CIAO DATE: 10/2011
September 2011
Center for Strategic and International Studies
The US confronts a wide range of challenges if it is to win the Afghan conflict in any meaningful sense, and leave a stable Afghanistan and Pakistan: * Decide on US strategic objectives in conducting and terminating the war. These objectives not only include the defeat of Al Qaeda, but deciding on what kind of transition the US wishes to make in Afghanistan, what goals the US can achieve in creating a stable Afghanistan, US goals in Pakistan, and the broader strategic goals the US will seek in Central and South Asia. * Defeat the insurgency not only in tactical terms, but also by eliminating its control and influence over the population and ability exploit sanctuaries in Pakistan and win a war of political transition. * Create a more effective and integrated, operational civil and civil-military transition effort by NATO/ISAF, UN, member countries, NGO, and international community efforts through 2014 and for 5-10 years after the withdrawal of combat forces. * Build up a much larger, and more effective, mix of Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). * Give the Afghan government the necessary capacity and legitimacy (and lasting stability) at the national, regional/provincial, district, and local levels by 2014. * Dealing with Pakistan in reducing the Taliban-Haqqani network in the NWFP and Baluchistan, and dealing with the broader risk Pakistan will become a failed nuclear weapons state. * Shape a balance of post-transition relations with India, Iran, “Stans,” Russia, and China that will help sustain post-transition stability. * Make effective trade-offs in terms of resources relative to the priorities set by other US domestic and security interests
Resource link: Afghanistan and Pakistan: Continuing Security Challenges For the United States [PDF] - 6.8M