The Afghan Crisis and Afghan Refugees, Challenges and Solutions from the Perspective of International Law

Abstract

Based on the Doha Agreement signed on February 29, 2020 between the Taliban and the United States of America, the two parties committed to stopping attacks on each other. The United States committed to withdrawing all its military and civilian forces and those of its allies from Afghanistan within 14 months. The Taliban also pledged to cut off cooperation with terrorist groups, including al-Qaeda, and pledged to reduce the intensity of its attacks and to advance peace talks with the Afghan government.

While this agreement was expected to end nearly two decades of military conflict in Afghanistan. However, the Taliban’s increased attacks on military and civilian targets have continued to the point where Afghan cities have fallen one after another; The then Afghan president fled to Abu Dhabi, and Kabul fell to the Taliban within hours. Meanwhile, despite assurances issued by the Taliban, many Afghans were trying to leave the country.

This has caused the world to once again face an international refugee crisis, raising the question of how international law can manage such a situation; what are the commitments of member states of the international community, and what are the potential gaps and challenges.