
This monograph is the result of an integrated research project conducted by a group of eight officers at the U.S. Army War College during the 2017-2018 academic year. Four most important and challenging issues were determined which the Resolute Support mission grappled with on a daily basis:
- maintaining the equilibrium of power and control between the Government of Afghanistan and the Taliban at its current level;
- bringing the Taliban to the negotiating table to begin peace talks with the Afghan Government;
- getting Pakistan to curb its 17-year support to the Taliban; and,
- start to roll back the pernicious dominance of opium production in the Afghan economy and its corrosive influence on national governance and state-building.
Foreword vii
Preface xi
Summary xv
Introduction 1
Four Key Factors for the Future of Afghanistan 1
Chapter 1
Recommendations for Reducing Cross-Border Taliban Support 5
Pakistani Support 5
The Afghanistan-Pakistan Border 9
Regional States 12
Recommendations 13
Endnotes 16
Chapter 2
Recommendations for Reducing the Opium Trade 19
Recommendations 23
Endnotes 26
Chapter 3
Recommendations for Improving the Afghan National Defense Security Forces 29
ANDSF Attrition 35
Security Architecture Realignment 37
Recommendations 46
Endnotes 49
Chapter 4. Recommendations for Moving Toward Reconciliation 55
A Brief History of Reconciliation Efforts 1978 to Present 56
Recommendations 68
Endnotes 71
Appendix I
The Soviet Construction of Afghanistan’s Security Forces 75
The Design 75
The Sarandoy 76
The KhAD 77
The Afghan Military 77
Aviation 79
Border Forces 79
Citizen Militias 80
Tribal and Border Militias 80
Takeaways 81
Endnotes – Appendix I 83
Appendix II. Afghan Reconciliation Historical Review 85
Annex: Pashtun Uprising and Hadda Mullah Case Study 92
Endnotes – Appendix II 95
Appendix III. Colombia’s Reconciliation With the FARC—Case Study 99
Colombia’s Military Strategy to Take the FARC to Negotiations 102
Demobilization Program Before Talks 107
The Contrast Between the Two Conflicts 110
Conclusions 112
Endnotes – Appendix III. 114
Appendix IV. Reconciliation Terms and Definitions 117
Endnotes – Appendix IV 118
List of Contributors 119
Project Editor 119
Contributing Authors 119
This analysis should be especially useful to U.S. strategic leaders, policy analysts, and intelligence professionals engaged in Afghanistan withdrawal decision-making, as they seek to address the complicated interplay of factors related to regional security issues, fighting terrorism, and the support of local allies.
Product Details
- Mason, Chris, M.
- Afghanistan
- Army War College