The Afghan conflict is the series of events that have kept Afghanistan in a near-continuous state of armed conflict since the 1970s. Early instability followed the collapse of the Kingdom of Afghanist
Soviet troops returning home from Afghanistan during the Soviet–Afghan War in October 1986
A Soviet Spetsnaz group prepares for a mission in 1988
Taliban border guard in 2001
Shortly after the September 11 attacks in 2001, the United States declared the war on terror and subsequently led a multinational military operation against Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. The stated goal
In an address to a joint session of the US Congress on 20 September 2001, US President George W. Bush demanded that the Taliban deliver Osama bin Laden and destroy bases of al-Qaeda.
In the days and weeks immediately following 9/11, Osama bin Laden repeatedly denied having any role.
US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld