Afghanistan Analysts Network – English

Month: May 2016

Pentagon report reveals confusion among U.S. troops over Afghan mission

AAN •

Reuters, 9 May 2016 Another useful dissection of the 2015re-capture of Kunduz, the lack of US rules of engagement, Afghan and US forces on the ground and the MSF hospital attack by Josh Smith: Amid fierce fighting after the Taliban captured the northern Afghan city of Kunduz last year, U.S. special forces advisers repeatedly asked […]

Recommended Reads Read more

Afghanistan executes six Taliban prisoners

Thomas Ruttig •

The Guardian, 8 May 2016 A short quote from AAN’s Thomas Ruttig about the executions of six alleged Taleban prisoners by the Afghan government: Thomas Ruttig, co-director of the Afghanistan Analysts Network, said the executions helped perpetuate “a cycle of revenge”, making peace talks difficult. “This tit-for-tat is absolutely unhelpful,” he said. Comment: The ‘tit-for-tat’ […]

AAN in the Media Read more

Deciding To Leave Afghanistan (1): Motives for migration

Lenny Linke •

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

Afghan civilian death toll ‘much higher than the official estimate’

AAN •

The Observer, 8 May 2016 Important article by Emma Graham-Harrison and Rob Evans, concluding from investigations into two cases that a probably significant number of civilian casualties in Afghanistan remains unreported. It reminds us that the UN monitoring system set up in 2007 (only) requires “three independent sources to verify each civilian killed. … But the strict standards that […]

Recommended Reads Read more

Interview with Martine van Bijlert (in Dutch)

Martine van Bijlert •

BNR Nieuwsradio, 6 May 2016 Long radio interview (half an hour) with AAN co-director Martine van Bijlert on, among other things, working in Afghanistan, the strength of the Taleban and what the future might hold.

AAN in the Media Read more

Fall of Afghan highway reveals virulent power struggle

AAN •

AFP/Daily Mail, 5 May 2016 In this story about Taleban advances along the Kandahar-Uruzgan highway and allegations that Uruzgan’s deputy police chief was involved, AAN’s Martine van Bijlert is quoted: “With Rahimullah there have been a lot of complaints that he intentionally gave up security posts… in an effort to undermine (his superiors) and to […]

AAN in the Media Read more

Iran’s great game antagonises natural Afghan allies

Thomas Ruttig •

Middle East Eye, 3 May 2016 In this article looking at Iran’s relationship with and influence in Afghanistan, AAN’s Thomas Ruttig is briefly, although not fully correctly quoted: According to Thomas Ruttig, a senior analyst at Afghanistan Analysts Network, politically active Hazaras are growing increasingly concerned about Iran’s behaviour. [I have not said “increasingly” but […]

AAN in the Media Read more
The RTA building in Kabul (Photo Source: Report by DSWCI)

“No Microphone for the President”: Can Radio Television Afghanistan still become a public service broadcaster?

Jelena Bjelica •

Turning government-run Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA) into a public service broadcaster, a symbol of a democratic state, has been on the agenda of both donors and the Afghan government since 2002. However, only small, cosmetic changes have so far been made. As a result, many argue that this goal is no longer realistic. The overstaffed, […]

Context and Culture Read more

Subscribe to receive updates from the Afghanistan Analysts Network

Sign up