Afghanistan Analysts Network – English

AAN Team

Afghan kids celebrating Nawruz in Kabul. Photo: Christine Roehrs

Happy Nawruz! Wishing peace and happiness to AAN readers in 1396

AAN Team •

After a long, cold, hard winter, Nawruz is finally here. Spring itself seems a little late this year. By 1 Hamal 1395, the trees were already in full bloom in Kabul. Not this year. Still, we are sure that balmier days will soon be here and, as the gardens awaken, the fragrance of flowers will fill the air. Here at AAN, […]

Context and Culture Read more
Baghe-Babur in the snow, January 2017. Photo: Martine van Bijlert

What to Watch? Key issues to follow in Afghanistan in 2017

AAN Team •

As in most years, the feeling in January 2017 is that this will be another crucial year for Afghanistan. The AAN team has identified several key themes that we think it important to follow this year. They range from crises in the Afghan government and how changes in global politics, particularly the change of administration […]

Political Landscape Read more
The Brussels conference will be the eleventh donor conference since the 2001 US-led intervention in Afghanistan.

The Brussels Conference on Afghanistan: Between aid and migration

AAN Team •

The Afghan Government and the EU will co-host the Brussels conference on 5 October 2016. A couple of side events will take place on 4 October, and a high-level dialogue on migration is scheduled for 3 October. Around 70 countries and 30 international organisations will come together in the Belgian capital to review the achievements […]

International Engagement Read more
"Unaware of Eid, Khaled knows only sweat and toil", titles Pajhwok about this 13-year old from Kunduz. Photo: Pajhwok.

AAN Wishes Peaceful and Happy Eid al-Adha Days

AAN Team •

دافغانستان د تحلیلګرانو شبکه د نیکمرغه لوي اختر د رارسیدو له امله ټولي اسلامي نړۍ، په ځانګري توګه د افغانستان مسلمان ولس ته دزړه له کومي مبارکی وایي. هیله ده چي دلوي اختر له برکته په افغانستان کې سوله، ثبات او ورورولي ټینګه شي. زمو‌‌‌ږ ورستۍ مقاله د لوی اختر د نمانځنې په باره کې […]

Context and Culture Read more
The campus of the American University in Afghanistan, which opened in 2006, came under attack in the evening hours of 24 August 2016. (Photo Source: American University Afghanistan (AUAF) Facebook Page)

The Attack on the American University in Kabul (1): What happened and who the victims were

AAN Team •

By the time the attack on the American University in Afghanistan (AUAF) in Kabul on 24 August 2016 ended, 13 people had been killed and 49 wounded, most of them students. Families looking forward to bright futures for their children have been left to bury them or are now waiting anxiously at hospital bedsides. No group […]

War and Peace Read more
Afghan Refugees camp under a Paris canal bridge (September 2015). Photo: Evan Bench [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.

»Wir wussten, dass sie in Kabul keine Zukunft hatten«: Fluchtentscheidungen afghanischer Familien

AAN Team •

The German version of our study ‘“We Knew They Had No Future in Kabul”: Why and How Afghan Families Decide to Leave’ (link here) in cooperation with and funded by the Afghanistan office of the German Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (Foundation) (FES) is out now and can be read and/or downloaded here as well as on the FES website. The increasing […]

Special Reports Read more
Men dance the attan in Andar district of Ghazni, Eid al Fitr, 28 October, 2012. Photo: Fazal Mazhary

Eid Mubarak from AAN to All Our Readers

AAN Team •

After each dark night, a bright morning comes, and after each Ramadan, comes Eid al Fitr. As this year’s long, hot month of dawn-till-dusk fasting ends, the AAN team would like to wish a joyful Eid to friends and readers, to all Muslims around the world and particularly to the people of Afghanistan. په هره تياره […]

Context and Culture Read more
Kabul graffiti. Photo: Thomas Ruttig.

“We Knew They Had No Future in Kabul”: Why and How Afghan Families Decide to Leave

AAN Team •

The increasing number of refugees and migrants arriving across Europe has led to heated debates and an increased political polarisation between pro and anti-refugee movements and parties. Afghans are now the second largest group entering the European Union. A recent study by AAN and FES explores the reasons behind Afghanistan’s increased migration, by focusing on […]

External publications Read more
Map showing the distribution of attacks on schools across Afghanistan from the new UN report "Education and Healthcare at risk: Key trends and incidents affecting children’s access to healthcare and education in Afghanistan”, released on 18 April 2016

Education and Health Care at Risk: UN report paints grim picture of post-transition Afghanistan

AAN Team •

A new UN report highlights how access to healthcare and education in Afghanistan, particularly for children, is being increasingly compromised by violence, threats, intimidation and abuse of facilities. The number of verified incidents over the last three years (2013-2015) in particular shows an increase in recorded incidents of threats and intimidation, as well as a continued […]

Rights and Freedoms Read more
Screenshot of the Taleban's spring offensive announcement 2016 on their English language website

Operation Omari: Taleban Announced 2016 Spring Offensive

AAN Team • Borhan Osman •

The Taleban made their yearly spring offensive announcement on 12 April 2016. The statement attributed to Taleban leadership council (Rahbari Shura) named the offensive “Operation Omari,” in honour of the movement’s late leader and provides clues with regard to both the Taleban’s plans and the way they wish to present themselves. Of particular note are the […]

War and Peace Read more

Happy Nawruz! A blessed year 1395 to our readers

AAN Team •

Dear readers and friends, the AAN team wishes you a blessed, healthy and hopefully more peaceful Afghan year 1395. This year spring has come early and many trees are already in full bloom. But this is no reason to abandon the tradition of getting some pink tulips from the north, Afghanistan’s new year flowers, to mark the beginning […]

Context and Culture Read more

A Happy and Peaceful New Year!

AAN Team •

  Dear friends and readers, Here at the Afghanistan Analysts Network we would like to wish you all a Happy New Year. May it be filled with good surprises and may it bring peace, in Afghanistan and in the wider world, closer. We will be here, together with you, closely following what is happening and hoping for a […]

Context and Culture Read more

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