Powers and Borders SG4
Strategies for Global Governance in One Area of Conflict and Its Impact on Sovereignty
and Territorial Integrity
LIDC Case Study: Afghanistan
Key Events in Afghanistan’s History
Date Event
1996 – 2001 Taliban rule in Afghanistan. Start of Afghan war
September 2001 US led invasion following 9/11 – not UN sanctioned
UN established ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) and became directly
December 2001
involved
2004 First democratic elections held and installed Hamid Karzai as first elected president
2003 – December NATO takes over the running of Afghanistan military operations from the UN
2014
NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan. However, 10,000 NATO troops will remain to
From January 1st
train, advise and assist the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) who will have full
2015
responsibility for running the country
2003 – Present Taliban insurgency
Insurgency – organised rebellion fighting a guerrilla war, trying to overthrow the government
What Have Been the Challenges to State Sovereignty?
Challenges to State Sovereignty
Intervention from other countries
NATO taking over Afghan military
Taliban insurgency – attacking state apparatus
How Are Issues in State Sovereignty Linked to Issues with Territorial Integrity?
Durand Line – the 2,430km international border between Pakistan and Afghanistan
The Durand Line is a porous border making it one of the most dangerous borders in the world. Illegal activities,
such as the smuggling of…
Weapons
Narcotics
Vehicles
Ordinary consumer goods
… and more, take place due to very little government control on either side of the border
Why Is There So Much Tension on the Durand Line?
The border was created by the British in the 19 th Century
No Afghanistan government since the partition of British India in 1947 has accepted the Durand Line
as the international border
The line has sliced Pashtun ethnic groups in two – the Pashtun tribe don’t see themselves as two
peoples (Afghani and Pakistani) and consider the borders between them as a Western invention
- They try to carry on as they have for centuries by ignoring the border and maintaining their
ancient connections
A large section of the border is a divide between Afghanistan and FATA (Federally Administered
Tribal Area) in north Pakistan
, FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Area):
Home to 3 million Muslims who are ethnically Pashtun and take exception to centralised rule from
Pakistan and Afghanistan
Degree of lawlessness in parts of the region
Despite having parliamentary seats in Pakistan, the Jurisdiction of the Supreme and High Courts in
Pakistan don’t cover this region
Due to the very traditional Islamic views held by tribal elders in the region, the areas has become a
stronghold for the Taliban where they fled after NATO entered Afghanistan
Global Governance Strategies Used in Afghanistan
The UN/NATO Intervention and Impacts on Sovereignty
In December 2001, the UN established ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) which was then taken
over by NATO in August 2003
What Was the Initial Aim of ISAF? Who Was Involved with ISAF?
Increasing security in and around the capital of 40 countries
Kabul 2011-12 ISAF had >130,000 troops from 51 NATO
members
How Did ISAF Help to Resolve Sovereignty Issues?
Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT) to provide security and reconstruction to Afghanistan
The first elections were held in 2004 after the fall of the Taliban
ISAF supported the electoral process by assisting ANSF
Hamid Karzai won the election and became president
Was the Intervention a Success?
Success Not a Success
ISAF supported the Taliban insurgency – entering Afghanistan to undermine the
electoral process which presidents authority and try to take back control
helped Afghanistan regain 2,500 people killed in 2018
sovereignty – Hamid People in Afghanistan today are poorer than people in 1950
Karzai became president Country hasn’t known peace for 40 years
Assisted and trained the A majority of Afghans live in areas controlled by Taliban
Afghan National Security Over 111,000 Afghans killed, and 30,000 civilians wounded
Force (ANSF) in the conflict
UN Intervention and the Refugee Crisis
By the end of 2001, Afghanis made up the world’s largest number of refugees at 6 million, with most of them
going to Pakistan and Iran
UNHCR Refugee Camps
The UNHCR set up camps in Pakistan and Iran, as well as some in safe areas of Afghanistan
Provided a safe haven away from the war allowing families to reunite and bringing communities back
together
Worked with NGOs, e.g. Red Cross and MSF, to provide emergency temporary care for millions of
displaced people
Kacha Garhi, Pakistan:
Originally set up for 70,000 Afghan refugees in 1980 due to the Soviet-Afghan war
The UNHCR and NGOs provided humanitarian aid e.g. tents, food, water, medicine
The camp was vacated and closed in 2007
Strategies for Global Governance in One Area of Conflict and Its Impact on Sovereignty
and Territorial Integrity
LIDC Case Study: Afghanistan
Key Events in Afghanistan’s History
Date Event
1996 – 2001 Taliban rule in Afghanistan. Start of Afghan war
September 2001 US led invasion following 9/11 – not UN sanctioned
UN established ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) and became directly
December 2001
involved
2004 First democratic elections held and installed Hamid Karzai as first elected president
2003 – December NATO takes over the running of Afghanistan military operations from the UN
2014
NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan. However, 10,000 NATO troops will remain to
From January 1st
train, advise and assist the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) who will have full
2015
responsibility for running the country
2003 – Present Taliban insurgency
Insurgency – organised rebellion fighting a guerrilla war, trying to overthrow the government
What Have Been the Challenges to State Sovereignty?
Challenges to State Sovereignty
Intervention from other countries
NATO taking over Afghan military
Taliban insurgency – attacking state apparatus
How Are Issues in State Sovereignty Linked to Issues with Territorial Integrity?
Durand Line – the 2,430km international border between Pakistan and Afghanistan
The Durand Line is a porous border making it one of the most dangerous borders in the world. Illegal activities,
such as the smuggling of…
Weapons
Narcotics
Vehicles
Ordinary consumer goods
… and more, take place due to very little government control on either side of the border
Why Is There So Much Tension on the Durand Line?
The border was created by the British in the 19 th Century
No Afghanistan government since the partition of British India in 1947 has accepted the Durand Line
as the international border
The line has sliced Pashtun ethnic groups in two – the Pashtun tribe don’t see themselves as two
peoples (Afghani and Pakistani) and consider the borders between them as a Western invention
- They try to carry on as they have for centuries by ignoring the border and maintaining their
ancient connections
A large section of the border is a divide between Afghanistan and FATA (Federally Administered
Tribal Area) in north Pakistan
, FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Area):
Home to 3 million Muslims who are ethnically Pashtun and take exception to centralised rule from
Pakistan and Afghanistan
Degree of lawlessness in parts of the region
Despite having parliamentary seats in Pakistan, the Jurisdiction of the Supreme and High Courts in
Pakistan don’t cover this region
Due to the very traditional Islamic views held by tribal elders in the region, the areas has become a
stronghold for the Taliban where they fled after NATO entered Afghanistan
Global Governance Strategies Used in Afghanistan
The UN/NATO Intervention and Impacts on Sovereignty
In December 2001, the UN established ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) which was then taken
over by NATO in August 2003
What Was the Initial Aim of ISAF? Who Was Involved with ISAF?
Increasing security in and around the capital of 40 countries
Kabul 2011-12 ISAF had >130,000 troops from 51 NATO
members
How Did ISAF Help to Resolve Sovereignty Issues?
Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT) to provide security and reconstruction to Afghanistan
The first elections were held in 2004 after the fall of the Taliban
ISAF supported the electoral process by assisting ANSF
Hamid Karzai won the election and became president
Was the Intervention a Success?
Success Not a Success
ISAF supported the Taliban insurgency – entering Afghanistan to undermine the
electoral process which presidents authority and try to take back control
helped Afghanistan regain 2,500 people killed in 2018
sovereignty – Hamid People in Afghanistan today are poorer than people in 1950
Karzai became president Country hasn’t known peace for 40 years
Assisted and trained the A majority of Afghans live in areas controlled by Taliban
Afghan National Security Over 111,000 Afghans killed, and 30,000 civilians wounded
Force (ANSF) in the conflict
UN Intervention and the Refugee Crisis
By the end of 2001, Afghanis made up the world’s largest number of refugees at 6 million, with most of them
going to Pakistan and Iran
UNHCR Refugee Camps
The UNHCR set up camps in Pakistan and Iran, as well as some in safe areas of Afghanistan
Provided a safe haven away from the war allowing families to reunite and bringing communities back
together
Worked with NGOs, e.g. Red Cross and MSF, to provide emergency temporary care for millions of
displaced people
Kacha Garhi, Pakistan:
Originally set up for 70,000 Afghan refugees in 1980 due to the Soviet-Afghan war
The UNHCR and NGOs provided humanitarian aid e.g. tents, food, water, medicine
The camp was vacated and closed in 2007
