The dark legacy of the post 9/11 Afghan war

This year is the 20th anniversary of the post 9/11 Afghan war.

I was recently asked to speak at an event organised by the Institute of Modern Art in Brisbane, Australia. It was held during an exhibition of amazing Afghan/Australian artist Khadim Ali. In the Q&A, Khadim spoke along with a number of Afghans from around the world:

On the 20th anniversary of the Afghan war, journalist, author and film-maker Antony Loewenstein will analyse the impact of the longest, US-led conflict in history in this online lecture. What’s been the impact on Afghan civilians, refugees, and the broader global community and how does Australia’s military role in the war fit into Afghanistan’s current trajectory?

Loewenstein will be joined by Khadim Ali, one of Australia’s most acclaimed artists, known for his masterful works that poetically explore the experience of displaced people across the globe. A member of the persecuted Hazara ethnic minority, Ali is the third generation of his family to be exiled from his homeland of Afghanistan. Expressing the profound horror, grief and loss experienced under modern-day warfare, his exhibition is necessary and vital during a time where political propaganda, violence, and fear pervades global relations.

 

Background: Antony Loewenstein on Afghanistan from Institute of Modern Art on Vimeo.

Text and images ©2024 Antony Loewenstein. All rights reserved.

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