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26 March 2014, Barcelona: Round Table with AAN on Afghan Elections

“Afghanistan on the Brink of Change – Or ‘Status Quo Ante’?” is the title of a round table discussion organised and hosted by CIDOB , Barcelona, on Wednesday 26 March 2014, 12:00. Thomas Ruttig of the Afghanistan Analysts Network will discuss the political and security framework for the upcoming presidential elections, changes since 2009 and what may be […]

14 Mar 2014 Thomas Ruttig • Events

Will We Ever Learn? An evaluation of US aid in Afghanistan

International assistance is coming under ever closer scrutiny. In response, to understand the impact of assistance and ensure transparency and accountability, thousands of project documents are generated, evaluations conducted and reports written. All contain lessons aimed at informing the development of future assistance programmes. With regard to Afghanistan, as 2014 marks the withdrawal of international […]

12 Mar 2014 AAN Team • Economy, Development, Environment

Changing of the Guards: Is the APPF program coming to an end?

In 2014, the performance of the Afghan National Army (ANA) will be under intense scrutiny. However, it is also high time for another key element of the Afghan security set up to be evaluated: the Afghan Public Protection Force (APPF). The 20,000 men strong, state run security program in the past two years has – with […]

8 Mar 2014 Fabrizio Foschini • International Engagement

‘Pen’ Joins ‘Radio’: Qayyum Karzai gives his support to Zalmai Rassul

Qayyum Karzai has announced he will be supporting the campaign of former foreign minister and national security advisor, Zalmai Rassul, in a “unification” of their presidential campaigns. This has given a significant boost to Rassul’s bid for Afghanistan’s highest office, by removing one of the two men considered to be a possible Palace choice. Indeed, […]

7 Mar 2014 Kate Clark • Thomas Ruttig • Political Landscape

A Joint ‘Durrani’ Candidate for President? After the Unity Jirga in Kabul

Tribal elders from most areas of the country came together in an attempt to reduce the field of Pashtun, and among them the Durrani, candidates. The jirga ended in a duel between the two main contenders, both of them close to the president. The meeting remained open to interpretation, after an initial vote apparently met the […]

5 Mar 2014 Thomas Ruttig • Political Landscape

Flying after 2014: Which aircraft for the Afghan Air Force?

The Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) have been mentored and trained by a largely United States force that is used to relying heavily on air support, a habit they have transferred to the Afghans. Until now, international air support has given Afghan forces an edge over the insurgency, but this year that support will be […]

2 Mar 2014 Gary Owen • War and Peace

Cheating and Worse: The university entry (kankur) exams as a bottleneck for higher education

Getting into university via the so called kankur exam is one of the highest hurdles for Afghanistan’s young generation wanting to obtain higher education. Each year, there are allegations of corruption, fraud and flawed management of the exams while the number of high school graduates sitting them increases. AAN’s Obaid Ali (with input by Christine […]

26 Feb 2014 Obaid Ali • Economy, Development, Environment

Past Is Prologue or: A tale of two Olympics

Shortly before a historic and emotionally laden Olympic hockey match between American and Russian athlets in 1980, the Soviet Union had invaded Afghanistan. The US, at that time, had actually already started its covert operation to support the mujahedin against the Soviet-backed regime in Kabul; it would be their fight that would finally lead to the Soviet withdrawal. In […]

22 Feb 2014 Anthony Agnello • Context and Culture

Bomb and Ballot: The many strands and tactics of Hezb-e Islami

Hezb-e Islami Afghanistan – known as Hezb-e Islami of Gulbuddin, or HIG, in the West – has (almost) declared support for its former chief negotiator with Kabul as a candidate for the 5 April 2014 presidential election. This comes less than a week after it claimed the latest suicide car bomb attack in Kabul that […]

19 Feb 2014 Thomas Ruttig • Political Landscape

AAN’s Fabrizio Foschini on Kuchi community in Afghanistan – November 2013

Extensive interview with the author Fabrizio Foschini on findings of his report, ‘The Social Wandering of the Afghan Kuchis: Changing patterns, perceptions and politics of an Afghan community’

19 Feb 2014 Fabrizio Foschini • Podcasts