This is the first session of a four-part series leading to the fifth anniversary of the fall of the Taliban.

The Taliban, drug traffickers, local warlords, cross-border insurgency, and other anti-government forces are exploiting the weaknesses of an impoverished nation and a weak central government, which threatens the achievements of the last five years.

  • What resources can be directed to make the Afghan state stronger and more stable?
  • How effective is the new NATO strategy?
  • Are the police and army capable of ensuring security throughout Afghanistan?
  • How strong is the Taliban and how can the Taliban's forces be countered?

Speakers

  • Deborah Alexander
    Former Special Advisor
    U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan (2002-2006)
  • John Gastright
    Deputy Assistant Secrety of State for South Asian Affairs
    U.S. Department of State
  • Jonathan Landay
    Journalist
    McClatchy Newspapers
  • Beth Cole DeGrasse, Moderator
    U.S.Institute of Peace

Related Publications

Senior Study Group on Counterterrorism in Afghanistan and Pakistan: Final Report

Senior Study Group on Counterterrorism in Afghanistan and Pakistan: Final Report

Tuesday, May 14, 2024

When announcing the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in April 2021, President Joe Biden identified counterterrorism in Afghanistan and Pakistan as an enduring and critical US national security interest. This priority became even more pronounced after the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, the discovery of al-Qaeda’s leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in Kabul less than a year later, and the increasing threat of the Islamic State of Khorasan (ISIS-K) from Afghanistan. However, owing to the escalating pressures of strategic competition with China and Russia, counterterrorism has significantly dropped in importance in the policy agenda.

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Why Counterterrorism in Afghanistan and Pakistan Still Matters

Why Counterterrorism in Afghanistan and Pakistan Still Matters

Thursday, May 9, 2024

From wars in Ukraine and the Middle East to rising tensions in the South China Sea, there is no shortage of crises to occupy the time and attention of U.S. policymakers. But three years after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, the threat of terrorism emanating from South Asia remains strong and policymakers need to be more vigilant. Indeed, at the end of March, an Afghanistan-based affiliate of ISIS launched a devastating attack outside of Moscow, killing over 140 people.

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Despite Daunting Economic Headwinds, Afghan Private Sector Shows Signs of Life

Despite Daunting Economic Headwinds, Afghan Private Sector Shows Signs of Life

Thursday, May 2, 2024

Three years after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, the country’s economy remains in a dismal state marked by depression-level price deflation, high unemployment and a collapse of GDP. Still, while the bad news for Afghans is well known, less visible are some green shoots in the country’s private sector that, if properly encouraged, could mitigate the situation. These range from small business activity to Taliban plans for major projects to the potential for an uptick in investment. Clearly nothing in those developments can stimulate a strong economic revival.

Type: Analysis

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