Publications

Kabul Bank: glitzy facade, foul credits. Photo: ToloNews

AAN Podcasts: Martine van Bijlert talks Kabul Bank

Regular visitors to the AAN website will have noticed that we have added an additional channel to our publications: podcasts. Although we already posted some podcasts earlier on (visit the archive here), you will be able to literally hear from us more regularly, from now on. We start our new podcast series with a comment […]

22 Dec 2014 Thomas Ruttig • Economy, Development, Environment

AAN’s Martine van Bijlert on the new probe into Kabul Bank scandal

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has reopened the inquiry into the Kabul Bank fraud scandal, AAN’s Martine van Bijlert explains the case.

22 Dec 2014 Martine van Bijlert • Podcasts

Thematic Dossier VII: Detentions in Afghanistan – Bagram, Transfer and Torture

One of the most controversial aspects of the 2001 intervention has ended: the United States’ detention on Afghan soil of men accused of involvement in the insurgency. At its peak, the US military detention facility on Bagram airbase held more than 3000 detainees. In the early years, there had also been a number of CIA […]

20 Dec 2014 Kate Clark • Dossiers

The Empty Streets of Mohammad Agha: Logar’s struggle against the Taleban

Logar province has become a dangerous place to live for many residents. The number of violent incidents and assassinations of locals committed by Taleban has increased starkly. AAN’s Obaid Ali describes how the Taleban intimidate and exploit the people of this province just south of Kabul and how they challenge local security forces, especially the […]

15 Dec 2014 Obaid Ali • War and Peace

U.S Senate report reveals extent to CIA torture.

The ‘Other Guantanamo’ 12: Bagram closes, CIA torture revealed, US to be held to account?

As grotesque revelations in a Senate report on the CIA’s torture of ‘war on terror’ detainees are being mulled over, it has been announced that the last three remaining detainees in United States custody in Afghanistan have been transferred out of American hands. The Bagram detention facility is finally, after 13 years, closed. As AAN’s […]

12 Dec 2014 Kate Clark • International Engagement

Presidential decree on the NUG’s Chief Executive Officer

(AAN working translation) No 35 22/09/1393 [11 December 2014] Decree President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Concerning the Establishment of the Council of Ministers, the Responsibilities and Authorities of the Chief Executive Officer of the National Unity Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Pursuant to articles 5, 50, and 142 of the Constitution, and […]

11 Dec 2014 Afghan government documents

Portraits of Ghani and Abdullah. Photo c/o Tolonews.

The National Unity Government’s Elusive Cabinet

On day seventy-two of Afghanistan’s national unity government, the new cabinet still looks to be weeks away, with the country’s President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) locked in protracted discussions over who to appoint and how that should be decided. The composition of the cabinet will be a first, crucial test of what Afghanistan’s new […]

9 Dec 2014 Martine van Bijlert • Political Landscape

The unfortunate, and unexploded, houbara, mistaken for a 'Taleban operative'. Photo: Khaama Press

Bird Bomber: Police kill ‘dangerous’ houbara bustard (amended)

Police in Faryab have shot a wild bird which had an antenna attached to it, fearing it had been sent by the Taleban to target them. They said it exploded, scattering suspicious bits of metal. However, the bits of metal included an ID tag with a telephone number and email address and claims of it […]

5 Dec 2014 Kate Clark • Context and Culture