Afghanistan Analysts Network – English

Thomas Ruttig

Afghan Spy Agency Enlists Villagers to Hold Off Islamic State

AAN •

Wall Street Journal, 5 April 2016 The US newspaper reports the mechanisms, funding and an example in Kot district of the People’s Uprising Program, a new paramilitary armament programme “to hold territory the army has recaptured from Islamic State in three districts” of Nangrahar. The fighters, “more than a thousand men [in Kot alone], … are […]

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Top Picks: From Unfairy Tales to Great Expectations

AAN •

IRIN, 1 April 2016 Jelena Bjelica’s AAN dispatch about Afghanistan’s landless returnees has made it into the picks of the day of the formerly UN-related and now independent news agency, with link to our website: Afghanistan’s landless returnees People returning to Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban make up about 20 percent of the […]

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Official: Afghanistan corruption urgent issue after years of futile efforts

AAN •

Stars and Stripes, 1 April 2016 In an article, reporting a speech of US SIGAR John F. Sopko that “corruption undermines the legitimacy and viability of the Afghan state and fuels grievances that strengthen insurgents like the Taliban”, AAN’s Kate Clark is extensively quoted, on another aspect, namely the west’s role in fueling corruption: “Corruption […]

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Afghanistan: President Ghani seeks return of migrants

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BBC, 31 March 2016 Exploring the /security and otherwise) context of President Ghani’s expression of a lack of sympathy for Afghans leaving their country, the BBC’s Yalda Hakim also refers to a recent AAN analysis by guest author Rahmatullah Amiri : … according to the independent Afghan Analysts Network, the Taliban are now better organised, better equipped […]

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Afghanistan-Experte warnt vor gefährlicher Sicherheitslage am Hindukusch

Thomas Ruttig •

Evangelischer Pressedienst, 31 March 2016 Full interview with AAN’s Thomas Ruttig (in German) before his 31 March presentation about the Afghan security and refugee situation in the German city of Bremen, by the German church-financed but independent news agency.

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For Refugees, Returning to Afghanistan Is Easier Said Than Done

AAN •

The Diplomat, 30 March 2016 Another extensive refugee-related quote of AAN, here from an AAN dispatch Jelena Bjelica authored: Unfortunately, those that return to Afghanistan are still in for considerable uncertainty. In a recent report for the Afghanistan Analysts Network, Jelena Bjelica dives into why many Afghan returnees remain landless, despite several laws and initiatives that […]

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Screenshot of a Svenska Dagbladet newspaper article picture: "Refugees from Afghanistan coming ashore on Lesbos in Greece..." (Photo Credit: YANNIS BEHRAKIS / Reuters)

31 March: AAN in Bremen on „Secure Zones in Afghanistan?“

Thomas Ruttig •

„Secure Zones in Afghanistan?“ Presentation and discussion with AAN co-director Thomas Ruttig (in German)   Time: Thursday, 31 March 2016, 7:00pm   Venue: Gewerkschaftshaus, Bremen Bahnhofsplatz 22 – 28 / Haupteingang: An der Weide Tivoli-Saal   Organisers: Afghanisch-Deutsche Kulturinitiative e.V.,
 Bremer Informationszentrum für Menschenrechte und Entwicklung (biz), DGB Bremen, Flüchtlingsrat Bremen,
Bremer Friedensforum   Afghanistan, after Syria, […]

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Prospects of Taliban Peace Talks Dim as Front Lines Shift

AAN •

AP, 25 March 2016 Kathy Gannon’s report about the chances of peace talks quotes from AAN’s recent analysis of the situation in Helmand: A report released this month by the independent Afghan [sic] Analysts Network offered a breakdown of the southern Helmand province, showing the Taliban in control of parts of many districts and all […]

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9 things to know today: March 25: Prospects of Taliban peace talks dim as front lines shift

AAN •

Holland Sentinel, 25 March 2016 The Michigan-based daily included our Helmand dispatch among its “9 things to know today” on it website.

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Rücknahme afghanischer Flüchtlinge: EU erwägt Hilfsentzug für Kabul

Thomas Ruttig •

Tageszeitung, 23 March 2016 Thomas Ruttig’s guest article about the draft EU non-paper envisioning the deportation of 80,000 Afghans from EU countries and threatening to use EU aid as ‘leverage’ against the Afghan government so far unwilling to take back those Afghans to be deported against their will.

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In secret meetings, Taliban rejected Pakistan pressure on peace process

AAN •

Reuters, 14 March 2016 The agency reports that the Taleban Supreme (actually: Leadership) Council, after “secret meetings with Pakistani officials about two weeks ago … met at an undisclosed location and voted to reject the talks scheduled for early March with the Afghan government, according to a council member” – indicating how badly prepared the short-notice […]

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Afghanistan’s surprisingly predictable economic crash

AAN •

IRIN, 14 March 2016 Interesting wrap-up, with some new figures and assessments by the US SIGAR and ex-World Banker Bill Byrd. For example that the average yearly income per person in Afghanistan fell from $730 in 2013 to $680 the following year due to the post-withdrawal economic downturn.

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