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Afghan Civil Society Forum in Bonn (1): Occupy the JCMB?

The tone makes the music, we say here in Germany – ie: it is not only what you say but how you say it. Despite plenty of efforts by the organisers, four German political foundations, to make the 34 elected Afghan delegates to the Bonn Civil Society Forum feel comfortable there were a number of […]

3 Dec 2011 Thomas Ruttig • International Engagement

The New National Front: A Dark Horse Returns – with Three Riders

Two months after the death of Burhanuddin Rabbani, his old coalition, the National Front of Afghanistan (Jebha-ye Melli Afghanistan), has been revived. The new grouping is calling for radical political reform in order, as they see it, to re-enfranchise the Afghan voter. They want decentralization,a proportional voting system and a prime minister. At the same […]

1 Dec 2011 Gran Hewad • Political Landscape

1 December 2011: New AAN Discussion Paper: The International Engagement in Afghanistan beyond 2014

This new report by the Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN), The International Community’s Engagement in Afghanistan beyond 2014, discusses the challenges for transition and the cost of a hasty and unconditioned international withdrawal. It particularly focuses on security, economy, political framework, reconciliation, governance, human rights and regional politics. In the wake of the international conference on […]

1 Dec 2011 AAN • admin • Events

Bonn2 and Civil Society: An Afghan election and German events (amended)

One week to go to the international Bonn 2 conference, and even less to the Civil Society Forum (CSF) on 2 and 3 November. The first delegates and representatives of Afghan civil society organisations (which is not the same) are trickling in, also for a whole string of events directly linked – or in opposition […]

1 Dec 2011 Thomas Ruttig • International Engagement

The International Community’s Engagement in Afghanistan beyond 2014

This new discussion paper by the Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN) discusses the challenges for transition and the cost of a hasty and unconditioned international withdrawal. It particularly focuses on security, economy, political framework, reconciliation, governance, human rights and regional politics. The report, which is a result of the collaboration of key AAN contributors, emphasizes that […]

1 Dec 2011 AAN Team • Special Reports

Dresden, 30 November 2011: AAN at Kreuzkirche

On Wednesday, 30 November (7.30 pm), AAN’s Co-Director Thomas Ruttig will speak about ‘Afghanistan: On the way to democracy or civil war’ (in German) as part of the series: ‘Dialog der Kulturen’. Host organisation: Ökumenisches Informationszentrum e.V. (ÖIZ) Venue: Mauersbergersaal, Haus an der Kreuzkirche, Dresden (Germany). Admission is free. More about ÖIZ here

30 Nov 2011 AAN • admin • Events

The Thin Red Durand Line

The air-strikes that hit two Pakistani check-posts on the border between Mohmand Agency and Kunar province, killing 24 (some sources still report 25 or 26) Pakistani security forces and injuring a dozen more, have triggered, as expected, a strong reaction from the Pakistani authorities. As of now, Pakistan, ISAF and the Afghan military have very […]

29 Nov 2011 Fabrizio Foschini • Regional Relations

The Past is Here to Stay: Listening to Afghan Voices on Justice and Reconciliation

The abuses and violations suffered by Afghans during the conflicts are all but forgotten, and although pragmatic about what is possible in the current security environment, Afghans seem to view reconciliation and justice as intimately linked. AAN’s Sari Kouvo takes a look at recent publications by the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU) documenting Afghan […]

27 Nov 2011 Sari Kouvo • Rights and Freedoms

Brussels, 29 November 2011: AAN’s Thomas Ruttig with an assessment on the eve of Bonn 2

AAN’s Thomas Ruttig will speak at the Egmont Institute (Royal Institute for International Relations) of Belgium under the title ‚The political future of Afghanistan: An assessment on the eve of the Bonn conference’. Time: 6 to 8 pm For more information and registration call: +32 (0) 2 223 41 14

25 Nov 2011 AAN • admin • Events

2001 Ten Years on (3): The fall of Loya Paktia and why the US preferred warlords

In Loya Paktia the people, rather than commanders, overthrew the Taleban in 2001 – one of the very few places where this happened. Tribal councils took power, driving out al-Qaida fighters and doing all of it peacefully. Khost and then Paktia provinces fell to tribal coalitions on 14 November 2001, just one day after the […]

24 Nov 2011 Kate Clark • War and Peace