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

SECTION 1 – STRATEGY
1.1: U.S. MISSION, STRATEGY, AND OBJECTIVES
The goal of the United States is to disrupt, dismantle, and eventually defeat al Qaeda, and to
prevent its return to either Afghanistan or Pakistan. The specific objectives in Afghanistan are to
deny safe haven to al Qaeda and to deny the Taliban the ability to overthrow the Afghan
Government.
To support these objectives, U.S. and coalition forces will continue to degrade the Taliban-led
insurgency in order to provide time and space to increase the capacity of the Afghan National
Security Forces and the Afghan Government so they can assume full responsibility for
Afghanistan’s security by the end of 2014.
Diplomatic efforts continue to complement military operations. The United States and the
international community support Afghan-led reconciliation efforts with the Taliban as a means of
achieving a political solution to the conflict. Progress made toward a political settlement, while
important, remains nascent.
1.2: ISAF CAMPAIGN PLANNING
The ISAF Operations Plan (OPLAN) 38302 was revised during the reporting period to integrate
the COIN strategy, the development strategy for Afghanistan, the transition of security
responsibility to Afghan lead, and the development of the ANSF. The revised OPLAN,
(Revision 6), also integrates the recovery of U.S. surge forces. The mission statement of the
current OPLAN states:
ISAF, in partnership with the international community, supports the Afghan
Government in the conduct of comprehensive, population-centric
counterinsurgency operations – to protect the Afghan people, neutralise insurgent
networks, develop an Afghan National Security Force that assumes lead
responsibility for security, and support development of Afghan Government
institutions for legitimate, credible, and enduring governance, security, and
sustainable socio-economic growth – in order to deny terrorists safe havens and
ensure the Afghan Government’s stability and sovereignty not later than 31
December 2014.
The execution of ISAF OPLAN 38302 centers on a clear-hold-build strategy focused on key
terrain and area of interest districts where the majority of the Afghan population lives. Execution
of the plan will create the conditions necessary to complete a responsible Transition to Afghan
full responsibility for security throughout the country by the end of 2014.
1.3: COMMAND AND CONTROL
Several leadership changes occurred within the ISAF command and control structure during the
reporting period.
On November 5, 2011, Lieutenant General Daniel Bolger (US Army) assumed command of
NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan (NTM-A), replacing Lieutenant General William
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