'Peacebuilding' in Afghanistan: A Bridge Too Far?

Following the 9/11 attacks, the United States, with the approval of the international community and the support of a number of states, invaded Afghanistan. The mission had two aims. The first was to search out and capture or kill those members of Al-Qaeda responsible for the 9/11 attacks. A second objective was to rebuild Afghanistan in the hope that by removing the conditions that facilitated the rise of the Taliban, Afghanistan would cease to be a threat to international peace and security. The present paper, divided into three main sections, examines what the international community is striving to do in Afghanistan and explores whether 'peacebuilding', as understood by the international community, is achievable. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]