With speculation rife over what may come of Saudi-brokered talks between envoys of Afghanistan’s Hamid Karzai government and the Taliban, Alia Allana reconstructs the timeline that brought the region to this juncture:

2001: Operation Ensuring Freedom launched: Initial successes are seen on the onset of the war in Afghanistan where six cities fall in 5 days; the Taliban regime collapses in December. An interim government is set up under Pashtun royalist Hamid Karzai and the first batch of the Afghan army trained. However, Taliban continue to rule in isolated pockets; Mullah Omar and tribal leaders are still active.

2002: Terror on the rise: 21 attacks particularly in the South. Karzai talks with the US for an increase in troops — his government is faced with increased insurgent attacks — the US refuses. Amidst civil unrest — Bush promises Afghanistan its own “Marshall Plan” which fails to materialise. UN resolution sets up International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) with proposal for NATO troops to be sent into Kabul and surrounding areas to stabilise the country and set up conditions for self-sustaining peace.

2003: The return of the Taliban: First batch of NATO troops set off for Kabul. Taliban start returning back from Pakistan, Karzai government is in financial turmoil, instability in the country increases. Tribal militias provide security in areas ignored by Karzai and the US. The summer sees the worse terrorist attack to date — whilst Rumsfeld announces the end of combat in Afghanistan — aid promised instead. US turn its focus to the war in the Iraq.

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