The War in Afghanistan

Map of Afghanistan

9/11 In September 2001, terrorists from al- Qaeda carried out attacks on targets in the United States, including the World Trade Centre buildings in New York people died in the attacks

Osama Bin Laden The man responsible for inspiring the attacks was Osama Bin Laden, head of al- Qaeda, whose terrorist base was in the mountains of Afghanistan.

Al-Qaeda Means ‘The Base’ set up around 1989 Islamist group Led by Osama bin Laden Has bases in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen Uses suicide attacks and bombings Supports a jihad (struggle) Jihad (‘holy war’) against enemies of Islam

Al-Qaeda Believes that all foreign influences should be removed from Muslim countries Believes in creating a new Muslim caliphate (a state with a purely Muslim government) Believes that Christians and Jews are out to destroy Islam Directs attacks mainly at the USA and the UK, but also against countries that have moved away from the true ideals of Islam.

Attacks on Afghanistan The USA immediately started bomb attacks against the terrorists in Afghanistan and against the Taleban government which was supporting them

ISAF By December 2001, the Taleban had been defeated. In January 2002, an international peacekeeping force came in (ISAF), agreed by the UN.

NATO takes over In 2003, NATO took over command of the ISAF Since then Afghanistan has had a new government elected and re- elected in 2009 President Hamid Karzai

The Taleban returns British troops have been fighting the Taleban in southern Afghanistan since 2005 The Taleban want all foreign troops out of Afghanistan and want to govern the country again Helmand Province

2011 In 2011, there are about 67,700 ISAF troops in Afghanistan. They are backed by about 93,000 Afghan troops and about 80,000 trained Afghan police. The USA provides around 32,000 troops and Britain contributes 9,000. Ministry of Defence | Fact Sheets | Operations Factsheets | Operations in Afghanistan: Why we are there

Military Casualties YearUSAUKOtherTotal Total