Thomas Ruttig

The Taliban, The Government, And Islamic State: Who Controls What In Afghanistan?

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 31 May 2020 AAN’s Obaid Ali is quoted in this article, commenting on the Afghan government’s (lack of a) strategy, on links between non-Taleban foreign militant groups and the Taleban and on the strength of ISKP: “The government faced serious challenges for months,” says Obaid Ali, an expert on the insurgency […]

31 May 2020

UNSC will not lift sanctions from Taliban [yet]: Russian envoy

Anadolu Agency, 28 May 2020 Russia’s presidential envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov in an exclusive interview with Turkish Anadolu Agency, with two interesting points: First, he said that the UN Security Council has not, as planned, voted on lifting sanctions from the Taleban in accordance with the February 2020 US-Taleban agreement on 29 May. He […]

28 May 2020

Pentagon plans for expected Trump order to pull thousands more troops from Afghanistan

Washington Post, 27 May 2020 Not so much that there is also a scenario of larger than agreed (with the Taleban) or even full US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan is the news in this report, but how the US forces have already prepared for a full or nearly full withdrawal: Last year, Miller directed his […]

27 May 2020

Taliban Sources Repository

FFI/UiO, 2 April 2020 This repository is based on a private collection, was established through the Taliban Sources Project (TSP) and launched online in 2020 by the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI) in cooperation with the University of Oslo (UiO). It includes the movement’s cultural, social, and legal output for the years 1979-2011. It includes original documents – […]

25 May 2020

The case of Mawlawi Mehdi and Balkhab District: Are the Taleban attracting Hazaras?

Thomas Ruttig •

Recently, a story appeared in the media reporting that the Taleban have appointed a Shia Hazara as a shadow district governor in Sar-e Pul province. This ethno-religious group is barely represented in the insurgent movement, and stands in the way of the Taleban’s attempt to present itself as nation-wide. Mehdi, however, is not physically present […]

23 May 2020

Coalition halts expansion of local force meant to hold back the Taliban

Stars and Stripes, 22 May 2020 In this report about a “pause” in the planned expansion – from 105 to 121 companies – of the Afghan National Army Territorial Force due to “supply issues” and “leadership gaps,” AAN’s Kate Clark is quoted: Integrating the Taliban, however, could prove difficult for a force that relies on the […]

22 May 2020

‘Where are the women?’ Outcry over all-male government meeting in Afghanistan

The Guardian, 22 May 2020 A tweet by AAN’s Ali Yawar Adili is quoted here, in reports about frustration in Afghanistan about the lack of women participation in the latest political deal between president Ghani and his old/new coalition partner, Dr Abdullah: Ali Adili, a researcher for the Afghanistan Analysts Network, tweeted: “Where are the […]

22 May 2020

“Eine rasche Friedenslösung in Afghanistan wäre eine grosse Überraschung”

Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 22 May 2020 Full interview with AAN’s Thomas Ruttig (in German) about the ‘peace process’ in Afghanistan, saying that the time frame given in the US-Taleban deal of February 2020 was “unrealistic” and solely due to “domestic considerations.” H says that thought the Taleban were tired of war was “wishful thinking” – […]

22 May 2020

Despite the ‘peace process’, Afghanistan’s anguish endures

The Guardian, 20 May 2020 Op-ed by AANs Kate Clark who says that … the “peace process” initiated by Washington {…) has so far brought political dividends for the administration of Donald Trump but little protection for Afghan civilians (and that) Washington has no plan B if the Taliban do not actually want to negotiate […]

20 May 2020

End of the Post-Election Impasse? Ghani and Abdullah’s new power-sharing formula

Ali Yawar Adili •

The electoral and political standoff which had beset the country for months has been ended by a new power-sharing agreement signed on 17 May 2020 by President Ashraf Ghani and his rival Dr Abdullah Abdullah. Both had claimed the presidency and held rival inaugurations in March. AAN’s researcher Ali Yawar Adili (with input from Thomas […]

20 May 2020

The 17 May 2020 Political (power-sharing) Agreement between Dr Ghani and Dr Abdullah (Dari and English)

The signed copy of the agreement was posted on Dr Abdullah’s Facebook page on 18 May 2020. AAN’s working translation of the political agreement between Ghani and Abdullah In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful Political Agreement In order to meet the expectation of the people of Afghanistan, support defence and security forces, […]

20 May 2020

Machtteilung in Kabul: Der afghanische Präsident Ghani und sein Rivale Abdullah erzielen Einigung

Tageszeitung, 18 May 2020 Op-ed by AAN’s Thomas Ruttig for the Berlin daily, analysing the new power-sharing deal in Afghanistan (in German). He wrote, for example: It is not clear whether [the fact that Abdullah has been handed responsibility over the peace process] is a concession by Ghani or whether he handed over the responsibility […]

18 May 2020