Recent Reports:

“Afghanistan Study Group Report: Revitalizing Our Efforts Rethinking Our Strategies,” Center for the Study of the Presidency (January 30, 2008).

Co-chaired by General James L. Jones, USMC (Ret.) and Ambassador Thomas R. Pickering, the Study Group “focuses its attention on the future—analyzing the current situation with a view to what is needed to match our strategies with our goals and the required resources.” The Study Group addresses six issues: international coordination, security, governance and the rule of law, counter-narcotics, economic development and reconstruction, and Afghanistan and its neighbors.

“Afghanistan: Development and Humanitarian Priorities,” Oxfam (January 2008).

Oxfam focuses on the changes necessary to improve the “the impact, efficiency, relevance and sustainability of aid. There needs to be stronger coordination and more even distribution of aid, greater alignment with national and local priorities and increased use of Afghan resources. Indicators of aid effectiveness should be established, and a commission to monitor donor performance. Despite progress in some ministries, government capacity is weak and corruption is widespread, which is hindering service delivery and undermining public confidence in state building as a whole. Further major reforms are required in public administration, anti-corruption and the rule of law.”

“Afghanistan: The Need for International Resolve,” International Crisis Group (February 6, 2008).

The International Crisis Group calls for “troop contributing countries, including major NATO member states like Germany, France and Italy... to be prepared to deploy troops, with the required mandates, wherever in the country they are needed. All allies, including the U.S., must commit to genuine coordination mechanisms. Within Afghanistan efforts must focus on institution building, not individual Afghan players, and tackle a culture of impunity. The international community must also reassess strategic interests in the region, notably the need to address the Pakistan problem more realistically and to insulate Afghanistan as much as possible from the U.S.-Iran confrontation.”

News and Resource Links:

News and Blogs

Afghanistan’s Future is an in-depth, constantly updated report on current events in Afghanistan powered by BBC News.

Afghan Watch is a blog powered by The Century Foundation.

Afghanistan Conflict Monitor is part of the Human Security Report Project.

Pajwhok Afghan News based in Kabul (Registration Required).

Country Profile: Afghanistan by BBC News Online.

U.S. Policy

Military Policy Awareness Links provide direct access to defense-related U.S. policy statements on selected key topics. MiPAL Afghanistan, which also contains links to maps.

Official Afghanistan Information Page at the U.S. Department of State.

Operation Enduring Freedom, U.S. Central Command

CIA World Factbook, Afghanistan

NATO/ISAF

Official NATO in Afghanistanand International Assistance Force: Afghanistanwebsites, including an informational fact sheet.

The Guardian produced an excellent graphic of NATO troop distribution in Afghanistan as of February 2008.

Afghan Government

Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission

Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (Office of the President)
Includes Constitution

Afghanistan National Development Strategy