Counterinsurgency in Afghanistan - Seth Jones, Rand
This study explores the nature of the insurgency in Afghanistan, the key challenges and successes of the US-led counterinsurgency campaign, and the capabilities necessary to wage effective counterinsurgency operations. By examining the key lessons from all insurgencies since World War II, it finds that most policymakers repeatedly underestimate the importance of indigenous actors to counterinsurgency efforts. The US should focus its resources on helping improve the capacity of the indigenous government and indigenous security forces to wage counterinsurgency. It has not always done this well. The US military-along with US civilian agencies and other coalition partners-is more likely to be successful in counterinsurgency warfare the more capable and legitimate the indigenous security forces (especially the police), the better the governance capacity of the local state, and the less external support that insurgents receive.
New RAND COIN in Afghanistan Study - Tim Stevens, Ubiwar
Seems like the folks at RAND have been similarly busy, with another COIN report out today: Counterinsurgency in Afghanistan by Seth G. Jones, the fourth volume in the RAND Counterinsurgency series. The tone of the report partly reflects what I've been hearing the last couple of days about operations in Afghanistan - "comprehensive organisational dysfunction" sticks in my mind - although Jones concentrates more on capacity-building and security security reform.
RAND Study on Counterinsurgency - Herschel Smith, The Captain's Journal
Seth G. Jones of RAND National Defense Research Institute has published Counterinsurgency in Afghanistan. It will required several assessments to analyze the entirety of the paper, and in lieu of attempting to assess the paper chronologically, we will address it thematically. Several quotes will be supplied (mainly from Chapter 2 which is entitled Success in Counterinsurgency Warfare).
Pakistan Helped Taliban Insurgents - Jason Straziuso, Associated Press
Pakistani intelligence agents and paramilitary forces have helped train Taliban insurgents and have given them information about American troop movements in Afghanistan, said a report published Monday by a US think tank.
The study by the RAND Corp. also warned that the US will face "crippling, long-term consequences" in Afghanistan if Taliban sanctuaries in Pakistan are not eliminated. It echoes recent statements by American generals, who have increased their warnings that militant safe havens in Pakistan are threatening efforts in Afghanistan. The study was funded by the US Defense Department.
'US Faces Severe Consequences' - Pakistan Daily Times
The United States and its NATO allies will face "crippling, long-term consequences" in their efforts to stabilise Afghanistan if Taliban sanctuaries in neighbouring Pakistan are not eliminated, a report published on Monday said.
Funded by the Defence Department, The study, 'Counterinsurgency in Afghanistan', has claimed that NATO officials have uncovered several instances of Pakistani intelligence agents providing information to Taliban fighters, including information on "the location and movement of Afghan and coalition forces".
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has also pleaded with the global community to address the issue of militant sanctuaries in Pakistan. Afghan intelligence officials say young, uneducated males are recruited in the Tribal Areas to become suicide bombers and fighters.
However, Pakistan denies that it supports the insurgents.