The Polymorphic Environmental Impact of the USSR and US Wars on Afghanistan: A Forgotten Prism of International Law

Abstract

The wars in Afghanistan, first by the USSR (1979-1989) and later by the US (2001-2021), have left indelible marks on the country’s environment. These armed conflicts have resulted in widespread ecological damage, affecting land, water, and air quality. The US military’s largest base in Afghanistan, Bagram Airfield, and the destruction of the agrarian system serves as a case study for the environmental impact of military activities. This paper explores the multifaceted environmental impacts of the USSR and US-led Coalition Forces interventions in Afghanistan, and examines these impacts through the lens of international law. The analysis highlights the long-term ecological consequences, the legal frameworks governing wartime environmental protection, and the current gaps in international legal responses to environmental degradation caused by armed conflicts. Concepts of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and environmental treaties like the 1977 ENMOD Convention and Geneva Protocols have been discussed for their inadequacies and calling for substantial reforms for better protection of the environment during conflicts