Original version

BBC World Service Online

The Documentary

Documentaries

Factual

Investigating global developments, issues and affairs.

The Documentary: Afghanistan: The Lessons of War

The Documentary: Afghanistan: The Lessons of War: Afghanistan: The Lessons of War

Brigadier Andrew Mackay

26/11/2014 GMT

Afghanistan: The Lessons of War

BBC World Service - The Documentary, Afghanistan: The Lessons of War, Afghanistan: The Lessons of War

Major General Andrew Mackay finds out what has been achieved in Afghanistan

Major General Andrew Mackay embarks on a personal journey to find out what has been achieved by the 14-year-campaign in Afghanistan.

Former commander of the British and Coalition forces in Helmand province Major General Andrew Mackay, embarks on a personal journey to find out what has been achieved by the 14-year-campaign in Afghanistan.
 
He puts searching questions to former US General David Petraeus, International Security Assistance Force commanders General John McColl and General David Richards, to discover if there ever was a coherent strategy for coalition troops. He reflects on what was achieved in Afghanistan with former US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates and former UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband.

And, he looks to the future of the country with a senior figure from the current Afghan government - Mohammad Mustafa Mastoor, Deputy Minister for Finance.
 
He also believes that any future interventions should be based on lessons learned in the Afghanistan campaign. But what are those lessons? He hears from experts who have studied the campaign to help him consider the role he played and whether the campaign was worthwhile.

(Photo: Brigadier Andrew Mackay, the commander of British forces in Afghanistan pictured after landing near Musa Qa'la, Afghanistan. Credit: PA)

BBC World Service

A former commander of armed forces in Afghanistan embarks on a quest to find out what has been achieved by the 14 year campaign.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Documentary

Afghanistan: The Lessons of War

Afghanistan: The Lessons of War

Genres

Brand

Series

BBC World Service Online

About BBC World Service