Afghan Politics and Security
Cutting-edge analysis and comment from the world's oldest defence and security think tank
Walking the Tightrope: Dealing with Warlords in Afghanistan's Destabilizing North
Warlords have become part and parcel of Afghanistan's political landscape since the collapse of the state in the early 1990s.
Drugs and Instability in Afghanistan
Foreign nations’ assistance to Afghanistan precludes military operations that could be mounted against poppygrowers, drug producers, laboratories, smugglers, and the tribal/ethnic leaders and illegal militias who direct and protect the drug chain. There is not only a lack of consensus as to what action to take on the drug problem, but also a desire to place responsibility for action on the Afghan authorities or indeed any "other" nations or groups of nations.
Security in Afghanistan: More Than a Job for NATO
While the reconstruction of Afghanistan remains achievable, NATO and the international community must better coordinate their efforts, or risk strategic failure.
The Taliban ‘Advance’: No Time To Wobble
The ambush and the loss of French soldiers in Afghanistan may well be described as a tactical setback if not defeat, but at a strategic level, the insurgents are nowhere near victorious.
- Afghan Politics and Security
A collection of articles providing analysis and information on domestic conditions in Afghanistan and their effect on security conditions in the region.
Articles
Walking the Tightrope: Dealing with Warlords in Afghanistan's Destabilizing NorthWarlords have become part and parcel of Afghanistan's political landscape since the collapse of the state in the early 1990s.
Drugs and Instability in AfghanistanForeign nations’ assistance to Afghanistan precludes military operations that could be mounted against poppygrowers, drug producers, laboratories, smugglers, and the tribal/ethnic leaders and illegal militias who direct and protect the drug chain. There is not only a lack of consensus as to what action to take on the drug problem, but also a desire to place responsibility for action on the Afghan authorities or indeed any "other" nations or groups of nations.
Civil-Military Relations in Afghanistan: Time for Radical Reform
This article argues that substantial reform by NATO allies is needed now if the Alliance is ever going to be ready to hand over control of the currently unsecured provinces to Afghan national forces.
This article argues that substantial reform by NATO allies is needed now if the Alliance is ever going to be ready to hand over control of the currently unsecured provinces to Afghan national forces.
Security in Afghanistan: More Than a Job for NATOWhile the reconstruction of Afghanistan remains achievable, NATO and the international community must better coordinate their efforts, or risk strategic failure.
Afghan Opium: A Case of Uncontrollable Supply
While there is demand, supplies will emerge to meet it.
While there is demand, supplies will emerge to meet it.
Small arms in Afghanistan: fostering the conditions for disarmament
This article warns advocates a measured approach to disarmament and weapons control in Afghanistan.
This article warns advocates a measured approach to disarmament and weapons control in Afghanistan.
Fighting the UK’s war on drugs in Afghanistan
This article advocates a sharp increase in support to the UK-led counter-narcotics campaign in Afghanistan as a means to mitigate the security threat that Afghan opium production poses to the UK and the international community.
This article advocates a sharp increase in support to the UK-led counter-narcotics campaign in Afghanistan as a means to mitigate the security threat that Afghan opium production poses to the UK and the international community.
Commentary
Afghanistan: Through an Unfashionable Lens
Devoid of full context and without appropriate perspective, it is all too easy to view the problems in Afghanistan as insurmountable, the adversary as invincible and the mission as doomed. A credible assessment can be achieved if viewed in the long-term.
Devoid of full context and without appropriate perspective, it is all too easy to view the problems in Afghanistan as insurmountable, the adversary as invincible and the mission as doomed. A credible assessment can be achieved if viewed in the long-term.
The Taliban ‘Advance’: No Time To WobbleThe ambush and the loss of French soldiers in Afghanistan may well be described as a tactical setback if not defeat, but at a strategic level, the insurgents are nowhere near victorious.
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