Amnesty gives report card on Afghan war

LONDON, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Despite hopes for a rebuilt Afghanistan following the U.S.-led invasion in 2001, expectations 10 years later are diminished, Amnesty International said.

Friday marks the 10th anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion to overthrow the Taliban government in Afghanistan. The attack was in response to Taliban refusal to hand over al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, who authorized the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States.

Afghanistan, since the invasion, has made marginal political and economic improvements, though 10 years on, Amnesty International said, the prospects are grim.

"Hopes were high in Afghanistan in 2001 following the international intervention but since then human rights gains have been put at risk by corruption, mismanagement and attacks by insurgent groups who have shown systematic contempt for human rights and the laws of war," said Sam Zarifi, Amnesty International's Asia Pacific director, in a statement.

Amnesty International noted there were modest improvements in human rights, the role of women in society and access to education since the 2001 invasion.

International forces have said they would withdraw from Afghanistan by 2014 and hand security responsibility to the government in Kabul. British forces in southern Afghanistan have lauded the gains made by national security forces though official reports from early this year suggested there was a long way to go for the Afghan military.

Meanwhile, Kabul has expressed frustration with reconciliation efforts with moderate members of the Taliban after an ex-president, who led a peace council, was assassinated last month at his home in Kabul.