HSLab Publishes Briefing Note on Peacekeeping in Afghanistan

Human Security Lab has published its first briefing note, outlining the potential for a peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan to support a durable peace in that country. The report was based on four consultations with a working group of academic experts from the US, UK, Norway, Sweden, New Zealand, China, and Australia, as well as consultations with experts from the International Crisis Group, Human Rights Watch, Refugees International, Center for Civilians in Conflict, International Peace Institute, UN Foundation, Better World Campaign, Peacekeeping Effectiveness Program, Effectiveness of Peacekeeping Network, Stimson Center, Heritage Foundation and Center for International and Strategic Studies, United Services of India and PAX Christi International.

The Executive Summary of the report reads:

The UN Security Council continues to remain seized of the situation in Afghani­ stan, but thus far its resolutions have been muted and the idea of armed conflict prevention through a peacekeeping force has not been explored. The structural conditions for civil war in Afghanistan remain in place: ethnic fractionalization; a young population; recent history of war; climactic pressures; and persistent unemployment and poverty. A peacekeeping mission to create confidence and trust among the conflict parties would protect lives and promote peace, obviating the humanitarian crisis and preventing a worse one. The Taliban has previously suggested it would accept peacekeepers from Muslim majority countries and desires international recognition. A peace process is underway and a threat of civil war is brewing, offering the UN a potential opening to broker/ enforce a peace. Numerous impartial Muslim-majority countries routinely contribute peacekeeping troops. Several middle-power countries with a renowned reputa­ tion for human security initiatives - Norway, Ireland, Mexico to give only some examples - currently sit on the UN Security Council as does India, who has been an important champion of and contributor to UN peacekeeping. Non-P5 leader­ ship on this issue could shift the narrative away from the perception of great power meddling and toward a renewed, human-security-focused multilateralism. Dozens of research studies show peacekeeping is effective, cheap and seen as more legitimate than great-power-backed nation-building. The United Nations Secretary General should as soon as feasible initiate an emergency assessment mission to determine the feasibility and scope of a UNPKO and consider the possibility of UN peacekeepers or peace observers as part of or complementary to a strengthened UNAMA mandate.”

A number of students assisted with the report, including Jaeye Baek, Helen Eshetu, Catherine Fowler, lsha Mahajan, Jenna Norosky, and lmtashal Tariq. The briefing note was distributed to all those who participating in the consultations as well as to stakeholders in the UN community, US State Department and US aid agency. The project was supported by a grant from the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and is meant to be the first of several academic-stakeholder initiatives carried out by the Lab.