Publications
Articles, publications, books, tools and multimedia features from the U.S. Institute of Peace provide the latest news, analysis, research findings, practitioner guides and reports, all related to the conflict zones and issues that are at the center of the Institute’s work to prevent and reduce violent conflict.
Andrew Wilder on the Afghan Peace Process
“I think President Trump has really unlocked the possibility for the peace process by putting our troops on the table, as long as we just don’t withdraw them unilaterally,” says Andrew Wilder. Following President Trump’s clarification of the administration’s strategy during the State of the Union, Wilder shares his analysis of the ongoing peace process in Afghanistan.
Andrew Wilder on the Latest from Afghanistan
After decades of conflict, Afghanistan is closer to a political settlement than ever before. But with new reports of Russian bounties on U.S. soldiers, USIP’s Andrew Wilder says there’s concern the issue “distracts from the bigger-picture need for the U.S. to continue to support the peace process.”
Afghan peace talks are damaged, but not yet broken.
President Trump’s weekend announcement of a halt to U.S. peace talks with Afghanistan’s Taliban—including a previously unannounced U.S. plan for a Camp David meeting to conclude that process—leaves the future of the Afghanistan peace process unclear. USIP’s Andrew Wilder, a longtime Afghanistan analyst, argues that, rather than declaring an end to the peace process, U.S. negotiators could use the setback as a moment to clarify the strategy, and then urgently get the peace process back on track before too much momentum is lost.
What’s Behind the Spike in Deadly Terror Attacks in Afghanistan?
In Afghanistan, a string of attacks has killed more than 130 people and wounded more than 300 in just over a week. Targets included a busy downtown block near a government hospital, an international hotel, a military training academy, and the global charity Save the Children.
U.S., Russian interests overlap in Afghanistan. So, why offer bounties to the Taliban?
Recent intelligence reports indicating that Russian bounties paid to the Taliban to kill U.S. troops have bolstered American and Afghan officials long-held allegations that Moscow has been engaged in clandestine operations to undermine the U.S. mission in Afghanistan. Russia’s support for the Taliban, however, has largely been tactical in nature. Both Washington and Moscow ultimately have a converging strategic interest in a relatively stable Afghanistan without a long-term U.S. presence that will not be a haven for transnational terrorists. USIP’s Andrew Wilder looks at what this means for the decades-long Afghan conflict.
President Obama's Afghanistan Speech
USIP’s Andrew Wilder previews the president’s speech and how it is likely to play out in Afghanistan.
On the Issues: Afghanistan's New Parliament
Afghan President Hamid Karzai inaugurated a new parliament yesterday ending a political deadlock. USIP’s Director of Afghanistan and Pakistan, Andrew Wilder, assess the meaning of this move.
Year in Review: Transition in Afghanistan
Andrew Wilder, director of USIP’s Afghanistan and Pakistan programs, looks at Afghanistan in a time of transition, highlighting the significant developments of the past year and looking ahead to 2013 and beyond.
Military Strategy Alone Cannot Lead to Durable Peace in Afghanistan
USIP’s Andrew Wilder comments on President Barack Obama’s call to draw down U.S. forces and why achieving durable peace in Afghanistan is essential for U.S. national security.
Killing of Afghan Civilians Deepens U.S.-Afghan Tensions
USIP’s Andrew Wilder assesses how the killing of 16 civilians allegedly by a U.S. soldier in Kandahar province will impact U.S. policy on Afghanistan and the prospects for talks with the Taliban.