The Role of Jihadi-Ethnic Leaders in the Collapse of the Republic of Afghanstan

Kokcha News Agency: The Afghan Republic, which emerged after the U.S.-led invasion in 2001 and the fall of the Taliban, was ultimately brought down by the entrenched influence of jihadi-ethnic leaders. These leaders, who were key players in the 2001 Bonn Conference, inherited a significant share of power in the new government. However, their self-serving agendas, corruption, and lack of commitment to democratic values played a critical role in the system’s eventual collapse.

The Bonn Conference, held in December 2001, aimed to establish a new political order in Afghanistan after decades of war and destruction. However, the inclusion of jihadi leaders, many of whom had been involved in the civil wars of the 1990s, sowed the seeds of future instability. These leaders, who had amassed wealth and power during the jihad against the Soviet Union, saw the new government as an opportunity to further their personal and group interests.

During the presidency of Hamid Karzai (2001-2014), jihadi leaders maintained significant influence over the government. Karzai, who had a background in the jihad, often compromised with these leaders to consolidate his power. While he occasionally pressured them with the support of international forces, his leniency allowed them to expand their influence within the state apparatus. This led to widespread corruption, weakened governance, and a lack of rule of law, which gradually eroded the foundations of the republic.

Jihadi leaders also benefited from the support of regional powers, particularly Pakistan and Iran, which used them as proxies to further their own interests in Afghanistan. These countries had no interest in seeing a strong, democratic Afghanistan and instead worked to undermine the republic by backing jihadi factions.

The situation changed under President Ashraf Ghani (2014-2021), who sought to marginalize the jihadi leaders and centralize power. Ghani, a technocrat with a Western education, clashed with jihadi leaders over issues such as customs revenue, which had been a major source of wealth for these leaders. His efforts to reduce their influence, however, alienated them and led to their alignment with the Taliban, who were already fighting to overthrow the republic.

The Moscow Format talks in 2017, hosted by Russia, marked a turning point in the relationship between jihadi leaders and the Taliban. These talks, which included jihadi leaders and Taliban representatives but excluded the Afghan government, highlighted the growing cooperation between the two groups. Jihadi leaders, who had once fought against the Taliban, now saw them as allies in their quest to regain power.

In the end, the jihadi leaders’ self-serving agendas and their resistance to democratic values played a significant role in the collapse of the republic. They prioritized their personal and group interests over the stability and development of Afghanistan, ultimately contributing to the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.