Global Consequences of the U.S.’s Withdrawal from Afghanistan

The U.S.’s longest war in history, fought over 20 years, saw more than US$2.313 trillion in war spending; over 2,400 U.S. soldier casualties; and around 46,000 civilian deaths. At least 2.2 million displaced Afghans took shelter in neighbouring Iran and Pakistan; and another 558,000 were internally displaced. In this context, much of the discussions surrounding Afghanistan have focused on the security implications of the withdrawal. However, a transition to discussions of humanitarian and economic implications is equally as necessary.

As part of the Konwakai Chair in Japanese Research’s 2021-2023 Series on Japan’s Role in the Changing Global Order in a Comparative Perspective, the UBC Centre for Japanese research will bring together experts from Canada, Afghanistan, and Japan, to critically discuss the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, and its short- and long-term implications for Japan, the region, and the world. For Japan, which has provided $6.8 billion in aid to Afghanistan over the past two decades years, it is a question of whether it can continue its humanitarian efforts, while configuring how to best engage with the country militant de facto rulers.

Centre for Global Education and Discovery, Sophia University, Tokyo

Former Afghan Deputy Ambassador to the UN and USA

First woman Deputy Speaker of Afghan Parliament

Senator, Canada

Former Canadian Ambassador to the UN

Konwakai Chair in Japanese Research, University of British Columbia

The event will be chaired by Prof. Yves Tiberghien (yves.tiberghien@ubc.ca), and moderated by MPPGA students Hari Narayan and Panthea Pourmalek.

For a recording of the event, click Here.