Today marks the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks of Al Qaida on the United States that brought the United States and NATO countries into Afghanistan, which, according to some Afghan analysts, politicians and activists, has affected Afghanistan in many positive along with negative ways.

Although the deployment of US and NATO soldiers to Afghanistan did not translate into security nor did it end the war, Afghanistan, nonetheless, made many gains over the past two decades, the analysts say.

According to the analysts and activists, the following are some of the biggest gains the people of Afghanistan achieved and enjoyed in the past 20 years:

• Holding the first presidential election in 2005 and the subsequent presidential, parliamentary, and provincial council elections and choosing their presidents and representatives,

• Establishing the first government based on people’s votes,

• Establishing the senate and parliament,

• Forming the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police composed of over 300,000 members,

• Establishment of the Constitution,

• Establishment of over 1,000 media outlets,

• Establishment of the Ministry of Women's Affairs and many national and international NGOs for building the capacity of women,

• Ratification of the Law on Access to Information and Mass Media Law,

• Creation of over 100 political parties,

• Establishment of health facilities,

• Establishing diplomatic contacts with over 50 world countries,

• And the establishment of many civil society organizations.

“After 9/11, Afghanistan became a spotlight for the international community. It also established diplomatic relations with the US and European countries and found its strategic place in the international arena,” said Sayed Hakim Kamal, an international relations analyst.

Another big achievement, according to analysts and activists, was women’s access to education, work and opportunity to appear on TV and to work in senior government positions including the parliament and senate.

“Women made progress in every aspect and got access to their rights. This was a new transformation for the people of Afghanistan,” Shukria Barakzai, a former MP said.

“9/11 was followed by a good transformation for media. The media started operations and the women especially appeared in the media. Now these achievements are at risk,” said Wahida Faizi, head of the gender department of the Afghan Journalists Safety Committee.

The analysts and activists, however, say that with the full withdrawal of foreign forces, the fate of the past two decades of achievements is unknown.