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The Eid Ceasefire: Allowing Afghans to imagine their country at peace

Ceasefires by the government, the Taleban and the United States over the Muslim holiday of Eid ul-Fitr has partially ended with the Taleban ordering their fighters back to “normal operations.” However, the three-day truce resulted in an unprecedented peaceful movement of fighters and soldiers into territories controlled by the other. The media was full of […]

19 Jun 2018 Kate Clark • War and Peace

Eid Mubarak from AAN to All Our Readers

The AAN team would like to wish a joyful and peaceful Eid al Fitr to friends and readers, to all Muslims around the world and particularly to the people of Afghanistan. This year, as the Eid ceasefire in Afghanistan begins, there will be more space for festivities around the country. As AAN has reported before, Afghans celebrate the […]

15 Jun 2018 AAN Team • Context and Culture

How to Fight the Booming Opiate Economy? Harsher and progressive laws, but to no avail

The opiate economy, as measured by the farm-gate value of opium, together with revenues from heroin production and trafficking of opiates to the Afghan borders, has become a crucial component of the Afghan economy, a recently released UNODC socio-economic survey found. This has evolved after years of increasing opium cultivation in the country. But, what […]

14 Jun 2018 Jelena Bjelica • Economy, Development, Environment

Call for Bids (or Proposals) Website Design, Development, Hosting and Maintenance for the Afghanistan Analysts Network

The Afghanistan Analysts Network is a non-profit, independent policy research organisation, established in 2009. It aims to bring together the knowledge, experience and drive of experts to better inform policy and to increase the understanding of Afghan realities. It is driven by engagement and curiosity and is committed to producing independent, high quality and research-based […]

11 Jun 2018 Sudhansu Verma • Events

Peace (hopefully) for a few days: A ceasefire for Eid as Helmand marchers approach Kabul

Afghans may, just possibly, have a happier Eid than in previous years. The government, the Taleban and the United States military have all called temporary ceasefires. Meanwhile, seven marchers for peace, who set off from Helmand on 13 May have been walking towards Kabul in temperatures of more than 40 degrees while keeping the Ramadan […]

11 Jun 2018 Ali Mohammad Sabawoon • War and Peace

Why Farah?  A short history of the local insurgency (II)

The Taleban have been a persistent and growing force in Farah since 2001, rebuilding their strength quietly after the US invasion and then seizing territory in remote districts. Insurgents now challenge pro-government figures for control of valuable trade and smuggling routes, assisted by the disarray among their opponents as the provincial government is hobbled by […]

7 Jun 2018 Thomas Ruttig • War and Peace

AAN’s Francesc Vendrell and Thomas Ruttig on reaching out to Taliban in 2000 – June 2018. Episode: 1

AAN’s co-director Kate Clark in discussion with Chairman of AAN’s advisory board and also, the Former UN and EU Special Representative for Afghanistan Francesc Vendrell and AAN’s co-director Thomas Ruttig. Both Francesc and Thomas were part of the UN mission before 9/11 and they share their experience of reaching out to Taliban for peace talks.  

6 Jun 2018 AAN Guests • Podcasts

Surrounding the Cities: The meaning of the latest battle for Farah (I)

An attack on Farah city had long been feared. For years now, the Taleban have been taking control of the provincial capital’s outlying districts and inching their way towards the central hub. For a few days in mid-May, it looked as though the Taleban were about to take Farah city, which would have been their […]

6 Jun 2018 Ali Mohammad Sabawoon • Obaid Ali • Rohullah Sorush • Thomas Ruttig • War and Peace

Multi-panel discussion at the U.S. Institute of Peace

The Long Search for Peace in Afghanistan – Top-Down and Bottom-Up Efforts AAN’s co-director Kate Clark will be speaking at the the U.S. Institute of Peace on Thursday, June 7 during a multi-panel discussion on practical steps for the search for peace in Afghanistan. The event will examine the issue from two crucial perspectives: the top-down effort […]

5 Jun 2018 Sudhansu Verma • Events

How to End the Afghan War? A new publication on peace reviewed

A new short book-length report, “Incremental peace in Afghanistan” looks at what is needed to end the Afghan conflict. It explores the many drivers towards the war continuing – external backing for both sides, the war economy and basic persisting disputes about power-sharing – but also details what could drive a peace process – the […]

2 Jun 2018 Kate Clark • War and Peace