Analysis of Afghan Situation

Abstract

Pakistan and Afghanistan have a shared geography and parts of the two countries have been jointly ruled for some time. The two entities have a criss-cross of mutual dependencies on water issues, security related cooperation, etc, etc through which their respective outlooks on the global stage are defined. More than 40 years of continuous conflict has elapsed since the Soviet Union invaded the country and devastated life and property in the country. US has spent about $1 trillion on the war. Moreover, at one time about 150,000 US troops were stationed in the country. The Afghan economy is largely sustained by the trade of illicit substances. Their GDP which stands at $64 billion is made up largely of foreign aid and expatriate funding. The Afghan economy is largely sustained by Refugees in Pakistan and transit trade occurs in the country through the Pakistani port city of Karachi. This analysis will shed light upon reasons for U.S’s continued presence in Afghanistan.