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The Cost of Support to Afghanistan: New special report considers the reasons for inequality, poverty and a failing democracy

In a new AAN special report, Kate Clark considers the apparent paradox that despite almost two decades of international support to Afghanistan, poverty for most Afghans has deepened. She also explores the gap between the promise of the 2002 Bonn Agreement and 2004 constitution, a multi-ethnic, fully representative government, a democracy with strong checks and […]

29 May 2020 Kate Clark • Special Reports

The Cost of Support to Afghanistan: New special report considers the causes of inequality, poverty and a failing democracy

A new AAN special report looks at why the political vision of the 2002 Bonn Agreement and 2004 constitution with its promises of a representative democracy has failed to materialise. It finds answers in the huge levels of unearned foreign income that has flowed into Afghanistan since 2001, both aid and the money spent by […]

29 May 2020 Kate Clark • Economy, Development, Environment

AAN wishes a peaceful and healthy Eid al-Fitr to all our readers

After a Ramadan that has been difficult for many in Afghanistan, there is finally some better news: the Taleban have announced a three-day ceasefire to mark Eid ul-Fitr and the Afghan government has reciprocated. Acknowledging that the many people who have lost dear ones in the brutal violence this spring or are afflicted by coronavirus […]

24 May 2020 AAN Team • Context and Culture

The case of Mawlawi Mehdi and Balkhab District: Are the Taleban attracting Hazaras?

Recently, a story appeared in the media reporting that the Taleban have appointed a Shia Hazara as a shadow district governor in Sar-e Pul province. This ethno-religious group is barely represented in the insurgent movement, and stands in the way of the Taleban’s attempt to present itself as nation-wide. Mehdi, however, is not physically present […]

23 May 2020 Thomas Ruttig • War and Peace

End of the Post-Election Impasse? Ghani and Abdullah’s new power-sharing formula

The electoral and political standoff which had beset the country for months has been ended by a new power-sharing agreement signed on 17 May 2020 by President Ashraf Ghani and his rival Dr Abdullah Abdullah. Both had claimed the presidency and held rival inaugurations in March. AAN’s researcher Ali Yawar Adili (with input from Thomas […]

20 May 2020 Ali Yawar Adili • Political Landscape

The 17 May 2020 Political (power-sharing) Agreement between Dr Ghani and Dr Abdullah (Dari and English)

The signed copy of the agreement was posted on Dr Abdullah’s Facebook page on 18 May 2020. AAN’s working translation of the political agreement between Ghani and Abdullah In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful Political Agreement In order to meet the expectation of the people of Afghanistan, support defence and security forces, […]

20 May 2020 Afghan government documents

Covid-19 in Afghanistan (3): Distributing aid and changing aid politics – view from a Herati village

At a time when coronavirus-related aid in Afghanistan is becoming a topic of heated discussion, and the cause of some unfortunate violent incidents, the aid that flowed into a rural community in Afghanistan’s western province of Herat was bitterly and deeply contested. With the day-to-day rhythm of life in this already impoverished village troubled by […]

16 May 2020 S Reza Kazemi • Economy, Development, Environment

A Request to Delay: Another Afghan government attempt to prevent an ICC war crimes investigation?

The Afghan government has submitted a request to the ICC Office of the Prosecutor to defer the ICC’s investigations in Afghanistan, on the grounds that domestic investigations are taking place into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity that occurred on Afghan soil. They argue this means there is no need for the ICC investigation. […]

13 May 2020 Ehsan Qaane • Rights and Freedoms

From Parallel Governments to a New Form of Power-Sharing? Afghanistan’s ongoing post-election crisis

Both parties claiming to be Afghanistan’s president are sending out signals that they are moving toward a new power-sharing formula. It is not clear, however, whether these signals indicate that the post-election political standoff is nearing its end. Possibly, they are just designed to reassure Afghans and the country’s international backers, the most important of […]

7 May 2020 Ali Yawar Adili • Political Landscape

One Land, Two Rules (11): Delivering public services in insurgency-affected districts – a synthesis report

In many parts of Afghanistan, the issue of who is in control is not straightforward: it may be the government or the Taleban or a mixture of both. Yet despite this – and the ongoing conflict ­– many public services continue, including health and education. How that works in practice is a question we wanted […]

6 May 2020 Kate Clark • War and Peace