On April 23, 2021 the Department of Defense released the Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan report. The publication, known as the 1225 report, is dated December 2020 and covers the period from June 1, 2020 to November 30, 2020. The report is submitted twice a year to Congress in accordance with statutory reporting requirements and congressional requests.
Significant events covered in this report covering June – November 2020 include the beginning of the Afghan Peace Negotiations and the start of the withdrawal of U.S. troops (reaching 2,500 by mid-January 2021). During the reporting period violence levels remained above seasonal levels. ISIS-K continued high-profile attacks in urban areas while adopting a clandestine cell-based network across the country. Another significant event was the dissolution of the Afghan Local Police – with ALP personnel discharged from service or incorporated into the Afghan National Army Territorial Force or the Afghan National Police.
The document restates that the way forward to a secure and stable Afghanistan with lasting peace is a successful negotiated political settlement among Afghans. The U.S. national security goal is for the settlement to ensure that Afghanistan never again becomes a safe-haven for terrorists that can threaten the U.S. homeland, our allies, or our interests overseas.
During this period the U.S. advising effort continued its “point of need” campaign while making adjustments due to COVID-19. The report states that the ANDSF have improved their combat capabilities but that they will continue to rely on contracted logistical support and international funding to sustain combat operations.
Table of Contents:
- Executive Summary
- Section 1 – Objectives and Strategy
- Section 2 – Current Situation and Threat Assessment
- Section 3 – Assessment of ANDSF
- Section 4 – MoD and Afghan National Defense Forces
- Section 5 – MoI and Afghan Security Forces
- Section 6 – Financing the ANDSF
- Annex A – Acronyms
Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan
Department of Defense, December 2020, PDF, 78 pages
Read online or download at this link.
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Photo: From front cover of report cited above.
