Afghanistan Analysts Network – English

Thomas Ruttig

Tatort Schule: Unterricht in Kriegsgebieten

Thomas Ruttig •

Tageszeitung, 24 July 2018 In this compilation of short reports from various countries, reflecting the recently published report on violence against schools, teachers and pupils, AAN’s Thomas Ruttig reports about Afghanistan, highlighting the changed Taleban policy on state schools (control rather then destroy) and the growing IS threat.

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Afghan peace process requires a neutral mediator

AAN •

Financial Times, 19 July 2018 Ahmed Rashid makes an important point in this opinion piece, advocating for a neutral mediator or supervisor for US-Taleban talks – arguing that Starting negotiations is a good thing, but the current opportunity could be squandered if the US goes about the process in the wrong way. (…) So far, […]

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Washington will mit Taliban sprechen

Thomas Ruttig •

Tageszeitung, 18 July 2018 In this guest article for the Berlin-based daily, AAN’s Thomas Ruttig summarises latest reports that the White House had ordered diplomats to seek direct talks with the Taleban and break the diplomatic deadlock between the insurgents and the government. He also indicates that the form of US proposals indicates that Washington […]

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Time to hit the political reset button in Afghanistan

AAN •

Asia Times online, 18 July 2018 Afghan analyst Haroun Mir makes a number of valid points on the proposed US-Taleban talks, namely thatthe Afghan government “lost the peace momentum because of the absence of a consensus among key members of the governing coalition”, adding that “the Afghan political elite in Kabul, instead of closing ranks […]

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[Paktika:] Grim Figures for Maternal Mortality

AAN •

IWPR, 4 July 2018 There are no official figures available for maternal mortality in Paktika, but Waligul [the provincial director of public health for Paktika] estimated that between 80 and 90 babies died during delivery each month, with an annual total of around 1,000. (…) “We only have one female doctor to serve 250,000 women in […]

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“Deutschland hilft den Falschen”: Die Fehler der Aufbauhilfe in Afghanistan

Thomas Ruttig •

Deutschlandfunk, 3 July 2018 In this ca 45 minutes-long feature for the German public radio station, author Marc Thörner looks into an example of less than transparent German development financing in Mazar-e Sharif which indirectly might have helped to cement former governor Atta’s rule. Thomas Ruttig is one of the interviewees, talking about the political situation […]

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Afghan President Ends Cease-fire with Taliban

Thomas Ruttig •

Voice of America, 30 June 2018 In a report about President Ghani ending the unilateral ceasefire with the Taleban, the US government-funded radio station writes, quoting AAN research: But observers have been and remain skeptical of Afghan government-led efforts to engage in a peace process with the Taliban, saying the group sees the U.S. as […]

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Statement by Ambassador Alice G. Wells, Senior Bureau Official for South and Central Asian Affairs, Before the House Foreign Affairs Committee

AAN •

US Government, 20 June 2018 Read an outline on the US Afghanistan strategy, on negotiations with the Taleban, pressure on Pakistan, elections and the region.

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Who`s the strictest? A mapping of the Afghanistan [migration] policies in Western European countries

AAN •

NOAS, April 2018 This report by the Norwegian NGO NOAS provides some new insight into Afghanistan-related migration policies in Western Europe. In the summary, the report says: As the only country in Western Europe, Italy has declared the whole of Afghanistan as unsafe. Norway, Sweden, Finland and Switzerland have defined insecure areas based on updated security […]

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Feasts, Hugs, And Selfies: A Tantalizing Glimpse Of Possible Afghan Peace

Thomas Ruttig •

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 24 June 2018 Reporting the positive popular outpour over the Eid ceasefires, author Frud Bezhan briefly quotes AAN’s Thomas Ruttig from a longer interview via social media: “The cease-fire showed that public pressure for peace is growing,” said Thomas Ruttig, co-director of the Afghanistan Analysts Network, an independent think tank in […]

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Prospects for U.S.-Taliban talks rise after Afghan ceasefire

Thomas Ruttig •

Reuters, 19 June 2018 AAN’s Thomas ruttig is quoted here as saying: “Ghani has done his bit,” said Thomas Ruttig, co-director of Afghanistan Analysts Network, an independent think tank. “It is now for the U.S. to cut through this blockade,” he said, although that would be a departure from U.S. policy that talks to end […]

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Friedensprozess in Afghanistan: Taliban verlängern Feuerpause nicht

Thomas Ruttig •

Tageszeitung, 18 June 2018 AAN’s Thomas Ruttig summarises the events around the two Eid ceasefires in Afghanistan, saying that despite the fact that the Taleban did not extend it, it might open a new door toward peace talks, as the ceasefire showed that such measures can be implemented and that the Taleban are also capable […]

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