“The invasion's aims were to dismantle
al-Qaeda, which had executed the
September 11 attacks, and to deny it a safe base of operations in Afghanistan by removing the Taliban government from power.”
The initial invasion did succeed in these though the taliban was able to return and contest power in certain areas. However the taliban also stepped away from supporting international terrorists.
The main fuckup was that there was no exit plan. That an extra goal was introduced in “nation building” afghanistan into a pro-western democratic government.
But i do not know why so many pakistanis are jumping up and down about a so called “humililiating military defeat” while the coalition never lost a military engagement…and simply lost patience hand holding ANA.
Eventually the afghans have to “help themselves” and stand on their own feet.
Turns out they did not want to put up a fight and instead tolerate taliban regime rule. So be it. Clash of cultures and something to keep in mind when dealing with the middle east.