Afghanistan Analysts Network – English

Thomas Ruttig

Analysts: Taliban worried Islamic State could become serious political competitor

AAN •

Stars and Stripes, 19 June 2015 In this report about the Taleban warning letter to the Islamic State, AAN’s Borhan Osman is quoted: “It is difficult to imagine enthusiasm for (Islamic State) emerging among common Afghans. However, tribal grievances towards the Taliban in communities which are not under government control could help (Islamic State) recruiters to […]

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Was Double Government in Afghanistan a Folly?

AAN •

The Diplomat, 19 June 2015 Catherine Putz, Special Projects Editor at The Diplomat, a international current-affairs magazine for the Asia-Pacific region, reviews Noah Arjomand’s AAN report about ‘double government‘ by foreign interveners during the First Anglo-Afghan War and nowadays: So what can be learned? Arjomand is careful not to dismiss the reformist goals of such double governments, but he aims […]

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Krieg unter Brüdern: Taliban schreiben an IS

AAN •

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 16 June 2015 In an article analysing the Taleban letter to IS (Daesh), the German daily quotes AAN information about Mullah Mansur Dadullah and his possible alignment with the IS: Nach Informationen der Denkfabrik „Afghanistan Analysts Network“ hatte er sich aber später mit den Taliban überworfen. Seinen Namen hatten afghanische Politiker jüngst im […]

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Time to Negotiate in Afghanistan: How to Talk to the Taliban

Thomas Ruttig •

Foreign Affairs, 16 June 2015 This extensive article reviews the “unexpected strides toward [peace] talks” over the past few months, made by Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban and argues that “the United States must seize the moment, doing what it can to move the peace process forward.” It quotes AAN’s Thomas Ruttig: “If the […]

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Ikke forvent fred i Afghanistan med det første

Thomas Ruttig •

Afterposten, 16 June 2016 The Norwegian daily reports about a meeting, at Oslo Forum, that includes Taleban and what it calls “Afghan minorities” representatives. It quotes AAN’s Thomas Ruttig: Likevel er møtet på Losby Gods nyttig, mener den tyske analytikeren Thomas Ruttig, meddirektør i den uavhengige forskningsgruppen Afghanistan Analysts Network. – Dette er ikke samtaler, […]

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Zukunft für Afghanistan: Dialog mit den Taliban

Thomas Ruttig •

Tageszeitung, 13 June 2015 Op-ed (in German) by AAN’s Thomas Ruttig on the track II meetings organised by the non-governmental Pugwash Conference between Taleban members and politicians and civil society members from Kabul. He argues that the ‘Kabul side’ was much less prepared for the talks then the Taleban, result of the blockade of any […]

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Ohne Kupfer kein Frieden? Gespräche mit Taliban in Afghanistan

Thomas Ruttig •

Tageszeitung (Berlin), 12 June 2015 An op-ed article by AAN’s Thomas Ruttig on the statement by Afghanistan’s new mining minister Daud Shah Saba that puts in question one of the most important economic projects of the country, the Chinese exploitation of a copper mine near Kabul – and might have negative repercussions on China’s role […]

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Aynak copper mine extraction project not in Afghanistan’s interest

AAN •

Khaama, 3 June 2015 This is what Afghanistan’s new Mining and Petroleum Minister Daud Shah Saba told the Lower House of the Parliament – and would be a major shift in Afghan politics. “Saba said he will refrain from the signing of the contract with previous terms and conditions. He said there have been no progress […]

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Unzufriedene Studenten sympathisieren mit dem IS

Thomas Ruttig •

Deutschlandfunk, 2 June 2015 The German public radio station’s website publishes an article – mainly based on a transcribed interview – with AAN’s Thomas Ruttig about tendencies of radicalisation among Afghan students. AAN’s Borhan Osman is also quoted.

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Cold turkey and shackles – how Afghan ‘clinic’ helps drug addicts

AAN •

The Guardian, 1 June 2015 A mind-blowing reportage from Uruzgan’s provincial capital, where the only modern clinic for drug addicts had to close as a result of foreign aid cuts and where the only remaining alternative is a local private initiative, open only to men, expensive – and most basic: patients get shackled and are […]

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Amid Deteriorating Ties With Pakistan, Afghan Leader Makes Tough Demands

AAN •

RFE/RL, 30 May 2015 Abubakar Siddique’s Ganghara blog reports that “insiders at the Arg presidential palace in Kabul have confirmed” that Afghan president Ghani “has demanded that Islamabad end its longstanding support for the Afghan Taliban… in a letter to Pakistani civilian and military leaders… [and] requested specific steps to end the Taliban’s sanctuary in […]

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The (officially defunct) Taleban office in al-Khor, Qatar. Photo: ToloNews.

Pushing Open the Door to Peace? Pugwash organises next round of Taleban talks in Qatar

Thomas Ruttig •

Preparations are on-going for what are labelled “non-official” talks between Afghans of “different parties.” Organised by the non-governmental academic network, the Pugwash Conference, this will be a follow up to a first round of such talks held in Qatar on 2 and 3 May 2015 which brought members of the two biggest insurgent organisations – […]

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