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Working in a ‘Grey Zone’: ICRC forced to scale back its work in Afghanistan

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has said it has “no other choice but to drastically reduce its presence and activities in Afghanistan, in particular in the north of the country.” The decision follows three attacks on its staff in less than a year, including the worst suffered by the organisation worldwide in […]

10 Oct 2017 Kate Clark • Rights and Freedoms

Thematic Dossier XVI: Afghanistan’s War Crimes Amnesty and the International Criminal Court

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is currently pondering whether to open an investigation into war crimes committed in Afghanistan since 2003, allegedly by the Taleban, the American military and CIA and Afghan government forces. In order to provide context to this possible investigation, AAN is publishing a dossier that brings together our reporting on amnesty […]

7 Oct 2017 AAN Team • Dossiers

Expanding Afghanistan’s Special Operations Forces: Doubling their success or further diluting their mission?

One of the key elements of the Afghan government’s Road Map for pushing back the insurgency is increasing the fighting capabilities of Afghan government forces. This includes the expansion of the Afghan National Army’s (ANA) praised special operations forces. However, this expansion is spurring already existing tendencies that are turning these units into shock troops, […]

2 Oct 2017 Franz J Marty • War and Peace

Bracing for Attacks on Ashura: Extra security measures for Shia mourners

The Afghan government is arming local civilians and strengthening the police presence across the country to try to protect Shia Muslim places of worship in the run-up to Ashura. The commemoration will take place this Sunday (1 October 2017). With these last-minute measures, the government is reacting to demands from the community and criticism that […]

30 Sep 2017 AAN Team • Thomas Ruttig • War and Peace

AAN’s Kate Clark on Trump administration’s new policy for Afghanistan – September 2017

AAN’s Kate Clark looks at President Trump’s ‘new strategy’ for Afghanistan.  

30 Sep 2017 Kate Clark • Podcasts

Afghan Government Revenue Continues to Grow: A bright spot in a weak economy

In the first eight months of 2017, Afghan government revenues grew by nearly 13 per cent compared to the same period of 2016. This follows on from strong revenue performances in 2015 and 2016 and is one of the few positive trends in the Afghan economy, in contrast to its continuing weak overall showing in […]

27 Sep 2017 Bill Byrd • M Khalid Payenda • Economy, Development, Environment

The New Kabul ‘Green Belt’ Security Plan: More Security for Whom?

Following the devastating 31 May 2017 bomb attack in the Afghan capital, President Ashraf Ghani commissioned his security experts to develop a new security plan for Kabul. Although apparently not officially approved or fully funded yet, the plan called the ‘Zarghun Belt’ (Green Belt) was announced in mid-August. Jelena Bjelica and Kate Clark (with input […]

25 Sep 2017 Jelena Bjelica • Kate Clark • War and Peace

More Militias? Part 2: The proposed Afghan Territorial Army in the fight against ISKP

In recent days, Afghan government officials have raised the possibility of standing up a new militia force, the Afghan Territorial Army (ATA), modelled after both its Indian namesake and the Afghan Local Police (ALP). AAN understands that President Ghani is currently considering a pilot project for the ATA in the Achin and Kot districts of […]

23 Sep 2017 Borhan Osman • Kate Clark • War and Peace

More Militias? Part 1: Déjà vu double plus with the proposed ‘Afghan Territorial Army’

The Afghan government and its United States military backers are considering standing up a new militia force, an army version of the Afghan Local Police (ALP) and modelled on the Indian Territorial Army. Officials claim this is their only option if isolated communities are to be protected from insurgents. Human rights groups have reacted with […]

21 Sep 2017 Kate Clark • War and Peace

Non-Pashtun Taleban of the North (4): A case study from Jawzjan

The Taleban have put in place administrative and military institutions in northern Jawzjan province that function relatively well. The shadow administrative posts are held by local non-Pashtuns. The recruitment of Uzbeks, in particular, has proved effective for the Taleban. However, Daesh’s appearance in this Uzbek-dominated province has created concerns, not only for the local government, […]

18 Sep 2017 Obaid Ali • War and Peace