Afghanistan Analysts Network – English

Month: May 2016

Der Tod des Talibanchefs

Thomas Ruttig •

dpa/Die Welt, 23 May 2016 AAN’s Thomas Ruttig is quoted here (in German) with doubts that the Taleban would become more amenable to peace talks after the killing of their leader Mullah Mansur: Es sei durchaus nicht sicher, sagt der deutsche Afghanistanexperte Thomas Ruttig, dass die Taliban noch gesprächsbereit seien, “nachdem ihnen der Anführer weggebombt […]

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Taliban will go on, even without Mullah Akhtar Mansur

Thomas Ruttig •

The Lowry Interpreter, 23 May 2016 In a commentary for the Australian university’s website, Susanne Schmeidl quotes Thomas Ruttig from AAN: According to Afghan expert Thomas Ruttig, the fact that Haqqani comes from Afghanistan’s southeast, not the south, which is the traditional Taliban heartland, makes this unlikely.  (…) Thomas Ruttig even argues that splitting the Taliban to […]

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Le chef des talibans afghans tué par un drone

Thomas Ruttig •

Le Figaro, 23 May 2016 A short quote from AAN’s Thomas Ruttig about one of the contenders to replace killed Taleban leader Mullah Mansur, one of hi deputies Mawlawi Haibatullah Akhundzada: «Son adjoint, Haibatullah Akhundzada, paraît le mieux placé, juge Thomas Ruttig, codirecteur de l’Afghanistan Analysts Network, un centre de recherche basé à Kaboul. C’est […]

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Killing of Taliban chief in US drone strike deals blow to peace hopes

Thomas Ruttig •

Indian Express, 23 May 2016 AAN’s Thomas Ruttig comments on expectations that the killing of Taleban leader Mullah Mansur could open the door to talks and for insurgents to return from Pakistan to join peace efforts: Thomas Ruttig, co-director of the Kabul-based Afghanistan Analysts Network, said: “There wasn’t much of a peace process. There was an […]

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Taliban leader confirmed killed in U.S. airstrike as focus turns to his successor

Thomas Ruttig •

Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2016 AAN’s Thomas Ruttig and Borhan Osman are quoted here on the succession for killed Taleban leader Mullah Mansur: Others say Akhundzada, a former head of the Taliban’s religious courts, could have the upper hand. He was close to the group’s founder and spiritual leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar, according to […]

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„Dem Frieden im Wege gestanden“: Drohnenangriff auf Talibanchef

Thomas Ruttig •

taz online, 22 May 2016 AAN’s Thomas Ruttig summarises the mixed messages about the alleged killing of Taleban leader Mullah Mansur in this article (in German) and expresses skepticism about a possible (and feared by many) Haqqani succession at the top of the Taleban. Will also appear in the print taz on 23 May.

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Taliban No.2 Haqqani may be even more deadly foe than Mansour

Thomas Ruttig •

Reuters, 22 May 2016 In this article reporting the reports about Mullah Mansur’s alleged death, AAN’s Thomas Ruttig is quoted in the skeptical school regarding a possible Haqqani succession at the Taleban top: “Haqqani … as a non-Kandahari and as someone who is unfamiliar with the insurgency landscape beyond Loya Paktia, would likely struggle to […]

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HIG leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. Photo: website of Shahadat daily.

Almost Signed? The peace agreement with Hezb-e Islami

Martine van Bijlert • Thomas Ruttig •

On 18 May 2016, two delegations representing respectively the insurgent faction of Hezb-e Islami-ye Afghanistan and the Afghan High Peace Council (HPC) initialled a draft peace agreement that should end Hezb’s armed struggle. The status of the document – and whether it may still be subject to changes – is not fully clear, but there is […]

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Stromstreit in Afghanistan: Die Spannung steigt

Thomas Ruttig •

taz, 20 May 2016 Op-ed article summarising the TUTAP protests on Monday in Kabul and the background of ethnic tensions between the Hazara minority and Pashtuns (in German).

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“TUTAP” could fracture Afghanistan yet further

Thomas Ruttig •

Prospect Magazine, 20 May 2016 Emily Winterbotham links to Thomas Ruttig’s analysis of the TUTAP protests for AAN: (For information on the demonstrations see Thomas Ruttig’s comprehensive report for AAN).

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Afghan refugees in Germany are concerned about their asylum application status; here a group of new arrivals is led to the registration centre in Munich in December 2015 (Source Tolonews).

Deciding to Leave Afghanistan (3): What happens after arrival in Europe

Martine van Bijlert •

AAN has done a series of twelve in-depth interviews with families of Afghans who recently travelled to Europe. The conversations provided a fascinating insight into the practicalities of both the decision making processes and the journey, the complex interplay between economic and security considerations and the mixed feelings families often have once their loved ones […]

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Deciding To Leave Afghanistan (2): The routes and the risks

Jelena Bjelica •

AAN has done a series of twelve in-depth interviews with families of Afghans who recently travelled to Europe. The conversations provided a fascinating insight into the practicalities of both the decision making processes and the journey, the complex interplay between economic and security considerations and the mixed feelings families often have once their loved ones […]

Migration Read more

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