Afghanistan Analysts Network – English

Month: January 2015

A Turning Point in the Afghan War?

AAN •

Just Security (blog), 12 January 2015 One of the blogs editors, Ryan Goodman, refers to AAN’s first 2015 paper (“Resolute Support Light”, by Philipp Münch): “For an analysis of the potential differences between US-led combat operations in Afghanistan and NATO’s Operation Resolute Support, see this important paper published by the Afghanistan Analysts Network (esp. pp. 2-3) and […]

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Afghan president finally nominates cabinet ministers

Thomas Ruttig •

Reuters, 12 January 2015 AAN’s Thomas Ruttig quoted in this article with a first take, and much shorter than in our 12 January dispatch, about the new national unity cabinet candidates list: Thomas Ruttig, of the Afghanistan Analysts Network, agreed the top posts reflected political networks over professional qualifications, but there were also lesser-known names […]

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Taleban for the Ghani Cabinet? A look at a BBC report

Thomas Ruttig •

It sounded like ‘breaking news’ from Kabul: “The Taliban have been offered posts in the new Afghan government, but have turned them down, the BBC understands. The offer came from new President Ashraf Ghani in a bid to end the insurgency that threatens the recovery of the country.” The BBC report, that came just before […]

War and Peace Read more

Afghan civilian casualties soar amid political, security changes

AAN •

Los Angeles Times, 10 January 2015 Discussing the link between former President Karzai’s ban on NATO air support for the ANSF and the number of civilian casualties, author Ali Latifi quotes AAN’s Obaid Ali: Obaid Ali of the Afghanistan Analysts Network, a Kabul-based research group, said increased civilian casualties are in part due to the […]

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Tajikistan, Uzbekistan strengthening border with Afghanistan

AAN •

The Times of Central Asia, 9 January 2015 In  a report that the  national security services of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have taken preventive measures to strengthen their border with Afghanistan amid reports on concentration of fighters on the Afghan side of the border, the website quotes AAN: According to the independent non-commercial organization, Afghanistan Analysts […]

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Civil Society's symbolic cabinet. Photo courtesy of Khaama.

104 Days Without a Government – and Counting: The national mood sours

Kate Clark • Obaid Ali • Thomas Ruttig •

More than three months after President Muhammad Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abdullah Abdullah were inaugurated, they have still not formed a government. That continuing lack of a cabinet has meant public confidence and patience – which, at the time of the inauguration, ran high – are now wearing thin. A civil society […]

Political Landscape Read more
Balloons for the cabinet inauguration are still available. Photo: Martine van Bijlert.

After the Rollercoaster Comes What? Afghanistan in 2015

Martine van Bijlert •

2014 was a rollercoaster of a year. The transition was completed. It did not tear the country apart or fragment the security forces, but it sometimes felt close. Afghanistan now stands at the beginning of the optimistically named Decade of Transformation. The country has a new leadership, both fuelled by confidence and ambition and bogged […]

International Engagement Read more

100 days in power for Afghan president, but no government

AAN •

AFP, 6 January 2014 “Afghan President Ashraf Ghani marked his first 100 days in power on Tuesday, still struggling to form a government as a new political stalemate threatens to fuel the Taliban insurgency. The deadlock over senior cabinet positions has underlined the challenges of running a “unity government”, which was formed after an election mired […]

Recommended Reads Read more

Afghan leader without cabinet after 100 days

AAN •

al-Jazeera, 6 January 2015 Reporting that “Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has marked 100 days in office as he continues to struggle to name a cabinet, creating a political stalemate”, the Qatar-based TV station quotes AAN’s Kate Clark : Kate Clark, a senior analyst for the Afghanistan Analysts Network, told Al Jazeera that though Ashraf came to power promising to tackle […]

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Kremlin Talks Up ISIS Threat To Central Asia, Russia

AAN •

Eurasianet/The Bug Pit (blog), 6 January 2015 The discussion about an alleged IS presence in Afghanistan is heating up – or, more precisely, being heated up by Russia, through a long Russian-language interview by its special Afghanistan envoy Zamir Kabulov. Eurasianet comments on it and refers to Borhan Osman’s AAN dispatch.

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Afghan health care at risk as international aid is scaled back

AAN •

Stars and Stripes, 5 January 2015 “In key areas, health care in Afghanistan has undeniably improved since the Taliban regime was toppled 13 years ago. But some highly touted gains may have been overstated, and others are at risk as international militaries pull out of the country and aid organizations scale back their efforts” writes […]

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A Happy and Peaceful New Year!

AAN Team •

Dear AAN friends and readers, we here at the Afghanistan Analysts Network would like to wish all of you a happy and prosperous new year 2015. May it bring us closer to peace in Afghanistan. The team will certainly keep you up to date about what is happening in this regard – and in many […]

Context and Culture Read more

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