Wars had changed, this article examines the shift in the nature of warfare from interstate to intrastate conflicts post-World War II. It focuses on the US war in Afghanistan as a case study. Despite its superior military power, the US failed to achieve its objectives against the Taliban due to outdated strategies. It’s lack of understanding of the local terrain and dynamics, and diminishing political will. The analysis underscores the importance of adapting military strategies to modern warfare.
Keywords : Peace for Afghanistan, Anti war, Afghanistan, freedom fighter, army, wars, super power, fighting terrorism.
Introduction
Before World War II, the nature of war was primarily interstate. Conflicts were conducted between conventional armies of two or more states. However, after World War II, the nature of war changed from interstate to intrastate. Wars began occurring between state and non-state actors, colonial powers and freedom fighters, and states fighting against insurgents in other countries’ territories. Previously, it was believed that a major power with a strong military—technologically and numerically superior—would achieve victory against a smaller enemy with a weaker military. Historical evidence from wars before World War II supported this belief, with major powers often achieving their objectives.
However, with the changing nature of war, the concept that a big nation will always win against a smaller enemy became unclear. Post-World War II conflicts demonstrate that a stronger army does not guarantee victory. Examples include Indochina, Indonesia, and the US-Vietnam War, where larger nations ended up losing. The United States, a superpower since World War II, participated in numerous wars, many of which it lost. The Afghanistan war is one such example.
USA War in Afghanistan
The US war in Afghanistan illustrates a conflict where a major state fought against an enemy considered an insurgent or terror group in the international system. After the 9/11 attacks, the US blamed Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden for the terror activity and sought to destroy the group. President George Bush and the US establishment launched an operation to defeat Al-Qaeda, which also extended to the Taliban, who were in power at the time and resisted handing over bin Laden.
After 20 years of war, the Taliban emerged victorious, and the US faced another loss. This defeat was not in terms of a military defeat or battlefield loss, as it’s impossible for a small force like Taliban to defeat the US military in a conventional war. Instead, the Taliban achieved victory by attaining their goals, forming a government after the US withdrawal. The US faced massive costs, including over two thousand American deaths, about twenty-five thousand injuries, and trillions of dollars spent, only to see the Taliban regain power.
Reasons for US Defeat
Several factors contributed to the US defeat. The nature of war changed since the US became a superpower. While the US won most conventional wars before World War II, it failed to transform its military strategies to address modern wars, such as civil wars and terrorism. The US invested heavily in technologies like the F-16, which were not useful in Afghanistan. This was both a political and military error. When the US launched its operation in Afghanistan, it lacked knowledge about the country, including maps of the terrain, resulting in miscalculations on both fronts.
The will to fight also played a crucial role in the US defeat and Taliban victory. For the Taliban, it was a matter of survival, while for the US, it was a limited war, a war of choice. The US military was not significantly engaged, and as the war prolonged, the costs and negative effects on US society and institutions diminished the political will to fight, leading to withdrawal. The Taliban’s shift from direct confrontation to guerrilla warfare was also decisive. They adopted guerrilla tactics, hiding in unrecognized areas and targeting soft targets, which eroded the US’s will to fight.
Conclusion
This article highlights the importance of Sun Tzu’s philosophy that understanding the enemy is crucial for achieving victory. Wars are not won by large militaries or advanced technology but by making the right strategy according to the situation. The morale of the army and public support are also essential for victory.
This Article is written by Muhammad Hammad Khan, a graduate of Strategic Studies from National Defense University, Islamabad
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