Threats

An Especially Deadly Day in Afghanistan

Taliban militants continue to take advantage of the vulnerability created by the U.S. withdrawal. By Allen McDuffee

Business

7 Ways the $104 Billion Reconstruction Effort in Afghanistan Could Fail

Corruption leads the list of ‘potent threats’ to Afghanistan’s post-war future—but it’s far from the only challenge. By Ben Watson

Threats

Hagel Visits Afghanistan Amid a ‘Spike’ in Violence

Chuck Hagel is in Kabul on what is likely his last trip as defense secretary. By Gordon Lubold

Threats

How Afghans Feel About the Direction of Their Country

A poll of more than 9,000 Afghans revealed three-quarters of the population still fear for their lives during routine, everyday travel. By Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

Threats

Obama Orders Expanded US Role in Afghanistan

Caught between the Pentagon's demands, a promise to end a war, and the fallout in Iraq, President Obama is allowing the military to fight the Taliban in Afghanistan next year. By Allen McDuffee

Threats

Corruption in Afghanistan Is Getting 'Significantly Worse'

The top watchdog for reconstruction in Afghanistan says it 'seems like nobody is responsible for anything.' By Jordain Carney

Threats

Pentagon Counter-IED Group Heads to Iraq as Attacks Surge

The Joint IED Defeat Organization will deploy to Baghdad help stop roadside bomb attacks, but will have to rely on Iraqi soldiers to disable and destroy bombs. By Marcus Weisgerber

Threats

As End Looms, US Warns Afghan Troops Taking ‘Unsustainable’ Casualties

While NATO curbs its mission, Afghanistan’s troop fatalities and attrition are placing enormous strains on Kabul’s security forecast. By Ben Watson

Business

After $18M, US Halts Work on Half-Renovated Prison in Afghanistan

The State Department paid a contractor $18 million to renovate the aging facility, but canceled the contract with only half of the work completed. By Charles Clark

Threats

US Troops Leave Helmand Province in Afghanistan

American and British forces pulled out of the province, effectively ending operations in one of most violent parts of the country. By Adam Chandler

Ideas

More Than 6,000 Afghan Interpreters Are Stuck in Bureaucratic Limbo

Unless lawmakers act soon, the U.S. program to get Afghan translators to safety will end on Dec. 31. By Emerson Brooking and Janine Davidson

Business

Afghanistan's Opium Trade Is at an All-Time High

After nearly a decade and $7.6 billion to eradicate Afghanistan's poppy fields, farmers grew an unprecedented 209,000 hectares of opium last year. By Charles S. Clark​

Policy

How Long Do US Troops Need To Stay in Afghanistan?

The debate over post-2014 troop levels is getting almost no attention in the media. That's a big problem for America. By Peter Beinart

Business

The Pentagon Scrapped $500 Million Worth of Afghan Planes for Pennies on the Dollar

Officials from the Defense Logistics Agency destroyed the planes after Afghan military personnel proved unable to service the vehicles. By Katherine Peters

Policy

Will Afghanistan Become the ‘Forgotten War’ Again?

As the U.S. military draws down in Afghanistan after 13 years of war, history shows it can’t take anything for granted. By Stephanie Gaskell

Threats

Gen. Campbell Will Recommend a Slower Drawdown in Afghanistan, If Needed

The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan says he’s staying flexible when it comes to drawing down troops. By Gordon Lubold

Threats

Afghanistan Signs Deal To Keep 10,000 US, NATO Troops

The new Afghanistan president signed a bilateral security agreement that will keep international troops in the country well beyond 2014. By Jordain Carney

Threats

With a New Afghan Leader in Place, Is a US Troop Deal Next?

There’s a new president in Afghanistan. Now U.S. military leaders need his signature on a deal to allow U.S. troops to stay. By Stephanie Gaskell

Business

Afghanistan's Reconstruction Future Looks Very Bleak, IG Warns

The IG for Afghanistan reconstruction says the financial and operational burdens of rebuilding that nation are still well beyond anything Kabul can manage by itself. By Charles S. Clark

Threats

At the NATO Summit, Afghanistan Takes a Back Seat

As the war in Iraq showed, the durability of NATO’s commitment to Afghanistan must not be overshadowed by crises in Europe or elsewhere. By Janine Davidson and Emerson Brooking