Includes bibliographical references.

Contents: The road to Lisbon / Alexander Nicoll—U.S. policy and Afghanistan / Dana Allin—Domestic politics and state-building / Toby Dodge—The economy, the budget and narcotics / Nicholas Redman—The ANSF and the insurgency / Ben Barry—The international and regional terror threat / Nigel Inkster—Pakistan / Rahul Roy-Chaudhury—Iran / Emile Hokayem—The Central Asian states and Russia / Oksana Antonenko—China / Christian Le Mière, Gary Li, Nigel Inkster—India / Rahul Roy-Chaudhury—Saudi Arabia / Emile Hokayem—Conclusion / Adam Ward, Nicholas Redman, Toby Dodge.

Abstract: "As the international security forces prepare to depart from Afghanistan, attention turns to the ability of a ravaged country to tackle its myriad security problems, overcome crippling poverty and corruption, and revive its devastated economy. The government faces daunting challenges, ranging from the threat of insurgency and cross-border terrorism to the difficulty of reintegrating and reconciling former Taliban figures and combatants into a political settlement. It must do so against the background of continuing and potentially increasing regional instability, with the country's neighbors tempted to step up their interference in Afghan affairs. Stability depends upon drawing the wider Pashtun community into the ruling coalition, while simultaneously maintaining security, increasing the capability of the state and balancing the interests of its neighbors and regional powers"—back cover.