Afghanistan Analysts Network – English

Thomas Ruttig

Talks between Afghan government and Taliban open in Qatar

al-Jazeera, 12 September 2020 AAN’s Thomas Rutttig is quoted in this article about the official opening of the Afghan peace negotiations in Doha: “The various delays since the first designated start of the talks in early March show how much mistrust the two parties need to overcome,” Thomas Ruttig, co-founder of the Afghanistan Analysts Network, […]

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Afghanistan talks: bitter foes with incompatible goals

AFP/Macau Business, 11 September 2020 AAN’s Kate Clark is quoted here on the forthcoming Afghan peace negotiations, saying that The peace talks “are clearly driven by a US desire to disengage from Afghanistan,” said Kate Clark, co-director of the Afghanistan Analysts Network. “The main goal for the US is to leave, or to leave without […]

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After 9/11: Has Germany failed in Afghanistan?

Deutsche Welle, 11 September 2020 In this article, various Afghans and Afghan experts were asked about Germany’s role in post-2001 Afghanistan. AAN’s Thomas Ruttig was one of them. Thomas Ruttig, 63, is an Afghanistan expert and former diplomat. He serves as co-director of the Afghanistan Analysts Network, an independent think tank based in Kabul and Berlin. […]

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Ringen um Afghanistans Zukunft

SRF, 12 September 2020 Listen to an interview with AAN’s Thomas Ruttig on Swiss public radio (in German) on the Doha Afghan peace talks.

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Afghanistans Schicksalsfrage und die Friedensverhandlungen mit den Taliban

dpa/Der Standard, 6 September 2020 This article (in German) gives a preview on the planned intra-Afghan (government-Taleban) peace negotiations in Doha. It quotes AAN’s Thomas Ruttig as saying that he does not believe that the Taleban will agree to the government’s demand to declare a ceasefire parallel with starting talks, but that there is a […]

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Afghanistan: How COVID-19 impacts peace and conflict

Peace News Network, 5 September 2020 A short quote from AAN’s Kate Clark, on the Afghan peace talks, in this article.

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The Rise Of Mullah Yaqoob, The Taliban’s New Military Chief

RFE/RL, 27 August 2020 AAN’s Obaid Ali is quoted in this piece, about the importance relations of current high-ranking Taleban officials had with late founder Mullah Omar for their current standing in the movement. “Mullah Omar was a charismatic leader and there remains huge respect for him, his family, and even his close associates, many […]

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With Delay in Afghan Peace Talks, a Creeping Sense of ‘Siege’ Around Kabul

New York Times, 23 August 2020 “Instead of mass-casualty attacks, the Taliban are carrying out targeted assaults in the capital and neighboring districts. The country’s security forces seem unable to control them.” North of Kabul, the Taleban seem to cooperate with criminal networks – which is remarkable, as this area is controlled by strongmen of […]

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Stalling Strategy? Long-Delayed Afghan Peace Talks Hit By New Obstacles

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 19 August 2020 AAN’s Ali Yawar Adili is quoted here on the demands of the governments of France and Australia to President Ghani not to release certain Taleban prisoners, as they had killed soldiers of these countries: “Ghani might use some of these issues to make sure he is in control […]

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Frieden durch Abbau von Rechten? Die innerafghanischen Verhandlungen bergen viele Fallstricke

Neues Deutschland, 17 August 2020 Op-ed by AAN’s Thomas Ruttig, looking ahead at the format and possible stumbling stones for intra-Afghan peace negotiations (in German).

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Afghans Worried About Pressure from Trump as Talks With the Taliban Get Underway

Foreign Policy, 16 August 2020 AAN’s Obaid Ali is quoted extensively about possible motifs for the Taleban’s uncompromising stance before the planned start of peace talks with the Afghan government. “The Taliban don’t want to become like the old jihadi factions and made useless. They can’t lose their religious dignity in this deal,” said Obaid […]

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Suche nach Frieden in Afghanistan

ORF, 14 August 2020 Listen to a radio interview with AAN’s Thomas Ruttig (in German) on Austrian radio, looking ahead at planned Afghan government-Taleban peace talks. Among other things, he underlines that the political concepts of the current Islamic Republic and the Taleban’s emirate. (Available for one week; after that search for Mittagsjournal under “Ö1 […]

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