The Security Sector in Afghanistan

The article presents an overview of the post-Taliban status of the security sector in Afghanistan, particularly the Afghan National Army and police, the courts and judiciary, prisons and security intelligence elements of the security sector. It is argued that uneven distribution of international funding means uneven reform and that if one part of the security sector is neglected in favour of another, all security reform is affected because the institutions are inter-connected. International reform and Western security models are useful but ultimately limited. They can bring about ‘hardware’ changes but the ‘software’ changes of culture, values and behaviour can be made only from within. Situating Afghanistan in the historical, cultural and religious context of South Asia and drawing its reform models from this region might be ultimately more effective for the future of Afghan security sector reform than what the present reform phase allows.