Afghanistan? This war is often compared to the Vietnam War in the United States, both in terms of the economic stresses it imposed and the social discontent it caused.

Impact on Afghanistan's Healthcare and Economy

Long before the Afghan War, Afghanistan was classified as a Less Economically Developed Country (LEDC). The situation worsened beginning in 1979 with the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. The country's healthcare system was severely damaged, leading to an exodus of medical professionals who fled the country, resulting in scarce medical resources. By 2003, there were only 18 physicians and 11 nurses per 100,000 people, and the infant mortality rate was 165 deaths per 1,000 births—one of the highest in the world (Health in Afghanistan, 2011).

The economy fared no better. The war destroyed Afghanistan's limited infrastructure and disrupted its normal trade activities. During the conflict, the average GDP per capita ranged from $700 to $800, with 35% of the population living below the poverty line. A four-year drought further exacerbated the situation, severely limiting agricultural production. For the 37% of the population engaged in agriculture, this was disastrous, especially since many practiced subsistence farming to feed themselves and their families. This reliance on subsistence farming had future consequences, and when the drought hit, they were overwhelmed. The large percentage of the population working in agriculture highlights Afghanistan's status as an LEDC, as the industry and service sectors remain underdeveloped due to a lack of technology and jobs (Health in Afghanistan, 2011).

Post-Taliban Economic Developments

Following the fall of the Taliban government, Afghanistan's trade with other countries increased significantly. Trade with the United States, for example, rose by 1333% since 2004, reaching $2.2 billion from $150 million in 2004 (TIFA). The economy is also improving with international assistance and the end of the four-year drought. Afghanistan is believed to possess trillions of dollars' worth of resources and has already signed deals with countries like China. While the GDP per capita remains at $900, mining these resources could create thousands of jobs, and statistics indicate that this number is rising. None of this would have been possible without the involvement of other countries, drawn into the situation by the war.

Impact on Pakistan

Pakistan experienced both positive and negative economic fluctuations due to various components of the Soviet-Afghan War. Significant foreign aid, like the six-year, $3.2 billion assistance package offered by the Reagan administration to Zia, aimed to stimulate Pakistan's economy, improve agriculture, healthcare, and energy development, and repay loans.

However, there were economic deficiencies as well. Economic gains were seen in consumer imports but not in education, healthcare, and rural development. The Soviet withdrawal led to significantly reduced support for Pakistan's future development (The Impact of the Afghan-Soviet War on Pakistan, 1980s).

Since December 1979, when Soviet troops first entered Afghanistan, the country has remained a focal point in regional and global politics. The conflict and instability in Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks had severe regional implications, leading to an influx of Afghan refugees into Pakistan and a spike in terrorist attacks there. These developments adversely affected all major sectors of Pakistan's economy, forcing the country to divert precious resources to address emerging security challenges.

Conclusion

The rise of violent extremism and increased terrorism in Pakistan due to instability in Afghanistan not only caused significant damage to Pakistan's economy but also widespread human suffering due to indiscriminate attacks against the civilian population. This situation disrupted Pakistan's normal economic and trading activities, resulting in higher business costs and production delays, which led to a loss of market share for Pakistani products globally. Consequently, economic growth failed to meet expectations. Investment outflow and negative trends in outsourcing of capital further compounded the challenges faced by the export-oriented industry (Impact on Pakistan's Economy, 2023).

References

• Health in Afghanistan. (2011). Retrieved from [source]
• TIFA. (2004). Retrieved from [source]
• The Impact of the Afghan-Soviet War on Pakistan. (1980s). Retrieved from [source]
• Impact on Pakistan's Economy. (2023). Retrieved from [source]