Afghanistan Analysts Network – English

Thomas Ruttig

2 April 2014, Berlin: AAN at Taz Discussion

Thomas Ruttig •

"Afghanistan nach Karsai und ISAF" is the title of a discussion round organised by Berlin-based daily Tageszeitung (taz), in cooperation with the Afghanistan Analysts Network. On 5 April, Afghanistan elects a new president. With that, the era of Hamed Karzai who is in power since the overthrow of the Taleban ends. What did he achieve, what he did not? […]

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The Butter on the Bread: The Provincial Councils’ fight for extended authority

Thomas Ruttig •

For more than two weeks, now, the campaign for the provincial council (PC) election has been running. It commenced on 4 March, and the presidential election that ends the era of President Hamed Karzai in Afghanistan’s highest office overshadows it. PC candidates and voters face one difficulty: the councils lack clearly defined authorities, which somewhat […]

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2 April 2014, London: AAN’s Francesc Vendrell at the Frontline Club

Thomas Ruttig •

“Who will lead Afghanistan?” is the question to be discussed at this session of the London-based Frontline Club’s “Fist Wedensday” panel series. gears up for a pivotal presidential election we will be bringing together a panel of experts to take an in-depth look at the candidates and what they are offering. “Who will lead Afghanistan?” is the […]

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2 April 2014, Berlin: AAN’s Thomas Ruttig at German Bundestag’s Public Hearing

Thomas Ruttig •

AAN’s Thomas Ruttig will be one of four experts invited to give statements at a public session of the German Bundestag’s (parliament’s) foreign affairs committee under the title “The ISAF mission – lessons learned” on 2 April this year in Berlin. Time: 2 April 2014, 12.30 pm Venue: Marie-Elisabeth-Lüders-Haus, room 3 101, Adele-Schreiber-Krieger-Straße 1, 10117 Berlin Prior registration […]

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External Publication: Einiges besser, nichts wirklich gut (Some things better, nothing really good)

Thomas Ruttig •

WeltTrends, January/February 2014 In this German-language article, AAN’s Thomas Ruttig attempts to draw a balance of the twelve years of the US/NATO-led intervention in Afghanistan. Looking at the security situation, the state of the insurgency, achievements and shortcomings in reconstruction, the economy and institution building and at the often-overlooked social situation of the population. He concludes that […]

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26 March 2014, Barcelona: Round Table with AAN on Afghan Elections

Thomas Ruttig •

“Afghanistan on the Brink of Change – Or ‘Status Quo Ante’?” is the title of a round table discussion organised and hosted by CIDOB , Barcelona, on Wednesday 26 March 2014, 12:00. Thomas Ruttig of the Afghanistan Analysts Network will discuss the political and security framework for the upcoming presidential elections, changes since 2009 and what may be […]

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‘Pen’ Joins ‘Radio’: Qayyum Karzai gives his support to Zalmai Rassul

Kate Clark • Thomas Ruttig •

Qayyum Karzai has announced he will be supporting the campaign of former foreign minister and national security advisor, Zalmai Rassul, in a “unification” of their presidential campaigns. This has given a significant boost to Rassul’s bid for Afghanistan’s highest office, by removing one of the two men considered to be a possible Palace choice. Indeed, […]

Political Landscape Read more

A Joint ‘Durrani’ Candidate for President? After the Unity Jirga in Kabul

Thomas Ruttig •

Tribal elders from most areas of the country came together in an attempt to reduce the field of Pashtun, and among them the Durrani, candidates. The jirga ended in a duel between the two main contenders, both of them close to the president. The meeting remained open to interpretation, after an initial vote apparently met the […]

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Bomb and Ballot: The many strands and tactics of Hezb-e Islami

Thomas Ruttig •

Hezb-e Islami Afghanistan – known as Hezb-e Islami of Gulbuddin, or HIG, in the West – has (almost) declared support for its former chief negotiator with Kabul as a candidate for the 5 April 2014 presidential election. This comes less than a week after it claimed the latest suicide car bomb attack in Kabul that […]

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Crossing the Bridge: The 25th anniversary of the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan

Thomas Ruttig •

It was the last hot conflict of the Cold War: the Soviet invasion and occupation of Afghanistan between Christmas 1979 and February 1989. 25 years ago today, the last Soviet soldiers left the country, defiantly waving their banners and insisting they had not lost. A truce with Ahmad Shah Massud, the main northern mujahedin leader, had […]

Context and Culture Read more

Re-plugging: The final list of presidential and vice-presidential candidates

Thomas Ruttig •

After some queries on social media and a check of several websites, including that of the Afghan Independent Election Commission,(1) there seems to be a lack of the complete final list of all tickets for the 5 April 2014 presidential election, particularly of the 11 contenders’ vice-presidential candidates. As a reference document, AAN’s co-director Thomas […]

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Afghan election campaigns kick off amid security threats

Thomas Ruttig •

al-Jazeera, 3 February 2014 In this round-up about the first day of the Afghan election campaign, AAN’s Thomas Ruttig is quoted as saying: “The main problem is the legitimacy of the result, and that needs to be agreed on by all 11 contenders and the population on the whole so that they all feel included,” […]

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