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Afghanistan
"An intriguingly frank debate on Afghanistan took place last week at the Royal United Services Institute in Whitehall. With commendable frankness, present and past soldiers, diplomats and politicians reviewed Theo Farrell’s Unwinnable, a devastating account of the Afghan saga, in which every British military failure down the ages has been compressed into the cesspit of expense, death and misery called Helmand. "
Ignore Trump’s lies. North Korea is no threat to Britain
In The News, 22 September 2017 Tags: Afghanistan, Global Security Issues, UK Defence
"“Anger at civilian casualties has been a key driver of the conflict in Afghanistan,” said Emily Winterbotham, a senior research fellow at London’s Royal United Services Institute. “Empirical studies suggest strong correlations between civilian harm and detrimental effects on public support.” "
Afghan Defense Ministry: US leaflet drop broke agreement
In The News, 7 September 2017 Tags: United States, Afghanistan, International Security Studies, Global Security Issues
"By failing to provide fresh ways forward while committing to open-ended military engagement, however, Trump may be sinking deeper into the quagmire and risks—prolonging what he himself referred to as a “war without victory.” "
Strategy? What Strategy? Trump’s New Approach to Afghanistan Is No Game-Changer
In The News, 29 August 2017 Tags: Afghanistan, International Security Studies, Central and South Asia
""The Trump administration has threatened a range of punishments, including sanctions on Pakistani officials. But will they follow through? This is what Pakistani officials will hope to establish in the coming weeks." "
Why Trump's threats to Pakistan raise serious questions
In The News, 25 August 2017 Tags: Pakistan, United States, Afghanistan
"The West is now thinking king about re-engagement in Afghanistan to prevent complete strategic failure. "
Trump's New Strategy in Afghanistan
In The News, 22 August 2017 Tags: United States, Afghanistan
"Shashank Joshi of the Royal United Services Institute in London noted that “a lot of [Kabul’s] control is pretty tenuous.” "
Afghanistan Is President Donald Trump's War Now: Fighting Without Purpose Or End
In The News, 22 August 2017 Tags: Afghanistan, North America, 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
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 Tags: Afghanistan, International Security Studies, 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 Asia
Book Review: The Army of Afghanistan: A Political History of a Fragile Institution
RUSI Journal, 30 November 2016Emily Winterbotham
Emily Winterbotham reviews The Army of Afghanistan: A Political History of a Fragile Institution, by Antonio Giustozzi.
RUSI Journal, Afghanistan, International Security Studies, Counterinsurgency, The War on Terror, Defence Policy, Central and South Asia
China’s Belt and Road: A View From Delhi
Conference Reports, 29 June 2016Sarah Lain and Raffaello Pantucci
Proceedings of a workshop held in New Delhi in March 2016 to explore the challenges that China’s strategic Belt and Road vision to connect Central Asia hopes to address.
China, Afghanistan, India, Conference Reports, International Security Studies
The Real Reasons for Afghan Migration
Newsbrief, 24 May 2016Dermot Rooney
Afghans are not only forced from their homelands by war and tribal conflict, competition for resources also plays a large part.
Afghanistan, NATO, Newsbrief, The War on Terror, Global Security Issues, Al-Qa'ida, EuropePages
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
"“Anger at civilian casualties has been a key driver of the conflict in Afghanistan,” said Emily Winterbotham, a senior research fellow at London’s Royal United Services Institute. “Empirical studies suggest strong correlations between civilian harm and detrimental effects on public support.”"
Afghan Defense Ministry: US leaflet drop broke agreement
In The News, 7 September 2017 Tags: United States, Afghanistan, International Security Studies, Global Security Issues
"By failing to provide fresh ways forward while committing to open-ended military engagement, however, Trump may be sinking deeper into the quagmire and risks—prolonging what he himself referred to as a “war without victory.”"
Strategy? What Strategy? Trump’s New Approach to Afghanistan Is No Game-Changer
In The News, 29 August 2017 Tags: Afghanistan, International Security Studies, Central and South Asia
"By failing to provide fresh ways forward while committing to open-ended military engagement, however, Trump may be sinking deeper into the quagmire and risks—prolonging what he himself referred to as a “war without victory.”"
Strategy? What Strategy? Trump’s New Approach to Afghanistan Is No Game-Changer
In The News, 29 August 2017 Tags: Afghanistan, International Security Studies, Central and South Asia
""The Trump administration has threatened a range of punishments, including sanctions on Pakistani officials. But will they follow through? This is what Pakistani officials will hope to establish in the coming weeks.""
Why Trump's threats to Pakistan raise serious questions
In The News, 25 August 2017 Tags: Pakistan, United States, Afghanistan
"The West is now thinking king about re-engagement in Afghanistan to prevent complete strategic failure."
Trump's New Strategy in Afghanistan
In The News, 22 August 2017 Tags: United States, Afghanistan
MI5 Chief: Daesh Is Dead in Syria and Iraq – But Threat Here is Growing Rapidly
An Angry Tehran Cautious after Trump’s Iran Nuclear Speech
Iran and Paraskevidekatriaphobia