Afghanistan

Militia blues: How many more armed groups does Afghanistan need?
Militia blues: How many more armed groups does Afghanistan need?
For long-time observers of Afghanistan, déjà vu happens with such frequency that one feels trapped in a never-ending farcical nightmare. This is why news of a mid-September visit…
Afghanistan: US offers Pakistan yet another ‘last chance’
Afghanistan: US offers Pakistan yet another ‘last chance’
Following US President Donald Trump's address on Afghanistan policy in August, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said in a Senate Armed Service Committee hearing that the US is…
Neither friend nor foe: Pakistan, the United States and the war in Afghanistan
Analyses
Neither friend nor foe: Pakistan, the United States and the war in Afghanistan
The Trump administration's Afghanistan policy suggests that the United States will exert greater pressure on Pakistan, but no amount of US foreign assistance…
Why Australia should send more military advisers to Afghanistan
Why Australia should send more military advisers to Afghanistan
Australia has an interesting record on troop commitments over the last two decades. We have committed, withdrawn, and recommitted at an eye-watering rate. One has trouble…
Getting the juice to flow in Afghanistan's private sector
Getting the juice to flow in Afghanistan's private sector
It is widely acknowledged that private sector growth is essential to increasing the amount and variety of economic opportunities in any given society. In fragile economies such as…
Afghanistan: Big power disagreements add to instability
Afghanistan: Big power disagreements add to instability
Afghanistan has long suffered from interference by neighbouring and regional states. Despite the presence of international military forces, the donation of billions of dollars in…