Afghanistan Analysts Network – English

Sudhansu Verma

Afghanistan: A Moderate Defies the Taliban

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The Daily Beast, 25 April 2012 The Newsweek blog protraits Agha Jan Mutassim who once headed the Taleban political commission, would have been their chief negotiator in this position, was sidelined and almost killed by his former comrades and now resides in Ankara.

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In Afghanistan, underground girls school defies Taliban edict, threats

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Washington Post, 25 April 2012 So back to square 1? A report about an underground girls school in a Taleban-controlled area, sounds like from the year 2000 or so. WE can just hope that the author changed the name of the village…

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Reading the Asia Foundation’s Afghan Voter Behavior Survey

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Registan (blog), 25 April 2012 Oliver Lough does something very useful: without dismissing it altogether, he looks at TAF’s polling in Afghanistan and puts his finger on the point which is valid for all polls in Afghanistan: ‘Just make sure to keep in mind, as you leaf through all of those pleasing percentages, of the […]

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U.S. soldier’s gift to Afghan workers at her base underscores divide

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Washington Post, 24 April 2012 Another heart-breaking story about a good intentioned (female) US soldier who failed with her private form of aid.

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Taliban far from defeated in Australian zone: report

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The Age, 22 April 2012 Australian newspapers report about a TLO report assessing the situation at the eve of the country’s troops’ withdrawal that has been censored by the country’s authorities that originally had commissioned it. Among other, it states that Taliban still control almost half of the Afghan province where Australian forces operate, and […]

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Meet the Pentagon Contractor That Ran a Disinformation Campaign Against Two USA Today Reporters

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Gawker (blog), 20 April 2012 Although it is not clear whether all the details in the article are accurate, the case provides a fascinating taste of the murky world of ‘information operations’ and their unaccountable contractors.

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9 May 2012: Afghanistan: Deux mondes qui s’affrontent. Imaginaire ou réalité ?

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In cooperation with the Libre Examen, AAN is organising a half day seminar in Brussels to explore the perceptions and realities of the international engagement and conflict in Afghanistan. From their different perspectives the speakers at the seminar have been asked to reflect on the current situation in Afghanistan – and especially on the meaning […]

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‘Let Our People Live’: Herat Activists Call for End to War

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Tolo News, 19 April 2012 The Kabul-based private TV station reports about a rare civil society-organised pro-peace demonstration in Herat, although not giving the number of participants.

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New approach needed to end Afghanistan’s insurgency

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Global Post, 19 April 2012 Louise Arbour, president of the International Crisis Group and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, urges the UN to replace the US as the lead peace negotiator in Afghanistan: ‘The Security Council should adopt a resolution to appoint a team of negotiators and an individual to lead it as […]

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Taliban paid ‘protection money’ by Afghan government

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The Telegraph, 16 April 2012 Article points to the possibility of corruption, internal disputes, disciplinary measures and nervousness within the Taleban ranks, based on the internal ‘arrest’ of three high-ranking commanders.

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4 May 2012: The EU in International Affairs III

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AAN discusses the EU’s role for promoting human rights in Afghanistan at the VUB conference about EU and international affairs. For more information about the conference, click here.

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Profiting in Afghanistan

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The Washington Post, 14 April 2012 Another interesting contractor: The US Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) on Feb. 1 approved a $330 million five-month extension on a five-year contract that now totals $2.3 billion: It provides more than 8,000 interpreters working for US forces at 200 sites in Afghanistan. The company’s name is Mission […]

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