Afghanistan Analysts Network – English

Month: October 2013

Not a pleasant prospect

AAN Team •

The Economist, 12 October 2013 Martine van Bijlert’s AAN dossier on elections is quoted in an article looking at the field of presidential aspirants in Afghanistan, saying: “An article by Martine van Bijlert of the Afghan [sic] Analysts Network, a respected research group, lists the problems: a defective voter registry; millions of available voter cards […]

AAN in the Media Read more

Forbidden Love And Execution Leaves Afghan Mullah Crying Foul

AAN •

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 11 October 2013 In Badghis province, Halima escaped with her boyfriend on the eve of her forced wedding, only to be tracked down days later and shot dead in a public execution. The case led to a 17-year prison sentence against a local mullah seen in a video ordering Halima's execution. But now the mullah, 35-year-old […]

Recommended Reads Read more

Talebs in Tajikistan? Part 2 on the alleged IMU-Taleban nexus

Thomas Ruttig •

If one listens to ISAF and to Central Asian governments, there are overlapping networks of jihadist terrorists subverting Afghanistan and Tajikistan, if not the whole region. Few of these reports are substantiated by details that can be independently scrutinised. But they are often picked up by media and other outlets, presented as proven facts and […]

Regional Relations Read more

Talebs in Tajikistan? The ‘terrorist spill-over’ hype

Thomas Ruttig •

If one listens to ISAF and to Central Asian governments, there are overlapping networks of jihadist terrorists subverting Afghanistan and Tajikistan, if not the whole region. Those networks, it is said, link the Taleban and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) with al-Qaeda and other Pakistan-based groups. Few of these reports are substantiated by details […]

Regional Relations Read more

Afghanistan’s most feared warlord says sorry to victims of conflict

AAN Team •

The Telegraph, 10 October 2013 In this article about General Dostum’s “unprecedented public apology for his role in the country’s bloody civil wars”, AAN’s translation of his statement is quoted.

AAN in the Media Read more

Frauen immer stärker unter Druck (print only)

AAN Team •

tageszeitung (Berlin), 10 October 2013 Article by AAN’s Thomas Ruttig summarising latest developments (and reports) on human/women’s rights in Afghanistan, including on domestic violence and sexual harrassment of police women as well as a look at the case of rape victim Sahar Gul and how her case is handled by the Afghan judiciary.

AAN in the Media Read more

12 October 2013, Almaty, Kazakhstan: Thomas Ruttig’s university lecture on “Afghanistan in 2014″

Christine Roehrs •

Thomas Ruttig, co-director and senior analyst of the Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN), speaks at the KIMEP University in Kazakhstan’s capital Almaty about “Afghanistan in 2014 – between presidential elections and western troop withdrawal”. At 2:30 pm in Hall 2 of the university’s New Building.

Events Read more

Hamid Karzai s’en prend à l’OTAN

AAN Team •

RTBF (Belgian TV), 9 October 2013 A news video inclu interview with AAN’s Thomas Ruttig on the latest spat in Afghan-NATO relations after President Karzai accused Western troops of having brought “only suffering” to Afghans.

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[Comedian] Bahadorak Files for Presidential Candidacy, Lightens the Mood

AAN •

ToloNews, 6 October 2013 Afghan Comedian Bahadorak – The Little Hero – has submitted his documents for registration as a presidential candidate, together with three vice-presidential candidates. Maybe, this is the reason he has not been included in ToloNews' list of candidates. Let's see how the IEC reacts.

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A Leader Apologises: General Dostum, elections and war crimes

Kate Clark •

For the first time, a senior Afghan has made a public apology to those of his compatriots who suffered during the war. General Abdul Rashid Dostum, leader of the largely Uzbek Jombesh party / ex military faction, made the statement a day after registering as running mate to Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai in the presidential elections. […]

Rights and Freedoms Read more

How one girl’s killing has put Afghan justice on trial

AAN •

The Guardian, 8 October 2013 A good reminder by Emma Graham-Harrison that there are other things then an election campaign going on in Afghanistan, too: The story of "the impoverished relatives of a murdered 16-year-old girl are fighting the wealthy family of an MP [from Bamian province] in Afghan courts in a case that is testing the […]

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Afghan Presidential Race Sees a Fractured Field

AAN Team •

World Policy Review, 7 October 2013 In this article about the candidate registration for the April 2014 Afghan presidential election, AAN’s Thomas Ruttig is quoted: “The discussion is about names, not programs”, adding that apart from some background political “themes”—among them controversy over negotiating with the Taliban—he said, “I personally do not see any more […]

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