Afghanistan Analysts Network – English

Month: March 2014

The Butter on the Bread: The Provincial Councils’ fight for extended authority

Thomas Ruttig •

For more than two weeks, now, the campaign for the provincial council (PC) election has been running. It commenced on 4 March, and the presidential election that ends the era of President Hamed Karzai in Afghanistan’s highest office overshadows it. PC candidates and voters face one difficulty: the councils lack clearly defined authorities, which somewhat […]

Political Landscape Read more

Taste the Samanak! Wishing you a Happy New Year with ancient culinary treats

AAN Team •

The celebration of Nawruz, the New Year, on the 21st of March by the peoples of the region between Anatolia and Central Asia dates back some thousands of years. This year it is Afghanistan’s turn to host the Nawruz International Festival, which sees the presidents of several countries of the region gather for a joint […]

Context and Culture Read more

2 April 2014, London: AAN’s Francesc Vendrell at the Frontline Club

Thomas Ruttig •

“Who will lead Afghanistan?” is the question to be discussed at this session of the London-based Frontline Club’s “Fist Wedensday” panel series. gears up for a pivotal presidential election we will be bringing together a panel of experts to take an in-depth look at the candidates and what they are offering. “Who will lead Afghanistan?” is the […]

Events Read more

2 April 2014, Berlin: AAN’s Thomas Ruttig at German Bundestag’s Public Hearing

Thomas Ruttig •

AAN’s Thomas Ruttig will be one of four experts invited to give statements at a public session of the German Bundestag’s (parliament’s) foreign affairs committee under the title “The ISAF mission – lessons learned” on 2 April this year in Berlin. Time: 2 April 2014, 12.30 pm Venue: Marie-Elisabeth-Lüders-Haus, room 3 101, Adele-Schreiber-Krieger-Straße 1, 10117 Berlin Prior registration […]

Events Read more

As U.S. war ends, Russia returns to Afghanistan with series of investment projects

AAN •

Washington Post, 22 March 2014 The US daily says Russia is coming back with investments to Afghanistan. It looks at the Kabul prefabricated hosusing factory, once build by the Soviets, where for the first time after 25 years material from Russia arrived and at its main 'product', the Mikrorayons in Kabul. It quotes an Afghan general […]

Recommended Reads Read more

Afghan Election: First Round Or Nothing For Abdullah

admin •

RFE/RL, 20 March 2014 Article quotes AAN's Martine van Bijlert on the chances of the main presidential candidates. According to her it would be a "freak result" if any of the candidates were to score a first-round victory and she describes the candidates' attempt to secure votes as a multilayered challenge: "there are other variables that all candidates […]

AAN in the Media Read more

A Sad Nawruz: Violence risks tainting an important Afghan holiday

AAN Team •

AAN had wanted to wake up on a Friday, post its piece about Nawruz special food traditions, and enjoy the quiet of one of the last weekends before elections and more hectic days of work. That this was a delusion became clear as details about yesterday’s attack at Kabul’s Serena hotel started to emerge. On […]

War and Peace Read more

ادامهء ناامنی ها در افغانستان زنان را نگران ساخته است

AAN •

Radio Azadi, 20 March 2014 AAN's Wazhma Samandary is quoted in thsi article on the website of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Afghan branch about the impact of continuing insecurity on the situation of Afghan women and their possible participation in the upcoming elections, pointing to the presence of "irrersposible armed groups" in insecure provinces that […]

AAN in the Media Read more

Salmai Rassul: Auf dem Weg in den Kabuler Präsidenten-Palast

admin •

Bonner General-Anzeiger, 20 March 2014 In this portrait of presidential candidate Zalmai Rassul, AAN's Thomas Ruttig is quoted as contradicting the widespread opinion that Rassul is a 'marionet' of the incumbent, Hamed Karzai. "Rassul is senior to Karzai and a political heir of the supporters of the former King. He can become a president in his […]

AAN in the Media Read more

The Murder of Swedish Journalist Nils Horner: an assessment of the Fedai Mahaz claim

Kate Clark • Borhan Osman •

The Swedish newspaper Expressen has published CCTV footage of the two men who allegedly killed the Swedish-British journalist, Nils Horner, in Kabul on 11 March. The pair can clearly be seen: they are young, clean-shaven and with short hair. Yet who they might be and why they killed the award-winning journalist still remains a mystery. The […]

War and Peace Read more

Afghan presidential election 2014 – the big issues

admin •

Radio France International, 18 March 2014 In a series of primers for the April election in Afghanistan, AAN is quoted, here on the role of warlords in the Afghan political system: "Armed strongmen … sit in most key positions and dominate the parliament, the judiciary and the still-partly factionalised security forces as well as the […]

AAN in the Media Read more

“Die Schwelle zur Gewalt ist niedrig”

admin •

Qantara.de, 18 March 2014 The blog of German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle publishes a long interview (in German) with AAN's Thomas Ruttig, covering elections, the role of parliament, the judiciary, the warlords and the Taleban and social developments over the past 12 years.

AAN in the Media Read more

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