How Can Blinken’s Bold Plan for Afghanistan Succeed?
Tim Willasey-Wilsey, Cipher Brief Expert Tim Willasey-Wilsey is a Cipher Brief Expert on Afghanistan and a visiting Professor of War Studies at King’s College, London […] More
Taliban
Afghanistan’s Great Gap
OPINION — The Biden administration is reviewing not just the February 2020, Trump administration agreement with the Taliban that calls for all U.S. forces to […] More
The US’ Dangerous Dilemma in Afghanistan
Cipher Brief Expert Tim Willasey-Wilsey is a visiting Professor of War Studies at King’s College, London and a former senior British diplomat. The views expressed […] More
What Does Trump’s Tweet Mean for Afghanistan?
Cipher Brief Expert Tim Willasey-Wilsey is Visiting Professor of War Studies at King’s College, London and is a former senior member of the British Foreign […] More
Why the U.S. – Taliban peace deal has already failed
The Cipher Brief’s Academic Incubator program partners with colleges and Universities across the country to highlight the next generation of national security leaders. Ameen Karim […] More
The Taliban: Ideologically Extreme and Brutal
Cipher Brief Expert Doug Wise served as Deputy Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency from August 2014 until August 2016. Following 20 years of active […] More
Russian Aims in Afghanistan
Bottom Line: Russia is accused of funding Taliban contract killings of US troops in Afghanistan. US military officials made limited accusations of Russian arms support […] More
How Will the Coronavirus Impact Afghanistan?
Bottom Line Up Front With Afghanistan sharing a border with Iran, one of the epicenters of the pandemic, government officials in Kabul have warned […] More
Geopolitical Fallout from the U.S.-Taliban Deal in Afghanistan
Bottom Line Up Front There are still questions surrounding the recent U.S.-Taliban agreement, including how Washington can pressure the Taliban to fulfill the key […] More
The US Deal with the Taliban
The United States signed a peace agreement with Taliban leaders on Saturday that is intended to end the US’ 18-year involvement in Afghanistan. The deal […] More
Pakistan’s Afghan Triumph Carries Risks for Islamabad
Tim Willasey-Wilsey is a former senior member of the British Foreign Office. He is currently a Senior Visiting Research Fellow at Kings College London’s Department […] More
U.S.-Taliban Peace Talks Resume After Impasse
Bottom Line Up Front Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. envoy for reconciliation in Afghanistan, recently returned to Kabul to jumpstart political negotiations with the Taliban. Talks […] More
Dunford’s Parting Thoughts on Afghanistan
Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford retires later this month, but in his own quiet way he is leaving behind his recommendation for the current […] More
U.S. Inches Closer to a Deal with the Taliban in Afghanistan
Bottom Line Up Front America’s longest war – soon approaching its 18th year in Afghanistan – is not over although it may be entering […] More
Looking at Kabul and Seeing Saigon
Bottom Line Up Front Following months of negotiations between U.S. officials and Taliban leaders, an agreement on bringing the war in Afghanistan to a […] More
Russia Takes on a More Prominent Role in Afghan Peace Talks
Bottom Line Up Front Last week, members of the Afghan Taliban along with Afghan politicians and power brokers met in Moscow to discuss the […] More
Afghanistan’s Deadly Path to Peace
U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad is just beginning a multi-nation tour that will include peace talks with the Taliban in Qatar. This […] More
U.S. Endgame in Afghanistan
Bottom Line Up Front The U.S. and the Taliban will soon resume talks in Doha, Qatar, as the peace process moves forward but without […] More