Historical background
Afghanistan is a war torn country, where for thirty years different actors have been fighting for the rule of the country. In 1973 King Zahir Shah was overthrown by lieutenant-general Daoud. Only five years later Daoud was murdered and a communist council took over the country. However different groups communist and Islamic groups disagreed with the vision of the council and a civilian war started. In 1979 the Soviet Union invaded the country plunging the country a ten year war resulting in 1,5 million civilian deaths and 5 million refugees. After the retreat of the Soviet Union the forces that had fought the Soviet Union, the Mujahedin, started to fight among themselves, plunging the county in another civil war. In the early nineties a group calling themselves the Taliban (students) emerged, determined to end the civil wars and rule of warlords. In 1996 the Taliban took over the rule of the county and imposed a strict Islamic rule, which in the passing of years became more and more radical and linked to the radical Islamic movement Al Qaida.

War against the Taliban and the emergence of the Government of Afghanistan
After the terrorist attack in the United States on September 2001, the US demanded the yielding of Osama Bin Laden. When Afghanistan did not comply the United States declared war against the Taliban. The United States together with the United Kingdom and an Afghan alliance: the northern alliance, fought and overthrew the Taliban. In December 2001 representatives of the people of Afghanistan met in Bonn (Germany) to decide upon the future rule of their country. The installed an interim government under the leadership of Hamid Karzai and obligated them to organise a loya jirga (broad meeting of Afghan tribal, ethnic and religious representatives) to decide upon the creation of a constitution and democratic elections for the official government of Afghanistan. They also called for an international security assistance force (ISAF), to aid in the establishment of security in Afghanistan, which was mandated by the UN. This force is now under the leadership of NATO and receives contributions from 42 countries.

Current developments
August 2009 Afghanistan organised its first independently organised democratic election. The election was clouded by many reports of fraud and terrorist attacks. After eight years of international involvement in Afghanistan the insurgency mainly by Taliban is still strong, and in some reports even gaining in strength. Also the credibility of the current Afghan government is deteriorating due to numerous reports of corruption and allegiance with warlords. A peaceful and stable country for Afghans to live in has to date not been established.