Former US Special Inspector: Afghanistan War Left Corruption and Devastation
John Sopko, the former US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, stated that the 20-year American war in Afghanistan, despite costing hundreds of billions of dollars, resulted in deaths, widespread corruption, and financial waste.
In a recent interview, Sopko said that the US spent approximately $148 to $150 billion solely on Afghanistan’s reconstruction. According to him, despite this enormous expenditure, the achievements did not align with the declared objectives.
He also added that nighttime operations and military attacks by US forces in Afghanistan led to civilian casualties. In his view, these actions caused some war survivors to turn towards violence.
The former American official emphasized that the United States is capable in warfare but fails in state and nation-building. He further noted that nearly all international institutions involved in the Afghan war profited from this situation.
The Afghanistan war, which began after the events of September 11, 2001, is considered one of the longest wars in modern American history, with its political, security, and economic consequences still being debated.
