Afghanistan: A mid-2015 assessment

Nearly six months after the U.S. and NATO mission in Afghanistan ended and now nine months into the Ghani-Abdullah administration, many are asking where Afghanistan is at this juncture, especially with President Obama’s deadline 18 months from now for complete withdrawal of U.S combat units. As the region’s most intensive fighting season comes to a head, what factors should policymakers in Washington and Kabul weigh as they decide what’s next for the country and the U.S. presence there? Beyond internal dynamics in Afghanistan, President Ghani as well as Prime Minister Sharif of Pakistan have agreed to share intelligence in the fight against extremists. However, long-standing animosities between the two nations have led to stiff opposition toward cooperation between the two countries.

On June 3, the Center for 21st Century Security and Intelligence (21CSI) at Brookings will host a discussion on these and other key matters regarding the current state and future of Afghanistan. Panelists include Brookings Senior Fellow Vanda Felbab-Brown; Ambassador James B. Cunningham, former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan; and David Sedney, former U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense for Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Central Asia. Michael O’Hanlon, co-director of 21CSI, will moderate the discussion.

Following discussion, the panelists will take audience questions.

See also Vanda Felbab-Brown’s latest paper:  
“Blood and hope in Afghanistan: A June 2015 update.”