Afghanistan: A Security-Driven Agenda

The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is infamous for the actions of the past Taliban regime, the training camps of Al-Qaida, and the continuing war being waged by international forces to try to bring stability to the country. However, Afghanistan is less well known for the 6.6 million people who do not receive the minimum food requirement, for the 400,000 people each year seriously affected by natural disasters, the 15,000 who die of tuberculosis each year, and the women who die from complications during pregnancy every half hour. There is a persistent humanitarian crisis, fuelled by the continuing conflict and lack of law and order, widespread poverty, and exacerbated by recurring natural hazards including earthquakes, droughts, heavy snow falls, and floods, and, most recently, by the increase in the price of food. In addition, with 3 million refugees, Afghans make up the second largest population of refugees in the world, despite the return of 4.8 million since 2002 and over 132,000 displaced within the country. Nevertheless, the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan plays second fiddle to the objectives of security, counterterrorism, counter-narcotics and nation-building.