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This past week, the House Foreign Affairs Committee held hearings on the Biden administrations controversial withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. Retired Gens. Mark A. Milley and Kenneth McKenzie, who both served in leadership roles under President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, testified and faced questions from congressional leaders from both parties. In explaining Washingtons failures in Afghanistan, Milley told Congress that the U.S. could not forge a nation. He has previously stated that the U.S. had lost the war.

The hearings are not related to Congress bipartisan Afghanistan War Commission, which is investigating the entire 20-year period of U.S. involvement in Afghanistan and whose report will be released later. Rather, they are an effort by congressional Republicans to draw negative attention to the Biden administrations foreign policy in the runup to the November presidential election. As such, the hearings have become a renewed focal point for political narratives about blame. But they also create an opportunity to consider counterfactual hypothetical scenarios that could expand our understanding of the U.S failure in Afghanistan.

For many Democrats as well as Republicans, the mishandling of the withdrawal is seen as a moral blight on the U.S., which having first broken Afghanistan then walked away. Even for the majority of U.S. citizens who believed leaving was the right thing to do, the chaotic nature of the withdrawal itself and the failure to adequately protect Washingtons Afghan allies during and after the withdrawal have caused concern. A separate U.S. State Department report from 2022 traced the roots of the botched evacuation to the policies of both the Biden and Trump administrations.

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The U.S. Failure in the Afghanistan War Wasn't the Withdrawal | WPR - World Politics Review

The group that has been linked to the deadly terrorist attack in Moscow on Friday is the Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan called Islamic State Khorasan Province, or ISIS-K.

ISIS-K was founded in 2015 by disaffected members of the Pakistani Taliban, who then embraced a more violent version of Islam. The group saw its ranks cut roughly in half, to about 1,500 to 2,000 fighters, by 2021 from a combination of American airstrikes and Afghan commando raids that killed many of its leaders.

The group got a dramatic second wind soon after the Taliban toppled the Afghan government that year. During the U.S. military withdrawal from the country, ISIS-K carried out a suicide bombing at the international airport in Kabul in August 2021 that killed 13 U.S. troops and as many as 170 civilians.

The attack raised ISIS-Ks international profile, positioning it as a major threat to the Talibans ability to govern.

Since then, the Taliban have been fighting pitched battles against ISIS-K in Afghanistan. So far, the Talibans security services have prevented the group from seizing territory or recruiting large numbers of former Taliban fighters bored in peacetime among the worst-case scenarios laid out after Afghanistans Western-backed government collapsed.

President Biden and his top commanders have said the United States would carry out over-the-horizon strikes from a base in the Persian Gulf against ISIS and Qaeda insurgents who threaten the United States and its interests overseas.

Indeed, Gen. Michael E. Kurilla, the head of the militarys Central Command, told a House committee on Thursday that ISIS-K retains the capability and the will to attack U.S. and Western interests abroad in as little as six months with little to no warning.

ISIS is clearly seeking to project its external operations well beyond its home turf. Counterterrorism officials in Europe say that in recent months they have snuffed out several nascent ISIS-K plots to attack targets there.

In a post on its official Telegram account in January, ISIS-K said it was behind a bombing attack that killed 84 people in Kerman, Iran, during a memorial procession for Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani, a revered Iranian commander who was killed in an American drone strike in 2020.

ISIS-K, which has repeatedly threatened Iran over what it says is its polytheism and apostasy, has claimed responsibility for several previous attacks there.

Now, the Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the concert hall attack in Moscow, and U.S. officials connected it specifically to ISIS-K.

ISIS-K has been fixated on Russia for the past two years and frequently criticizes President Vladimir V. Putin in its propaganda, said Colin P. Clarke, a counterterrorism analyst at the Soufan Group, a security consulting firm based in New York. ISIS-K accuses the Kremlin of having Muslim blood in its hands, referencing Moscows interventions in Afghanistan, Chechnya and Syria.

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What We Know About ISIS-K, the Group That Has Been Linked to the Moscow Attack - The New York Times

Growing up in Afghanistan,Tahir Shaaranwas endlessly curious about the world around him including the seemingly endless conflicts that engulfed his country.

I was always thinking about the connection between me and my surroundings and how the universe is functioning What is the meaning of being here? and those kinds of complicated philosophical questions, he says.

Shaaran found at least some of the answers he was seeking in physics and quantum physics in particular. He would go on to spendnearly twodecades studying and working around the world before returning to Afghanistan to work as director-general of its nuclear energy agency an effort, he says, to use his knowledge to help his country.

Now a visiting scholar in the University of Torontos department of physics in the Faculty of Arts & Science, Shaaran is teaching the next generation of scientists and says hes once again reminded of educations power to drive change and social progress.

So many people who had the right education and skills to help Afghanistan in terms of development ended up having to leave, he says. At the end of the day, its about humanity the crisis in Afghanistan is not just local to that country. Even though it feels like something may not directly affect us, the consequences of such situations are much bigger than for just one place or group of people.

A lot of the time, were looking for quick fixes, but we have to advocate for long-term, sustainable solutions and we can only do that through education.

Born during the Soviet invasion in Afghanistan in the 1980s, Shaaran left his native Bamyan province with his family when he was still a young child due to civil unrest in the region. He was raised in Mazar-e-Sharif in northern Afghanistan and later fled to Europe in 1999 following persecution and attacks on the minority Hazara community to which his family belonged.

Settling in the United Kingdom, Shaaran completed several degreesin physics at University College London. Throughout his studies, he collaborated with international institutions, including the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in the U.K. and the neutron-scattering facility at Institut LaueLangevin in France.

He went on to work abroad on atomic and nuclear physics, including at the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics in Germany, the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) and the Institute of Photonic Science in Spain.

Yet, Afghanistan was never far from his mind and he began thinking about how his studies could help improve the economic and social situation back home.

I had met the vice-president of Afghanistan in Germany and told him about my plan: the dream of building a national research centre for science and technology back in Afghanistan, Shaaran says.

I wanted to have a bigger impact, so I thought the research centre was something that could help more people.

He was invited to Kabul to meet then-president Ashraf Ghani. While there was no money to fund his research centre dream, Shaaran was tapped to become director-general of Afghanistans Nuclear Energy Agency in 2018 a job he hoped to slowly expand to include a research element. At first, he says was encouraged by the governments stated openness to scientific progress and development, but soon found himself disillusioned as the political and security situation in the country deteriorated.

I didnt receive the support the president had promised, Shaaran recalls. Some of it was understandable, as there was a war and a complicated political situation, but I had a feeling the system was going to collapse so I resigned in early 2021.

Looking back, he says his exit came just in time the Taliban captured Kabul later that year and the United States withdrew its military. The situation remains volatile, with a crackdown on womens rights, threats of terrorism, extreme poverty and other challenges.

In a way, we are all responsible for what has happened to Afghanistan from human rights activists to the police to policymakers [because] we didnt think about how we could build the country independently without relying on anyone from the outside, says Shaaran, who has been a longtime advocate for human rights and the rights of Afghanistans minority Hazara population.

Shaaran says teaching at U of T helps keep him inspired and optimistic about the future thanks in no small part to a steady stream of engaged physics students. He also leads an advanced physics lab this semester that offers 40 different experiments for five different courses.

His expertise allows him to supervise a range of projects, covering topics from optics to particle physics, and help students progress through their experiments. In addition to that, he is a great colleague willing to learn from more experienced members from the team, while sharing his expertise with teaching assistants and junior colleagues, says Shaarans colleagueAnia Harlick, an assistant professor, teaching stream.

Tahirbrings considerable expertise in theoretical and nuclear physics from his work in academia and at Afghanistans nuclear agency, adds ProfessorKimberly Strong, chair of the department of physics.

He has been actively engaged in the life of the department this year, and it has been such a great pleasure hosting him here.

As for his ongoing advocacy efforts, Shaaran continues tospeak with politicians and organize rallies and workshops to ensure Afghanistan and its people remain in the public consciousness.

Despite all the difficulties, Im an optimist because when I call someone in Afghanistan even in a remote area and even though young women and girls are not allowed to go to school they still have drive and hope, he says. Many people send me emails or texts saying they are looking for online education as they want to learn.

Those small things give me a lot of hope.

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U of T visiting scholar pairs Afghanistan advocacy with a passion for physics - University of Toronto

Robina Azizi was only 16 years old when her country was overrun by Taliban soldiers. She and her family had left their town, Mazar-e-Sharif, the capital city of Afghanistans northwestern province of Balkh, only a week before, as news of the Talibans arrival was already widespread. Azizi was supposed to be at her 10th-grade exam the next daybut she would never finish her schooling.

When I returned home from school, my mother asked me to pack my things as I was leaving for Kabul, Azizi told The Daily Beast. I protested because I still had my exam the next day. But my mother told me that if I didnt leave now and if the Taliban came, they would force me to marry them.

Azizi now lives in Pakistan, where she relocated with her family in Oct. 2022. Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in Aug. 2021, the country has become the worlds largest prison for women. The first education ban was announced for girls in grade six and above in Mar. 2022. In December, university education was also banned. More than 1 million girls and young women have been affected as a result. More than two years since the Taliban came to power, girls and women have been excluded from all public life, losing rights and civil liberties by the day.

The situation is really bad for us because women are not allowed to walk on the streets, said Yalda, a 20-year-old Afghan woman whose name has been withheld to protect her identity. Before the takeover, she excelled in her exams and aspired to study medicine; now the education ban imposed on girls and women forces her to stay at home.

Robina Azizi founded Girls on the Path of Change (GPC) in April 2023. Utilizing social media, she quickly spread the word, launching the first session and inviting girls from across the country to share their stories in an online community.

We cannot leave our houses, and if they [Taliban] see a woman outside without a hijab, they can arrest them, she said. All day, we sit at home and do nothing. Sometimes I cry and dont know what to do.

When Azizi moved to the capital of Afghanistan just weeks before the countrys fall, she found herself in an online school. Seeing the struggles of girls in different provinces with their online classes, she decided to step in and help them navigate through courses and find suitable schools.

Azizis goal was to ensure they had everything they needed for successful online learning. Bringing together girls from various areas and assisting them in pursuing the education they wanted brought her a lot of happiness.

We didnt even have proper phones or internet or computers, Azizi said. But we somehow stayed connected through WhatsApp. Most of the girls I was helping at the time were my classmates from online school.

Inspired by her experiences, Azizi founded Girls on the Path of Change (GPC) in April 2023. Utilizing social media, she quickly spread the word, launching the first session and inviting girls from across the country to share their stories in an online community.

"No one wants to listen to girls in Afghanistan; I wanted to change that. So, my first session was all about listening to them and understanding their problems, she explained.

GPCs main aim is to provide educational opportunities to Afghan girls affected by successive Taliban bans on education beyond grade six. Operating without funding, the organization relies on volunteers offering language classes and programs like photography and painting.

A month later, GPC launched its online courses with 10 volunteers in her team from around the world, and hundreds of students joining from all parts of Afghanistan. What began as a solo effort has now evolved into a more extensive team of 10 volunteers, with more than 600 students graduating from GPC classes in 2023.

The community is now expanding to include more teachers and students. Alexandra Slayton, who teaches English as a foreign language (TEFL) online from Massachusetts, is one such volunteer.

One of my former students, Ana, taught Robina in a virtual class. It is through her that I learned about Robina and her story. I was intrigued by her so I requested Ana to set up a meeting with her, Slayton said. I was expecting to see an adult woman, especially since the organization was as well-established as it is[] but was quite surprised to meet a teenager.

Today, Azizis initiative successfully conducts workshops, exhibitions, and motivational seminars, reaching thousands of girls across more than five provinces in the country. It actively engages in various fields like photography, painting, writing, online commerce, foreign languages, poetry, and public speaking, with plans for further expansion in the near future.

Despite her good intentions, the path for change is not as easy or seamless as Robina would hope. The risks associated with the Talibans strict decrees and the logistical challenges of maintaining a steady internet connection pose significant obstacles.

Amaan, whose name has been changed to protect his identity, is an education activist from Afghanistans Herat province and volunteers as a manager for GPC. He oversees their digital marketing and teaches beginner English courses. Despite his passion for the work with the organization, he is compelled to maintain a low profile for his safety.

"The governments rules for girls and their education are not favorable for us, Amaan told The Daily Beast. However, its not the time to sit and ignore; its time to act.

They dont know about us or where we are located, he added. If they find out, we will be arrested.

In Oct. 2023, Pakistan announced that all undocumented Afghan migrants must leave the country. Since then, more than 1.7 million refugees have been repatriated to Afghanistan, and it is expected that more than 2 million will be affected by this ruling. For those still residing in Afghanistan, poor internet connection and a lack of infrastructure affect their ability to participate regularly in these classes.

What began as a solo effort has now evolved into a more extensive team of 10 volunteers, with more than 600 students graduating from GPC classes in 2023.

Yalda, who started learning English at GPC so she could continue her education, expresses frustration about missing classes due to the lack of WiFi at her home and the instability of her phone network. This concern is shared by her English teacher, Tamara, who joined as a volunteer after reading a post on the organizations Facebook page.

I was genuinely excited to support the Afghan girls and volunteered to teach English, Tamara told The Daily Beast. One challenge, as I mentioned, is the technological aspect; very often, we were cutting in and out. People didnt have connectivity.

Azizi, who has recently moved to Germany from Pakistan, is well aware of the challenges of managing the organization. However, she remains optimistic that she can now complete her own education while simultaneously working on expanding the reach of GPC.

I feel like I have more chances here, especially to help girls. No one can make me leave, and I feel really free, she said. Ill do my best to create more opportunities for girls back home. Unlike in Pakistan, I dont need any permits anymore, so I can work feeling much safer.

Fortunately for her, volunteers like Slayton bring wealth of experience and provide valuable support to streamline operations to reach more people in Afghanistan. Slayton, who leveraged her network and built a LinkedIn page, GPC English Academy, has allowed the team to attract volunteers from various parts of the world who want to help in teaching Afghan girls. But the long-term goal is to secure funding.

We dream to secure a grant from the US government to provide stipends for teachers and sustain their commitment, Slayton said. Additionally, the organization aspires to access a learning management system for classes, moving beyond the current limitations of free platforms like Google Meet and Zoom and moving to premium accounts to get more features to work with.

As the organization establishes itself, many girls in Afghanistan feel that GPC and its initiative give them a new chance at life.

I like GPC a lot. It helps girls like me who cant go out to study, Yalda said. GPC lets me learn English online, and it encourages me to speak well. I have good teachers, and every day, I learn new things.

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Robina Azizi Fled the Taliban. Now She's Saving Girls' Education in Afghanistan - The Daily Beast

Five years ago this month, an American-backed Kurdish and Arab militia ousted Islamic State fighters from a village in eastern Syria, the groups last sliver of territory.

Since then, the organization that once staked out a self-proclaimed caliphate across Iraq and Syria has metastasized into a more traditional terrorist group a clandestine network of cells from West Africa to Southeast Asia engaged in guerrilla attacks, bombings and targeted assassinations.

None of the groups affiliates have been as relentless as the Islamic State in Khorasan, which is active in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran and has set its sights on attacking Europe and beyond. U.S. officials say the group carried out the attack near Moscow on Friday, killing scores of people and wounding many others.

In January, Islamic State Khorasan, or ISIS-K, carried out twin bombings in Iran that killed scores and wounded hundreds of others at a memorial service for Irans former top general, Qassim Suleimani, who was targeted in a U.S. drone strike four years earlier.

The threat from ISIS, Avril D. Haines, the director of national intelligence, told a Senate panel this month, remains a significant counterterrorism concern. Most attacks globally taken on by ISIS have actually occurred by parts of ISIS that are outside of Afghanistan, she said.

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ISIS Affiliate Linked to Moscow Attack Has Global Ambitions - The New York Times