US Invasion Anniversary

This week marks twenty-five years since the United States invaded Afghanistan. The invasion began on October 7, 2001, less than a month after the September 11 attacks.

Army veteran Joshua Stevens served in infantry and special operations units, deploying to Afghanistan and later to Iraq. He was stationed at Fort Bragg when terrorists attacked the United States on September 11, 2001.

Stevens said he was preparing to leave behind his wife and 6-month-old daughter as the country prepared for war. He was concerned about his family's safety while also feeling a sense of duty to serve.

Locals near Bagram Air Base have denied rumors that US forces have quietly reclaimed the base. Abdul Maroof, a 38-year-old resident of Kabul, said he heard the story from friends and relatives, but it is not true.

Abdul Latif, a 60-year-old lifelong resident of the area, said the only armed men entering and leaving the base are Taliban fighters. He reported that his phone has been ringing continuously with calls from family members seeking confirmation of the viral reports.

In late February and early March 2026, Pakistani airstrikes targeted the facility amid a violent cross-border escalation between Islamabad and Kabul. The Taliban regime claimed its air defense systems intercepted the attack.

Stevens, who now lives in Colorado, has been reflecting on his time in the war. He said he has done a tremendous amount of work to process his grief in healthy ways and has found spirituality to be a cornerstone of his life.