RAWALPINDI (MNN); A delegation of the US Congress-established Afghanistan War Commission met Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir at General Headquarters (GHQ) on Monday, with discussions focusing on Pakistan’s role in the Afghanistan conflict, regional security and developments in the country.
The delegation, led by Commission Co-Chairs Shamila N. Chaudhary and Dr Colin F. Jackson, acknowledged Pakistan’s “longstanding role and sacrifices” during the Afghanistan conflict, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The visiting members also appreciated Pakistan’s continued contribution to regional peace and stability, the military’s media wing said.
According to ISPR, the delegation is reviewing the United States’ 20-year engagement in Afghanistan. During the meeting, discussions covered Pakistan’s support during the conflict, the regional security environment and developments in Afghanistan, particularly issues relevant to the commission’s ongoing work.
Field Marshal Munir presented Pakistan’s perspective on the security dynamics that shaped the conflict and outlined the challenges faced by Pakistan during the prolonged US engagement in Afghanistan.
He also stressed the importance of incorporating a regional perspective into the assessment of the conflict, drawing on Pakistan’s experience of its strategic, diplomatic and operational dimensions.
The US Congress established the Afghanistan War Commission in 2021 as an independent body to examine US decisions concerning the Afghanistan war from June 2001 through August 2021.
US forces completed their withdrawal from Afghanistan on August 30, 2021, bringing an end to nearly two decades of American military involvement in the country.
The US intervention began following the September 11, 2001 attacks and developed into a 20-year conflict involving the Taliban, Islamic State militants, Afghan security forces and international coalition forces.
During the conflict, around 800,000 US servicemembers served in Afghanistan. Official figures cited in the report put US military deaths at 2,238, while nearly 21,000 servicemembers were wounded.
The conflict also caused extensive civilian casualties. According to figures attributed to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), more than 40,000 civilians were killed and around 77,000 wounded in attacks and military operations involving the Taliban, Islamic State, Afghan government forces and the US-led international coalition.
