Instability in Afghanistan: why Afghanistan matters and what Australia can do to address the causes of instability

This paper examines why Afghanistan is important to Australia, and what Australia can do to address the causes of instability in that country. It argues that Afghanistan is a key element of the regional security dynamic of South Asia, and that it has the potential to adversely affect the security of other regional states, notably India, with which Australia seeks closer political and economic relations.

The paper proposes two policy initiatives to contribute to Australia's efforts in supporting the Afghan Government in its efforts to address the sources of instability. The first addresses the immediate causes of instability. The second proposes a strategy to address the influence of external actors on the long-term stability of Afghanistan. The paper concludes that these initiatives should enhance Australia's national security, economic and political interests in Afghanistan, as well as strengthening Australia's ability to exploit the economic opportunities that are emerging in South Asia.

This paper was also published in the Indo-Pacific Strategic Digest series.

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