Sarah Chayes
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}Source: Getty
Afghanistan After 2014
Focusing on the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan masks important political realities that may prevent the United States from achieving lasting peace and security as the 2014 deadline for withdrawal approaches.
Source: KCRW

Chayes argued that the current topics dominating discussion in the White House and the Pentagon are the number of troops and the pace of withdrawal. But, she said, these are not the chief issues that will affect the chances of achieving lasting peace and security in the country. Instead, Chayes recommended looking at the state of civil society in Afghanistan. Chayes highlighted two areas of concern: the economy and the role of neighboring Pakistan.
- The Economy: Chayes lamented the “acute capture” of the state’s economic resources by elite cliques, and warned that if the distribution of resources is not fairer and more equitable, long term stability in Afghanistan is unlikely.
- Pakistan: Chayes advised high-level diplomatic engagement with Pakistan on its legitimate strategic goals for the region along with policy instruments designed to dissuade Pakistan from acting through militant proxies like the Taliban or the Haqqani network. She suggested that without bringing Pakistan on board, there is unlikely to be a lasting solution to the security problems Afghanistan faces.
About the Author
Former Senior Fellow, Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program
Sarah Chayes is internationally recognized for her innovative thinking on corruption and its implications. Her work explores how severe corruption can help prompt such crises as terrorism, revolutions and their violent aftermaths, and environmental degradation.
- China Financial Markets testCommentary
Recent Work
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
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