From July 2011 to the end of 2014, the United States and NATO are committed to handing over full responsibility for the security, governance and economic development of Afghanistan to the Afghan government. This will bring to an end the thirteen year struggle by the U.S. and the international community to stabilise the country and rebuild the state after invasion and regime change in 2001. This edited Adelphi brings together the global expertise of the International Institute for Strategic Studies to examine what the political, military and economic future of Afghanistan will be after the international community drastically reduces its presence in the run up to 2014. Individual chapters examine both the domestic political and strategic dynamics that will shape Afghanistan's future and the major regional powers interactions with the country's government and society. Three chapters will be devoted to domestic Afghan issues. The first will examine the capacity and future development of the Afghan security forces, both the army and police force, running up to and after 2014. The second chapter will focus on Afghan politics and state capacity with the third chapter looking at the likely evolution of al Qaeda and political violence. Regionally, chapters are devoted to Pakistan's policy towards Kabul as well as China, India, Russia and the Gulf states. Each chapter will examine the state interests that shape policy and how those interests are likely to be pursued over the next decade. The final chapter will look at the future direction of U.S. Afghan policy.