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April 23rd, 2024 | 3:11 AM ET

Mounting Security Challenges in Afghanistan

Posted: August 11th, 2016

With Taliban and ISIS attacks occurring in Afghanistan almost daily, questions surrounding the direction of the country’s security apparatus loom large. Despite U.S. President Barack Obama’s announcement in early July that 8,400 U.S. troops will remain in Afghanistan through the end of his presidency – an increase from the 5,500 that was initially planned – the situation on the ground continues to present challenges to American and Afghan policymakers and security officials alike.

“The current security situation in Afghanistan demonstrates that we are far from achieving [our] strategic objectives,” stated Republican Congressman Will Hurd of Texas in an exclusive interview with The Cipher Brief. “That [U.S. troop] level is not sufficient. We have seen that when there is a reduction in troop levels, instability increases,” he continued.  

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