Afghanistan Analysts Network – English

Month: March 2014

Changing of the Guards: Is the APPF program coming to an end?

Fabrizio Foschini •

In 2014, the performance of the Afghan National Army (ANA) will be under intense scrutiny. However, it is also high time for another key element of the Afghan security set up to be evaluated: the Afghan Public Protection Force (APPF). The 20,000 men strong, state run security program in the past two years has – with […]

International Engagement Read more

Some Western Aid Money Ending Up in Taliban Pockets – Report

admin •

Devex, 8 March 2014 The development career website picks up an older report abour reconstruction money filtering to the Taleban. It quotes AAN's Thomas Ruttig (via AFP): “The Taliban have changed their behaviour vis-a-vis the reconstruction,” he told AFP. “Their overall policy now is to present themselves as a parallel government that is good to […]

AAN in the Media Read more

Afghan Hazaras Emerge as Power Brokers in President Elections

AAN •

Wall Street Journal, 7 March 2014 In an article discussing the role of "Afghanistan's once-persecuted ethnic Hazara minority… as a formidable power broker in the April presidential election, AAN's Martine van Bijlert is quoted as saying: "There is a general feeling among Hazaras that they are much less vulnerable than they have been historically, and […]

AAN in the Media Read more

Polio’s last stand on the Afghan-Pakistan border

AAN •

Express Tribune/AFP, 7 March 2014 Important reminder in election times: about one of the many unresolved problems that is even aggravated by the ongoing conflict – polio. Afghanistan and Pakistan are two of the worldwide only three countries where it is still endemic, and with conflict-related incomplete coverage by vaccination, new polio cases have emerged […]

Recommended Reads Read more

Five Afghan soldiers killed in NATO airstrike

AAN •

Arab News, 7 March 2014 In an article also covering the positioning of candidates for the presidentail elections, particularly the joining hands of the qayyum karzai and zalmai rassul campaigns, AAN's Kate Clark is quoted: “I do see this as a sign that Rassoul is Karzai’s preferred choice,” Kate Clark, of the Afghan [sic] Analysts Network, […]

AAN in the Media Read more

‘Pen’ Joins ‘Radio’: Qayyum Karzai gives his support to Zalmai Rassul

Kate Clark • Thomas Ruttig •

Qayyum Karzai has announced he will be supporting the campaign of former foreign minister and national security advisor, Zalmai Rassul, in a “unification” of their presidential campaigns. This has given a significant boost to Rassul’s bid for Afghanistan’s highest office, by removing one of the two men considered to be a possible Palace choice. Indeed, […]

Political Landscape Read more

The Future of Peace Talks: What would make a breakthrough possible?

AAN •

Oxus Post, 6 March 2014 Authorised re-publication of an AAN dispatch by Borhan Osman on this new website.

AAN in the Media Read more

How Ukraine Spillover Could Complicate the US Withdrawal From Afghanistan

AAN •

The Diplomat, 6 March 2014 "Sometimes timing in international politics can bereally bad – at least this is what those dealing with the Afghan withdrawal plans at the Pentagon must be feeling at this point", with the Crimean crisis building up, writes the author. "In the event that the United States and Europe decide to severely punish […]

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Rassoul boosted as Karzai’s brother exits Afghan election

AAN •

AFP/Express Tribune, 6 March 2014 Reporting the merger of the presidential campaigns of Zalmai Rassul and Qayyum Karzai, in favour of the former, the news agency quotes AAN's Kate Clark as saying: “I do see this as a sign that Rassoul is Karzai’s preferred choice,” Kate Clark, of the Afghan [sic] Analysts Network, told AFP. […]

AAN in the Media Read more

A Joint ‘Durrani’ Candidate for President? After the Unity Jirga in Kabul

Thomas Ruttig •

Tribal elders from most areas of the country came together in an attempt to reduce the field of Pashtun, and among them the Durrani, candidates. The jirga ended in a duel between the two main contenders, both of them close to the president. The meeting remained open to interpretation, after an initial vote apparently met the […]

Political Landscape Read more

Ambitious U.S. hospital project in Afghanistan faces failure

AAN •

Reuters, 5 March 2014 An ambitious US-funded, $60 million project to build hospitals has run into the ground, with the largest hospital ever planned in the country unlikely to open in full, U.S. and Afghan officials said. "The USAID project started in 2008 and aimed to meet the medical needs of over two million Afghans by […]

Recommended Reads Read more

Flying after 2014: Which aircraft for the Afghan Air Force?

Gary Owen •

The Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) have been mentored and trained by a largely United States force that is used to relying heavily on air support, a habit they have transferred to the Afghans. Until now, international air support has given Afghan forces an edge over the insurgency, but this year that support will be […]

War and Peace Read more

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