Afghanistan Analysts Network – English

Month: February 2012

Guest Blog: The Quran burnings and the German retreat from Taloqan

Marcel Habler •

German authorities announced on Friday, the third day of the Quran burning protests, that they have closed their ISAF base in Taloqan several weeks earlier than planned in response to the protests. Originally, the base had been slated for closure in March. This decision shows the limitations of the assumed international control of particular areas […]

International Engagement Read more

Guest Blog: Karzai and the ‘Imran Khan Factor’ in Pakistan

Malaiz Chopan-Daud •

There is little understanding of Pakistan and its internal dynamics in Afghanistan. A recent example is the visit of President Hamed Karzai to Pakistan last week, during which he met with Pakistani leaders – not only those from the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) but also a number of other prominent politicians: the leaders of […]

Regional Relations Read more

The Quran burnings and the different faces of restraint

Martine van Bijlert •

The fourth day of protests has ended with a mixed picture: on one hand relief over what seemed to have been a sense of restraint in many areas, on the other hand sadness and resignation over the reports of violence and deaths coming from a handful of places. All in all, it was not as […]

Political Landscape Read more

‘State of the Taliban’ (leaked ISAF report)

admin •

New York Times, 23 February 2012 This report, compiled for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force by special operations interrogators, provides a negative view of the alliance’s prospects in the view of Taliban prisoners.

Recommended Reads Read more

The Quran burnings and the different faces of anger

Martine van Bijlert •

Yesterday’s thoughtless and avoidable burning of several Qurans at Bagram air base has sparked a second day of protests across Afghanistan. The repercussions are expected to reverberate for several more days, at least. The demonstrations are a combination of religious outrage, pent-up frustration and groups wanting to stir trouble. It is difficult to predict how […]

Political Landscape Read more

Rohrabacher’s “Blood Borders” in Balochistan

admin •

Huffington Post, 22 February 2012 Christine Fair’s essential piece explaining the politicking behind a call of some US congress members to redraw Pakistan’s borders – and on their latest Afghan initiative: ‘Unfortunately, this [on Balochistan] is not the first geopolitical exploit Mr. Rohrabacher has orchestrated. In January of 2012, he and Mr. Gohmert, among other […]

Recommended Reads Read more

Quran Burning on Bagram Base

Thomas Ruttig •

This blog can be very short, thinks Thomas Ruttig, a Senior Analyst at AAN, and doesn’t require any Afghanistan expertise: Books and other reading material, Islamic or otherwise, do not belong in the garbage. If you stick to this basic rule, Quran burnings and retaliatory riots can be avoided. For an alternative to dispose of printed material, […]

War and Peace Read more

Are the Taleban talking to Karzai (and does it matter)?

Martine van Bijlert •

When little is clear, all clues seem relevant. And so it can happen that a handful of fairly vague sentences by the President are taken as proof of a significant new step towards negotiations in Afghanistan. A closer look at these claims of emerging “three-way talks” shows that this reading is rather premature, as is […]

War and Peace Read more

Fake Member Of Parliament Raises Alarm In Afghanistan

admin •

RFE, 17 February 2012 According to a member of Afghanistan’s Upper House, a fake MP has visited two districts in Kandahar province and the provincial prison, facilitated by provincial governor Weesa who apparently did not check his identity.

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Local Officials Play Truant in Afghan North

admin •

IWPR, 15 February 2012 An investigation of the Kabul-based journalists organisation finds that in Balkh province, 12 out of the 15 sub-governors rarely appeared at their workplaces in 2011 between March and August, even though Balkh is considered one of the safest provinces in Afghanistan.

Recommended Reads Read more

Afghan cash buyers target Palm Jumeirah

admin •

Arabian Business, 14 February 2012 ‘An estimated $8bn is believed to have been stashed away in Dubai by Afghan investors in recent years, according to experts. “They come and spend cash and they know what they want. They are mainly looking for the Palm. Just right now, we have two or three big negotiations that […]

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Afghan Investors Scared by Kidnapping Wave

admin •

IWPR, 14 February 2012 Afghan businessmen claim that police and relatives of powerful officials have been linked to a wave of kidnapping and killing of colleagues. The Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, ACCI, says 85 of its members have been killed or abducted since late March 2011, 20 more than in the preceding 12 […]

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