Asia

Afghanistan

Afghanistan
America’s Withdrawal of Choice

Article by Richard Haass

The swift fall of Kabul recalls the ignominious fall of Saigon in 1975. Beyond the local consequences—widespread reprisals, harsh repression of women and girls, and massive refugee flows—America’s strategic and moral failure in Afghanistan will reinforce questions about US reliability among friends and foes alike.
Aug 15, 2021
The swift fall of Kabul recalls the ignominious fall of Saigon in 1975. Beyond the local consequences—widespread reprisals, harsh repression of women and girls, and massive refugee flows—America’s strategic and moral failure in Afghanistan will reinforce questions about US reliability among friends and foes alike.
Aug 15, 2021
Global Conflict Tracker: War in Afghanistan
Afghan forces continue to face significant challenges in holding territory and defending population centers, while the Taliban continues to contest districts and carry out suicide attacks in major cities.

by Center for Preventive Action Aug 18, 2021

The U.S. War in Afghanistan
The Taliban surged back to power two decades after U.S.-led forces toppled their regime in what led to the United States’ longest war.

Timeline by Zachary Laub and Lindsay Maizland Sep 27, 2022

The Taliban in Afghanistan
The Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021, twenty years after their ouster by U.S. troops. Under their harsh rule, they have cracked down on women’s rights and neglected basic services.

Backgrounder by Lindsay Maizland Jan 19, 2023

  • Afghanistan
    Women and Girls in the Afghanistan Transition
    Podcast
    Following the release of her report on the status of women in Afghanistan, Catherine Powell moderates a discussion with Open Society Foundations' Rachel Reid and the U.S. Department of Defense's David Sedney on the role the United States can play in extending the progress of Afghan in women in education, the economy, health care, and beyond.
    Event with David Sedney, Rachel Reid and Catherine Powell June 20, 2014
  • Afghanistan
    Women and Girls in the Afghanistan Transition
    Overview Although Afghan women and girls have made strides in education, the economy, health care, politics, and broader civil society since the 2001 U.S.-led intervention, these advances remain fragile. As Afghanistan transitions to a new presidency and the drawdown of U.S. troops continues through 2016, now is the time for the United States to take action, in coordination with Afghanistan and its partners, to cement and extend gender-equality gains, close the gaps, and prevent reversal. Despite a decreasing military footprint in Afghanistan, the United States has a unique ability and obligation to continue supporting Afghan efforts to improve women's security and leadership opportunities through diplomacy, defense, and development aid. Fellow for Women and Foreign Policy Catherine Powell recommends several policies that would allow the United States to secure and broaden these gains, including interagency coordination led by the National Security Council, joint leadership of the Afghan Gender Task Force by the special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan and the ambassador-at-large for global women's issues, and prioritized goals of improving women's security and investing in women's rights and decision-making authority. The advancement of women and girls correlates with gains in stability, security, and development. Given the mutual interest of the United States and Afghanistan in fighting terrorism and extremism and promoting economic sustainability, the United States should bolster gender equality before the drawdown is complete and continue working with Afghanistan to maintain these gains in the future. This publication is part of the Council on Foreign Relations' Women and Foreign Policy program and was made possible by the generous support of the Women and Foreign Policy Advisory Council. Review the advisory council for this report [PDF].
    Report by Catherine Powell June 19, 2014 Civil Society, Markets, and Democracy Program
  • Pakistan
    The Different Taliban Worlds
    CFR’s Daniel Markey sheds light on the two Taliban branches—the Afghan-based group that negotiated the release of a U.S. prisoner of war, and the Pakistani Taliban, which attacked the Karachi airport last weekend.
    Interview with Daniel S. Markey and Bernard Gwertzman June 10, 2014
  • Global
    The World Next Week: June 5, 2014
    Podcast
    Afghanistan holds its second round of presidential elections; Ukraine swears in a new president; mass trials against the Muslim Brotherhood continue in Egypt; and the World Cup begins in Brazil.
    Podcast with Isobel Coleman and Robert McMahon June 5, 2014 The World Next Week
  • Afghanistan
    Disrupting Poverty: The Search for Innovative Solutions
    Podcast
    Following the release of her report on the status of women in Afghanistan, Catherine Powell moderates a discussion with Open Society Foundations' Rachel Reid and the U.S. Department of Defense's David Sedney on the role the United States can play in extending the progress of Afghan in women in education, the economy, health care, and beyond.
    Event with Rachel Reid, David Sedney and Catherine Powell May 20, 2014 Women and Foreign Policy Program
  • Afghanistan
    Fraud Fears Loom Over Afghan Transition
    Widespread election fraud could undermine Afghanistan’s first democratic transfer of power and throw the country into chaos, says CFR’s Stephen Biddle.
    Interview with Stephen Biddle and Bernard Gwertzman April 8, 2014
  • Global
    The World Next Week: April 3, 2014
    Podcast
    India gears up for general elections; Afghanistan holds presidential elections; and Rwanda marks twenty years after its genocide.
    Podcast with James M. Lindsay and Robert McMahon April 3, 2014 The World Next Week
  • Afghanistan
    Will Presidential Elections Bring Stability to Afghanistan?
    Afghanistan’s presidential election could be a democratic milestone, or may be marred by insurgent violence and fraud. Four experts weigh the election’s importance.
    Expert Roundup by Zachary Laub, Andrew Wilder, Martine van Bijlert, Anand Gopal and Amin Tarzi March 28, 2014
  • Afghanistan
    Prospects for Afghanistan in 2014
    Afghanistan faces a critical year as NATO-led troops draw down, international aid drops, and elections could deliver the country’s first democratic transfer of power. Five experts weigh Afghanistan’s prospects in 2014.
    Expert Roundup by Zachary Laub, Graeme Smith, Nader Nadery, Daniel S. Markey, Seth G. Jones and Clare Lockhart December 17, 2013