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Rallies, Debate, Rain and Snow: The 2014 presidential election campaign starts

The Afghan presidential election campaign has kicked off – two months before polling day. Candidates are showing a range of attitudes, from launching big, brash public rallies to a rather desultory ‘we start tomorrow’ attitude. With no evident frontrunner, it seems the campaign will involve a real attempt to win over voters and will be […]

2 Feb 2014 Kate Clark • Political Landscape

The End of a Police Chief: Factional rivalries and pre-election power struggles in Kunduz

In the beginning, it looked like good news: had Kunduz police chief, Khalil Andarabi, been sacked because he had led Afghan Local Police (ALP) and militia units on a looting rampage against civilians? If this were the case, it would have meant that the bad track record of the Local Police and illegal militias was […]

31 Jan 2014 Lola Cecchinel • Political Landscape

Not a "Tailless Star”: an obituary for leading Afghan intellectual Muhammad Qasim Akhgar

On Tuesday night (28 January 2014), with the passing away of Muhammad Qasim Akhgar, Afghanistan lost one of its leading intellectuals. Ustad Akhgar died after a long illness, only 62 years old and he died as he had lived, in more than modest circumstances. An independent leftist, author and human rights activist, who maintained his […]

29 Jan 2014 Thomas Ruttig • Context and Culture

Flash from the Past: Long Live Consensus – a look back at the 2003 Constitutional Loya Jirga

It is ten years since Afghanistan got its new constitution. It had been debated over 22 days by the 502 delegates to a specially convened Constitutional Loya Jirga (CLJ). Hailed as one of the most progressive constitutions in the region, it was also called a “juggle of the Quran and democracy” (The New York Times). The […]

28 Jan 2014 Thomas Ruttig • Political Landscape

Cards on the Table: Transparency and post-2014 Afghan aid

The joint Afghan-international strategy for 2015 to 2024, the so-called transition period, is based on the assumption that the security situation in the country is conducive to continuing large-scale development programmes. Recently released figures, however, indicate that the instability has not diminished, with a negative impact on access for those who implement, monitor and use […]

25 Jan 2014 Thomas Ruttig • Economy, Development, Environment

Communique of London Conference on Afghanistan

Communique of London Conference on Afghanistan

25 Jan 2014 admin • International documents on Afghanistan

Agreement on Provisional Arrangements in Afghanistan Pending the Re-establishment of Permanent Government Institutions

Bonn Agreement

25 Jan 2014 admin • International documents on Afghanistan

27 January 2014, Berlin: AAN on Public Panel about the German Military in Afghanistan

On Monday, 27 January 2014, AAN’s Co-Director and Senior Analyst Thomas Ruttig will be on a penal discussion in Berlin discussing the the German Protestant Church’s posiiton paper on ethical issues of the German military mission in Afghanistan that will be published on that day, titled: “Blessed Are the Pacificatory – the Mission in Afghanistan: Duties […]

24 Jan 2014 Thomas Ruttig • Events

The Future of Peace Talks: What would make a breakthrough possible?

Attempts last year to reconcile the Taleban ended where they had started a year before – stuck in stalemate. Two major developments this year, however, could affect the peace process. The departure of President Hamid Karzai and accession of a new leader in the spring provides an opportunity for rebooting the peace process. At best, […]

23 Jan 2014 Borhan Osman • War and Peace

Another Red Line Crossed: The Taverna attack and the killing of foreigners just because they were foreigners (amended)

The attack on the restaurant La Taverna du Liban, a favourite among Afghans and internationals in Kabul, has hit close to home for many working in and on Afghanistan. With 20 Afghans and foreigners killed while having dinner, it was one of the bloodiest and most ruthless strikes of the Taliban in years. This was an […]

18 Jan 2014 Christine Roehrs • Kate Clark • War and Peace