BBC News | September 11: One year on

Afghanistan has been the country most dramatically transformed by America's war on terrorism. It became the number one American target because it was under the control of the Taleban which had given refuge to Osama Bin Laden and his al-Qaeda organisation.

The US strategy of pounding Taleban and al-Qaeda from the air while linking up with Northern Alliance forces on the ground proved highly effective. Kabul and the rest of the country soon fell.

A new interim government under Hamid Karzai was set up and confirmed by a tribal council, the loya jirga. Refugees flooded back in to rebuild their lives. Girls were able to go to school again.

But factional fighting and warlordism remained a problem and American and other foreign forces stayed in the country to stop the return of Taleban and al-Qaeda. Elections are due in 2004.

The BBC's Lyse Doucet examines the challenges in Afghanistan following liberation from the Taleban

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