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Afghanistan’s 2019 Elections (5): Slow preparations for a high-stake election

The Independent Election Commission (IEC) has announced the new electoral calendar and started a 22-day top up voter registration process across Afghanistan. The announcement of the electoral calendar involved several key decisions, including that the IEC will hold only the presidential vote on 28 September 2019, that it will not change the electoral system ahead […]

17 Jun 2019 Ali Yawar Adili • Political Landscape

One Land, Two Rules (7): Delivering public services in insurgency-affected Andar district in Ghazni province

Andar district in southern Ghazni province, which has had a shadow Taleban administration since 2007, has been under virtually complete Taleban control since October 2018. The Afghan government continues to provide education and health services despite the fact that all of Andar’s government offices have relocated to Ghazni city, while the Taleban supervise their work. […]

13 Jun 2019 Fazl Rahman Muzhary • Economy, Development, Environment

Civilians at Greater Risk from Pro-government Forces: While peace seems more elusive?

After a Ramadan stained with violence, peace seems remote. Both sides have intensified the tempo of the conflict, with civilians paying a heavy price. While the Taleban appear to be exercising more care with some tactics that protect civilians, they continue to unlawfully target civilians with others, as recent attacks demonstrate. The US and Afghan […]

9 Jun 2019 Jelena Bjelica • Rachel Reid • Rights and Freedoms

Eid al-Fitr Mubarak from AAN to All Our Readers

Eid al-Fitr Mubarak! The AAN team would like to wish a happy and peaceful Eid al-Fitr to friends and readers, to all Muslims around the world and particularly the people of Afghanistan. We hope the coming days of Eid bring happiness and joy to all. AAN hopes Afghans can celebrate this Eid as peacefully as […]

4 Jun 2019 AAN Team • Context and Culture

One Land, Two Rules (6): Delivering public services in insurgency-affected Nad Ali district of Helmand province

In opium-rich Nad Ali district, public service provision is poor. The district is roughly divided between the government and the Taleban and they continue to clash over control of population, territory and roads. Although only the government and NGOs fund public services, the Taleban exert considerable control over what is delivered in their areas, determining […]

2 Jun 2019 Ali Mohammad Sabawoon • Economy, Development, Environment

A Snapshot of the Week: Has Ghani consolidated his extended presidential term?

Kabul has been on heightened security alert, as the presidential term of President Ashraf Ghani approached its constitutional end on 1 Jawza (22 May 2019). The authorities responded to calls by the political opposition for Ghani to step down in favour of a caretaker government and threats that protestors would take to the streets by […]

26 May 2019 Ali Yawar Adili • Jelena Bjelica • Political Landscape

Afghanistan’s Anti-Corruption Institutions: Too many, and with too few results

Corruption in the Afghan state has blossomed and bloomed in the years since 2001. A report published by UNAMA today on Afghanistan’s fight against corruption highlights how the frequent changes in corruption-related legislation and a mushrooming of anti-graft institutions have done little to stop it; recent reductions in petty corruption – as shown by the […]

20 May 2019 Jelena Bjelica • Economy, Development, Environment

The Results of Afghanistan’s 2018 Parliamentary Elections: A new, but incomplete Wolesi Jirga

The Independent Election Commission (IEC) has, at long last, almost seven months after the ballot was held, finalised the results of the 2018 parliamentary elections. The parliament itself is almost four years overdue – the elections should have been held in 2015. Even now, Afghanistan does not have a completely newly-elected Wolesi Jirga as Ghazni’s […]

17 May 2019 Ali Yawar Adili • Political Landscape

Rug Weavers and Bride Prices in the Northwest: Still expensive in spite of government and Taleban rules

Weddings in Afghanistan are often an expensive and ‘back-breaking’ affair. A government law to change the expensive wedding culture remains largely unimplemented and there seems to be little will to enforce it. The Taleban have also imposed an assortment of rules for controlling wedding costs in areas under their command, which vary depending on the […]

12 May 2019 Obaid Ali • Context and Culture

One Land, Two Rules (5): The polio vaccination gap

While researching the delivery of health, education and other services in districts affected by the insurgency, we found that three of our featured districts, in Helmand, Nangrahar and Kunduz provinces, had seen cases of polio leading to paralysis in the last five years. There is no cure for polio, but there is an effective vaccination, […]

9 May 2019 Jelena Bjelica • Economy, Development, Environment