Afghanistan/Pakistan
Afghanistan at a Crossroads: Preserving Progress with International Support
January 7, 2015
Sustaining America’s Support to Afghanistan the Smart Way
October 27, 2014
Elections in Afghanistan and U.S. Interests: What to Watch
April 2, 2014
On April 5, Afghanistan will hold a presidential election as President Hamid Karzai prepares to step down from office. If successful, the elections would be the first peaceful, democratic transition of power in Afghan history and help to cement a firm foundation for the political future of the country as other severe challenges loom. Although […]
Looming Challenges with Afghan Security Deal
January 10, 2014
As the U.S. prepares to withdraw combat troops from Afghanistan this year, a leaked cable from the American ambassador to Afghanistan, James B. Cunningham, casts doubt that President Karzai will sign a security agreement with Washington before the presidential elections there in April. The Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) is necessary for keeping a minimal number […]
A Minimal Troop Presence Can Work in Post-2014 Afghanistan
October 28, 2013
NATO planners are reportedly considering a minimal troops presence in Afghanistan after 2014. According to the New York Times, NATO has endorsed a post-2014 presence of 8,000 to 12,000 troops, with two-thirds expected to be American. These estimates are below earlier recommendations by commanders, and NATO officials have said that the larger numbers are unnecessary […]
NSN Mentioned In The Berkshire Eagle on Afghanistan
October 27, 2013
Afghan ‘Zero Option’ By anonymous editorial October 27, 2013 | The Berkshire Eagle Finally, and belatedly, the war in Afghanistan, America’s longest war, will come to an end roughly a year from now. President Obama has pledged as much and war-weary Americans will accept nothing less. The major issue recently discussed in Kabul is whether some […]
Upcoming Key Decisions in Afghanistan
October 21, 2013
Afghanistan is entering a crucial decision-making period over the next weeks and months. Earlier this month Secretary of State John Kerry and Afghan President Hamid Karzai met to discuss the security agreement on the status of U.S. forces in Afghanistan following the 2014 drawdown. The agreement is now resting with the Loya Jirga, a tribal […]
Beyond the Zero Option in Afghanistan
July 11, 2013
Recent reports that the Obama administration is more seriously considering the so-called “zero option” in Afghanistan that would totally remove U.S. troops from the country following the 2014 transition highlight the difficulty of striking the right balance in Afghanistan policy. The key determinants of Afghanistan’s future are economic and political, and here there is no […]
The Shifting Outlook in Afghanistan
June 20, 2013
Today’s scheduled peace and reconciliation talks between the U.S., the Karzai government, and Taliban have been cancelled, as President Karzai backed out and suspended negotiations with Washington regarding any potential U.S. military presence post-2014. While the cancelation is a setback, the fact that the Taliban were willing to explore negotiating a peace settlement was itself […]
On Foreign Policy, the Days of Invading are Over | Heather Hurlburt
February 13, 2013
By Heather Hurlburt February 13, 2013 | The Guardian Beyond any words that were spoken, Internews’ Jamal Dajani caught what may have been the most powerful message of last night’s state of the union: “Given by an African American, rebuttal offered by a Latino. Not bad.” But Barack Obama’s speech also held up for the […]
