Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: South Asia Program

Getting Lost in Afghanistan

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:00:00 -0400

Former U.S. marine and foreign service officer Matthew Hoh's letter of resignation raises a number of important questions about the value of a continued American combat presence in Afghanistan.

The United States and India 3.0: Cave! Hic Dragones

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:00:00 -0400

The United States and India must agree on three vital security issues to ensure that their relations continue to deepen: terrorism, Kashmir, and the balance of power in Asia.

Who Are the Taliban?

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 05:00:00 -0400

The Taliban are mostly local, accepted by the Afghan population. Most are basically farmers. They know what they stand for, and they view the foreigners as a threat to their families and their values.

Already Illegitimate

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 05:00:00 -0400

The upcoming Afghan runoff election has some hoping for a popularly elected legitimate government. However, most Afghans don't like their options enough to vote, and it will be easy for officials to fabricate the results.

The Afghanistan Problem

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 05:00:00 -0400

The cultural misunderstandings between Western forces and the Afghan people make it unlikely any counterinsurgency mission in the countryside will succeed.

Our Ties are Important, but not Exclusive

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 05:00:00 -0400

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's upcoming visit to the U.S. will bolster prospects for long-term bilateral cooperation, especially on such issues as globalization, terrorism, and nuclear nonproliferation.

What's the Right Strategy for Afghanistan?

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 05:00:00 -0400

A Taliban victory in Afghanistan would enable al-Qaeda to use Afghan cities as a base. The United States can prevent that outcome by changing its military strategy and by helping to build a strong Afghan state.

Taking Stock of the Taliban's Strategy in Afghanistan

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 05:00:00 -0400

The Taliban should not be underestimated. They are an organized and coordinated enemy, and the United States must change its strategy if there is to be any hope of success.

Afghanization

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 05:00:00 -0400

Public debate on sending troops to Afghanistan is focused on the wrong issue. The United States needs to abandon its current strategy and instead prioritize securing the cities and key roads.

Warlords As Bureaucrats: The Afghan Experience

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 05:00:00 -0400

Afghanistan's hybrid form of governance, which draws on a mix of formal institutions and warlord-administered informal power, may be the only viable model for Afghanistan at present.

Strategic Asia 2009-10: Economic Meltdown and Geopolitical Stability

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 05:00:00 -0400

This volume analyzes the impact of the current global economic crisis on key Asian states and explores the strategic implications for the United States.

Filling the Void: Dispatch from Afghanistan

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The absence of security, law enforcement or effective central government has created a vacuum in Afghanistan. The Taliban are conducting a campaign to eliminate government contact with the population and compel the people to accept Taliban rule.

Rising Tensions in Afghanistan: Dispatch from Kandahar

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The alienation of ethnic Pashtuns is a major factor in the Taliban’s success in southern Afghanistan, but it could seriously impair the group’s progress in the north.

We Must Face Reality in Afghanistan

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The coalition's "clear, hold, and build" strategy is failing. Before the endless demand for more troops exhausts its will to fight, the coalition should concentrate efforts on cities, key roads, and building up the Afghan army.

Realities and Priorities: What to Do in Afghanistan

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The Taliban’s recent advances in Kandahar are genuine and troubling. Coalition forces can avoid the mistakes of the past by not investing resources in rural districts and shifting focus to securing the cities and the north.

Islam and the Paths of Pakistan’s Political Development

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Islam alone will not aid Pakistan’s political development; instead, national stability will improve with better administrative, security, economic, and social services.

Inside Kabul: Dispatch from Afghanistan

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0400

In Kabul many of the issues affecting Afghanistan – ineffective governance, the Taliban's expanding influence, and a massive foreign presence – are on stark display.

Think Again: Asia's Rise

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Don't believe the hype about the decline of America and the dawn of a new Asian age. It will be many decades before China, India, and the rest of the region take over the world, if they ever do.

The Taliban's Winning Strategy in Afghanistan

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

To prevent losing control of Afghanistan, the International Coalition must shift resources to reverse the Taliban’s progress in the North, while reinforcing the Kabul region.

Aid to Pakistan Without Rider is a Blank Cheque

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The United States should condition aid to Pakistan on making sustained, concrete and verifiable steps against terrorist groups operating on its territory.

Pakistan Dilemma for Obama and Europe

Thu, 07 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The idea that success in Afghanistan requires a new focus on Pakistan is misguided. Besides providing money and counterinsurgency training to the Pakistani army, international actors are powerless to influence the state.

Reframing Counter-narcotics Policy in Afghanistan

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The narcotics industry in Afghanistan and the region around it supports domestic instability and increases the terrorist threat emanating from the region. There needs to be a regional and multi-faceted approach to combating the problem.

Preserving Hegemony: The Strategic Tasks Facing the United States

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The principle task facing the new U.S. administration is to consolidate U.S. hegemony by reaffirming the nation’s global role, renewing its economic strength, and recovering its legitimacy.

Obama's Afghanistan-Pakistan Quandary

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

President Obama's failure to explicitly mention that the U.S. intends to stay in Afghanistan could could strengthen the Taliban, which seeks to outlast the international coalition.

Reconciling With the Taliban?: Toward an Alternative Grand Strategy in Afghanistan

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Negotiating with the Taliban is the worst possible approach the U.S. could adopt in its effort to stabilize Afghanistan. Instead, the U.S. must signal long-term commitment to rebuilding the nation.