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Afghans more concerned with their own country on anniversary of 9/11

CCTV.com

09-12-2016 14:29 BJT

As part of its war on terrorism following the 9/11 attacks, the U.S. invaded Afghanistan and overthrew the Taliban. While the U.S. remembers that day of 15 years ago, residents in the Afghan capital Kabul tsay they are more concerned with troubles in their own country.

“I don’t care about 9/11. I care more about my country. Afghanistan’s security is in bad shape and still getting worse,” one Kabul resident said.

“The Americans said they came to Afghanistan to eradicate the Taliban and to help Afghanistan achieve national security. But since they have been here, we have seen that what they brought was nothing but chaos and poverty,” another said.

“The war made Afghanistan worse. Security has worsened, peace process complicated. It resulted in massive deaths. Young Afghans are fleeing the nation,” said Nasir, an Afghan political analyst.

“The government still has a long way to go in fighting corruption. The reason behind these is clear: The U.S. has been conducting wrong policies and strategies.”

Fifteen years after 9/11, Taliban and al-Qaeda forces have not been eliminated and remain active. Other extremist groups such as ISIL have also stepped in. Terror attacks have surged and civilian casualties have grown.

According to the U.N., around 5,200 Afghan civilians were killed in attacks in the first half of 2016, marking a new high. The war on terror also caused Afghanistan’s economy to collapse.

The country, once heavily reliant on agriculture and mining, has become one of world’s largest opium poppy producers. The worsening security situation has prompted foreign investment to withdraw and millions of residents to flee the country.

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