- Taliban government overthrown: The immediate effect of the invasion of Afghanistan was the overthrow of the Taliban government, which had been sheltering al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and his terrorist organization.
- Loss of life: The invasion resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Afghan civilians, soldiers, and aid workers, as well as thousands of American and coalition forces.
- Large scale displacement of Afghans: The violence caused by the invasion led to the displacement of millions of Afghans, many of whom fled to neighboring countries or became internally displaced persons (IDPs). The UN reported that by November 2001, more than 2 million Afghans had fled their homes.
- Economic disruption: The invasion disrupted Afghanistan's economy, leading to widespread unemployment and poverty.
- Security challenges: The invasion failed to completely eliminate the threat of al-Qaeda and the Taliban, who both continued to operate from within Afghanistan.
- Increased anti-American sentiment: By 2009, the unpopular war in Afghanistan was cited as contributing to a drop in U.S. international approval ratings, and as reducing the influence of the United States on the world stage.
Long-Term Effects
- Rebuilding efforts: The United States and its allies invested billions of dollars to rebuild Afghanistan after the war. The effort saw some progress such as the establishment of a new constitution and the improvement of infrastructure, but the country continued to face challenges.
- Increased poppy cultivation: The invasion led to an increase in poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, which became the world's largest producer of opium and heroin. The illicit drug trade funded insurgent groups and contributed to corruption and instability in the country.
- Continued political instability: Following the overthrow of the Taliban, the Karzai administration struggled to assert control over the entire country, leading to ongoing political instability and the return of the Taliban in 2021.
- Enduring military presence: The invasion marked the beginning of a long-term U.S. military presence in Afghanistan, which lasted nearly 20 years and ended with the withdrawal of U.S. troops in August 2021.
- Refugee crisis: Millions of Afghans remained refugees or IDPs for many years, struggling to rebuild their lives and find durable solutions for their displacement.
- Legacy of war: The invasion left a lasting legacy of war-related trauma, injuries, and disabilities among Afghans.
- Withdrawal and Taliban takeover: The U.S. withdrawal in 2021 and subsequent Taliban takeover led to the collapse of the Afghan republic, prompting a massive refugee crisis and raising concerns about the future of women's rights and civil liberties in the country.
