Afghanistan Analysts Network – English

Month: February 2013

Afghanistan-Einsatz: Wie Militär und Politik die Einsatzbereitschaft der afghanischen Armee schönfärben

AAN Team •

ARD Kontraste, 28 February 2013 The political magazine on German TV reports how the German Defence Ministry manipulated reports by its ANA trainers in ISAF’s CUAT data base that assesses progress made. AAN’s Thomas Ruttig is quoted on general problems in the ANA (transcript and video)

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Karzai laat spierballen rollen (Karzai flexes his muscles)

AAN Team •

Trouw (Netherlands daily), 27 February 2013 AAN’s Martine van Bijlert – in Dutch – on the NSC decision to order US Special Forces out of Wardak.

AAN in the Media Read more

Fehler in Statistik zu Taliban-Angriffen

AAN Team •

Süddeutsche Zeitung, 27 February 2013 After Germany, now also ISAF was forced to admit that its statistics about Taleban attacks was flawed (and has resulted in wrong, positive conclusions). AAN’s Thomas Ruttig is quoted as commenting here that statistics that only compare trends within one year (as the German government does) ‘obscure the long-term negative […]

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Drop in Taliban attacks incorrect

admin •

AP, 26 February 2013 ‘The U.S.-led military command in Afghanistan incorrectly reported a decline last year in Taliban attacks and is preparing to publish corrected numbers that could undercut its narrative of a Taliban in steep decline.’ It is called ‘clerical errors’.

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Taliban talks in Doha drag on endlessly

admin •

al-Jazeera, 26 February 2013 Impressions from the key venue of talks-to-be with the Taleban, and a scenery in which ‘everyone is trying to woo them’. and ‘one representative for Berlin’ proven ‘particularly irksome’ (can also be a revenge for German accusations that the US have kicked them out of the talks for which they opened […]

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Trying to Control the Uncontrolled: the NSC’s decision on Wardak

Martine van Bijlert •

Months of reported abuses in Wardak by armed groups and individuals apparently linked to a US Special Operations base, and the failure of ISAF to take responsibility or to adequately respond, has led the National Security Council to announce that all US Special Operations Forces are to be removed from Wardak within two weeks. Although […]

War and Peace Read more

Beans and Bullets: Pentagon report puts ANSF logistical and combat capabilities in doubt

Gary Owen •

Since the 2014 deadline for the withdrawal of all NATO combat troops has been set, the strengthening of Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) so that they can defend Afghanistan from the insurgency has become a central pillar of NATO’s strategy. The most complete, publicly available records of the progress of the ANSF come as part […]

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Afghan leader orders US special forces out of province

Other AAN •

AFP, 25 February 2013. AFP quotes Martine van Bijlert on yesterday’s NSC order that US Special Forces leave Wardak within two weeks: “It appears to be an on-the-spot, emotional decision, based on a long-standing frustration that there are forces, Afghan and international, that are uncontrollable… It does not appear to be a calculated move as […]

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When and Why to Catch a TTP Leader: Faqir Muhammad’s Arrest

Fabrizio Foschini •

The capture last week of a prominent Pakistani militant in the Afghan province of Nangrahar by Afghan police and intelligence has made a sensation in both countries, being widely interpreted as a positive step for diplomatic relations and cooperation. But it also led to controversial commentaries by some observers. The presence inside Afghanistan of Pakistani […]

War and Peace Read more

Torture, Illegal Armed Groups: Signs of Possible Afghan Government Action?

Kate Clark •

Many were surprised by the eventual response of the Afghan government to the detailed allegations made by UNAMA in January concerning torture carried out by the National Directorate of Security (NDS) and the Afghan National Police (ANP). The government’s initial denials that any problem existed were predictable enough, but were followed by President Karzai ordering […]

Rights and Freedoms Read more

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