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What About the Afghan State? US Interests Reach Beyond Counterterrorism
RUSI Newsbrief, 4 October 2019
James M Page
The cancellation of the US peace agreement with the Taliban not only reasserts the importance of elections in Afghanistan, but also wider US interests in the Afghan state.
Tags: Afghanistan
"Umer Karim, visiting fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, a UK-based security think tank, told VICE News that in carrying out the attacks while calling for the resumption of talks, the Taliban was acting according to a familiar logic.“They’re saying we’re happy to resume talks — but they’re also sending a signal that when they are sitting around the table, they’ll be there in a position of strength.” "
Hours After Killing 48 People in Bombings, the Taliban Says It Wants to Restart Peace Talks
In The News, 18 September 2019 Tags: Afghanistan
""Before the center of attention was Afghan troops and Afghan military personnel, but now we may see U.S. troops under the Taliban radar as well," said Umer Karim, a visiting fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, a London-based think tank.
"
After Trump kills Taliban deal, Afghanistan faces more violence, longer odds for peace, experts say
In The News, 9 September 2019 Tags: United States, Afghanistan
The Bajwa Fence: The Pakistani Military Seals the Afghan Border
RUSI Newsbrief, 8 March 2019
Kamal Alam
Will the construction of a 1200km fence along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border spark new confidence in Pakistan’s commitment to combatting cross-border terrorism?
Tags: Pakistan, Afghanistan, Counterinsurgency, Global Security Issues
"“It really depends on how much can you trust the Taliban when they make these commitments,” said Aaditya Dave, a research analyst at Britain’s Royal United Services Institute.
"
Trump says taliban peace talks are “proceeding well.” Experts say latest deal is a surrender.
In The News, 30 January 2019 Tags: Afghanistan, Central and South Asia
""It is a blow to Kandahar because their whole security establishment, the top leadership, has been wiped out," Dave said. "
Afghans head to the polls facing renewed security threat 17 years after U.S. invasion
In The News, 20 October 2018 Tags: Afghanistan, Central and South AsiaPages

For Sustainable Peace in Afghanistan and Pakistan, We Need at Least a Modest Bargain with India
Commentary, 23 July 2018Whit Mason
A ‘grand bargain’, first proposed by the American diplomat Richard Holbrooke, is needed now more than ever to allay Islamabad’s concerns with India’s presence in Afghanistan, although garnering the necessary public support for peace will be no simple task.
Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tackling Extremism, India, International Security Studies, The Pakistan Nexus, The War on Terror, Indo-Pakistan Conflict, Global Security Issues
‘Tell the World Community Where the Terrorists Are’: Afghanistan and India Draw Closer Together in Tackling Pakistan
Commentary, 20 September 2016Shashank Joshi
Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani is turning to India for help after giving up hopes for Pakistan’s cooperation in containing the insurgency inside his country. India is reciprocating, but there are limits to what New Delhi can do.
Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, International Security Studies, The Pakistan Nexus, Indo-Pakistan Conflict, Terrorism
The Taliban upholds the status quo with their choice of Emir
Commentary, 27 May 2016Four days after Mullah Mansour was killed in a US drone strike in Pakistan’s Baluchistan Province, the Taliban have named their new Emir as Maulvi Haibatullah Akhundzada. The swift appointment of Haibatullah, a religious scholar who was one of Mansour’s two deputies, reflects the Taliban’s recognition of the need to protect the movement from further fragmentation. Although a conservative choice,...
Pakistan, Afghanistan, Terrorism, Terrorism
Paving the Way to Peace? US Drone Strike Targets Taliban Leader Akhtar Mansour
Commentary, 24 May 2016Washington has indicated that the death of Taliban leader Akhtar Mansour will bolster the peace process. However, it is doubtful that Mansour’s demise will advantage the Afghan government and its Western partners, either militarily or at the negotiating table.
Pakistan, RUSI International, United States, Afghanistan, Terrorism, The War on Terror, Terrorism
An Interview with Mullah Rasool on Reconciliation between the Taliban and the Afghan Government
Commentary, 16 March 2016Antonio Giustozzi and Silab Mangal
A RUSI interview with a Taliban faction leader reveals the prospects for reconciliation in Afghanistan and ongoing turmoil within the Taliban.
Afghanistan, International Security StudiesPages

Terror in Kabul
Multimedia, 30 January 2018Aaditya Dave, Research Analyst at RUSI, talks terror in Afghanistan in the wake of the recent attacks.
Tags: Afghanistan, International Security Studies, Terrorism, Central and South Asia
President Trump's New Strategy in Afghanistan and South Asia
Multimedia, 22 August 2017RUSI Senior Research Fellow Emily Winterbotham examines the new US strategy in Afghanistan and South Asia announced by President Trump on 21 August 2017.
Tags: Pakistan, US Defence Policy, Afghanistan, International Security Studies, Terrorism, Global Security Issues, Land Operations, Central and South Asia
2016 Year Ahead: Security Challenges in Afghanistan
Multimedia, 18 December 2015
What About the Afghan State? US Interests Reach Beyond Counterterrorism
RUSI Newsbrief, 4 October 2019James M Page
The cancellation of the US peace agreement with the Taliban not only reasserts the importance of elections in Afghanistan, but also wider US interests in the Afghan state.
Afghanistan, RUSI Newsbrief
The Bajwa Fence: The Pakistani Military Seals the Afghan Border
RUSI Newsbrief, 8 March 2019Kamal Alam
Will the construction of a 1200km fence along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border spark new confidence in Pakistan’s commitment to combatting cross-border terrorism?
Pakistan, Afghanistan, RUSI Newsbrief, Counterinsurgency, Global Security Issues
Book Review: Unwinnable: Britain’s War in Afghanistan, 2001–2014
RUSI Journal, 26 July 2018Edward Burke
Edward Burke reviews Unwinnable: Britain’s War in Afghanistan, 2001–2014, by Theo Farrell
RUSI Journal, Afghanistan, The decade after 9/11, UK, Terrorism
Daesh Moves House: Settling in to Life in Afghanistan
RUSI Newsbrief, 18 May 2018Antonio Giustozzi
For all intents and purposes, Daesh has been defeated in Iraq and Syria, but key leaders and administrators of the short-lived Islamic State will not simply vanish from the global jihadist...
Afghanistan, RUSI Newsbrief, Counterinsurgency, Al-Qa'ida, Terrorism
Book Review: Taliban Narratives: The Use and Power of Stories in the Afghanistan Conflict
RUSI Journal, 15 March 2018Theo Farrell
Theo Farrell reviews Taliban Narratives: The Use and Power of Stories in the Afghanistan Conflict, by Thomas H Johnson.
RUSI Journal, AfghanistanPages

Unwinnable: Britain’s War in Afghanistan, 2001-2014
Events, 11 September 2017RUSI hosted a panel to discuss Prof Theo Farrell’s new book ‘Unwinnable: Britain’s War in Afghanistan, 2001-2014’.
Afghanistan, Military Sciences, UK, UK Defence
RUSI Briefing Paper Launch: Ready for Peace? The Afghan Taliban After a Decade of War
Events, 30 January 2017Professor Theo Farrell and Michael Semple will present the findings of their groundbreaking RUSI briefing paper on the state of the Taliban leadership.
Afghanistan, Counterinsurgency
The Army of Afghanistan: A Political History of a Fragile Institution
Events, 7 April 2016RUSI is pleased to host the launch of Dr Antonio Giustozzi's latest book on the political history of the Afghan army, the first full-length expose on this vitally important institution.
Afghanistan, International Security Studies, Defence Policy
Anti-Corruption Workshops- The Nexus between Corruption and Security: Afghanistan as a case study
Events, 15 February 2016Ahead of the international Anti-Corruption Summit in London this May, the Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, RUSI and KPMG will hold four Anti-Corruption workshops.
Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, Afghanistan, AML/CTF
Gallipoli Memorial Lecture - Afghanistan and Iraq: Understanding and Incorporating Lessons
Events, 4 June 2014Admiral Michael Mullen USN (Ret’d), former Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, highlighted some of the initial difficult lessons from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Aerospace, Afghanistan, Iraq, Land Forces, Central and South Asia, Middle East and North Africa
"Umer Karim, visiting fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, a UK-based security think tank, told VICE News that in carrying out the attacks while calling for the resumption of talks, the Taliban was acting according to a familiar logic.“They’re saying we’re happy to resume talks — but they’re also sending a signal that when they are sitting around the table, they’ll be there in a position of strength.”"
Hours After Killing 48 People in Bombings, the Taliban Says It Wants to Restart Peace Talks
In The News, 18 September 2019 Tags: Afghanistan
""Before the center of attention was Afghan troops and Afghan military personnel, but now we may see U.S. troops under the Taliban radar as well," said Umer Karim, a visiting fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, a London-based think tank. "
After Trump kills Taliban deal, Afghanistan faces more violence, longer odds for peace, experts say
In The News, 9 September 2019 Tags: United States, Afghanistan
"“It really depends on how much can you trust the Taliban when they make these commitments,” said Aaditya Dave, a research analyst at Britain’s Royal United Services Institute. "
Trump says taliban peace talks are “proceeding well.” Experts say latest deal is a surrender.
In The News, 30 January 2019 Tags: Afghanistan, Central and South Asia
""It is a blow to Kandahar because their whole security establishment, the top leadership, has been wiped out," Dave said."
Afghans head to the polls facing renewed security threat 17 years after U.S. invasion
In The News, 20 October 2018 Tags: Afghanistan, Central and South Asia
""It does clearly demonstrate that the Taliban, even though they have been some tentative steps towards talking about a peace process and obviously the meeting between the Taliban and the US and Qatar.....is not ready to relinquish on the ground military presence at the moment," Royal United Services Institute Senior Research Fellow, Emily Winterbottom, told euronews."
Gunman attack government training centre in Kabul
In The News, 16 August 2018 Tags: Afghanistan, International Security Studies, Global Security Issues, Terrorism
Clarity on Brexit: The Security Consequences
Hong Kong After the District Council Elections: Will Anything Change?
Sir Michael Howard - A Tribute