Afghanistan Archives

Featured reading

Iran and Afghanistan are feuding over the Helmand River. The water wars have no end in sight.

Interview May 23, 2023

A conversation with Hassan Abbas on his new book “The Return of the Taliban”

By Hassan Abbas & Uzair Younus

Uzair Younus talks to Hassan Abbas, distinguished professor at National Defense University, about his new book “The Return of the Taliban.”

Afghanistan Conflict

SouthAsiaSource Apr 28, 2023

The stark choice facing the United States in Afghanistan: Leave entirely or finish the job

By Davood Moradian

The release of the White House’s review of the chaotic 2021 troop withdrawal showed once again that the realities of Afghanistan and US partisan politics take precedence over President Biden’s desire to permanently disentangle Washington from Afghanistan.

Afghanistan International Organizations

SouthAsiaSource Feb 2, 2023

For Pakistan, dealing with its Taliban problem is a walk on eggshells

By Javid Ahmad

Islamabad faces a lose-lose scenario against the Pakistani Taliban. But it is not too late for Pakistan to stop peeling the banana from the wrong end.

Afghanistan Pakistan

Strategic dialogues

The participants of the Atlantic Council / Rockefeller Brothers Fund Strategic Dialogues have been working for the past eight months to develop a long-term strategic outlook to promote stability in Afghanistan consistent with Afghan, US, and European interests and values. This group of distinguished European, American, and Afghan diplomats, military officers, scholars, and analysts brought to our deliberations a deep understanding of the context both on the ground and among the allies. We explored a diplomatic-security framework based on the minimal conditions and variables necessary to realize a long-term vision of a sovereign, unified, democratic, peaceful, and prosperous Afghanistan and generated recommendations to support this vision.

Feature Apr 22, 2021

A transatlantic charter for peace and security in Afghanistan

By South Asia Center

The Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center presents the exclusive launch of the Transatlantic Charter on Afghanistan as part of the Strategic Dialogues on and with Afghanistan.

Afghanistan Europe & Eurasia

Nov 23, 2020

Developing a long-term transatlantic framework for peace and security in Afghanistan

Between fall 2020 and summer 2021, the South Asia Center hosts a series of private, high-level strategic dialogues to develop and advocate for a longer-term strategic outlook to ensure stability in Afghanistan as well as maintaining US and European counter-terrorism interests.

Flagship report

In-Depth Research & Reports

Jul 15, 2020

Strategies for reforming Afghanistan’s illicit networks

By Harris Samad and Fatima Salman

Authored in-house and advised upon by senior fellows Ambassador James B. Cunningham, Ambassador Omar Samad, Marika Theros, Javid Ahmad, and Fatemeh Aman, this report explores illicit networks in Afghanistan in the context of peacebuilding, democratic consolidation, and enhancing state capacity. It concludes by outlining several specific policy recommendations that will be necessary to combat the illicit networks in a manner that supports the durability of the ongoing peace process in Afghanistan and the continued consolidation of its fragile democratic institutions.

Afghanistan Arms Control

The South Asia Center serves as the Atlantic Council’s focal point for work on the region as well as relations between these countries, neighboring regions, Europe, and the United States.

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Content

IranSource

Jul 7, 2023

Iran and Afghanistan are feuding over the Helmand River. The water wars have no end in sight.

By Holly Dagres

Fatemeh Aman, a non-resident senior fellow at MEI, on why the Islamic Republic and Taliban are bumping heads on transboundary water issues.

Afghanistan Climate Change & Climate Action

Issue Brief

Jun 29, 2023

How to advance women’s rights in Afghanistan

By Roya Rahmani

Providing Afghan women with rights and opportunities must be at the top of the regional and global security agenda.

Afghanistan Civil Society

In the News

Jun 4, 2023

Hakimi quoted in Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: The limits Of China’s budding relationship with Afghanistan’s Taliban

By Atlantic Council

Afghanistan China

In the News

May 29, 2023

Halaimzai & Theros in PeaceRep: Establishing the Afghanistan Research Network

By Atlantic Council

Sahar Halaimzai and Marika Theros recently established The Afghanistan Research Network (ARN) as a first step to preserve, sustain and amplify Afghan expertise and knowledge, and to provide analysis that can inform creative actions in the short-term while helping shape future prospects for a more stable and pluralistic Afghanistan in the long-term. The Afghanistan Research Network aims […]

Afghanistan Freedom and Prosperity

In the News

May 23, 2023

Ahmad in Foreign Policy: It’s time to recognize the Taliban

By Atlantic Council

Afghanistan Democratic Transitions

Interview

May 23, 2023

A conversation with Hassan Abbas on his new book “The Return of the Taliban”

By Hassan Abbas & Uzair Younus

Uzair Younus talks to Hassan Abbas, distinguished professor at National Defense University, about his new book "The Return of the Taliban."

Afghanistan Conflict

SouthAsiaSource

Apr 28, 2023

The stark choice facing the United States in Afghanistan: Leave entirely or finish the job

By Davood Moradian

The release of the White House’s review of the chaotic 2021 troop withdrawal showed once again that the realities of Afghanistan and US partisan politics take precedence over President Biden's desire to permanently disentangle Washington from Afghanistan.

Afghanistan International Organizations

In the News

Apr 10, 2023

Sakhi in CNN: Afghan women banned from working for the U.N.

By Atlantic Council

Afghanistan Freedom and Prosperity

In the News

Apr 8, 2023

Rich Outzen quoted in the Washington Examiner on Afghanistan withdrawal

Afghanistan Conflict

MENASource

Mar 16, 2023

I was once denied an education in Iraq. This is why the Taliban’s prohibition on female education matters.

By Nibras Basitkey

As an Iraqi refugee who understands the importance of education, I recognize that achieving gender parity in education is critical for Afghanistan’s long-term economic growth and prosperity.

Afghanistan Education