As Clausewitz says: “war is a continuation of policy by other means”. This becomes the truth of the 21st century that has witnessed so many wars after the two World Wars. Yet, wars have become the truth of human existence. Not only does it affect the people but also, the economy and human race as whole. Recently, Russia’s invasion into Ukraine has reminded of the humanitarian crisis that humans are going through. Every country, who faces the atrocities of war turns into disillusionment, and also into ‘wasteland’.
War-torn countries not only face high numbers of casualties and lost-lives, but also destroy infrastructure that can take years to rebuild even once the fighting ceases. Today, with the Ukrainian war, many other countries are facing the same plight as that of Ukraine. Some of the countries where still war is an ongoing process and is long to see its end.
- Afghanistan-
Afghanistan has been embroiled in a series of civil wars, international wars, and inter-ethnic war conflicts continuously since 1978. In 2001, US forces entered Afghanistan to eradicate the Taliban, a religious extremist group, and helped the country to rebuild after years of conflict. Despite these efforts, Taliban attacks continued, killing several thousand people a year. Moreover, when US troops left Afghanistan in 2021 as part of a plan to return control of Afghanistan to Afghan people, the Taliban re-emerged and retook control of the country within months. And, from then Afghanistan is prone to civil-wars. This has led the country into a state of humanitarian crisis and also face atrocities against women and children.
- Iraq-
Iraq also has a long history of war, particularly since Saddam Hussein rose to power in 1979to 1988 and ended in a stalemate. The Gulf War saw Iraq invade Kuwait and ran from 1990-1991, and followed by a civil conflict as a segment of Iraqi people to sought to depose Hussein. From 2003-2007, following the 9/11 attacks on the US and its allies entered Iraq, deposed Hussein, and occupied Iraq. Al-Qaeda and other internal regimes fought back. Since the US and its allies pulled out, Iraq has suffered extended and violent political instability. Including civil war between Iraqi peacekeeping forces and the militant group Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL).
- Syria
The Syrian civil war is the second- deadliest war in the 21st century. The conflict arose from discontent with the Syrian government and escalated with protests in 2011 that called for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s removal. These protests were violently suppressed and led to war. All sides involved in the war, including the Syrian government, opposition rebel groups, the United States, Turkey and Russia, have been criticized by international organizations for massacres and human rights violations. The civil war has also caused a severe refugee situation, with over six million people internally displaced in Syria.
But the country has not yet recovered from the war faced and the war crime committed against them.
