Afghanistan Analysts Network – English

Month: June 2014

Elections 2014 (33): ‘Amarkhel Gate’ – sheep, tape, resignation

Kate Clark •

The resignation of the head of the secretariat of the Independent Election Commission (IEC), Zia ul-Haq Amarkhel, may just have saved the election – if it brings Dr Abdullah back into the process. In support of his demand (one of several) for Amarkhel to go, Abdullah had ceased cooperating with the IEC and his supporters […]

Political Landscape Read more

Prisoner exchange ‘strengthens hand of Taliban in Doha’

AAN •

The National (Dubai), 22 June 2014 I this article about the Taleban prisoners released to Qatar and about Qatar’s foreign policy role, AAN’s Kate Clark is quoted as saying: “Qatar is a state that can control its borders, said Kate Clark, a senior Kabul-based researcher with the Afghan Analysts Network. “You’ve seen how difficult it […]

AAN in the Media Read more

Elections 2014 (32): A second round surge in turnout in Loya Paktia?

Kate Clark • Pakteen Ibrahimi •

The three provinces of Loya Paktia – Paktia, Khost and Paktika – have seen some of the worst fraud in Afghanistan’s previous elections, particularly the mass proxy use of women’s ballots, so it was understandable that reports of a high turnout in the second round there would be met with suspicion. However, those on the […]

Political Landscape Read more

Afghan Election Marred by Violence, Fraud Complaints

AAN •

Outlook India, 15 June 2014 “It is win or lose now,” said Kate Clark, director of the Afghanistan Analysts Network. “The voting is only one phase of the election, and there is still a lot that could change. Being a good loser doesn’t gain you much here. “If it is close and fraud looks to […]

AAN in the Media Read more

Zoff um Wahlergebnis in Afghanistan: Jeder Streit um Zahlen ist müßig

Thomas Ruttig •

Tageszeitung (Berlin), 20 June 2014 Guest article by AAN’s Thomas Ruttig, providing a first look at the unfolding counting crisis after round 2 of the Afghan provincial elections (in German). Particularly calls to street protests by pro-Abdullah politicians, which might get out of control, can lead to an escalation. All population data, however, ae unreliable in […]

AAN in the Media Read more

Elections (31): Afghanistan’s confusing election maths

Thomas Ruttig •

Only hours after polling centres had closed on the evening of the second round of voting in the Afghan presidential election, the country’s Independent Election Commission (IEC) was already giving the first turnout figures. They were high. Some media broadcast them without question; other outlets were more sceptical, citing anecdotal evidence suggesting turnout might actually […]

Political Landscape Read more

Gewinnt doch wieder Karsai?

Thomas Ruttig •

Neues Deutschland, 17 June 2014 Guest article by AAN’s Thomas Ruttig for the Berlin-based daily (subscribers only)), saying that – before even first preliminary results are out – both candidates come up wizh accusations of fraud. Due to the lack of an impartial institution to eliviate conflict, outgoing president Hamed Karzai might turn out as the […]

AAN in the Media Read more

Peace talks still in limbo despite swap

AAN •

AP, 16 June 2014 Obama has made “encouraging, if vague” gestures toward helping with Afghan-led peace talks, said Kate Clark of the Kabul-based Afghan [sic] Analysts Network, who has tracked events in the country for years. “In reality. though, the U.S. is on its way out and the swap looks like a clearing up of […]

AAN in the Media Read more

UN urges Afghan candidates to await counting

AAN •

Deutsche Welle, 16 June 2014 The director of the Afghanistan Analysts Network, Kate Clark, said “there is still a lot that could change” the Afghan poll outcome. “Being a good loser doesn’t gain you much here,” Clark said.

AAN in the Media Read more

Afghanistan election

AAN •

ORF FM4, 16 June 2014 The English-language Austrian radio’s Reality Check programme interviews AAN’s Thomas Ruttig (audio here, scroll to Afghanistan).

AAN in the Media Read more

Subscribe to receive updates from the Afghanistan Analysts Network

Sign up