Publication

This testimony addresses the Afghan national security forces and timetable for a security lead transition. The author explains that the signing of a US-Afghan Security Partnership Accord in April 2012 and the Chicago Summit Declaration in May alleviated some of the uncertainty about the post-2014 period. However, the nature and extent of that commitment remains opaque, and that in turn feeds the anxiety in Afghanistan, contributes to capital flight, buoys the confidence of US enemies, and leads many Afghans to sit on the fence for fear of joining the losing side.