Afghanistan Analysts Network – English

Month: July 2017

Wie sicher ist Afghanistan?

Thomas Ruttig •

RBB-Inforadio, 31 July 2017 Live interview by the Berlin-region public radio with AAN’s Thomas Ruttig, about the announced (and still not published) security assessment update by the German foreign office and the current security situation in Afghanistan, one day after the IS-claimed attack on the Iraqi embassy in Kabul (listen to the audio in German).

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US Confirms Killing of Additional IS Leaders in July 11 Airstrike

AAN •

Voice of America, 30 July 2017 Reporting that a US airstrike earlier in July has not only killed ISKP’s amir Abu Saeed but also four other leading members of the group, an earlier AAN dispatch by Borhan Osman is quoted extensively: “The ‘decapitation’ of ISK-P has been well underway over the past two years as […]

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The Non-Pashtun Taleban of the North (3): The Takhar case study

Obaid Ali •

Despite some recent gains, the Taleban have struggled to establish a stronger foothold in the north-eastern province of Takhar. One of the reasons the movement they failed to do so have been growing tensions and power struggles among its Uzbek and Pashtun Taleban cadres. Strategically, this has left a geographical gap, preventing them from connecting […]

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Rückkehr nach Afghanistan

Thomas Ruttig •

Asyl Aktuell, 1/2017 The Vienna-based magazine, run by the Austrian NGOs’ “Coordination on Asylum”, reprints a slightly abridged German version of Jelena Bjelica and Thomas Ruttig’s AAN dispatch on deportations and ‘voluntary’ return of Afghan asylum seekers to their country. Use the link, click on the cover of the magazine for the PDF and go […]

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The Trump White House’s War Within [about an Afghanistan strategy]

AAN •

Politico, 25 July 2017 Afghans are still waiting for an American strategy for their country, but it is delayed another time. Here an inside view from Washington on what problems that might stand in its way.

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From the right Salahuddin Rabbani (acting Chairman of Jamiat and Foreign Minister), Muhammad Mohaqeq (leader of Hezb-e Wahdat Mardom and Deputy Chief Executive), Atta Muhammad Nur (Balkh Governor and Chief Executive of Jamiat), General Abdul Rashid Dostum (first Vice-President and leader of Jombesh-e Milli) and Muhammad Nateqi (Deputy of Wahdat-e Mardom) formed a political coalition on 30 June 2017 called the “Etelaf baray Nejat-e Afghanistan (Coalition for the Salvation of Afghanistan),” in Ankara, Turkey. Photo: Atta Muhammad Nur's Facebook

The ‘Ankara Coalition’: Opposition from within the government

Ali Yawar Adili • Thomas Ruttig •

Over the past two years, the National Unity Government (NUG) has been challenged by internal power struggles, protest movements and now an ‘opposition’ coalition made up of influential officials from within. It is the first time, however, that leaders of three mainstream political parties from three major ethnic groups have joined forces – at least […]

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As Casualties Mount, Afghan Leader Stresses Everyday Task of Governing

AAN •

Wall Street Journal, 25 July 2017 Journal reporters were allowed to watch President Ghani during a full working day: “During a series of meetings, the 66-year-old former World Bank official and ex-finance minister berated a senior United Nations envoy over plans to fund parliamentary elections and threatened to fire about half a dozen senior government […]

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Tödliches Afghanistan: die Situation am Hindukusch und Abschiebungen in ein Land, in dem nach wie vor gekämpft wird

Thomas Ruttig •

Neues Deutschland, 24 July 2017 Op-ed by AAN’s Thomas Ruttig (in German) about the security situation in Afghanistan and the discussion about deportations of rejected Afghan asylum seekers from Germany.

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A photo released by the ISKP from the Tora Bora Mountains.

Another ISKP leader “dead”: Where is the group headed after losing so many amirs?

Borhan Osman •

The US military has announced that it has killed Abu Saeed, the amir of Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), in an air strike in Kunar province earlier this month. Abu Saeed was a veteran fighter with a long militant career. His death – if confirmed – deals a considerable blow to the group, which is […]

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Die Schule der Muppets

AAN •

Süddeutsche Zeitung, 23 July 2017 In an article (in German) reporting the introduction of a new character to the Afghan version of the Muppets Show, the Munich-based daily, one of the leading ones in Germany, also refers to shortcomings in the Afghan education system and AAN research about it.

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Taliban Say Top Leader’s Son Carried Out a Suicide Attack

AAN •

New York Times, 22 July 2017 This article on the claim of Taleban leader Hebatullah that his son has carried out a recent suicide attack on a police base in Helmand, driving a captured humvee, contains three links to the AAN website, mentions an article dated from May 2016 as a proof for plausibility of Hebatullah’s […]

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Defying Dostum: A new Jombesh and the struggle for leadership over Afghanistan’s Uzbeks

Thomas Ruttig •

After years of attempts at inner-party reform, dissidents of Jombesh, one of Afghanistan’s major political parties, have given up. They have left and created a new party; not very surprisingly it is called the “New Jombesh.” The recent departure to Turkey – officially for ‘medical treatment’ – by ‘old’ Jombesh leader (and First Vice President) […]

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