From 2001 to 2016, 111,442 people lost their lives in the Afghan war.

Similar to Colombia, Afghanistan has suffered from a continuous war for over 30 years. After The Taliban rejected to hand over Osama Bin Laden, the U.S. invaded the country. The war in Afghanistan is not justified because it didn’t attain the goal of ending terrorism, instead more evil was created.

This war fails to ensure the protection of innocents and caused the death of 31,419 Afghan civilians in between 2001 and 2016. By disrupting Afghanistan’s humanitarian aid, the U.S kills people indirectly; it contributes to the fact that over half of the country’s population has little or no access to basic services. Governments view soldiers as killing machines; as they deploy them to fight against a lost cause. People point out Afghanistan as a dangerous place purely because of a conflict with a low probability of success and without a beneficial outcome.

According to CNN, “The government controls 63.4% of Afghanistan, the other percentage is controlled by terrorist groups.” These groups continue to grow, along with the fear of civilians that live under those conditions. The U.S spent $800 billion dollars in this atrocious armed conflict which foments Taliban attacks. They also failed to prevent the expansion of groups. 18 years after the war began, a Taliban suicide bomb attack killed 95 people and injured 158 others. Wasted years of fighting without a cause contribute to mass murders and perpetuate war. No conflict has been resolved.

Some argue the conflict is just because the U. S is fighting for a worthy cause. However, a war against terrorism is not winnable; terrorism can’t be ended. 17 years of combat caused the loss of lives, money, and resources; an armed conflict whose situation before is better than in present day. According to Bill Roggio, editor of FDD’s Long War Journal,  “The Taliban … today holds more ground in the country since the U. S ousted the jihadists in early 2002,” A contradiction created a cycle of violence and dread as The Taliban will not stop fighting until foreign forces leave the country. The probability of success is null for both groups until one gives up or concedes defeat.

War in Afghanistan is unjust and therefore must end. This conflict hits close to home because Colombia has been a war zone for 50 years against guerrillas. Most people live in a bubble that blurs the reality of the situation outside but in reality, Colombia’s innocents are abused for their lands and extorted for their money. Afghanistan’s case mirrors a conflict that occurs in front of us. It is important to learn about these wars because, because as they happen in other countries, it happens in our own country; a perpetual war that doesn’t end due to a vicious cycle of violence.