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27 May: New AAN report about Local Defence Initiatives launched

AAN’s Thematic Report 03/2010 ‘Local Defence in Afghanistan: A Review of Government-backed Initiatives’ by Mathieu Lefèvre unpacks the myths about local defense initiatives in Afghanistan. His analysis of three local defense initiatives shows the contradictions in the claimed successes and points at possible long-term security challenges posed by these initiatives. In this report, Mathieu Lefèvre analyses three local […]

27 May 2010 AAN • admin • Events

Local Defence in Afghanistan: A Review of Government-backed Initiatives

In this latest AAN report, Mathieu Lefèvre unpacks the myths about local defense initiatives in Afghanistan. His analysis of three local defense initiatives shows the contradictions in the claimed successes and points at possible long-term security challenges posed by these initiatives. In this report, Mathieu Lefèvre analyses three local defense initiatives in Afghanistan: The Afghanistan […]

27 May 2010 Mathieu Lefevre • Special Reports

The Kuchi-Hazara Conflict, Again

As every year around this time, violent clashes have erupted between local Hazaras and incoming Pashtun Kuchis in the pastures of Eastern Hazajarat. Houses were burnt down, people and animals killed, many fled the area. Hazara MPs boycott the parliament’s sessions. But the level of violence seems to be higher than ever. Fabrizio Foschini. Junior […]

27 May 2010 Fabrizio Foschini • War and Peace

A Ministers retreat, a rowdy crowd and the politics of the thinly veiled threat

A quick visit to Bamyan to see the sights and enjoy its beauty – no politics intended. But in between the magic of the Band-e Amir lakes and the Dragon Valley, the ancient cities of Zuhaak and Gholghola, the awe of waking up to the view of the Buddha silhouettes, the walks through the fields […]

24 May 2010 Martine van Bijlert • Political Landscape

Zu wenig, reichlich spät – Stabilisierungsmaßnahmen in Afghanistan zwischen Terrorismus- und Aufstandsbekämpfung

Thomas Ruttig, in: Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte (Bonn), 21-22/2010 This contribution to a weekly newspaper supplement of 7 articles on Pakistan and Afghanistan, discusses how much the new Obama/McChrystal strategy really represents a strategic shift (in German, avaibale on the web from 22 May onwards), see below: Zu wenig, reichlich spät – Stabilisierungsmaßnahmen in Afghanistan […]

22 May 2010 Thomas Ruttig • External publications

Drugs, plots and stockpiles: Afghanistan’s failing poppy crop

A mysterious desease is spreading through Afghanistan’s poppy fields: Is it a secret counter-narcotics operation or simply caused by nature? And what do ‘the markets say’? Answers given by Kate Clark, AAN Senior Analyst ‘Reports of a “mysterious” fungus that has damaged opium poppy crops in Afghanistan have hit international headlines’ writes a breathless commentator […]

20 May 2010 Kate Clark • Context and Culture

The MP (not) always runs twice

The nomination of candidates for September’s parliamentary elections has been completed. It went reasonably smoothly and the preliminary list of nominees has been released by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). A first look at the process by AAN researcher Fabrizio Foschini. It was a relatively short registration process, down from one month in 2005 to […]

19 May 2010 Fabrizio Foschini • Political Landscape

“Oh let it rain, let it rain on the fields, let it drench the head scarf of my beloved”

Going to Bamian and Yakaolang brings up a lot of memories and shows how times have changed since Taleban times. An AAN ‘travel blog’, by Kate Clark, currently a Senior Analyst with AAN. Getting out of Kabul for me usually means heading to the hot and dusty south or south east to report on the […]

17 May 2010 Kate Clark • Context and Culture

New Bureaucracies to Welcome ‘Upset Brothers’

Jobs, training, psychosocial counselling and block grants: A look at the Afghan government’s new ‘peace and reintegration’ plan to bring home the Taleban. By Kate Clark (with input from Thomas Ruttig) Reading the draft of the Afghan government’s programme for peace and reintegration is a surreal experience, starting with the opening and the first sentence’s […]

14 May 2010 Kate Clark • Political Landscape

Guest Blog: We are One Tribe – and Live in The Society of Intervention

A critique of intervening half-education, in reply to Major Jim Gant’s much-read blog and paper ‘One Tribe at a Time’. By Prof. Michael Daxner (*) Important notice for the readers: it is unusual for blogs to annotate them with references from scientific literature. However, I will use some special terms that may raise your interest […]

13 May 2010 Michael Daxner • International Engagement