1. “The Report on Progress toward Security and Stability in Afghanistan“(142 pages)in Apr, 2012. The progress of the civil-military COIN campaign has severely degraded the Taliban-led insurgency, limiting their operational capacity and undermining their popular support. The decline in insurgent capability, coupled with improvements in the operational effectiveness of the ANSF and a resilient ANSF-ISAF partnership, has enabled the security transition process to expand. The transition of security responsibility to the Afghans by the end of 2014, as agreed at Lisbon, remains on schedule. The mission in Afghanistan, however, faces long-term challenges. The insurgency draws strength from safe haven and support from within Pakistan and garners popular support by exploiting areas where the Afghan Government has failed to provide sufficient governance, rule of law, and economic opportunities. Afghan Government progress toward key governance and development initiatives remains critical for the sustainability of security gains. Nevertheless, the mission in Afghanistan remains integral to U.S. national security objectives, and the strategy is sound. The United States and its coalition partners are committed to achieving long-term stability and security in Afghanistan to ensure that the country never again becomes a safe haven for al Qaeda or its affiliates.
2. The report is consists of 8 Sections:-
a. Strategy:-The goal of the United States is to disrupt, dismantle, and eventually defeat al Qaeda, and to prevent its return to either Afghanistan or Pakistan.
b. Afghan national security forces growth, development, and operations: Afghan National Security Forces continued to make substantial progress during the reporting period, gradually building a force that will eventually be capable of assuming full responsibility for security throughout Afghanistan.
c. Transition:-The security Transition process was jointly conceived and developed by the Afghan Government, the United States, the NATO, and ISAF nations at a variety of international fora, beginning with the 2010 London Conference and culminating in the NATO Summit in Lisbon in November 2010. Transition to Afghan security lead began in July 2011 and transition to full Afghan security responsibility will be complete country-wide by the end of 2014.
d. Security:-The Afghan insurgency is composed of a syndicate of semi-autonomous groups, including the Taliban, the Haqqani Network, and Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin. The insurgency is also supported by various transnational terrorist groups such as al Qaeda and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, as well as Pakistan-based militant groups such as Tehrik-i Taliban Pakistan and the Commander Nazir Group. The primary actor within the insurgency is the Taliban, led by the Senior Shura22 in Quetta, Pakistan, and the spiritual leader Mullah Omar. Overall, these groups maintain functional and symbolic relationships in pursuit of overlapping interests.
e. Governance:-The Afghan Government is gradually developing the capacity to provide stable, effective, and responsive governance to the Afghan population. However, the government’s long-term sustainability is jeopardized by multiple factors, including widespread corruption, dependence on international aid and mentoring support, and an imbalance of power that favors the executive branch over the legislative and judicial branches. Limited human capacity with appropriate formal training or civilian education within the civil service sector also impedes the development of stable and sustainable government across Afghanistan.
f. Reconstruction and Development:-.. Since 2002, donor funding has helped create national health and education systems; built extensive transportation, power, water, communications, and border infrastructure; and strengthened economic governance. Significant long-term assistance will continue to be required, however, to create conditions for sustainable economic growth. Short-term development initiatives will focus on what is realistically achievable by the end of 2014 to stabilize the economy and ensure that the Afghan Government can deliver basic social and development services to the Afghan populace. Development during transition will be executed against a backdrop of declining donor funding, drawdown of coalition forces, a rapid decline in ISAF spending, growing unemployment, and likely economic recession.
g. Counternarcotics:-.. The Afghan Government is the lead for all counternarcotics (CN) operations. The Afghan Government regularly partners with the U.S. and international organizations to target narcotics traffickers and facilities. As part of the COIN strategy, DoD coordinates with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and other U.S. Government departments and agencies to support the overall CN strategy for Afghanistan. The main goal of this strategy is to reduce the ability of the insurgency to draw support from the narcotics industry. RC-S and RC-SW remained priority areas for military and law enforcement CN efforts during the reporting period.
h. Regional Engagement:-
(1) Pakistan:-The United States continues to seek a relationship with Pakistan that is constructive and mutually beneficial, and that advances both U.S. and Pakistani interests. Pakistan has publicly committed to playing a positive role in a genuine national reconciliation that is Afghan-led and Afghan-owned. However, Pakistan’s selective counterinsurgency operations, passive acceptance – and in some cases, provision – of insurgent safe havens, and unwillingness to interdict material such as IED components, continue to undermine security in Afghanistan and threaten ISAF’s campaign. Pakistan continues to seek a stable, secure Afghanistan, an Afghan government with primacy for Pashtuns, and limited Indian influence. To this end, Pakistan has allowed an insurgent sanctuary in its border areas to persist, offering a safe haven to Afghan Taliban and associated militant groups including the Haqqani Taliban Network in North Waziristan Agency. Pakistani leaders have tolerated this due to their concerns that Pakistan will be left alone to confront an unstable, an unfriendly, or an Indian-influenced Afghanistan on its borders. Accordingly, Pakistan seeks to play a key role in the peace and reconciliation process to advance a political settlement that considers Pakistani interests.
(2) India:- India continues to show interest in Afghan security assistance through strengthening ANSF capabilities, although activities in this area have been limited to date. India currently provides scholarships for ANSF personnel to study in India, and the Indian Government also is exploring options to train female Afghan police in India.
Complete Report : Report_Final_SecDef_04_27_12
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