Topic > War in Afghanistan

Afghanistan has been in constant war, and is still in a war known today as the “Afghan War”. Due to constant warfare, Afghanistan's healthcare, economy and education have been devastated, but what effects has the war really had on Afghanistan? This war would be known as the equivalent of the Vietnam War for the United States, both due to the economic strains caused by the war and the social discontent it caused. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Long before the war in Afghanistan, Afghanistan was still an LEDC (Least Economically Developed Country). Starting in 1979, after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the country's healthcare was completely destroyed. Medical professionals responded to the incentive, war, predictably, and fled the country making healthcare very poor. In 2003, there were 18 doctors and 11 nurses per 100,000 people, and the infant mortality rate was 165 deaths/1,000 births at the start of the war, one of the highest in the world (Health in Afghanistan, 2011). health care was paralyzed, the economy was no better. The war destroyed its limited infrastructure and disrupted its normal commercial activity. During the war, the average GDP per capita was between $700 and $800 (35% of the population lived below the poverty line) and on top of that, there was a 4-year drought that severely limited agricultural production. For the 37% of the population working in agriculture, this was a disaster, especially as many were using subsistence farming to feed themselves and their families (Health in Afghanistan, 2011). Their economic decision to use subsistence farming as their primary source of food had future consequences, and so, when the drought came, they were overwhelmed. The large percentage of the population working in the agricultural sector proves that Afghanistan is an LEDC because the industry and service sector are not very developed due to lack of technology and jobs. After the fall of the Taliban government, Afghanistan's trade with other countries increased significantly. Trade with America has increased by 1333% since 2004 (TIFA) up to 2.2 billion dollars from 150 million in 2004. The economy is recovering also thanks to international aid and the end of the four-year drought . Afghanistan is said to have trillions of dollars in resources and they are already signing deals with countries like China. Although GDP per capita is still $900, resource mining can create thousands of jobs, and statistics show that number is increasing. None of this would have been possible without the help of the other countries that were drawn into the war. Pakistan saw economic fluctuations, both progressive and adverse, resulting from the various components of the Soviet-Afghan War. Pakistan receives significant foreign aid to stimulate its economy. Reagan offers Zia a 6-year, $3.2 billion assistance package that would boost Pakistan's economic strength. Economic aid allows Pakistan to improve agricultural, health and energy development as well as repay loans.B. Economic shortcomings. Economic gain was seen in imports of consumer goods but not in education, healthcare and rural development. The Soviet withdrawal offered Pakistan significantly less support for future development. Since December 1979, when Soviet troops first entered Afghanistan, the country has remained a focal point in regional and global politics..