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“Another Bonn-style conference”: A new plan to ‘fix’ the war and enable US troops to leave

The United States envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad has floated the possibility of a ‘new Bonn’ conference that could cancel or sideline the intra-Afghan peace talks in Doha. ‘Bonn 2’ appears to have been discussed in some allied capitals and various Afghan leaders, although it is unclear how much buy-in the proposal has from them. […]

7 Mar 2021 Thomas Ruttig • War and Peace

A Deal in the Mist: How much of the US-Taleban Doha agreement has been implemented?

One year ago, on 29 February 2020, Zalmay Khalilzad, Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation at the US State Department, and Mullah Baradar, Taleban Deputy Leader for Political Affairs, signed the “Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan” in Doha. Simultaneously, representatives of the US and the Afghan government signed the similarly titled but less discussed “Joint Declaration between […]

25 Feb 2021 Thomas Ruttig • War and Peace

From Sufi Sheikh to President: Historic mujahedin leader Mujaddedi passes away

With Sebghatullah Mujaddedi, another of the historic leaders of the mujahedin parties, which fought the Soviet occupation (1979-89), has died. Mujaddedi belonged to a famous family of Sufi leaders and for this spiritual position, he was widely known simply as with the honorific ‘Hazrat Saheb’ in Afghanistan. Having been severely ill for some time, Mujaddedi […]

13 Feb 2019 Thomas Ruttig • Political Landscape

Talebs in Tajikistan? Part 2 on the alleged IMU-Taleban nexus

If one listens to ISAF and to Central Asian governments, there are overlapping networks of jihadist terrorists subverting Afghanistan and Tajikistan, if not the whole region. Few of these reports are substantiated by details that can be independently scrutinised. But they are often picked up by media and other outlets, presented as proven facts and […]

11 Oct 2013 Thomas Ruttig • Regional Relations

From Doha to Peace? Obstacles rising in the way of intra-Afghan talks

Two key documents to get an Afghan peace process started have been signed: the Doha “Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan” and a simultaneous bilateral United States-Afghan declaration. The two documents together are supposed to open the door for intra-Afghan peace talks, ie between the Taleban and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on 10 March. […]

3 Mar 2020 Thomas Ruttig • War and Peace

Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan between the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United States as a state and is known as the Taliban and the United States of America

Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistanbetween the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United States as a state and is known as the Taliban and the United States of America is available here: Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistanbetween the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United […]

29 Feb 2020 AAN • Peace process

AAN’s most-read dispatches in 2018: So much war… and a little peace and justice

Here at AAN, we have been looking back at what we published in 2018, in English and Dari and Pashto. We have also been considering what you, dear readers, have been most interested in. Compiling the list of our most-read dispatches in 2018 was a sobering task, says AAN Co-Director, Kate Clark (with data from […]

1 Jan 2019 Kate Clark • Context and Culture

The Stagnation of Afghanistan’s State Institutions: Case studies of the Supreme Court, Senate, provincial councils and the constitutional oversight commission

This report looks at the legal framework, status and trajectory of four important state institutions, both elected and appointed: the Supreme Court, Senate, provincial councils and the Independent Commission for Overseeing the Implementation of the Constitution (ICOIC). According to the Afghan constitution, these institutions should play significant roles in providing checks and balances, accountability, representation […]

31 Mar 2021 Ali Yawar Adili • Rohullah Sorush • Sayed Asadullah Sadat • Political Landscape

Mursi in Kabul: Afghan Islamists scrutinise democracy in the wake of Egypt’s coup

A number of rallies in support of Egypt’s ousted president, Muhammad Mursi, and in solidarity with the Muslim Brotherhood recently brought together Afghanistan’s diverse Islamist groups in rare unanimity of opinion. Kabul has not yet seen such a mobilisation, and with such diverse participation, caused by a political issue in another country. Pro- and anti-government Islamist […]

28 Sep 2013 Borhan Osman • Political Landscape

Looking ahead to Intra-Afghan Negotiations: A scrutiny of different political groups’ plans for peace

Since the US-Taleban agreement in late February, focus has shifted to intra-Afghan negotiations, with little clarity so far as to their scope. The US-Taleban deal agreed on 29 February focused on the withdrawal of US (and other foreign) troops, and anti-terrorism guarantees by the Taleban. While waiting for talks to begin, five political groups have […]

30 Apr 2020 Ali Yawar Adili • Khadija Hossaini • War and Peace