The assassination of Afghan government negotiator Burhanuddin Rabbani signals the challenges in any reconciliation talks with the Taliban and could exacerbate ethnic divisions, pushing the country into a civil war.

Max Boot states that an American drawdown in both Iraq and Afghanistan makes continued war—and with it the possibility of a catastrophic American defeat—more likely by emboldening our enemies and disheartening our friends.

Senator Lindsey O. Graham discusses his recent trip to Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, as well as other foreign policy challenges including the evolving situations in Libya and Syria.

Senator Lindsey O. Graham discusses his recent trip to Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, the evolving situations in Libya and Syria, and other foreign policy challenges.

Senator Lindsey O. Graham discusses his recent trip to Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, the evolving situations in Libya and Syria, and other foreign policy challenges.

Recent Taliban attacks in Kabul have undermined Afghan confidence in local security forces and cast new doubt on a sustainable transition from U.S.-led efforts, analysts say.

Ten years after 9/11, author Ahmed Rashid discusses U.S. foreign policy in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and why wars in the region cannot be won purely by military force.

As concerns grow over Afghanistan's ability to govern, USAID's J. Alexander Thier discusses development successes and challenges, singling out infrastructure and energy as critical areas for investment.

Gayle Tzemach Lemmon asks, "... will women's rights be negotiated away in the quest to reach a graceful exit - or, in fact, any kind of exit, in Afghanistan?"

If the United States is interested in leaving behind a better Afghanistan than the one it found, it needs to take the experiences of past invasions to heart.

As Washington and Kabul work toward a security arrangement post-2014, President Karzai's aide Taj Ayubi says Washington's wariness over signing a binding agreement have led to Afghan concerns over the long-term U.S. commitment to the country.

James Dobbins and James J. Shinn, coauthors of Afghan Peace Talks: A Primer, discuss the relationships between al-Qaeda, the Taliban, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, as well as the obstacles and possible outcomes of peace negotiations.

Two documentaries on the Afghan war, Restrepo and Armadillo, show how a combination of overwhelming military resources and aggressive counterinsurgency ultimately leads to frustration on the battlefield.

James Dobbins and James J. Shinn, coauthors of Afghan Peace Talks: A Primer, discuss the relationships between al-Qaeda, the Taliban, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, as well as the obstacles and possible outcomes of peace negotiations.

This detailed New York Times editorial on Afghanistan spells out five strategic issues that must be addressed before the conflict can reach a "minimally successful end."

The deadliest month for U.S. troops in Afghanistan comes to an end amid renewed debate about the U.S. endgame there and whether the nearly decade-long conflict has achieved its goals.

Two documentaries on the Afghan war, Restrepo and Armadillo, show how a combination of overwhelming military resources and aggressive counterinsurgency ultimately leads to frustration on the battlefield.

The Atlantic's Brian Mockenhaupt describes how marines in Helmand province are teaching the locals to read the Koran as a way to thwart the Taliban.

Gayle Tzemach Lemmon argues that the United States needs to wind down the war in Afghanistan in a way that includes Afghan men and women fighting quietly for progress.

Max Boot says the best way to honor U.S. special forces is not to make them win wars on their own.