Afghanistan Analysts Network – English

Posts tagged: BSA

BSA

MSF Investigation: US hospital strike looking more like a war crime

Kate Clark •

A preliminary investigation by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) into the United States airstrike on its hospital in Kunduz on 3 October, which killed at least 30 people, has raised some serious questions. Fresh evidence suggests statements made by US officials in the first few days after the attack were false. It also makes clear how […]

War and Peace Read more
A sea of green cards of approval in the Wolesi Jirga. Photo: ToloNews

Wolesi Jirga Resolutely in Favour of NATO Support: BSA and SOFA take next hurdle

Thomas Ruttig • Wazhma Samandary •

The Wolesi Jirga today (23 November 2014) approved the long-delayed bilateral security agreement (BSA) with the United States and the Status of Force Agreement (SOFA) with NATO. Although the Afghan Senate’s approval is still pending, this vote opens the door for the start of the ISAF-successor Mission Resolute Support. AAN senior analyst Thomas Ruttig and […]

International Engagement Read more
"Resolute Support" follows "Help and Cooperation"; the new mission will need a new logo. Photo: AAN

Three Birds with One Stone: Signing the BSA and NATO SOFA to project reliability

Kate Clark • Thomas Ruttig •

By signing long-delayed security agreements with the US and NATO on the second day of its existence (30 September 2014), the new Afghan leadership has hit at least three birds with one stone. It has projected an image of itself as reliable to Afghans and to its international partners, and it has secured an important […]

International Engagement Read more

Trying to Stop the Bases: Another opposition block in the making?

Thomas Ruttig •

A political front composed of traditional mujahedin and neo-Islamist groups that oppose any foreign military presence has raised objections to the plan to establish a ‘national unity government’. It rather proposes setting up an ‘inclusive’ government, which would also involve the main insurgent groups, in order to end the war and then to hold fresh […]

Political Landscape Read more

2014 Elections (20): The Ashraf Ghani interview

Kate Clark •

In the second of AAN’s interviews with the two remaining Afghan presidential candidates, Ashraf Ghani has challenged his rival, Dr Abdullah, to televised debates – after Abdullah told AAN he did not want any debates this time. Ghani also dared Abdullah’s running mate, the Hazara politician, Muhammad Muhaqeq, to discuss publically with him who has […]

Political Landscape Read more

Karzai’s legacy may surprise us

AAN •

Dawn/Washington Post, 6 April 2014 In an article looking at the legacy of President Hamed Karzai, AAN's Martine van Bijlert requests some more balance: “In the beginning, Karzai was viewed through rose-tinted glasses,” said Martine van Bijlert, co-director of the Kabul-based Afghanistan Analysts Network. “Now, there’s a very negative view of him, particularly in the […]

AAN in the Media Read more

Streitkräfte und Strategien: Präsidentenwahl in Afghanistan

admin •

NDR (German radio), 5 April 2014 Podcast (in German) of NDR's weekly "Forces and Strategies", with an interview with AAN's Thomas Ruttig about the forthcoming Afghan presidential elections. (The interview starts at 17:27.) A long version of the interview is here.  

AAN in the Media Read more

Karzai may have post-poll role — he’ll live next to the palace: Martine van Biljert

AAN •

Times of India, 4 April 2014 AAN's Martine van Bijlert in a full interview with the India daily on the candidates, the pre-election mood in the country and the challenges facing the winner.  

AAN in the Media Read more

“Ohne US-Truppen ist Afghanistan pleite”

admin •

SRF4 (Swiss Radio), 27 February 2014 The US are increasing their pressure on Afghanistan: President Obama, when calling his Afghan colleague Karzai, threatened to withdraw all troops if Kabul does not sign the BSA. Listen to the audio (in German) of an interview with AAN's Thomas Ruttig explaining that a 'zero option' could mean the loss of significant […]

AAN in the Media Read more

U.S. says freed Afghan prisoners are a threat to civilians, troops

AAN •

Los Angeles Times, 13 February 2014 Reporting on the disputed release of 68 prisoners from Bagram, the US daily quotes from a dispatch by Kate Clark, "an expert with the Kabul-based Afghanistan Analysts Network": "The U.S. may be right — in part — in claiming the Afghan government has violated the agreement" governing the transfer of […]

AAN in the Media Read more

Analysts: Talks between Kabul, Taliban hurt relations with US, others

admin •

Stars and Stripes, 4 February 2014 AAN's Thomas Ruttig is among the three analysts quoted in this article, the others being Michael Keating of Chatham House and Graeme Smith of ICG. Thomas is quoted as saying: “Karzai has been treated like the leader of a colonialized country for many years. So some of his frustration […]

AAN in the Media Read more

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,” […]

AAN in the Media Read more

Subscribe to receive updates from the Afghanistan Analysts Network

Sign up