Partners for stability

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Afghanistan’s neighbors need to become part of its reconstruction. Countries like Iran, China, Tadjikistan, but also Russia and India have complex interests in the conflict-ridden country and seek to position themselves for the time following the drawdown of the Western presence. Cross border problems like drug traficking or Islamism, as well as rich resources connect the fate of Afghanistan to that of its neighbors. Pakistan in particular, as safe haven for the Taliban, is both a partner of Afghanistan and a source of its problems. The regional approach is a crucial element of any future vision for the Hindukush. The allies in ISAF have no strategy how to win these diverse neighbors as partners – while the decision on withdrawal has already been made. Authors from the USA, Europe, and Central Asia discuss this question in the edited volume at hand. Special attention is given to the role of NATO and EU in creating regional partnerships. The authors debated the papers at DGAP workshops in Berlin, Washington and Brussels, supported by the German Marshall Fund of the US.