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AFGHANISTAN This section of the Peace Operations Monitor project maps out a contemporary and significant international mission - Afghanistan. Use the menu at left to select the elements of the Afghanistan operations that interest you. Your feedback is welcome and encouraged.
Overview Armed Violence The insurgency and related violence remain the primary obstacle to development and stability in Afghanistan. Especially in the south and east of the country violent clashes between insurgents and NATO or OEF occur on a regular basis. A report released by UNAMA in September 2007 found that the number of suicide bombings in Afghanistan had increased by more than 700 percent between 2005 (17 incidents) and 2006 (123 incidents). Numbers are expected to rise further in 2007, with 103 incidents in the first eight months alone. In the first quarter of 2008, NGOs have been directly targeted for attack on 29 occasions. Although comparable to last year's figures in volume (30), the attacks of this year have resulted in many more fatalities. Both the insurgents and the international coalition have launched their respective military campaigns after the end of the 2007/2008 winter. Media reports indicate a steady level of violence in the south and east, and an increase in violence in the north and west of the country. Insurgents have shifted away from a conventional strategy to using more suicide bombings and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) - even in areas where they have little suport base. Afghan outrage at civilian casualties caused by NATO forces continues to create difficulties for the ISAF mission and bolster support for the insurgents. In an effort to protect himself from the political fallout of this popular discontent, President Karzai publicly blamed international forces for rising violence in June 2008, saying they have mismanaged the fight against the Taliban. Insurgents benefited from this public debate and a number of other factors: continued access to safe havens across the border in Pakistan, rampant corruption of Afghan police and government representatives, the return of warlords to power, poverty and unemployment, a lack of benefits to some populations from foreign aid, opium cultivation, poorly applied opium eradication schemes, and tribal disputes. As mentioned in one of the UN Secretary-General's latest reports to the Security Council, "a key to sustaining security gains in the long term is increasing the capability, autonomy and integrity of the Afghan National Security Forces." In view of this long-term perspective, efforts to train and equip Afghan forces are being increased and discussions are ongoing on how to address serious challenges with the reform of the Afghan National Police. There are signs that the US is refocusing on Afghanistan, dedicating more resources to the Afghan mission and pushing other NATO countries to increase their own contributions to the mission in Afghanistan. Reconciliation and Power Sharing Many critics of the mission in Afghanistan, but also NATO leaders themselves, have been explicit in stating that a military strategy will not solve Afghanistan's problems and call for a political solution. While President Karzai has apparently made some contact with the Taliban and there is some effort towards reconciliation through the Strengthening Peace Program, no wide-ranging, track one peace process is underway. The willingness of some opposition forces to share power with Karzai's government remains in question. A new political opposition, the United National Front, has emerged to oppose president Karzai. This group is a mix of former Northern Alliance members, mujahideen, and even former members of the communist government. Former Indian diplomat M K Bhadrakumar has interpreted this as a show of independence by Afghans who believe the US will not be able to stabilize the situation. Regional Environment Pakistan's role continues to be controversial, as many Afghans and international observers allege Pakistani support for the insurgency. A new series of peace deals between Pakistan's government and local Taliban groups has granted insurgents wide latitude in areas along the border with Pakistan. According to NATO commanders, Pakistan's failure to act against militants in its tribal areas has led to an increase in attacks against US and NATO forces in eastern Afghanistan. Allegations that Iran is supplying weapons to the Taliban have also become more common, though the Iranian government denies its involvement with the insurgency in Afghanistan. Some analysts argue that Iran may be pursuing a two-pronged approach, with overt support for the Karzai government and economic investment in Afghanistan on the one hand and covert assistance to insurgents on the other hand, thus hedging its bets and securing influence (esp. in western Afghanistan) no matter who will control the country in the long run. Reconstruction The international community in Afghanistan is working to improve its coordination and increase aid effectiveness, while some NGOs call for the military to stop doing reconstruction work. The situation for women in Afghanistan continues to be grim, and some claim hard-won freedoms achieved since 9-11 are in danger of being stifled before a lasting impact on women's rights can be achieved. Recent murders of Afghan women journalists and continued forced marriages highlight the volatility of the situation for women in Afghanistan. Opium cultivation continues to reach record levels, and debates about how to tackle this issue are heated. According to UNODC, Afghanistan produced an extraordinary 8,200 tons of opium in 2007 (34 percent more than in 2006), becoming practically the exclusive supplier (93 percent of the global opiates market). The United States continues to push for eradication, while many, including some other NATO nations, fear this only feeds insurgency and instability. Other alternatives are licensing opium cultivation and providing alternative livelihoods. The first option has not been pursued, and the latter has not been sufficiently funded nor has it had time to achieve any significant results. Despite the insurgency, development and reform efforts continue. Initiativens like the National Solidarity Programme, in which local councils are consulted to determine their own development needs, are expanding. While media reports from Afghanistan tend to focus on the violence and instability, some parts of the country are relatively stable and are benefitting from development efforts.
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