Another hurdle for elections in 2016: MPs reject presidential decree on electoral commissions Had MPs approved the presidential legislative decree ‘reforming’ the electoral commissions, Afghanistan would now be significantly closer to holding parliamentary and district elections. (And the National Unity Government could have claimed to be pushing forward on electoral reform, something required by the agreement that established it.) However, after three days of ill-mannered discussion, MPs roundly […] 17 Jun 2016 Ali Yawar Adili • Kate Clark • Lenny Linke • Salima Ahmadi • Political Landscape
Raftan, Raftan: How young Afghans from Herat end up in the Syrian war Much has been reported about how Afghan men, mostly young Shias, are being incentivised or coerced by Iran into fighting on the side of the Assad regime in Syria. There has been little study, however, of how exactly they end up in Syria. Said Reza Kazemi (*) has been tracking a 22 year-old Shia Afghan […] 14 Jun 2016 S Reza Kazemi • Regional Relations
Pushing the Parliament to Accept a Decree: Another Election without Reform? Afghanistan’s electoral reform process, that was supposed to be a precondition for the next ballot, has been excruciatingly slow and has culminated in a watered-down version of its original mandate. The delays mean that it has by now become practically impossible to hold elections this year. The presidential palace, however, continues to insist that both elections […] 10 Jun 2016 Ali Yawar Adili • Martine van Bijlert • Political Landscape
Power to the People (3): Perspectives from Bamyan The TUTAP commission established by President Ghani following massive protests recently decided in favour of the Salang route for a north-south power line. The commission ruled further that Bamyan should get its own 220KV power line by 2019. This is a balanced solution in the midst of crisis, meant to temper ethnic tensions that arose […] 5 Jun 2016 Jelena Bjelica • Thomas Ruttig • Economy, Development, Environment
AAN Co-director, Thomas Ruttig on Swiss Radio, Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen – May 2016 AAN’s Co-director Thomas Ruttig on SRF Radio discussing about the change in the Taleban leadership and chances for peace. 31 May 2016 Thomas Ruttig • Podcasts
Struggling to Get a Quorum in Parliament: Fiddling the figures and suspending MPs The lower house of the Afghan parliament has always struggled with attendance. However, during the current legislative year, which began in March, it has been rare for it to get a quorum (ie a majority of MPs attending). With two thirds of all plenary sessions inquorate, many laws on the agenda could not be voted […] 31 May 2016 Lenny Linke • Salima Ahmadi • Political Landscape
When The Political Agreement Runs Out: On the future of Afghanistan’s National Unity Government The National Unity Government (NUG), which was created to solve the impasse caused by the bitterly disputed 2014 presidential elections, has come under intense criticism for a wide range of real and perceived failures. Its position has also been called into question by uncertainty over whether, based on the text of the political agreement, its […] 29 May 2016 Martine van Bijlert • Ali Yawar Adili • Political Landscape
Taleban in Transition: How Mansur’s death and Haibatullah’s ascension may affect the war (and peace) The killing of Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansur in an American drone strike has deprived the Taleban of their official, and before that, de facto leader of six years. Mansur had shaped the movement profoundly – leaving it stronger militarily, but with more internal dissension. His successor, Mullah Haibatullah, is an austere, pious man with higher religious […] 27 May 2016 Borhan Osman • War and Peace
AAN’s Thomas Ruttig on the new Afghan Taleban Leader – May, 2016 AAN’s Co-director Thomas Ruttig on VOA News discussing the new leader of Afghan Taleban, Mullah Haibatullah. 27 May 2016 Thomas Ruttig • Podcasts
Almost Signed? The peace agreement with Hezb-e Islami On 18 May 2016, two delegations representing respectively the insurgent faction of Hezb-e Islami-ye Afghanistan and the Afghan High Peace Council (HPC) initialled a draft peace agreement that should end Hezb’s armed struggle. The status of the document – and whether it may still be subject to changes – is not fully clear, but there is […] 21 May 2016 Martine van Bijlert • Thomas Ruttig • War and Peace
Deciding to Leave Afghanistan (3): What happens after arrival in Europe AAN has done a series of twelve in-depth interviews with families of Afghans who recently travelled to Europe. The conversations provided a fascinating insight into the practicalities of both the decision making processes and the journey, the complex interplay between economic and security considerations and the mixed feelings families often have once their loved ones […] 19 May 2016 Martine van Bijlert • Migration
Deciding To Leave Afghanistan (2): The routes and the risks AAN has done a series of twelve in-depth interviews with families of Afghans who recently travelled to Europe. The conversations provided a fascinating insight into the practicalities of both the decision making processes and the journey, the complex interplay between economic and security considerations and the mixed feelings families often have once their loved ones […] 18 May 2016 Jelena Bjelica • Migration
Power to the People (2): The TUTAP protests When protesters interrupted President Ashraf Ghani’s speech in London three times on 13 May 2016, the heated controversy surrounding the route of TUTAP, a main electricity grid initiative, received even international attention. In Afghanistan, the tensions have been simmering since January 2016 when Hazara members of the government started trying to prevent a potential rerouting of […] 16 May 2016 Thomas Ruttig • Economy, Development, Environment
Old Names for the NDS and Defence Ministry: NUG proposes Stanakzai and Abdullah Khan, again. The National Unity Government (NUG) has finally moved to fill the last two vacant key posts in the national cabinet, those of defence minister and head of the intelligence agency. In the climate of mistrust between its two camps, it was not easy to identify mutually acceptable candidates – and, so, the names are neither […] 13 May 2016 Thomas Ruttig • Political Landscape
Afghanistan’s Latest Executions: Responding to calls for capital punishment On the president’s order, six convicts sentenced to death were executed by hanging in Pol-e Charkhi prison on the morning of 8 May 2016. The executions came after the president’s speech at the joint session of both houses of Parliament on 25 April 2016, in which he announced that the time for unjustified amnesty was […] 11 May 2016 Ehsan Qaane • Jelena Bjelica • Rights and Freedoms
Deciding To Leave Afghanistan (1): Motives for migration AAN has done a series of twelve in-depth interviews with families of Afghans who recently travelled to Europe. The conversations provided a fascinating insight into the practicalities of both the decision making processes and the journey, the complex interplay between economic and security considerations and the mixed feelings families often have once their loved ones […] 8 May 2016 Lenny Linke • Migration
“No Microphone for the President”: Can Radio Television Afghanistan still become a public service broadcaster? Turning government-run Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA) into a public service broadcaster, a symbol of a democratic state, has been on the agenda of both donors and the Afghan government since 2002. However, only small, cosmetic changes have so far been made. As a result, many argue that this goal is no longer realistic. The overstaffed, […] 1 May 2016 Jelena Bjelica • Context and Culture
Ghani’s Speech to the Parliament: A hardening position on war, peace and Pakistan President Ghani’s speech to the Afghan parliament, in an extraordinary joint session on 25 April 2016, was unprecedented. Made in response to demands that he clarify the government’s security policies, the televised speech was sober and dignified, and detailed the government’s hardening stance against Pakistan, the Haqqani network, Daesh and “parts of the Taleban.” Although, […] 27 Apr 2016 Martine van Bijlert • War and Peace
“We Knew They Had No Future in Kabul”: Why and How Afghan Families Decide to Leave The increasing number of refugees and migrants arriving across Europe has led to heated debates and an increased political polarisation between pro and anti-refugee movements and parties. Afghans are now the second largest group entering the European Union. A recent study by AAN and FES explores the reasons behind Afghanistan’s increased migration, by focusing on […] 27 Apr 2016 AAN Team • External publications
Discussion: The obligations and jurisdictions of the ICC and Government of Afghanistan at AKCU Afghanistan Analysts Network in association with Afghanistan Center at Kabul University, and the Transitional Justice Coordination Group is organising a symposium to discuss “the obligations of the ICC and Government of Afghanistan pursuant to the provisions of the Rome Statute and the interactions between these two institutes in the last thirteen years”, with purpose of providing the correct and important […] 26 Apr 2016 admin • Events
