On Wednesday 27 May 2009, Sir Rodric Braithwaite and Artemy Kalinovsky spoke on the ‘Soviet Experience in Afghanistan and its Implications for NATO Strategy’ 12.30-2pm.
The security situation in Afghanistan,as well as the increased activity of Taliban and other insurgents, raised fears over stability in the run-up to the August 2009 elections. The escalating insecurity and continuing war has highlighted doubts about the ability of NATO's troops to stem the Taliban insurgency and raised concerns about NATO's determination to stay the course in Afghanistan and deliver lasting peace, security and development in the region. Recent developments in the country prompt comparisons between the Soviet experience and NATO’s strategy today. The common belief among Afghans that they were better off under the Russians, and that the last Communist President Najibullah was a better leader than Karzai, may not reflect historical reality, but it bodes ill for the coalition’s overall aims. Russian efforts in Afghanistan were frustrated by their inability to control the frontier with Pakistan: a task which may well turn out to be even harder for the coalition today. There is no certainty that the proposed surge in coalition forces will stabilise the country. Sir Rodric Braithwaite and Artemy Kalinovsky share their insight into the Soviet experience in Afghanistan, recent developments and the implications for NATO strategy in Afghanistan.
Sir Rodric Braithwaite is a former British diplomat and former chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee. Sir Braithwaite joined the Diplomatic Service in 1955 and held postings in Jakarta, Warsaw, Moscow, Rome, Brussels (European Union), and Washington, DC. He served as ambassador in Moscow from 1988 to 1992. Sir Braithwaite was a member of the Sherpa team for the G7 Economic Summits from 1984 to 1988, and, from 1992 to 1993, was foreign policy adviser to Prime Minister Major. Since leaving government service, Sir Braithwaite has had a number of business and not-for-profit appointments. He also serves as chairman of the International Advisory Council of the Moscow School of Political Studies. Sir Braithwaite is an honorary fellow of Christ's College Cambridge, and an honorary doctor and professor of Birmingham University. Sir Braithwaite has written two books on Russian affairs and is preparing a third about the Russians in Afghanistan. In early September 2008 Sir Rodric Braithwaite travelled to Afghanistan and his notes titled “Afghan Diary” were published in IISS publication Survival in February 2009.
Artemy Kalinovsky is a Junior Fellow at the centre for Diplomacy and Strategy at LSE (LSE IDEAS). He is completing a PhD thesis in International History at the London School of Economics entitled 'The Politics and Diplomacy of the Soviet Withdrawal from Afghanistan, 1980-1991'. His articles have appeared in Cold War History and the Journal of Cold War Studies.
The seminar was chaired by Oksana Antonenko, Senior Fellow and Programme Director of Russia and Eurasia programme and was held on the fourth floor of Arundel House, 13-15 Arundel Street, Temple Place, London WC2R 3D.
