After nine years of rising violence and uneven progress, there is increasing acceptance that a political settlement is needed to end the war in Afghanistan. During 2010, the U.S. and NATO military surge was accompanied by an effort to convince middle and lower-level fighters to abandon the insurgency. That year, the Afghan government named a High Peace Council charged with exploring political negotiations, and Pakistan also acknowledged that it will need to play a role in such a process. At the same time, increased discussion about and support for talks should not be mistaken for a peace process or a widely shared political strategy for ending the war.

On February 18, USIP held a launch of the Special Report "Making Peace in Afghanistan: the Missing Political Strategy" and a panel discussion to explore a strategy which will enable a sustainable peace in Afghanistan.

Speakers

• Minna Järvenpää
  former Head of Analysis and Planning
  United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA)
• Ali Jalali
  Professor, National Defense University
  former Interior Minister of Afghanistan
• Hamish Nixon
  Project Coordinator
  Peace Research Institute of Oslo/United States Institute of Peace
• Kristian Harpviken, respondent
  Director
  Peace Research Institute of Oslo

• Andrew Wilder, moderator
  Director, Afghanistan and Pakistan Programs
  United States Institute of Peace

Explore Further

• Read more about USIP's programs in Afghanistan
• Read the Special Report, "Making Peace in Afghanistan: the Missing Political Strategy"