Afghanistan Analysts Network – English

Month: May 2016

Taliban Leaders: Starting Top Right - Clockwise: Mullah Rasul (Source: Zhwandoon TV screenshot), Mullah Akhtar Mansur (Source: Taleban Website), Mullah Manan Niazi (Source: Tolo TV), Mullah Mansur Dadullah (Source: Supporters on Social Media)

AAN Co-director, Thomas Ruttig on Swiss Radio, Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen – May 2016

Thomas Ruttig •

AAN’s Co-director Thomas Ruttig on SRF Radio discussing about the change in the Taleban leadership and chances for peace.

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طالبان در گذار: مرگ منصور و ارتقای هبت‌الله چه تاثیری بر جنگ (و صلح) خواهد داشت؟

AAN •

Etilaat-e Ruz, 9 Jauza 1395 (31 May 2016) The Kabul daily published the Dari translation of Borhan Osman’s AAN dispatch “Taleban in Transition: How Mansur’s death and Haibatullah’s ascension may affect the war (and peace)” in three parts – this is the first one. Here the other links: part 2 and part 3.

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Anything but a full house - many seats in the Wolesi Jirga plenary hall were often not even occupied by half of the MPs - meaning that no quorum was reached to vote on legislation. (Photo Source: Pajhwok 2016)

Struggling to Get a Quorum in Parliament: Fiddling the figures and suspending MPs

Lenny Linke • Salima Ahmadi •

The lower house of the Afghan parliament has always struggled with attendance. However, during the current legislative year, which began in March, it has been rare for it to get a quorum (ie a majority of MPs attending). With two thirds of all plenary sessions inquorate, many laws on the agenda could not be voted […]

Political Landscape Read more

For Refugees, Returning to Afghanistan Is Easier Said Than Done

Martine van Bijlert •

30 May 2016, The Diplomat Article in The Diplomat leans heavily on the recent dispatch on refugees and landlessness by AAN’s Jelena Bjelica: Unfortunately, those that return to Afghanistan are still in for considerable uncertainty. In a recent report for the Afghanistan Analysts Network, Jelena Bjelica dives into why many Afghan returnees remain landless, despite several […]

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The signing of the National Unity Government political agreement by Dr Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani took place at the Presidential Palace on 21 September 2014 in the presence of Afghanistan's key political figures, government officials and members of the campaign teams of both candidates. (Photo Source: Tolo News 2014)

When The Political Agreement Runs Out: On the future of Afghanistan’s National Unity Government

Martine van Bijlert • Ali Yawar Adili •

The National Unity Government (NUG), which was created to solve the impasse caused by the bitterly disputed 2014 presidential elections, has come under intense criticism for a wide range of real and perceived failures. Its position has also been called into question by uncertainty over whether, based on the text of the political agreement, its […]

Political Landscape Read more
Photograph of the newly appointed Taleban leader Haibatullah, which circulated on social media within hours of the announcement - previous Taleban leaders were always careful to avoid having an up-to-date picture of them in the media (Photo Source: Islamic Emirates' social media post)

Taleban in Transition: How Mansur’s death and Haibatullah’s ascension may affect the war (and peace)

Borhan Osman •

The killing of Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansur in an American drone strike has deprived the Taleban of their official, and before that, de facto leader of six years. Mansur had shaped the movement profoundly – leaving it stronger militarily, but with more internal dissension. His successor, Mullah Haibatullah, is an austere, pious man with higher religious […]

War and Peace Read more

AAN’s Thomas Ruttig on the new Afghan Taleban Leader – May, 2016

Thomas Ruttig •

AAN’s Co-director Thomas Ruttig on VOA News discussing the new leader of Afghan Taleban, Mullah Haibatullah.          

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Die Taliban, Afghanistan und das Elend der USA

Thomas Ruttig •

Thüringer Allgemeine, 26 May 2016 The regional newspaper from the central German state of Thuringia quotes AAN’s Thomas Ruttig in an article summing up Afghan developments after the killing of Taleban leader Mansur in an US airstrike.

AAN in the Media Read more

Taliban replaces leader killed in U.S. drone strike

Thomas Ruttig •

Washington Post, 25 May 2016 Short quotes of AAN’s Thomas Ruttig: Thomas Ruttig, co-director of the Afghanistan Analysts Network in Kabul, said that although Akhundzada is known to be a hard-line cleric, he eventually may be more willing to reopen peace talks — an idea that Mansour had opposed. “At the same time, the Taliban […]

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Akhundzada nuovo leader talebano

Thomas Ruttig •

Il manifesto, 25 May 2016 The left-wing Italian daily quotes AAN’s Thomas Ruttig on the new Taleban leader Haibatullah Akhundzada: Secondo Thomas Ruttig, co-direttore dell’Afghanistan Analysts Network di Kabul, Akhundzada avrebbe goduto dell’incondizionata fiducia del mullah Omar, che lo consultava per dirimere le questioni più delicate.

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New Taliban leader’s daunting task: uniting group as officials seek peace

Thomas Ruttig •

The Guardian, 25 May 2016 AAN’s Thomas Ruttig is quoted in this article about the succession at the top of the Taleban: “It happened much quicker than expected, which shows that the Taliban knows the gravity of the situation, and are trying their best to keep the movement united,” said Thomas Ruttig, co-director of the Afghanistan Analysts Network […]

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معمای رهبری طالبان بعد از مرگ منصور [The puzzle of Mansur’s death for the Taleban leadership]

AAN •

Hasht-e Sobh, 24 May 2016 AAN’s Ehsan Qaane looks at the death of Taleban leader Mullah Mansur and its repercussions (in Dari). Soon in full on the AAN Dari/Pasho website.

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