Afghanistan

But such developments have been overshadowed by growing concerns about the ability of the Afghan state to provide for its citizens, and a perception that the Afghan government and the international community has lost a great deal of momentum since the fall of the Taliban regime at the end of 2001. [...] Yet even with the passing of the Afghanistan Compact in 2006, a perception among Afghanis remains that the country’s development priorities are too often determined outside of the country. [...] The participants heard that the Bonn agreement has been unable to overcome the enormous tasks of reestablishing the Afghan state and its institutions, drawing together fragmented groups of political elites and overcoming the massive social dislocation brought about by years of occupation and civil war. [...] Tribal leaders, themselves reflecting enduring ethnic and tribal affiliations, are unimpressed with the power of the governors to make significant improvements, and remain doubtful about the benefits of democratic governance. [...] The result is that the loyalty of the average Afghan remains firmly with the village leader, not the governor or the president.