Afghanistan and the Region

With continued funding from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, in 2008 LISD launched a new phase of its work on Afghanistan. Building upon its previous work on Afghanistan and the region, the next phase of LISD’s project, “Security, Governance and Economy: A Domestic and Regional Perspective on the Future of Afghanistan,” will focus on generating suggestions for concrete steps to be taken, programs and projects to deal with the challenges faced by Afghanistan as the country moves forward while the nature and levels of international involvement in Afghanistan change over time. Significant challenges relate to security, poppy production, governance, economy and infrastructure, regional strategic realities, and international involvement in military and civilian affairs. LISD plans to focus initially on four key issue areas: security and the Taliban; governmental and police reform; rule of law, governance and government capacity-building; economy, infrastructure, and international assistance and donor policy; and the creation of a viable regional compact. In light of increasing tensions in the region – especially relating to Pakistan and Iran – these issues will be considered from domestic, regional and larger geopolitical perspectives.

The Institute has to date undertaken two phases of work on post-September 11 Afghanistan.  Phase I of LISD’s Afghanistan project work focused on state-building and security as the international community worked to implement the provisions of the December 2001 Bonn Agreement.  Building on this work, in 2006 LISD launched Phase II of the Institute’s Afghanistan project work, focusing on Afghanistan’s development in a regional perspective as the country moved out of immediate post-conflict transition and toward a more politically and economically secure and viable state among its neighbors.  The current project will constitute Phase III of LISD’s Afghanistan project work, focusing on key issue areas that must be adequately addressed by both the Afghan government and international actors in order for Afghanistan to stand as a secure and stable regional actor even without high levels of international donor aid or a significant international security presence.
   

Meetings and Conferences

Afghanistan Strategy Review Workshop
Triesenberg, Liechtenstein
7-10 May 2009

Iran's Role and Power in the Region and the International System
Triesenberg, Liechtenstein
5-8 March 2009

Review Conference on Afghanistan
Bonn/Petersberg, Germany
4-7 September 2008

State, Security and Economy in Afghanistan: Current Challenges, Possible Solutions
Brussels, Belgium
16-18 November 2007

Iran’s Nuclear Aspirations and Role in the Region: Possible Scenarios and Solutions
5-8 July 2007
Triesenberg, Liechtenstein

State, Security, and Prosperity: Afghanistan, Its Neighbors, and the Region
26-29 October 2006
Vienna, Austria

Publications

A "New" Strategy for Afghanistan and Its Region
Summary Report
Spring 2009

A New Vision for Afghanistan
Summary Report
December 2008

State, Security and Economy in Afghanistan: Current Challenges, Possible Solutions
Liechtenstein Colloquium Report, Volume III
September 2008

State, Security and Economy in Afghanistan: Current Challenges, Possible Solutions
Policy Brief
November 2007

Building State and Security in Afghanistan
LISD-WWS Study Series
Edited Volume
November 2007

A/61/892-S/2007/255
United Nations Document
February 2007

Creating Stability and Prosperity in Afghanistan and the Region
Summary Report
January 2007

Creating Stability and Prosperity in Afghanistan and the Region
Policy Brief
December 2006