An Army’s Collapse: The Afghanistan Former Army Special Forces Commander’s Narrative on the Republic’s Fall After Two Decades of Hard Wars

Following the overthrow of the initial Taliban regime in 2001 and the establishment of a democratic government in Afghanistan, the Afghanistan National Army emerged through substantial financial and human investments. Enduring nearly two decades of challenging and bloody confrontations against the Taliban and other terrorist groups, the army faced a staggering collapse on August 15, 2021, leading to the Taliban’s swift occupation of Afghanistan. The international media and political spheres echoed a resounding question in the early days of the Afghan crisis, and that question persists: Why did the Afghanistan army not resist the Taliban, succumbing to a sudden and unexpected collapse?

In this upcoming program, General Farid Ahmadi, former commander of the Afghanistan army’s special forces, will share his firsthand narrative and insights into the fall of the republic, the army’s collapse, and the resurgence of the Taliban. Participants will have a unique opportunity to engage directly with General Ahmadi, posing their questions and gaining a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding this pivotal moment in Afghanistan history.

The expert talk is part of our project “Pul” – in German “Brücke”, which aims to create new knowledge and perspectives on topics related to the Afghanistan crisis. In the current media coverage, these topics are usually dealt with in a rather brief and undifferentiated manner. Pul provides more in-depth, well-founded insights into the topic with expert lectures and panel discussions. In addition to increasing knowledge, Pul also aims to build bridges between civil society and Afghan (exile) society through empathy and understanding.