Report on Progress Toward Security and Stability in - United States ...

and build capacity. Nonetheless, the effectiveness of the NDN shows the concern Afghanistan's
neighbors have for success in Afghanistan and their leader’s willingness to work with the ISAF
coalition to achieve shared interests towards Afghanistan's security and stability.
CONCLUSIONS
The progress of the civil-military COIN campaign has severely degraded the Taliban-led
insurgency, limiting their operational capacity and undermining their popular support. The
decline in insurgent capability, coupled with improvements in the operational effectiveness of
the ANSF and a resilient ANSF-ISAF partnership, has enabled the security transition process to
expand. The transition of security responsibility to the Afghans by the end of 2014, as agreed at
Lisbon, remains on schedule.
The mission in Afghanistan, however, faces long-term challenges. The insurgency draws
strength from safe haven and support from within Pakistan and garners popular support by
exploiting areas where the Afghan Government has failed to provide sufficient governance, rule
of law, and economic opportunities. Afghan Government progress toward key governance and
development initiatives remains critical for the sustainability of security gains. Nevertheless,
the mission in Afghanistan remains integral to U.S. national security objectives, and the strategy
is sound. The United States and its coalition partners are committed to achieving long-term
stability and security in Afghanistan to ensure that the country never again becomes a safe haven
for al Qaeda or its affiliates.
7