Afghanistan Conflict Monitor

NATO: From Kosovo To Kabul

James Sperling & Mark Webber, 'NATO: From Kosovo To Kabul', Chatham House / International Affairs, Volume 85 Issue 3, 31 May 2009

EXCERPT: "Ten years after it launched its large-scale intervention against Serbia, NATO remains mired in a seemingly unwinnable conflict in Afghanistan. These two missions are, in many ways, very different; but the marshalling of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), just like Operation Allied Force (OAF) before it, has given rise to the view that a failure for NATO would mean the end of the alliance. In fact, since the end of the Cold War (an event itself proclaimed as its death knell) NATO has navigated several existential crises, over Bosnia, 9/11, Iraq and now Afghanistan. For much of the last ten years it has also had to ride out the long, slow-burn consequences of the Bush administration's indifference to alliance solidarity."

To continue reading the article, click here [pdf].

See also:
'Deadly Pakistan clashes, NATO tanker ambushed: Officials', AFP, 14 July 2009
'Shifting Afghan loyalties test US bid for permanent gains', The Boston Globe, 14 July 2009
'France to pursue Afghan mission: Sarkozy', AFP, 14 July 2009
'New peril for British troops in Afghanistan: Taliban have learned modern warfare', The Guardian, 11 July 2009
'NATO denies "AfPak" imperial plan', BBC News, 10 July 2009

Related posts:
'NATO entering new stage in Afghanistan', 25 June 2009
'Afghan strategy was flawed: NATO chief', 16 June 2009
'NATO figures show surge in violence', 31 January 2009
'Taliban fill NATO's big gaps in Afghan south', 22 January 2009
'Surging towards stalemate', 7 January 2009

Russia To Allow US Arms Shipments To Afghanistan

'Russia To Allow US Arms Shipments To Afghanistan', The Associated Press, 3 July 2009

EXCERPT: "Russia said Friday it will allow the United States to ship weapons across its territory to Afghanistan, a long-sought move that bolsters U.S. military operations but potentially gives the Kremlin leverage over critical American supplies. The announcement by a top Kremlin aide came ahead of President Barack Obama's visit to Moscow next week, when the deal is expected to be signed. Russia has been allowing the United States to ship non-lethal supplies across its territory for operations in Afghanistan, and Kremlin officials had suggested further cooperation was likely. Kremlin foreign policy adviser Sergei Prikhodko told reporters Friday that the expected deal would enable the U.S. to ship lethal cargo and would include shipments by air and land. He said it was unclear if U.S. soldiers or other personnel would be permitted to travel through Russian territory or airspace. The normal supply route to landlocked Afghanistan via Pakistan has come under repeated Taliban attack, and the U.S. and NATO have been eager to have an alternate overland supply route through Russia and the Central Asian countries."

To continue reading the article, click here.

See also:
'Russia opens route for US to fly arms to Afghanistan', The New York Times, 3 July 2009
'Russia seeks to link US missile shields, arms cuts', Bloomberg, 3 July 2009
'NATO, Russia work to mend ties', The Boston Globe, 28 June 2009

Related posts:
'Russia ready for more NATO cargo transits', 29 June 2009
'Russia threatens to stop cargo as heroin flows', 26 June 2009
'First US cargo for Afghanistan crosses Russia', 3 March 2009
'Russia to help US in Afghanistan for a price', 13 February 2009
'Russia says it wants to help US in Afghanistan', 4 February 2009

The Dynamics Of The "AfPak" Conflict: Metrics and Status Report

'The Dynamics Of The "AfPak" Conflict: Metrics And Status Report', Center for Strategic and International Studies, 1 July 2009

EXCERPT: "The Afghan-Pakistan conflict is a complex conflict that covers two countries and has ideological, political, governance, economic, military, and security dimensions that are extremely difficult to measure and portray in summary form. NATO/ISAF, the United Nations, the U.S Department of Defense, and various polls and nongovernmental organizations have, however, gradually developed summary metrics and maps of the conflict. These data provide a useful overview of developments in the conflict and are beginning to go beyond the military dimension to the political and economic dimensions and to show how Afghans and Pakistanis perceive the conflict. The Burke Chair has developed a series of presentations that includes maps and graphics from a range of sources that cover given aspects of the war and bring together a range of metrics in key areas. These presentations include a summary overview of the war--which is largely a current status report--and a series of subreports that begin to pull together a historical record of the various metrics in given subject areas. These latter reports include comparative graphics that show how given metrics have changed over time. The trends and differences they portray often provide important perspective on the trends in the conflict, but they also reflect important contradictions in various reports on the war and methods of describing it."

To continue reading the report, click here.

Related posts:
'Afghan public opinion and the Afghan war', 14 April 2009
'Defining actors and its consequences for "coalition strategy"', 19 June 2009
'Trends in local Afghan conflicts', 11 June 2009

2009 Yearbook on Peace Processes: Afghanistan

Vicenç Fisas, '2009 Yearbook on Peace Processes: Afghanistan', Escola de Cultura de Pau, June 2009, p. 127-131

EXCERPT: "In May 1988, the United Nations created the United Nations Good Offices Mission in Afghanistan and Pakistan (UNGOMAP), whose mandate came to an end in March 1990. Its mission included supervising the withdrawal of the Soviet troops. As a result of the Bonn Agreement signed in December 2001, the Interim Authority was created. The process started in Bonn in 2001 culminated in September with elections for the National Assembly (Wolesi Jirga) and the provincial councils. Nevertheless, as Amnesty International pointed out at the time, many of the candidates running in the elections – which were tarnished by a climate of intimidation prior to the voting – were factional chiefs, many of whom had been accused of committing human rights abuses, which led to widespread consternation among the citizens. Women were guaranteed at least one-fourth of the seats in the Wolesi Jirga, yet they nonetheless came upon social and administrative barriers. The low voter turnout, especially in Kabul, cast doubts on the legitimacy of the electoral process. Since then, NATO has kept a military mission called the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, made up of 41,000 troops from 38 countries, 15,000 of whom are American, with a United Nations mandate."

To continue reading the report, click here [pdf].

Afghanistan: Looking Forward

Ronald E. Neumann, 'Afghanistan: Looking Forward', The Centre for International Governance Innovation, 30 June 2009

EXCERPT: "Much of the current debate among scholars and practitioners surrounding the growing Afghan crisis has centered on international policy and strategy. Before the ink was dry on the London Compact and the Afghan National Development Strategy, many observers were calling for course adjustments and policy reviews. Ambassador Ronald E. Neumann, in this first edition of CIGI's Afghanistan Papers series, acknowledges the flaws in the current strategies for Afghanistan's transition but calls for a greater focus on implementation. More attention must be dedicated to practical implementation issues such as stakeholder coordination and aid delivery structures. Changes in policy and strategy alone cannot subdue an insurgency or jumpstart a flagging state-building process; this will take a renewed focus on the authorities, practices and resources needed to produce substantive impacts on the ground. In surveying a broad range of critical issues from the development of the Afghan national security forces to good governance promotion, Neumann offers insights on how to improve policy implementation in Afghanistan."

To continue reading the paper, click here [pdf].

See also:
'Interview: McChrystal says solution in Afghanistan is developing governance', Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, 30 June 2009

Related posts:
'Assessment of corruption in Afghanistan', 22 May 2009
'Afghanistan in 2009: The first quarter', 5 May 2009
'"Seeds of democracy have been sown": Report', 24 March 2009
'New US administration, new directions', 13 March 2009
'Progress toward security and stability in Afghanistan', 2 February 2009

Russia Threatens To Stop Cargo As Heroin Flows

'Russia Says US-Led Forces Should Stem Afghan Heroin', Reuters, 26 June 2009

EXCERPT: "A top Russian drugs official said on Friday Moscow should stop the transport of cargo across its territory to U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan if they do not do more to cut the flow of heroin to Russia. Earlier this year, Russia and its former Soviet allies in Central Asia established a transit route for non-lethal supplies to the international forces in Afghanistan to complement a dangerous route via Pakistan. Russia and its allies have become increasingly concerned at the growth in drug traffic from Afghanistan since the overthrow of the Taliban. They say it poses a grave regional security threat and has caused a heroin epidemic in Russia, which now ranks as the world's No.1 consumer of Afghan heroin. Citing United Nations data, Ivanov said Afghanistan's output of opiates had grown more than 40-fold since 2001 when the U.S.-led coalition launched its assault on the Taliban. The drug enforcement official said 90 percent of drug addicts in the country were using Afghan heroin. He estimated Russia has up to 2.5 million drug addicts, mainly aged between 18 and 39, with their numbers swelling by 80,000 a year."

To continue reading the article, click here.

See also:
'China sees increasing drug crimes related to Golden Crescent', China View, 26 June 2009
'Pak, Afghan, Russian FMs discuss tripartite cooperation', Associated Press of Pakistan, 26 June 2009
'NATO chief says Central Asia must decide on ties', Reuters, 25 June 2009

Related posts:
'Drug cultivation plummets as demand falls: UNODC', 24 June 2009
'NATO supply lines in Afghanistan: The search for alternative routes', 19 June 2009
'Russian conference to focus on drugs, terrorism', 26 March 2009
'US strikes Central Asia deal to supply troops', 20 January 2009
'Russia-NATO agree on Afghan routes', 30 January 2009

NATO Entering New Stage In Afghanistan

'NATO Entering New Stage In Afghanistan', VOA News, 25 June 2009

EXCERPT: "A NATO commander in southern Afghanistan says military operations there are entering a completely new stage, focused on bringing security and economic development to the local population. Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon via satellite link from southern Afghanistan, Major General Mart de Kruif says the arrival of thousands of U.S. Marines in the region will significantly improve coalition efforts to bring security to the Afghan population. 'So we're entering a new stage in the operation, in which I would like to make the case that we took away the operational initiative from the insurgents and are now entering a new stage, in which we will have the operational initiative on our side and maintain it,' said General de Kruif. General de Kruif commands more than 30,000 international troops from 17 nations in southern Afghanistan, which has been a stronghold of the Taliban insurgency."

To continue reading the article, click here.

See also:
'NATO on the offensive in Afghanistan: Dutch general', AFP, 25 June 2009
'General: More troops needed to defeat insurgents', The Associated Press, 25 June 2009
'US troops will break Afghan stalemate: UK generals', 25 June 2009

Related posts:
'NATO supply lines in Afghanistan: The search for alternative routes', 19 June 2009
'Defining actors and its consequences for "coalition strategy"', 19 June 2009
'Secretary General: 10,000 NATO troops for elections', 17 June 2009
'Afghan strategy was flawed: NATO chief', 16 June 2009
'Afghan, NATO forces build security plan for election', 5 May 2009

Georgia To Join NATO Forces In Afghanistan

'Georgia To Send 500 Troops To Afghanistan In 2010', Reuters India, 23 June 2009

EXCERPT: "Georgia plans to send 500 peacekeeping troops to Afghanistan in 2010 in addition to 100 it is dispatching this year to serve alongside NATO-led forces, a senior defence ministry official said on Tuesday. The former Soviet republic is a staunch ally of the United States and aspires to join NATO. Russia fiercely opposes NATO membership for Georgia, and the two fought a five-day war last August when Russia crushed a Georgian assault on the breakaway pro-Russian region of South Ossetia. The ministry official said 'around 100 soldiers' would leave this year for Afghanistan alongside a French contingent, in a deployment announced earlier in the year."

To continue reading the article, click here.

See also:
'US, Georgia report progress in first talks of strategic relationship', Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, 23 June 2009

Related posts:
'NATO supply lines in Afghanistan: The search for alternative routes', 19 June 2009
'Georgia offers 500 troops', 31 March 2008
'Russia offers help "if NATO curbs eastward expansion"', 28 March 2008

British Troops In Major Offensive Against Taliban

'British Troops In Major Offensive Against Taliban', The Guardian, 23 June 2009

EXCERPT: "More than 350 British troops led by the Black Watch and supported by one of the largest air operations in modern times have launched an assault on Taliban strongholds in Afghanistan. Apache and US Black Hawk helicopters, an American Spectre gunship equipped with an array of heavy weapons, UK Harrier jets and unmanned drones, were involved in the operation which began when 12 Chinook helicopters dropped more than 350 troops into Babaji, north of Lashkar Gah, on Friday, the Ministry of Defence said. The aim of Operation Panchai Palang (Panther's Claw) is to secure canal and river crossings to establish a permanent presence by UK and other NATO forces in the area, described by the MoD as a Taliban stronghold. British forces are engaged in what is described as the first stage of a more extensive operation involving US troops recently deployed to Helmand province in southern Afghanistan."

To continue reading the article, click here.

See also:
'NATO troops stage air assault on Taliban stronghold in Southern Afghanistan', VOA News, 23 June 2009
'New directive to restrict US airstrikes in Afghanistan', CNN, 23 June 2009
'Wave of attacks as Obama aide assesses Afghan plan', AFP, 23 June 2009
'Analysis: Bombing rule make help protect civilians', The Associated Press, 23 June 2009

Related posts:
'NATO supply lines: The search for alternative routes', 19 June 2009
'"British treasury is crippling war": Former commander', 9 June 2009
'British troops killed Taliban leader Mullah Mansur', 2 June 2009
'UK backs Afghan efforts to reintegrate Taliban', 22 May 2009
'700 more British troops for Afghanistan', 29 April 2009

NATO Supply Lines in Afghanistan: The Search for Alternative Routes

Ryan Clarke and Khuram Iqbal, 'NATO Supply Lines in Afghanistan: The Search for Alternative Routes', S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies / Nanyang Technological University, 15 June 2009

EXCERPT: "The Afghan theater of the war on terror appears set to witness decisive battles with the United States announcing the deployment of an additional 17,000 troops, increasing the total troop strength to around 50,000. The Taliban have countered by uniting their forces on both sides of the Pakistan-Afghan border. The critical component in the surge is the ability to safely supply the troops. The frequent attacks on the supplies and logistics in Pakistan have forced the allies to search for new routes, focusing on two new areas: Russia / Central Asia and Iran. While each is currently secure, both pose significant strategic issues that perhaps make them untenable."

To continue reading the commentary, click here.

Related posts:
'NATO says members may use Iran for Afghan supplies', 2 February 2009
'US strikes Central Asia deal to supply troops', 20 January 2009
'US military eyes alarming spike in attacks on supply convoys', 22 December 2008
'NATO making progress on Afghanistan rail route', 5 May 2008