Afghanistan, a mysterious country in Central Asia, was once known as "Alexandria", which means the city of Alexandria. It is located in the heart of Asia, bordering Russia, Pakistan, Iran, and China. Afghanistan has a rich history and culture, but it is also known as the "graveyard of empires".
Since ancient times, Afghanistan has been the main route of communication between East and West. Persians, Greeks, Arabs, Mongols and many other peoples have traveled through this land, bringing their own civilizations and weaving a colorful historical picture here. However, these peoples have all experienced setbacks and even perished here. For this reason, Afghanistan is figuratively called the "graveyard of empires".
Alexander the Great conquered this land and established Alexander's empire, which spanned Europe, Asia and Africa. However, when he came to Afghanistan, he was met with stubborn resistance. The geographical location of Afghanistan stretched Alexander's army's supply lines, and at the same time, the mountain warfare in Afghanistan also made Alexander's army overwhelmed. Eventually, Alexander captured Afghanistan, but he was not able to gain a foothold here for long.
The Seleucid Empire also tried to gain a foothold in Afghanistan, however, the tribal system and mountain warfare in Afghanistan once again hit the empire into a wall. Although the Seleucid Empire established an administrative structure here, Afghanistan was never completely conquered.
The Arab Empire also tried to conquer Afghanistan, but also failed. Although the Arab Empire established an administrative structure here, the tribal system and mountain warfare of Afghanistan prevented them from establishing themselves in the area for long.
The Mongol Empire also suffered defeat in Afghanistan. Although the Mongols briefly occupied Afghanistan, they were never able to eliminate the Afghan resistance.
In modern times, both Britain and the Soviet Union have tried to conquer Afghanistan, but both have failed. The British conquest in Afghanistan became known as the "British Afghan War" and lasted about a century. The Soviet war in Afghanistan was even more brutal, and the Soviet army was so attrived by the Afghan resistance that it eventually withdrew in 1989.
In the U.S. war in Afghanistan, the U.S. and its allies launched a military operation against Afghanistan in 2001 aimed at fighting the Taliban regime and al-Qaeda. However, the war did not end as quickly as the United States expected. Afghanistan's complex terrain and numerous tribes make it extremely difficult for the United States to conduct military operations in Afghanistan. Although the United States invested a lot of human, material and financial resources in the war, the Taliban regime was not completely overthrown, and the political and economic situation in Afghanistan was not stabilized.
The U.S. military presence in Afghanistan lasted 20 years, with a complete withdrawal of troops only in 2021. In these 20 years, the United States has invested more than $2 trillion in the war in Afghanistan, paying the price of more than 2,000 military lives. In addition, the war in Afghanistan has resulted in more than 1 million deaths and the displacement of millions. Despite the extensive reconstruction efforts undertaken by the United States in Afghanistan, the war has caused enormous damage to the country's infrastructure and social fabric.
Author's view
From the long history, we can see that the reason why Afghanistan is called the "graveyard of empires" is because of its unique geographical environment, tribal system and mountain warfare, which made it impossible for the major empires to gain a foothold here for a long time.
The history of Afghanistan is like a legendary epic that chronicles the rise and fall of countless civilizations and the fall of empires. However, it has also made Afghanistan a crossroads of cultural exchange between the East and the West, where various civilizations collide and merge.
The future of Afghanistan cannot be predicted. What is certain, however, is that Afghanistan will continue to play a role in its unique geographical location and cultural blending, influencing neighboring countries and regions. It is hoped that this land that has gone through vicissitudes of life will achieve peace and prosperity at an early date.