Webinar: 2021 Political Change in Afghanistan and International Society

On August 15, 2021, the Taliban seized control of Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, marking their return to power after two decades. In fear of retaliation by the Taliban, which was able to sweep across the country at an unexpectedly rapid pace, many foreign governments began to evacuate their citizens and Afghan citizens also flooded to the airport. Scenes of an airplane taking off with people still clinging to the outside of the aircraft seemed to evoke the image of the international community abandoning Afghanistan. 

After the attacks on the U.S. on September 11, 2001, a coalition of the willing mainly led by the U.S. and the U.K. launched Operation Enduring Freedom and attacked the Taliban, which was harboring the mastermind of the September 11 attacks, Osama Bin Laden. After a transitional government, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan was established in 2003. Since then, the international community has been actively involved in supporting Afghanistan's peace-building efforts. 

In November 2001, Japan enacted the Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law and the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) resupplied U.S. naval vessels in the Indian Ocean. In addition, Official Development Assistance(ODA) projects and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) continued to provide support. However, we are now faced with the prospect that the results of these efforts will be erased. 

What has been the result of the international community's involvement in Afghanistan over the past two decades? How has the Taliban, labeled as "terrorists," been transformed? Will the engagement of Iran, Russia, and China lead to a geopolitical realignment of the surrounding region? And how can the international community contribute to the country's peace and stability in the future? We hope this webinar will be an opportunity to think about these questions with experts and practitioners.