NATO's Exit Strategy in Afghanistan

NATO is preparing to withdraw its military forces from Afghanistan by the end of 2014, leaving behind a tormented country. The article is analyzing the exit strategy put in place by NATO's decision makers, starting with a brief overview of the Afghan conflict, focusing on its roots and key actors. Then we are reviewing some lessons learned from previous military interventions and we are proposing a theoretical framework for conflict termination, comparing it with NATO's doctrine and the alliance's actual enterprises in the Afghan theater of operations. We are considering the main aspects of moving the responsibility for security, governance and development from NATO and the international donors to the Afghan government and military forces, including the regional tensions and the debate about including the Taleban into the process.