Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan was a presidential republic that ruled Afghanistan from 2004 to 2021. The state was established to replace the Afghan interim (2001–2002) and transitional (2002–2004) administrations, which were formed after the 2001 United States invasion of Afghanistan that had toppled the partially recognized Taliban-ruled Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. However, on 15 August 2021, the country was recaptured by the Taliban, which marked the end of the 2001–2021 war, the longest war in US history. This led to the overthrow of the Islamic Republic, led by President Ashraf Ghani, and the reinstatement of the Islamic Emirate under the control of the Taliban. While the United Nations still recognizes the Islamic Republic as the legitimate government of Afghanistan, this toppled regime controls no portion of the country today, nor does it operate in exile; it effectively no longer exists. The Islamic Emirate is the de facto ruling government. The US–Taliban deal, signed on 29 February 2020 in Qatar, was one of the critical events that caused the collapse of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). Following the deal, the US dramatically reduced the number of air attacks and deprived the ANSF of a critical edge in fighting the Taliban insurgency, leading to the Taliban takeover of Kabul.
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
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| 2004–2021 | |||||||||
| Motto: لا إله إلا الله، محمد رسول الله "Lā ʾilāha ʾillā llāh, Muhammadun rasūlu llāh" "There is no god but Allah; Muhammad is the messenger of Allah." (Shahada) | |||||||||
| Anthem: Qal’a-ye Islām, qalb-e Āsiyā قلعه اسلام قلب اسیا ("Fortress of Islam, Heart of Asia") (2004–2006) Sūrud-e-Millī سرود ملی ("National Anthem") (2006–2021) | |||||||||
| Capital and largest city | Kabul 33°N 66°E | ||||||||
| Official languages |
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| Ethnic groups | |||||||||
| Religion | |||||||||
| Demonym(s) | Afghan | ||||||||
| Government | Unitary presidential Islamic republic | ||||||||
| President | |||||||||
• 2004–2014 | Hamid Karzai | ||||||||
• 2014–2021 | Ashraf Ghani | ||||||||
| Chief Executive | |||||||||
• 2014–2020 | Abdullah Abdullah | ||||||||
| Vice President | |||||||||
• 2004–2009 | Ahmad Zia Massoud | ||||||||
• 2004–2014 | Karim Khalili | ||||||||
• 2009–2014 | Mohammed Fahim | ||||||||
• 2014 | Yunus Qanuni | ||||||||
• 2014–2020 | Abdul Rashid Dostum | ||||||||
• 2014–2021 | Sarwar Danish | ||||||||
• 2020–2021 | Amrullah Saleh | ||||||||
| Legislature | National Assembly | ||||||||
• Upper house | House of Elders | ||||||||
• Lower house | House of the People | ||||||||
| Historical era | War on Terror | ||||||||
• U.S. invasion of Afghanistan | 7 October 2001 | ||||||||
| 26 January 2004 | |||||||||
| 29 February 2020 | |||||||||
| 15 August 2021 | |||||||||
| Area | |||||||||
• Water (%) | negligible | ||||||||
| 2020 | 652,864 km2 (252,072 sq mi) | ||||||||
| Population | |||||||||
• 2020 | 31,390,200 | ||||||||
• Density | 48.08/km2 (124.5/sq mi) | ||||||||
| GDP (PPP) | 2021 estimate | ||||||||
• Total | $83 billion | ||||||||
| HDI (2019) | 0.511 low | ||||||||
| Currency | Afghani (افغانی) (AFN) | ||||||||
| Time zone | UTC+4:30 Solar Calendar (D†) | ||||||||
| Driving side | right | ||||||||
| Calling code | +93 | ||||||||
| Internet TLD | .af | ||||||||
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Following the September 11 attacks, the United States and several allies invaded Afghanistan, overthrowing the Taliban's first government (which had limited recognition) in support of the opposition Northern Alliance. Afterwards, a transitional government was formed under the leadership of Hamid Karzai. After the 2003 loya jirga, a unitary presidential Islamic republic was proclaimed under a new constitution, and Karzai was elected for a full term as president. Meanwhile, the US-led international coalition helped maintain internal security, gradually transferring the burden of defense to the Afghan Armed Forces after 2013–14.
However, Taliban forces held control of various areas of the country and the civil war continued. The Taliban regrouped as an insurgency with the alleged support of Pakistan, and escalated attacks on Afghan and coalition forces after 2006–07. This perpetuated Afghanistan's problematic human rights and women's rights records, with numerous abuses committed by both sides, such as the killing of civilians, kidnapping, and torture. Due to the government's extensive reliance on American military and economic aid, some classed the nation as an American client state, and it gradually lost control of the rural countryside after the conclusion of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Following the withdrawal of NATO troops in 2021, the Taliban launched a massive military offensive in May 2021, allowing them to take control of the country over the following three and a half months. The Afghan National Army rapidly disintegrated. The institutions of the republic effectively collapsed on 15 August 2021, when the Taliban forces entered Kabul and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled the country. Soon after, former first vice president Amrullah Saleh declared himself the caretaker president of Afghanistan and announced the republican resistance against the Taliban; however, on 6 September 2021, Saleh also fled to Tajikistan.