Afghanistan 2005 and Beyond : Prospects for Improved Stability Reference Document

Since the overthrow of the Taliban by the US-led coalition and the inauguration of the Interim Authority based on the UN-mediated Bonn Agreement of December 5, 2001, Afghanistan has progressed substantially toward stability. Not all trends are positive however. Afghanistan has become more dependent on narcotics production and trafficking than any country in the world. It remains one of the world's most impoverished and conflict-prone states, where only a substantial international presence pervents a return to war. The modest results reflect the modest resources that donor and troop-contributing states have insteded in it. Afghans and those supporting their efforts have many achievements to their credit, but declarations of success are premature.