Afghanistan
Progress in Peacebuilding in Afghanistan.pdf (PDF/252.3 KB)Featured Publications & Tools
USIP's Tim Luccaro and Sanaulla Tasal, both stationed in Kabul, discuss Afghan President Hamid Karzai's call for a "consultative loya jirga."
Former U.S. national security adviser Stephen Hadley and other top USIP staff briefed Hill members about a trip they took to Afghanistan and Pakistan this fall.
USIP leaders explain the effect that events around the world and here at home will have on the U.S., and the contributions the Institute can and does make during a time of tremendous challenge – and opportunity.
Experts from the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) are closely following developments in Afghanistan, Pakistan and U.S. policy. In a series of reports and interviews, they cover a wide range of issues.
Latest from USIP on Afghanistan
- February 3, 2012 | Publication
USIP experts provide a quick analysis on Defense Secretary Leon Panetta's announcement about the U.S. ending the combat mission earlier than expected.
- January 26, 2012 | Publication
USIP’s Sheldon Himelfarb, director of USIP’s Center of Innovation for Science, Technology and Peacebuilding, and Andrew Robertson, a senior program officer with the center, discuss the latest developments on technology, science and peacebuilding – and where the new field is going.
- January 25, 2012 | Publication
Civilian health, health care workers, and health facilities disproportionately suffer in countries experiencing severe instability, but global health donors have yet to make developing health systems in such states a priority. Doing so could both make populations healthier and contribute to state legitimacy.
- January 24, 2012 | Publication
The Polish government makes use of USIP training to help key figures from Afghanistan and Tunisia lead their own countries’ transitions.
USIP has been working to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan since 2002 through programs designed to improve understanding of peaceful dispute resolution, advance peace education in schools and communities, enhance dialogue between leading Afghans and the international community, and promote the rule of law. USIP established an office in Kabul in 2008. This on the ground presence has greatly increased USIP‘s contact with and understanding of events, programs, and attitudes in Afghanistan, and has strengthened its capacity to execute innovative and effective programs in the country.
Overview
Afghanistan is at a critical crossroad. Ten years since the international intervention, Afghanistan faces considerable obstacles to stability. 2010 marked the deadliest year on record for Afghans and international forces, with more casualties in the first nine months of that year than in the entirety of 2009.
The year 2010 also saw declining confidence in the ability of President Hamid Karzai, who was inaugurated for his second term on November 19, 2009, after a highly contested election, to combat corruption and strengthen state security and governance institutions. In the months following his reelection, President Karzai presided over both Afghanistan’s first National Peace Jirga, aimed at creating a stable future for Afghanistan by calling for reconciliation with insurgents, and the July Kabul Conference, which brought together the Afghan government, the United Nations, and international partners to outline necessary improvements to development and security initiatives. In addition to these initiatives to move Afghanistan closer to a political solution following three decades of conflict, a 70-member High Peace Council was announced in September 2010 to oversee the reconciliation and reintegration process.
The September 2010 parliamentary elections subsequently took on significant importance as a benchmark of Afghanistan’s ability to sustain a stable democracy. The elections were carried out despite high security threats, though turnout was low due to voter intimidation, and the number of fraud complaints significantly delayed election results. These complaints fueled the January 2011 political crisis surrounding the seating of the new Parliament, wherein President Karzai called for a delay in seating the newly elected members due to ongoing complaints from losing candidates.
President Barack Obama announced June 22 he would bring 10,000 American troops home by December and the remaining 23,000 “surge” troops by the end of September 2012, this would fulfill his promise at West Point in 2009 in which he indicated that the troop surge would be present in Afghanistan for 18 months. A political settlement is considered critical in bringing about genuine peace to Afghanistan. Reconciliation efforts that encompass bringing those that break ties with Al-Qaeda, pledge and abide by the Afghan Constitution, cease violence are considered vital ingredients for a durable peace process. | Read more
From USIP Experts
Shahmahmood Miakhel, Afghanistan Country Director:
“I believe the limited number of troop withdrawal will not have a major impact on the overall Afghanistan strategy. The critical part of the Afghan strategy lies in how the political transition of 2014 is handled. Now is the time for Afghans as well as international stakeholders to plan an effective and peaceful political transition.”
Scott Worden, Senior Rule of Law Adviser:
“The troop withdrawal to be announced by President Obama will have two important parts. One is the number of troops that will be withdrawn immediately, which will likely be small. The other is the number of troops he commits to withdraw by 2012, which is likely to be at least the 30,000 troops that were committed in 2009 as the military surge. The open question is whether the larger group will come home on the eve of the 2012 election after next year's summer 'fighting season' or whether they will start departing at the end of 2011. This sets up another evaluation and debate at the end of the year: has military success and a greater troop presence actually caused progress in political negotiations with the Taliban? If so, then there will be an argument for sustained commitment. If not, then a new strategy is needed and pressure will be even greater to bring more troops home.”
USIP Goals in Afghanistan
USIP experts in Kabul and Washington are working diligently toward peace and stability by implementing projects aimed at:
- Strengthening Peaceful Reconciliation and Capacity to Mitigate Conflict
- Enhancing the Rule of Law
- Improving Cooperation for Peace, Security, and Economic Development
- Increasing Understanding and Effectiveness of Operations in Afghanistan
In the Field: The Kabul Office
In January 2008, USIP established a full-time presence in Afghanistan to help plan, implement, and oversee all USIP projects in Afghanistan. In September 2009, USIP opened a permanent office to further expand the scope of its work in Afghanistan. The staff is made up of Americans and Afghans who play an indispensable role in providing the latest on-the-ground information on Afghanistan and who support and administer all USIP programs in the country. | Read more
Publications & Tools
The following are highlights to USIP's publications and tools on Afghanistan.
- Afghan Peace Requires ‘Will and Ideas’
News Feature - Value of Police Assistance
Q+A with Robert Perito, director of USIP's Security Sector Governance Center - Building Peace and a Partnership with the Military
Q+A with USIP Chief of Staff Retired Col. Paul Hughes
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