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AAN’s Ali Yawar Adili discusses the preparations for the elections in Afghanistan. Episode: 2 – March 2018

AAN’s Ali Yawar Adili discusses the various dynamics related to the preparation of elections in Afghanistan.  

11 Apr 2018 Ali Yawar Adili • Podcasts

Climbing on China’s Priority List: Views on Afghanistan from Beijing

Since the never completed withdrawal of NATO troops in Afghanistan, China has become more involved in one of its most conflictive neighbour’s affairs. It has offered to connect the country with its multi-billion dollar project, the Belt and Road Initiative, which includes the so-called Chinese-Pakistan Economic Corridor. AAN’s co-director Thomas Ruttig has found – after […]

10 Apr 2018 Thomas Ruttig • Regional Relations

An ICC Delay: Court postpones decision on whether to investigate war crimes in Afghanistan

The International Criminal Court has announced a delay in deciding whether or not to authorise an investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity by American and Afghan government forces and Taleban and other insurgent groups in Afghanistan. A decision had been expected during the last month, but a routine changeover of the Court’s judges […]

7 Apr 2018 Kate Clark • Rights and Freedoms

Pressure to return? Afghan refugees protest at Indonesian detention centre

Afghan refugees in an Indonesian detention centre have been protesting for over two months. As is the case for most Afghan refugees in the country, they must live in centres scattered across the 16,000 or so islands, although they have been granted refugee status by UNHCR. AAN guest author Amy Pitonak (*) spoke to Afghan […]

3 Apr 2018 Amy Pitonak • Migration

Coming Home to Kabul: A Mughal art exhibition opens in the cradle of King Babur’s Empire

The display of 72 paintings from the mid-sixteenth century Mughal period in Kabul as well as late sixteenth and seventeenth century Indian Mughal paintings opened in the Queen’s Pavilion of Babur’s Garden in Kabul on 31 March 2018. This, as well as an earlier exhibition in Herat’s Citadel in December 2017 showcasing fifteenth century Tîmûrid […]

31 Mar 2018 Jelena Bjelica • Kate Clark • Context and Culture

2018 Afghan National Budget 2: Deals done with MPs to get budget through parliament

Figures for the 2018 Afghan budget are in the public realm and show that, despite government attempts to clean up its finances, Afghanistan’s Members of Parliament (MPs) were, once again, ‘given’ projects to persuade them to vote the budget through. The draft budget presented to parliament in November 2017 had been almost balanced; the one […]

26 Mar 2018 Kate Clark • Economy, Development, Environment

Happy Nawruz: Wishing peace and happiness to AAN readers

After a cold winter, spring has finally arrived. By 1 Hamal 1397, in every corner of Kabul city, greenhouses are being reopened with a variety of trees and flowers on sale. AAN team would link to wish all our readers and friends a blessed and peaceful year. We wanted to brighten up your day (further) […]

21 Mar 2018 AAN Team • Context and Culture

Tilting at Windmills: Dubious US claims of targeting Chinese Uyghur militants in Badakhshan

In early February 2018, US forces conducted airstrikes in Afghanistan’s north-eastern province of Badakhshan, supposedly targeting ‘support structures’ of the ‘East Turkistan Islamic Movement’ (ETIM), allegedly a group of Uyghur extremists hailing from China’s far west said to be focused on attacking the Chinese state. (1) United States Forces – Afghanistan claimed the strikes targeted […]

19 Mar 2018 Franz J Marty • Ted Callahan • Regional Relations

AAN’s Ali Yawar Adili discusses the preparations for the elections in Afghanistan. Episode: 1 – February 2018

AAN’s Ali Yawar Adili discusses the various dynamics related to the preparation of elections in Afghanistan.  

13 Mar 2018 Ali Yawar Adili • Podcasts

Battle for Faryab: Fighting intensifies on one of Afghanistan’s major frontlines

An intense battle is under way near the city of Maimana, the capital of Faryab. In this northern province, the Taleban gained control over a majority of districts over 2017, including all of those close to the provincial capital, which is practically under siege. They also threaten the national ring road and important provincial roads. […]

12 Mar 2018 Obaid Ali • Thomas Ruttig • War and Peace

Afghanistan Election Conundrum (5): A late demand to change the electoral system

A group of influential political parties have called for a change to the electoral system. This emerged out of the ongoing dispute between one of the parties, predominantly Tajik Jamiat-e Islami, and the presidential palace over the contested dismissal of Balkh Governor Atta Muhammad Nur. The group wants political parties to have a greater role […]

8 Mar 2018 Ali Yawar Adili • Political Landscape

AAN at 6 March 2018 Vienna event: “Afghanistan in Pakistan”

Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan refugees over decades. 2016 it began, however, to push them out in masses. The deported Afghans return into a country with a  catastrophic security situation.  Their situation will be discussed on a podium which includes AA’s Jelena Bjelica.   Time and location Tuesday, 6 March 2018, 19:00 – 21:00 […]

6 Mar 2018 AAN • Events

Precarious Consolidation: Qari Hekmat’s IS-affiliated ‘island’ survives another Taleban onslaught

Qari Hekmat, a self-proclaimed IS commander in control of parts of Jawzjan, has survived another Taleban attempt to oust him from the area in January 2018. Following this, he attempted – without success – to take a district centre in the province from government control. AAN’s Obaid Ali has compiled additional information about how he […]

4 Mar 2018 Obaid Ali • War and Peace

Thematic Dossier XVII: Peace Talks (2)

In the light of Kabul Process meeting that brought together 23 countries, the UN, the NATO and the EU to the Afghan capital to discuss peace in Afghanistan on 28 February 2018, AAN prepared a new thematic dossier, which brings together in one place all of its relevant reporting on peace efforts in Afghanistan from […]

1 Mar 2018 AAN Team • Dossiers

Who shall cease the fire first? Afghanistan’s peace offer to the Taleban

The second meeting of the Kabul Process for Peace and Security Cooperation that was held in the Afghan capital on 28 February 2018 marked a change in the peace rhetoric. The Afghan government presented some very concrete proposals for peace talks with the Taleban. It came with a few conditions (not called as such) – mainly […]

1 Mar 2018 Jelena Bjelica • Thomas Ruttig • War and Peace

The Road to Turkestan or: More Theses on Peacemaking in Afghanistan. Manifesto No 2

Author’s Note: The title and the theme of this set of theses refer to Barnett Rubin’s “Theses on Peacemaking in Afghanistan: A Manifesto” published in War on the Rocks on 23 February 2018 (read here). But these theses will mainly scrutinise Afghanistan’s internal institutional crisis that needs to be addressed in order to improve the […]

28 Feb 2018 Thomas Ruttig • International Engagement

ICC reports: “Victims Overwhelmingly Support” Investigation into War Crimes in Afghanistan

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has published its findings from victims who suffered war crimes in relation to the Afghan conflict, either in Afghanistan or in other countries. The victims mentioned murder, rape, forced disappearance, attacks against civilians and pillage. The ICC report said victims’ backing for an ICC investigation was “overwhelming” with 98 per […]

26 Feb 2018 Kate Clark • Rights and Freedoms

[The history of Afghanistan’s relationship with the ICC at a glance]

AIHRC Magazine (ماه نامه حقوق بشر), Feb. 2018 Another AAN external publication: Guest article by AAN’s Ehsan Qaane, about the role of special courts in the prosecution of ministers alleged of corruption (in Dari, not online).  

24 Feb 2018 AAN • External publications

The E-Tazkera Rift: Yet another political crisis looming?

The roll out of electronic national identity cards, also known as the e-tazkera has begun, heating up a contentious political debate, which had been simmering since 2013. That debate centres on whether the new ID should mention the holder’s ethnicity, and his or her nationality using the term ‘Afghan’ and in particular whether the words […]

22 Feb 2018 Ali Yawar Adili • Jelena Bjelica • Political Landscape

Nine Per Cent Reduction in Civilian Casualties in 2017: Better news (but still bad)

For the first time since 2012, UNAMA has recorded a year-on-year decrease – of nine per cent – in civilian casualties sustained during the Afghan conflict. This relatively good news still meant that more than ten thousand civilians were killed and injured during 2017. There are glimmers of hope in UNAMA’s report; the Afghan National […]

15 Feb 2018 Kate Clark • War and Peace