Abstract
Observers cannot help but compare the Soviet with drawal from Afghanistan between 1988 and 1989 to NATO’s exit in January 2015, when it handed over command and control of security responsibilities to Afghan forces and most of the alliance’s combat troops left the war-torn country. The situation leading to both withdrawals are hauntingly similar: no clear victory in sight, crumbling state institutions and bloodthirsty, powerful ethnic and tribal groups and factions waiting for someone to ignite the fire. After 13 years of war, Afghanistan looks only slightly better than before, with a relatively peaceful political transition, higher literacy rates, higher life expectancy and an increased GDP.
Keyword(s)
UNSTABLE AFGHANISTAN, POTENTIAL IMPACT, NATO’SDEPARTURE, Pakistan