Afghanistan’s leading domestic source of strategic research and policy analysis
Text Box: Research Areas Text Box: Kabul Direct Afghanistan’s first English‐language publication produced and directed by Afghans and targeted to the specialist following events in Afghanistan closely. Text Box: National Security Text Box: Counterterrorism Local fightersText Box: Conflict Management Text Box: Democratic Institution Building Text Box: Economic Development Text Box: Countering Extremism

Seven years after the fall of the Taliban, peace and security continue to elude Afghanistan.  

Three decades of recent Afghan history have convinced us that domestic conflict management is critical. 

Afghans must find ways to counter insurgent elements and stabilize the country. 

Only by coming together can Afghans create economic opportunities and infrastructure and build the kind of state everyone dreams of having.

Afghanistan is a country where most people live in remote areas.   To date, no central government has been able to deliver these remote Afghans  the benefits of modern statehood.

Afghans need to recognize that creating genuinely democratic institutions is not a betrayal of their faith but is the most efficient path to the fair and just society that Muslims are commanded  to create.   

Democracy - the process of choosing the most capable leader and then holding him accountable - is the system of government that can free Afghanistan from corruption, tyranny, and oppression.

Kabul Center for Strategic Studies provides consultancy and research services to businesses investing in Afghanistan. 

This is another way the Center helps to build domestic capacity in Afghanistan. 

The international community has been helpful and generous in helping Afghans emerge from decades of war and oppression.  But Afghans have to fend for themselves in this domain too.  

Afghans need to be developing the economic opportunities on which their future and that of their children and grandchildren depend. 

Afghanistan is under threat from fanatics willing who are confused about what it means to be a good Muslim. 

Such misguided individuals plague our nation, exploit our tribal hospitality and our ignorance.  These extremists harm Muslims wherever they go. 

Islam is not the problem.  Neither is Islamism, the idea that Islam is a political system as well as a religion. 

Afghans are uniquely qualified to map and bring to this network of killers to justice.  Afghans are tired of the extremists exploiting the nation, recruiting our youth and terrorizing our people. 

They have brought us nothing but war and they have destroyed the image of our religion. 

   Kabul Center for Strategic Studies

Afghans understand why terrorism is an unacceptable political strategy.  They have seen firsthand the devastation it causes. It will require greater intelligence to get rid of this international scourge.

Afghan experts have not been sufficiently utilized.   Their commitment to defeating terrorists has been underappreciated.

Afghans know the language, customs, traditions, and beliefs of the people among whom terrorists hide.     The  international community should make better use of the knowledge and access only Afghans have.