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Afghanistan Security

 

Research - Policy Themes

 

Research - Regional Security

 

Contact Us

For further information on the Afghanistan Security Programme, please contact Virginia Comolli.

 

For press and media enquiries please contact the Media and Events Team 

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'Talking to the Taliban: The role of Afghanistan - Prospects and Portents'
Ahmed Rashid speaks on ‘Talking to the Taliban: The role of Afghanistan - Prospects and Portents'

'Why the hell should the Taliban talk now?' was the first question posed by Ahmed Rashid, author of the bestselling book Taliban, when he spoke at the IISS on 21 July 2010. 'The Taliban are winning,' he continued. 'The Americans want to leave. The West will be out of there in three years.' But Rashid then went on to explain how this 'peasant movement' which is 'fed up with manipulation by the ISI and Pakistan' and does not want to repeat its mistakes of the 1990s, might want to share power with a 'respectable government' that is recognised by the international community.

   

Watch the Discussion 

UK government ministers address the IISS on Afghanistan
Dr Liam Fox, Secretary of State for Defence, United Kingdom addresses the 3rd Plenary Session

Speaking at the 9th IISS Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore Liam Fox, Secretary of Statefor Defence called Afghanistan his "top priority".

 

"It is in Afghanistan that the resolve and capability of the international community to confront transnational terrorism is being tested." he said. Read More

 

In October 2009 Dr Fox had laid out the diplomatic and military strategy towards Afghanistan which a Conservative United Kingdom government would pursue.

 

Watch the Speech

 

In September 2009 then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown defended the international coalition's objectives and strategy in a keynote speech at IISS headquarters in London.

 

Watch or listen to the prime minister's speech. 

  

 

'Achieving Progress in Afghanistan: The Political Dimension'

Achieving Progress in Afghanistan: The Political Dimension

'It is not a military solution which is required in Afghanistan; it is a process,' said Alistair Burt, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the FCO, launching an informed panel discussion at the IISS on 8 July 2010. Homayoun Tandar, Afghanistan's ambassador to the UK, and Sir William Patey, British Ambassador to Afghanistan gave the viewfrom
the ground in Afghanistan, in the run-up to the Kabul Conference.

 

Watch the Discussion 

Top generals and officials discuss US Afghan Strategy
Karl Eikenberry, US Ambassador to Afghanistan

Karl Eikenberry, the US Ambassador to Afghanistan on 23 March spoke in a closed session convened by the IISS Afghanistan Security Programme on
the implementation of the recalibrated strategy towards Afghanistan being pursued by the US and its allies. The audience consisted of IISS experts, UK defence and foreign policy officials, and senior journalists. 

 

In December 2009 Eikenberry attended the 6th Manama Dialogue and took part in a session on Afghanistan, Southwest Asia and the Gulf. Also at the Dialogue incoming US Commander in Afghanistan General David Petraeus gave an address.

 

Former ISAF Commander General Stanley McChrystal gave a special address on Afghanistan at the IISS in October 2009.

 

Watch the Address  and the Q&A Session

 

 

 

 

 
Opium cultivation map

Maps

The IISS regularly produces maps of Afghanistan, and makes a selection of other resources available.

Loya Jirga

Key documents

The ISAF mandate and the Afghan constitution are among a sample of external reference sources.

General Stanley McChrystal addresses the IISS

The McChrystal speech

General Stanley McChrystal gave a special address on Afghanistan at the IISS in October 2009.

Military Balance 2010

Afghanistan in the
IISS Military Balance

This authoritative assessment
of the military capabilities and defence economics of 170 states gives details on the foreign forces in Afghanistan, Afghan national forces and
non-state armed groups. The 2010 edition discusses counter-insurgency efforts, the 2009  presidential elections and US attempts to persuade allies to send more troops to join ISAF.

 

 

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Armed Conflict Database

 

Afghanistan in the IISS Armed Conflict Database 
For subscribers, the IISS Armed Conflict Database offers timelines of political, military and humanitarian developments in some 70 conflicts around the globe - all updated weekly. These are complemented by regular round-up reports, which in Afghanistan are provided every two months. Subscribers are also welcome to directly ask questions of IISS experts. For more information and a free trial, click here.