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Book Review: Taliban Narratives: The Use and Power of Stories in the Afghanistan Conflict
RUSI Journal, 15 March 2018
Theo Farrell
Theo Farrell reviews Taliban Narratives: The Use and Power of Stories in the Afghanistan Conflict, by Thomas H Johnson.
Tags: Afghanistan
"Emily Winterbotham, a senior research fellow at the UK-based Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies, said the Taliban might change their tune if there was "a real shift in Pakistan support or a real gap in their financing".
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Taliban stops short of rejecting Afghan president's peace plan
In The News, 8 March 2018 Tags: Afghanistan, International Security Studies
"But the group would struggle to persuade fighters to travel as far as Afghanistan, said Emily Winterbotham, a senior research fellow at the UK-based Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies. "It's trying to keep IS-K viable and the IS-K brand going, but the reality is Afghanistan is still a long way away from Syria and Iraq -- it's not an easy journey," she said. "
Islamic State group calls on Muslims to immigrate to Afghanistan
In The News, 7 March 2018 Tags: Afghanistan, International Security Studies
"“Russia appears to have stepped up engagement with the Taliban, adopting the stance that the Taliban is preferable to other violent extremist groups in the region,” said Emily Winterbotham, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies in London. “However, Moscow’s influence over and engagement with the Taliban is often overstated -- other efforts to bring the Taliban to the negotiation table through Pakistan or even China have failed; there is no reason to think that Russia should have greater leverage.” "
Former Afghan President Sees Russia as Key to Peace With Taliban
In The News, 28 February 2018 Tags: Afghanistan, International Security Studies, Global Security Issues
The Bajwa Doctrine: The Pakistani Military Has Done More than Enough
Newsbrief, 16 February 2018
Kamal Alam
In their own words, Pakistan’s generals lay-out the ‘Bajwa Doctrine’ – their vision for the future of US–Pakistani military cooperation in the age of President Trump. From their perspecitve, Pakistan has done more than enough to secure neighbouring Afghanistan, and is not intimidated by the threat of US funding cuts.
Tags: Pakistan, United States, Afghanistan, The Pakistan Nexus, The War on Terror, Defence Management, Global Security Issues
"“Will it lead to peace? No,” said Emily Winterbotham, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. “It’s good at least that they’re saying they think about peace but I don’t think it will change the status quo.” "
The Taliban Massacred 150 People in Kabul. Now They're Calling for Peace.
In The News, 15 February 2018 Tags: Afghanistan, International Security Studies, Counterinsurgency, Global Security Issues, Terrorism, Central and South AsiaPages

‘Tell the World Community Where the Terrorists Are’: Afghanistan and India Draw Closer Together in Tackling Pakistan
Commentary, 20 September 2016Shashank Joshi
Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani is turning to India for help after giving up hopes for Pakistan’s cooperation in containing the insurgency inside his country. India is reciprocating, but there are limits to what New Delhi can do.
Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, International Security Studies, The Pakistan Nexus, Indo-Pakistan Conflict, Terrorism
The Taliban upholds the status quo with their choice of Emir
Commentary, 27 May 2016Four days after Mullah Mansour was killed in a US drone strike in Pakistan’s Baluchistan Province, the Taliban have named their new Emir as Maulvi Haibatullah Akhundzada. The swift appointment of Haibatullah, a religious scholar who was one of Mansour’s two deputies, reflects the Taliban’s recognition of the need to protect the movement from further fragmentation. Although a conservative choice,...
Pakistan, Afghanistan, Terrorism, Terrorism
Paving the Way to Peace? US Drone Strike Targets Taliban Leader Akhtar Mansour
Commentary, 24 May 2016Washington has indicated that the death of Taliban leader Akhtar Mansour will bolster the peace process. However, it is doubtful that Mansour’s demise will advantage the Afghan government and its Western partners, either militarily or at the negotiating table.
Pakistan, RUSI International, United States, Afghanistan, The War on Terror, Terrorism, Terrorism
An Interview with Mullah Rasool on Reconciliation between the Taliban and the Afghan Government
Commentary, 16 March 2016Antonio Giustozzi and Silab Mangal
A RUSI interview with a Taliban faction leader reveals the prospects for reconciliation in Afghanistan and ongoing turmoil within the Taliban.
Afghanistan, International Security Studies
The Islamic State in ‘Khorasan’: a nuanced view
Commentary, 5 February 2016Dr. Antonio Giustozzi, Associate Fellow, RUSI
Daesh has established a foothold in Afghanistan, but its rivalry with the Taliban means its success is far from assured.
Afghanistan, International Security Studies, TerrorismPages

Terror in Kabul
Multimedia, 30 January 2018Aaditya Dave, Research Analyst at RUSI, talks terror in Afghanistan in the wake of the recent attacks.
Tags: Afghanistan, International Security Studies, Terrorism
President Trump's New Strategy in Afghanistan and South Asia
Multimedia, 22 August 2017RUSI Senior Research Fellow Emily Winterbotham examines the new US strategy in Afghanistan and South Asia announced by President Trump on 21 August 2017.
Tags: Pakistan, US Defence Policy, Afghanistan, International Security Studies, Land Operations, Global Security Issues, Terrorism, Central and South Asia
2016 Year Ahead: Security Challenges in Afghanistan
Multimedia, 18 December 2015
Book Review: Taliban Narratives: The Use and Power of Stories in the Afghanistan Conflict
RUSI Journal, 15 March 2018Theo Farrell
Theo Farrell reviews Taliban Narratives: The Use and Power of Stories in the Afghanistan Conflict, by Thomas H Johnson.
RUSI Journal, Afghanistan
The Bajwa Doctrine: The Pakistani Military Has Done More than Enough
Newsbrief, 16 February 2018Kamal Alam
In their own words, Pakistan’s generals lay-out the ‘Bajwa Doctrine’ – their vision for the future of US–Pakistani military cooperation in the age of President Trump. From their perspecitve, Pakistan...
Pakistan, United States, Afghanistan, Newsbrief, The Pakistan Nexus, The War on Terror, Defence Management, Global Security Issues
Russia in Afghanistan: Playing with Fire
Newsbrief, 25 January 2018Alex Maciag
As the longest war in US history rumbles on, Moscow looks at the Afghanistan conflict with interest. Allegations of Moscow’s meddling in the country, particularly its aid to the Taliban, raise...
Afghanistan, Newsbrief, Russia, Counterinsurgency, Global Security Issues
Book Review: Strategic Narratives, Public Opinion, and War: Winning Domestic Support for the Afghan War
RUSI Journal, 3 April 2017Beatrice Heuser
Beatrice Heuser reviews Strategic Narratives, Public Opinion, and War: Winning Domestic Support for the Afghan War, edited by Beatrice de Graaf et al.
RUSI Journal, Afghanistan, Counterinsurgency, The War on Terror, Central and South Asia
Ready for Peace? The Afghan Taliban after a Decade of War
Briefing Papers, 31 January 2017Theo Farrell and Michael Semple
Despite high-profile success on the battlefield, interviews with Taliban personnel reveal substantial discord within the group.
Afghanistan, Briefing Papers, The decade after 9/11, The Pakistan Nexus, Counterinsurgency, The War on Terror, Central and South AsiaPages

Unwinnable: Britain’s War in Afghanistan, 2001-2014
Events, 11 September 2017RUSI hosted a panel to discuss Prof Theo Farrell’s new book ‘Unwinnable: Britain’s War in Afghanistan, 2001-2014’.
Afghanistan, Military Sciences, UK, UK Defence
RUSI Briefing Paper Launch: Ready for Peace? The Afghan Taliban After a Decade of War
Events, 30 January 2017Professor Theo Farrell and Michael Semple will present the findings of their groundbreaking RUSI briefing paper on the state of the Taliban leadership.
Afghanistan, Counterinsurgency
The Army of Afghanistan: A Political History of a Fragile Institution
Events, 7 April 2016RUSI is pleased to host the launch of Dr Antonio Giustozzi's latest book on the political history of the Afghan army, the first full-length expose on this vitally important institution.
Afghanistan, International Security Studies, Defence Policy
Anti-Corruption Workshops- The Nexus between Corruption and Security: Afghanistan as a case study
Events, 15 February 2016Ahead of the international Anti-Corruption Summit in London this May, the Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, RUSI and KPMG will hold four Anti-Corruption workshops.
Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, Afghanistan, AML/CTF
Gallipoli Memorial Lecture - Afghanistan and Iraq: Understanding and Incorporating Lessons
Events, 4 June 2014Admiral Michael Mullen USN (Ret’d), former Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, highlighted some of the initial difficult lessons from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Aerospace, Afghanistan, Iraq, Land Forces, Central and South Asia, Middle East and North Africa
"Emily Winterbotham, a senior research fellow at the UK-based Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies, said the Taliban might change their tune if there was "a real shift in Pakistan support or a real gap in their financing". "
Taliban stops short of rejecting Afghan president's peace plan
In The News, 8 March 2018 Tags: Afghanistan, International Security Studies
"But the group would struggle to persuade fighters to travel as far as Afghanistan, said Emily Winterbotham, a senior research fellow at the UK-based Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies. "It's trying to keep IS-K viable and the IS-K brand going, but the reality is Afghanistan is still a long way away from Syria and Iraq -- it's not an easy journey," she said."
Islamic State group calls on Muslims to immigrate to Afghanistan
In The News, 7 March 2018 Tags: Afghanistan, International Security Studies
"“Russia appears to have stepped up engagement with the Taliban, adopting the stance that the Taliban is preferable to other violent extremist groups in the region,” said Emily Winterbotham, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies in London. “However, Moscow’s influence over and engagement with the Taliban is often overstated -- other efforts to bring the Taliban to the negotiation table through Pakistan or even China have failed; there is no reason to think that Russia should have greater leverage.”"
Former Afghan President Sees Russia as Key to Peace With Taliban
In The News, 28 February 2018 Tags: Afghanistan, International Security Studies, Global Security Issues
"“Will it lead to peace? No,” said Emily Winterbotham, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. “It’s good at least that they’re saying they think about peace but I don’t think it will change the status quo.”"
The Taliban Massacred 150 People in Kabul. Now They're Calling for Peace.
In The News, 15 February 2018 Tags: Afghanistan, International Security Studies, Counterinsurgency, Global Security Issues, Terrorism, Central and South Asia
"'The Taliban, and possibly certain people within the Pakistani intelligence services, are showing what they can do right now,' says Aaditya Dave, a research analyst at the Royal United Services Institute think-tank. "
US censors Afghanistan report after surge in attacks
In The News, 30 January 2018 Tags: Afghanistan, International Security Studies, Counterinsurgency, Global Security Issues
After the Strikes: Returning to the Table
Could Russian S-400s Protect Syria Against Cruise Missiles?
How Can Social Media Companies Stop the Spread of Fake News?