Achieving Durable Peace in Afghanistan

Perspectives on a Peace Process

Momentum is growing among international and Afghan actors to support a peace process in Afghanistan. However, ambiguities remain in the US political and military strategies, the ability of the Afghan government to successfully lead a peace process, insurgent interest in such a process, and in the interest and ability of regional actors to support a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

On June 13, USIP hosted a lively two-part discussion on how to achieve a durable peace in Afghanistan within the context of existing uncertainties and variables.

The first panel drew in part from the findings of an ongoing USIP research project in Pakistan compiling the views of Pakistani opinion-makers on the endgame in Afghanistan to discuss the role regional actors may play both publicly and behind the scenes in a peace process.

The second panel introduced and discussed the key findings from a series of 120-plus interviews with a cross-cutting segment of Afghan leaders and opinion-makers about the inherent challenges to a peace process. This unique and inclusive set of interviews was conducted in the context of an ongoing project by USIP, Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), and the Chr. Michelsen Institute (CMI) to identify issues and options to help Afghanistan move toward sustainable peace.

The findings, including views on the future of US presence in the country and on reforming Afghanistan's political structures, are also reviewed in a USIP Peace Brief and a joint USIP-PRIO-CMI working paper.

Featuring:

Andrew Exum, panelist
Fellow
Center for a New American Security
Kristian Harpviken, remarks
Director
Peace Research Institute Oslo
Ali Jalali, panelist
Distinguished Professor, National Defense University; and
former Minister of the Interior, Government of Afghanistan
Hamish Nixon, panelist
Project Coordinator
United States Institute of Peace / Peace Research Institute Oslo
Hasina Safi, panelist
Executive Director
Afghan Women's Education Center
Michael Semple, panelist
Fellow
Carr Center for Human Rights Policy
Vikram Singh, remarks
Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan
Department of State
Fatema Sumar, remarks
Professional Staff Member
U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee
William B. Taylor, moderator
Senior Vice President, Center for Conflict Management
United States Institute of Peace
Ashley Tellis, panelist
Senior Associate, South Asia Program
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Andrew Wilder, remarks and moderator
Director, Afghanistan and Pakistan Programs
United States Institute of Peace
Moeed Yusuf, panelist
South Asia Adviser
United States Institute of Peace