Afghanistan is a war-torn country that has been fought over for centuries by many empires. Numerous emperors conquered this land only to be defeated by subsequent rulers, earning it the moniker “graveyard of empires.” Although it gained independence in 1919, the country has been plagued by internal and external conflict for decades. Whether due to political strife, terrorism, or border disputes, millions of people die for various reasons each year. The Afghanistan conflict, which began in 1978 and continues today, has claimed millions of lives. Given this tumultuous history, conspiracy theorists have generated numerous theories, often exacerbating existing tensions.
Conspiracy Theory – United States and Talibans are working together:
Fact: No, they don’t
The premise of the US collaborating with the Taliban, a group considered a threat to its own interests, is illogical. This theory often arises from the US government’s past support of countries like Pakistan, which has had complex relations with the Taliban. Conspiracy theorists have speculated that the US was bribing the Taliban to ensure safe passage for its forces. However, this theory has been independently refuted by both Russia and the Taliban. The Taliban in Afghanistan have explicitly stated that they have not received aid or support from any other country. Nevertheless, some individuals continue to believe in this unlikely alliance.
Conspiracy Theory – The United States of America provides them the weapons:
Fact: no, it is not true
As people believe that the two countries are working together, it raises another conspiracy Building on the idea of US-Taliban collaboration, another conspiracy suggests that the US has been supplying weapons and supporting the insurgent group. However, years of research have deemed this a baseless conspiracy. It occasionally resurfaces, such as in a 2013 episode of “Breaking the Set,” referencing the Iran-Contra affair. Operation Cyclone was a CIA program from 1979 to 1989 that provided weapons to the Mujahideen in Afghanistan during the Soviet-Afghan War, which was before the Afghan Civil War involving the Taliban. While the US did supply weapons during that earlier period, there is no credible evidence of such support for the Taliban in the subsequent conflicts. Allegations of CIA involvement in drug trafficking in Afghanistan have also been made, but after numerous investigations, conspiracy theorists making these claims have been accused of spreading false rumors.
Conspiracy Theory – Osama bin Laden lives in Afghanistan:
Fact: No, he didn’t
When the US government announced the death of international terrorist Osama bin Laden, many conspiracy theorists and others were skeptical. They believed he was residing in Afghanistan and working with the CIA to capture other terrorists and disrupt heroin supplies. While this narrative might sound intriguing, it is entirely untrue. This theory was debunked by the confirmed reports and evidence of Osama bin Laden’s death during a US operation in Pakistan during Barack Obama’s presidency.
Conspiracy Theory – Polio vaccine was a plot against muslim:
Fact: No, it is not true
In rural Afghanistan, a dangerous conspiracy theory has taken hold, claiming that polio vaccines harm Muslim children. This includes false beliefs that the vaccine sterilizes Muslim children and is a trap set by Western or Afghan government spies. Tragically, due to the acceptance of this conspiracy, many children have contracted the polio virus, a potentially fatal disease. Instead of spreading such baseless theories, raising awareness about the safety and necessity of vaccination is crucial to saving lives. The polio vaccine is a vital public health tool provided by governments worldwide to achieve a healthy environment for all children.
Conspiracy Theory – Islamic State was established by the USA:
Fact: No, it isn’t true
Many conspiracy theorists in Asian countries like China and in nations such as Russia and Iran have falsely claimed that the Islamic State was formed by Americans to destabilize their countries. However, this theory is quickly debunked by historical facts. The Islamic State of Afghanistan was established by the Peshawar Accords on April 26, 1992, and later became a government in exile when the Taliban rose to power. The US intervention in Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks, with the stated objective of capturing Osama bin Laden following the Battle of Tora Bora, is often twisted to form the basis of this false theory.
Conspiracy Theory – Russian military troops provided weapons to kill Americans:
Fact: No, they didn’t
This conspiracy theory seems designed to evoke Cold War tensions. Some theorists have claimed that trained Afghan guerrillas were hired by American troops to fight against the “Russian bear” during the Soviet-Afghan War. Extending this logic, they then proposed that the Russians were secretly working with the Taliban to kill Americans in Afghanistan in later conflicts. Some even suggested a Russian-Taliban alliance in Pakistan to rise against America. While Russia and Afghanistan have historically had periods of closer relations than the US and Afghanistan, there is no clear or solid proof to support this claim. Therefore, this theory has been debunked.
Conspiracy Theory – Trump secretly supports Taliban:
Fact: No, he didn’t
Following theories that Barack Obama was sympathetic to Muslim countries and supplying weapons, some conspiracy theorists claimed that Donald Trump was secretly supporting the Taliban. However, Trump and his supporters dismissed these allegations as politically motivated attempts to undermine his position. Towards the end of his presidency, Trump initiated the withdrawal of US support from Afghanistan, a move that generated significant debate. While some speculated this was related to election cycles, the official stance was that no support was being given to the Taliban.
Conspiracy Theory – Major incidents was done by Afghanistan:
Fact: No, it is not true
Some conspiracy theorists and people in America falsely believed that the Taliban was responsible for the destruction of the Twin Towers on 9/11. Their imaginative claims did not stop there, with numerous conspiracies linking the Taliban to almost all major incidents, including the Malaysian airplane crashes. Despite the complete lack of evidence for these accusations, some individuals continue to believe them.
Given the seemingly limitless imagination of conspiracy theorists, new theories will likely continue to emerge. It is therefore crucial to emphasize factual information to promote greater public awareness. One can only hope that the people of Afghanistan will one day find lasting peace.
Ive heard tails of hardened infantry sections being chased out of the jungle by those suckers, guys that are ok wading around in croc country, veterans of Iraq and Afganistan fleeing from a pissed off cassowary.
They do this for all wars/conflicts. There was a Mickey Mouse in bombed rubble all over afganistan or Iraq (don’t remember, too long ago). There was a big exposé on it
Russian government is one of the most corrupt organizations in the world, and a direct heir to the Soviet terrorist state, which killed dozens of millions of people. The things I listed don’t apply for some of the more civilized countries, but there are others disorganized and corrupt like Russia, like North-Korea, Afganistan or Somali
as a representative of Romania state, I am also worried about the Afgan women, let’s make a deal, you let all Afgan women come here where they can enjoy all the rights they had before the takeover and we let Tate live in Afganistan.