Twenty years after the U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, the toxic legacy still lives on in the drying water and contaminated soil across the country.
The U.S. war began in October 2001, and it ended in a chaotic withdrawal from Kabul on August 30, 2021. Though the withdrawal put an end to America's longest war, the environmental cost of nearly two decades of high-intensity combat continues to plague the Afghan people today.
"Bombers and tanks dropped munitions directly onto the land. Chemical agents released during the fighting flowed straight into canals and dams. The water was literally poisoned - undrinkable. Contaminated irrigation then drained the soil of its fertility," said Afghan international-affairs analyst Akram Zada.
Zada argues that the war damaged Afghanistan's environment on two fronts. Direct pollution from munitions was exacerbated by the indirect destruction caused by millions of displaced people who felled entire forests in their desperation for fuel, resulting in irreversible changes to the ecosystem.
"War created internal displacement. People moved from province to province, cutting down trees for firewood. Deforestation raised temperatures, affected the environment, and accelerated soil erosion," he explained.
The most dramatic single attack came in April 2017, when U.S. forces dropped the "Mother of All Bombs" on a tunnel complex in Nangarhar Province's Achin District. The 10,000-kg weapon was the largest conventional bomb ever used in combat. Analysts widely viewed the strike as a show of force, but its environmental impact is a long-term concern.
"In a place called Achin in Nangarhar, where allegedly extremists were hidden, the Americans deployed one of the most powerful and dangerous bombs in existence. This move led to years of contamination in the local environment, and this impact could persist for years to come. That area remains contaminated years later, and the effects could persist for years to come. Reliable sources also indicate that foreign troops used unauthorized weapons - possibly including chemical weapons and white phosphorus - which can cause extensive and lasting damage to the environment," Zada said.
Environmental impacts of nearly 20 year War in Afghanistan linger after U.S. withdrawal
Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh met with Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese foreign minister, in Ulan Bator on Saturday.
During the meeting, Khurelsukh said the Mongolia-China relationship has become a model for inter-state relations in the region.
The two countries have consistently respected each other's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, while deepening mutually beneficial cooperation across various sectors, he said, noting that bilateral trade is expected to reach 20 billion U.S. dollars this year.
Describing China as Mongolia's good neighbor, Khurelsukh said that developing friendly relations with China is a top priority of Mongolia's foreign policy.
Khurelsukh said Mongolia is committed to the one-China principle, regarding Taiwan as an inalienable part of China's territory, and opposes any form of "Taiwan independence" activities. It also considers matters related to Hong Kong, Xizang and Xinjiang as China's internal affairs. Mongolia will not do anything that harms China's interests, regardless of its relations with other countries.
He also noted that Mongolia is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in regional and international affairs.
For his part, Wang said China has always put China-Mongolia relations at an important place in its neighborhood diplomacy, noting that China has both the will and the capability to be a neighbor that Mongolia can rely on, a trustworthy friend, and a partner in accelerating its development.
Wang reaffirmed China's respect for Mongolia's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the development path that Mongolia has chosen for itself.
He expressed readiness to work more closely with Mongolia to align development strategies, tap into the full potential of bilateral cooperation, advance existing collaboration in areas such as connectivity, energy and mineral resources, trade and investment, and create new growth drivers for cooperation in key minerals, green development, the digital economy, and other emerging fields.
During his three-day visit, Wang is also scheduled to meet with Mongolian Prime Minister Nyam-Osor Uchral and hold talks with Foreign Minister Batmunkh Battsetseg.
Mongolian president meets Chinese FM
Mongolian president meets Chinese FM
