The Taliban may have captured the city of Kunduz in a matter of hours, but actually seizing it required extensive preparation and mobilization that likely began at least two years prior to its Sept. 27 assault on the city. Though Afghan forces recaptured the strategic city in the north, the brief loss was a sobering reminder that without local support and adequate resources, the Afghan government will not be able to keep other crucial areas from falling to the Taliban. Winning public support domestically and securing international aid, important in any counterinsurgency, will remain vital components of Kabul's fight for survival in the Afghanistan conflict....
