American policy in Afghanistan has evolved since the initial engagement of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. It has become increasingly clear that strategic focus must include a plan to concentrate upon and continue development of a stable and secure central government supported appropriately by the Afghan National Military.The evolution and progression of the central government as well as the Afghan National Army has become an essential task in the Afghanistan War. This monograph researches the history of some of Afghanistan's key governing regimes with focus primarily upon governance, military, economic and social factors of these previous governments and the national militaries which underpinned these regimes beginning in the mid-nineteenth century through the end of the twentieth century. The research also includes discussion and analyses of the culture and geography of Afghanistan as essential factors to be considered. The intention of this research is to identify potential operational level lessons learned that may assist coalition planners in developing the current Afghan National Army to in turn provide the requisite support to a stable central government for Afghanistan.

ADA 522988 Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)