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Strategic SSI - Afghanistan

Strategic SSI - Afghanistan

Strategic SSI -

DAILY SITUATION REPORT 26 MAY 2010

SAFETY AND SECURITY ISSUES RELEVANT TO SSSI PERSONNEL AND CLIENTS

The suicide/VBIED attack threat in Kabul city is still high with two more Threat Reports that were received.

The Peace Jirga that is scheduled for Kabul was postponed for a second time on 24 May 10. The latest information is that the Peace Jirga will now take place in Kabul over the period 02 to 03 Jun 10, and that the two days before the start of the Peace Jirga will be utilized for preparations. It can be expected that the period 31 May to 03 Jun 10 will also be marked on the calendars of the insurgents. Therefore the threat levels will be elevated over that period, and so will the ANSF deployments and traffic congestion in the city also be.

MAJOR COUNTRY WIDE EVENTS

Kuduz: Major joint Kunduz: Two rockets IM/ANSF operation impacted in the city – first started on 25 May time ever IDF in Kunduz

Khost: 7 LNs kidnapped by Ins – 5 were killed, and 2 are still missing

Kandahar: VBIED attack against IM base – 1 x PSC WIA, 1 x LN WIA

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Threat Reports Received Last 3 Days

24 May: Faryab: 25 May: General: Insurgents Reportedly three suicide may use construction vehicles bombers infiltrated to enter Military Installations

25 May: Herat: Threat of a possible multiple suicide 24 May: Kabul: Threat of attack on the RTC a possible suicide VBIED attack on Pole Charki Prison

25 May: Kabul: Threat of a possible suicide VBIED attacks on Camps Warehouse and Phoenix

26 May: Herat: Threat of a possible VBIED attack in city – insurgents in ANSF uniforms

BREAKDOWN OF INCIDENTS REPORTED FOR AFGHANISTAN IN SSSI DSR FOR PERIOD 25 TO 26 MAY 10

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Table illustrating the number of Killed and Wounded, Captured and Arrested as per the reporting’s of the SSSI DSR.

IM ANSF PSC/FN LN INSURGENTS KIA WIA MIA KIA WIA MIA KIA WIA MIA KIA WIA MIA KIA WIA MIA 01 May 2 0 0 4 17 0 3 2 0 1 0 0 15 4 8 02 May 0 0 0 0 7 0 2 2 0 2 9 0 14 4 1 03 May 1 3 0 7 1 2 2 3 3 8 20 3 1 3 4 04 May 2 5 0 2 11 2 1 0 0 3 5 0 5 4 11 05 May 2 3 0 1 7 0 0 0 0 6 2 6 18 6 3 06 May 3 29 0 1 6 7 0 0 0 3 23 0 32 8 12 08 May 1 1 0 2 4 0 1 2 0 3 2 7 6 0 6 09 May 0 3 0 5 8 1 0 0 0 15 29 6 22 0 8 10 May 4 6 0 3 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 10 3 5 11 May 1 4 0 2 9 0 1 4 0 11 4 2 17 2 12 12 May 0 5 0 5 10 4 0 0 0 12 25 3 34 20 21 13 May 3 1 0 4 5 0 0 3 0 1 7 0 5 10 0 15 May 1 0 0 1 5 3 1 2 0 14 0 0 22 10 6 16 May 0 3 0 10 5 0 1 0 0 4 3 1 76 15 13 17 May 3 4 0 9 29 0 5 1 0 18 7 8 12 4 7 18 May 5 12 0 8 25 0 0 0 0 2 3 5 38 23 3 19 May 6 5 0 6 12 0 1 2 0 15 47 2 11 1 26 20 May 2 8 0 10 20 0 0 1 0 5 4 6 22 6 8 22 May 0 3 0 2 8 0 6 7 0 1 5 1 5 3 1 23 May 2 16 0 6 16 0 0 0 0 5 14 0 6 6 1 24 May 0 0 0 5 3 0 0 0 0 7 0 4 13 0 18 25 May 2 4 0 1 4 0 0 1 0 17 12 7 25 43 6 26 May 0 2 0 2 11 0 0 1 0 1 11 2 3 2 9 TOTAL 40 117 0 92 226 19 24 31 3 156 232 63 412 177 189

(Kindly note that these are from the SSSI DSR and are not official statistics and may differ from those released by ISAF or other agencies and organisations.)

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SECURITY INCIDENTS REPORTED FOR PERIOD 25 TO 26 MAY 10

CENTRAL REGION

Intimidation: 22 May, , Kabul City, District #1 – During the day a local resident that is working for an International Agency was threatened by a co- commuter. As he was attempting to get out of the taxi, he was shot. (Allegedly only wounded.) Although not confirmed, this incident may be linked to criminal objectives, and not to the insurgency.

IDF Attack: 21 May, , Charikar District – During the evening insurgents fired three rockets towards the District Administrative Centre. No casualties were reported.

IED: 22 May, Parwan Province, Bagram District – During the day the Police located and defused an IED near a primary school in the Sayad Area.

IDF Attack: 22 May, , Mahmud-E Raqi District – During the night of 22/23 May insurgents launched a single rocket towards a NGO compound in the Deh Baba Ali Area. No casualties were reported.

Demonstration: 21 to 24 May – , , Bamyan City Bazaar – Fot four days in a row local inhabitants blocked the roads as they were protesting against the lack of development, the government and the Provincial Governor. On the third day the protest turned violent with demonstrators throwing rocks toward government and UN facilities.

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IED: 21 May, Wardak Province, – During the day an IM patrol vehicle detonated an IED in the Haft Asyab Area. No casualties were reported.

IDF Attack: 22 May, Wardak Province, Maydan Shahr District – During the night of 22/23 May insurgents launched a single rocket towards an IM installation. No casualties were reported.

IED: 22 May, , – During the morning a Police vehicle detonated an IED in the Pol-E Dubir Area. Two Police members were WIA.

IED: 22 May, Logar Province, – During the afternoon the Police located and defused three IEDs in the Barak-E Rejaan Area.

Ambush: 22 May, Logar Province, Baraki Barak District – During the day insurgents ambushed a Police vehicle patrol with SAF. One Police member was WIA.

Attack: 21 May, Province, – During the morning insurgents attacked the District Administrative Centre with SAF. No casualties were reported.

IDF Attack: 21 May, , – During the morning insurgents fired a single rocket towards an IM installation in the Chardewal Area. No casualties were reported.

IDF Attack: 21 May, Ghazni Province, – Late afternoon insurgents fired three rockets towards the District Administrative Centre. No casualties were reported.

IDF Attack: 21 May, Ghazni Province, Muqor District – Late afternoon insurgents fired a single rocket towards the District Administrative Centre. No casualties were reported.

Ambush: 21 May, Ghazni Province, Qarabagh District – During the day insurgents ambushed an IM contracted logistics convoy with SAF in the Jangal Mullah Nuhbabeh Area. No casualties were reported.

IDF Attack: 21 May, Ghazni Province, Gilan District – Durinbg the day insurgents launched a single rocket towards an IM installation. No casualties were reported.

Attack: 22 May, Ghazni Province, Gilan District – During the day insurgents attacked an IM installation with machine guns, RPGs and SAF. No IM casualties were reported. One insurgent was KIA, and two more insurgents were WIA.

IED: 22 May, Ghazni Province, Andar District – During the day the Police located and defused an IED near the District Administrative Centre.

IDF Attack: 22 May, Ghazni Province, Deh Yek District – During the afternoon insurgents launched two mortar bombs towards the District Administrative Centre. No casualties were reported.

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Ambush: 23 May, Ghazni Province, Andar District – During the morning insurgents ambushed an ANA vehicle petrol with machine guns and SAF. No casualties were reported.

WESTERN REGION

Attack: 23 May, , Belcheragh District – During the day insurgents opened fire upon a group of tribal elders. The militia escorting the elders repelled the attack, and captured one of the insurgents. They later handed the captured insurgent over to the Police.

IED: 23 May, , Pashtun Zerghun District – During the morning the Police located and defused an IED near the District Administrative Centre.

Ordinance Recovered: 23 May, Herat Province, – During the evening the ANA located and seized a cache to the west of the Shindand Airfield. The cache contained 60 mortar bombs.

Insurgency: 26 May – Herat Province, Herat City – A threat report was received on a possible VBIED attack in the city. Reportedly the insurgents are wearing ANSF uniforms. No further detail available at this stage.

Ordinance Recovered: 22 May, , – During the day the ANSF located and seized a cache consisting of a selection of ammunition, mortar bombs and two IEDs.

IED: 23 May, Ghor Province, – During the day a local resident on a motorcycle detonated an IED in the Dehaneh Hutkel Area. One LN KIA.

Success: 20 May, , Khak-E Safid District – During the day twenty insurgents surrendered to the ANSF as part of the government’s amnesty program.

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NORTHERN REGION

Ordinance Recovered: 23 May, Province, Dowlatabad District – During the day the Police located and seized an arms cache containing of 18 AP mines and some small arms. Two insurgents were arrested.

Ordinance Recovered: 23 May, , Chahar Boluk District – During the day the Police located and seized a cache in the Shinkay Kalay Area. The cache contained 14 RPG grenades and a variety of SAF ammunition.

Murder: 23 May, Balkh Province, Balkh District – During the night of 23/24 May insurgents killed a young man in the Alman Kalay Area. The victim was on his way to the mosque.

IDF Attack: 25 May, , Kunduz City, Zakhil Area – During the morning insurgents launched two rockets which impacted in the city. No casualties were reported. Remark. This is the first IDF Attack in Kunduz city. The insurgents will most probably propagate this incident as a major success.

IED: 25 May, Kunduz Province, – Early during the morning the IM located and defused a RCIED in the Qotor Blaq Area.

Operations: 25 May, Kunduz Province, Chahar Darreh District – Senior IM and ANSF commanders announced the start of a major joint IM/ANSF operation in the district.

Crime: 23 May, , Baglan-E Jadid District – During the day the Police arrested two ANA members who are accused of murdering a taxi driver the day before. Reportedly the soldiers killed the taxi driver and took his car. Remark. Insurgent Information Operations will probably use this incident to discredit the ANSF.

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EASTERN REGION

IED: 21 May, , Manogai District – During the afternoon the Police located and defused an IED in the Ber Kandai Area.

IDF Attack: 22 May, Kunar Province, Manogai District – Late during the afternoon insurgents fired two mortar bombs towards an ANA installation in the Wardesh Tangi Area. No casualties were reported.

IDF Attack: 22 May, Kunar Province, Manogai District – During the morning insurgents fired two mortar bombs towards an IM installation in the Wardesh Tangi Area. No casualties were reported.

IDF Attack: 22 May, Kunar Province, – During the morning insurgents fired four mortar bombs towards an IM installation in the Charkai Sarai Area. No casualties were reported.

IED: 22 May, Kunar Province, Manogai District – During the morning a Police vehicle detonated an IED. Four Police members were WIA and two LNs were WIA.

IED: 22 May, Kunar Province, Chowkay District – During the afternoon the Police located and defused an IED in the Gatow Qaleh Area on the to Asadabad road.

Attack: 22 May, Kunar Province, Chowkay District – At noon insurgents attacked a Police checkpoint in the Shin Qar Area. No casualties were reported.

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IDF Attack: 23 May, Kunar Province, Watah Pur District – During the afternoon insurgents fired four mortar bombs towards a Police checkpoint. No casualties were reported.

Attack: 23 May, Kunar Province, Narang District – During the evening insurgents attacked a Police checkpoint in the Ghulam Mohamed Khan Ghundai Area with machine guns and SAF. No casualties were reported.

Attack: 21 May, , – During the night of 21/22 May insurgents attacked the District Administrative Centre with machine guns and SAF. No casualties were reported.

IED: 22 May, Nangarhar Province, – During the afternoon the Police located and defused a RCIED on the road towards the District Administrative Area in the Neziyan Khowr Area.

IED: 22 May, Nangarhar Province, – Very early in the morning a tractor detonated an IED in the Kandai Bagh Area. No casualties were reported.

SOUTH EASTERN REGION

IDF Attack: 21 May, Paktya Province, District – During the night of 21/22 May insurgents launched two rockets towards an ANA installation in the area. No casualties were reported.

Ambush: 22 May, Paktya Province, – During the morning insurgents ambushed a PSC escorted IM logistics convoy with SAF in the Tereh Pass Area. No casualties were reported.

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IED: 22 May, Paktya Province, Gardez District – During the day an ANA vehicle detonated an IED in the Chownay Area. Two ANA members were KIA and three more ANA members were WIA.

Attack: 21 May, , Musa Kheyl District – During the night of 21/22 May insurgents attacked the District Administrative Centre with machine guns and SAF. No casualties were reported.

Kidnap: 23 May, Khost Province – During the day insurgents kidnapped seven local inhabitants from a village and killed five of them. The whereabouts of the other two is still unknown.

Intimidation: 23 May, Khost Province, – During the night of 23/24 May insurgents distributed night letters warning the local residents not to cooperate with the government and/or the ANSF.

IED: 24 May, Khost Province, Khost City – During the morning the Police located and defused an IED near the civilian hospital.

Attack: 24 May, Khost Province, Khost to Gardez Road – During the evening insurgent attacked the Overnight Equipment Park of a Road Construction Company with SAF. The attack came in the form of a drive-by shooting 6 insurgents on three motorcycles. The motorcycles were travelling east to west when the passengers opened fire with small arms. Guards returned fire and the motorcycles drove off to the west. No casualties were reported. . IED: 25 May, Khost Province, Khost to Gardez Road – Just before noon an ANA patrol detonated a RCIED. No casualties were reported and minor damage to one of the ANA humvees. Remark. The IED had been emplaced in sand dumped at the side of the road the day before. During the day a loader operator had dumped another load of sand on top of the pile. The sand that had been dumped on the IED was probably the factor that made it ineffective, as the device contained a number of pieces of lead, including .50 caliber bullets, as shrapnel.

UXO: 25 May, Khost Province, Khost to Gardez Road – Late afternoon a guard brought a UXO that he found at the river bed near an IM installation. The UXO was identified as old anti- tank mine. UXO was secured, moved to a safe place outside ECP and clearly marked. An EOD team was tasked to remove the UXO.

IED: 22 May, , Sar Howzeh District – During the day an IED prematurely detonated as insurgents were busy emplacing it near the District Administrative Centre. Two insurgents were KIA.

Attack: 24 May, Paktika Province, Zerghun Shahr District – During the morning insurgents attacked a PSC vehicle with SAF in the Khair Kowt Area. No casualties were reported.

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SOUTHERN REGION

Attack: 22 May, , Musa Qaleh District – Late during the afternoon insurgents attacked a joint IM/ANSF foot patrol with SAF from concealed positions. No casualties were reported.

IED: 22 May, Helmand Province, Musa Qaleh District – Early during the evening a joint IM/ANSF foot patrol detonated an IED. One IM member was WIA, one Police member was WIA and two LNs were WIA. Comment. The patrol that was targeted was the same one that was attacked e few hours earlier – see incident above. There are indications that the insurgents appreciated the extraction route of the patrol, and hastily emplaced the IED.

Attack: 23 May, Helmand Province, – During the night of 23/24 May insurgents attacked an IM Patrol Base with SAF. No casualties were reported.

IED: 24 May, Helmand Province, Marjah District – During the afternoon an IM foot patrol detonated an IED. One IM member was WIA.

Success: 23 May, , Spin Boldak Region – Reportedly the ANSF arrested eight insurgents in the area as they were busy mounting for attacks in the area. All eight the insurgents are from Pakistani origin.

IED: 23 May, Kandahar Province, – Early during the morning an IM vehicle detonated an IED near the Dukaneh Bazaar. No casualties were reported.

IED: 23 May, Kandahar Province, Arghandab District – During the morning the Police located and defused three IEDs in the Khusrow Kalay Area.

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VBIED: 26 May, Kandahar Province, Kandahar City – Just before noon insurgents attacked an IM installation in the Kandahar City with a suicide VBIED. Eight vehicles and 12 motorcycles were damaged as the detonation occurred in the parking lot in front of the IM installation. One PSC member was WIA and one LN was WIA. No other casualties were reported, accept for the suicide attacker.

Demonstration: 26 May, , – During the period 08h00 till approx 09h00 Highway 1 was closed – approx 29 Km to the north of Qalat. This was due to a peaceful demonstration by LNs protesting about the ANA killing a LN.

SPECIAL INTEREST NEWS

Pakistani Taliban attack Afghan province BBC 26 May 10

Hundreds of Pakistani Taliban have attacked a district in the eastern Afghan province of Nooristan and a fierce fight is on, officials say. Nearly 300 insurgents, led by Pakistani Taliban commander Maulana Fazlullah, entered Barg Matal district on Monday. Seven Taliban fighters and two policemen have been killed, an Afghan interior ministry spokesman said.

Meanwhile the Red Cross says it has been providing first aid training to the Taliban in Afghanistan. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said that more than 70 members of what it called the armed opposition received such training last month.

The Afghan interior ministry spokesman said that police in Nooristan had asked the authorities in Kabul for support and forces were sent to help them out. Officials have described the attack - on a district of eastern - as "brazen". They say that intense fighting between police and the insurgents is still raging in the Barg-e Matal district and that police are facing a shortage of men and ammunition.

Maulana Fazlullah led the Taliban insurgency in 's north-western Swat valley in 2008. When that was re-captured by the Pakistani military he was reported to have been killed, but in an interview with the BBC in November 2009 he said that he had escaped to Afghanistan. The tribal areas in western Pakistan have long been a safe haven for Taliban militants who cross the border at will to launch attacks in Afghanistan.

A statement released by the ICRC said that it had provided basic first aid training and first aid kits to "arms carriers" and to civilians living in conflict areas. "In April, it reached over 100 Afghan security forces personnel, over 70 members of the armed opposition, taxi drivers involved in the transport of wounded people, first-aiders and its own staff." An ICRC spokesman told the BBC that that the term "armed opposition" meant insurgents fighting Nato forces.

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WEATHER FORECAST

Afghanistan Weather for Thursday 27 May 2010 Kabul Jalalabad Mazar Kandahar Herat

Clear Clear Clear Clear Clear 28° C | 12° C 34° C | 18° C 31° C | 19° C 37° C | 20° C 30° C | 15° C

Farah Khost Kunduz Gardez Fayzabad

Clear Clear Clear Clear Rain 30% 37° C | 22° C 32° C | 15° C 30° C | 17° C 24° C | 7° C 29° C | 11° C

CALENDAR

02 Jun – 04 Jun 10 - Peace Jirga 19 Aug 10 - National Day. 10 Sep - 11 Sep 10 - Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan). 18 Sep 10 - Parliamentary Elections. 16 Nov - 17 Nov 10 - Eid-al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).

Note. Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha may last up to several days, depending on the region.

NEWS / INFORMATION

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Relatives carry the plane crash victims' portraits in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, May 25, 2010. A flight of Afghanistan's private airliner Pamir Airways crashed in mountains of Ghorband District in the country's northern Parwan Province on May 17 with 43 on board including eight foreigners. The bodies of 16 victims of the plane crash, including three foreigners, have been identified so far. (Xinhua/Sabawu)

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Afghanistan's Peace Jirga Pushed Back Until June Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty May 25, 2010

Afghanistan has pushed back a national conference aimed at reaching a peace deal with militants who are willing to stop fighting. The government says "technicalities" have forced it to delay the start of the so-called peace jirga until June 2 -- the second postponement announced within the past month. The gathering would bring together lawmakers, provincial council chiefs, tribal and religious leaders, and members of civil society - a total of some 1,600 Afghans - to talk about a political resolution to Afghanistan's ongoing insurgency.

A spokesman for the peace jirga, Gul Agha Ahmadi Wardak, tells RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan that it has been difficult trying to arrange the logistics for bringing so many local and regional delegates to Kabul from across Afghanistan for the event. "The only reason the peace jirga was postponed for three days was to give delegates time to arrive safety, to get registered, and to familiarize themselves with the procedures," Wardak says. But European diplomats say the delay also may be linked to Afghan President Hamid Karzai's domestic political confrontations.

About 45 of Afghanistan's 249 lawmakers have threatened to boycott the peace jirga unless Karzai responds to their demand that he submit names of new cabinet nominees to replace those rejected by the parliament in January. "This is a step made in the interests of the Afghan people, as well as to give the government a direction, and a measure that will ensure the national sovereignty and the will of the Afghan people," Abdul Satar Khawasi, a secretary of Afghanistan's Wolesi Jirga, or lower house of parliament, says to explain the call for a boycott. "That is the direction we want to lead the government."

Siamak Herawi, a deputy spokesman for Karzai, denies that there is any link between the delay of the peace jirga and lawmakers' demands for Karzai to submit a new list of cabinet nominees. "The president of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has lots of difficult tasks in Afghanistan, and he has trips outside of the country," Herawi says. "You should remember that the president submitted his list of cabinet nominees to the parliament twice. Unfortunately, many of the most qualified proposed ministers did not receive a vote of confidence from the parliament. This has caused the president to face serious challenges. And now, the president is seeking to find qualified people based on the criteria the president has set."

Wardak, the peace jirga's spokesman, downplayed the significance of a threatened boycott of the peace jirga. He says some lawmakers have mentioned the possibility of a boycott, but he says that "generally speaking" the Afghan National Assembly agrees with the peace jirga and will attend the gathering. Parliament has refused to confirm 11 of Karzai's 25 nominees. Nevertheless, Karzai's rejected choices have been serving as ministers in an acting capacity. The jirga could proceed without the parliament members. But a boycott by a substantial number of lawmakers would call into question the degree of nationwide support for any decisions made during the conference. Although no senior members of the Taliban are

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expected to attend the peace jirga, the gathering is meant to include some supporters of the insurgency -- including delegates with ties to extremist leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, one of the three main leaders of the Afghan insurgency.

The peace jirga originally was scheduled to start in early May. But it was pushed back until late May to allow Karzai to visit Washington and speak with U.S. President Barack Obama about the event. After those talks, Obama signaled his support for peace talks and the reintegration of some Taliban fighters. "I appreciated the president sharing his plans for the upcoming Consultative Peace Jirga -- an important milestone that America supports," Obama said. "In addition, the United States supports the efforts of the Afghan government to open the door to Taliban who cut their ties to Al-Qaeda, abandon violence and accept the Afghan constitution, including respect for human rights."

Karzai told reporters in Washington that thousands of rank-and-file Taliban fighters could, conceivably, be brought into the peace process if given a chance. "Now there are thousands of the Taliban who are not ideologically oriented, who are not part of Al-Qaeda or other terrorist networks, or controlled from outside in any manner troublesome to us," Karzai said. "There are thousands of them who are country boys who have been driven by intimidation or fear, caused by, at times, misconduct by us, or circumstances beyond their control or our control."

The size of the peace jirga is expected to be comparable to the two Loya Jirgas, or Grand Councils, that have been held in Kabul since the collapse of the Taliban regime -- one to confirm Karzai as a transitional leader and another to approve Afghanistan's constitution. But the peace jirga differs from the Loya Jirgas in at least one major respect: Any decisions made by the peace jirga are considered "consultative" and nonbinding. Many Afghans voice optimism that the peace jirga can establish a framework for negotiations with armed militants and bring the country a step closer to a regional settlement. But considering that the jirga is merely consultative, others are skeptical.

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Afghanistan: Insurgents from Farah and Herat join reconciliation process UNAMA 25 May 2010

Some 27 former members of the Taliban from the western provinces of Farah and Herat have surrendered their weapons and joined the reconciliation process. Twenty anti- government elements from the Khaki Safeid district of Farah province surrendered their weapons to the Peace and Reconciliation Commission (PRC) of Herat on Saturday, 22 May. The day after on Sunday, 23 May, seven others from the Pashtun Zargun district of Herat province joined the mediation effort conducted by the National Directorate of Security (NDS). These two recent events are a clear sign of the will of the provincial authorities to increase their reconciliation efforts with mid-level and low-level insurgents. However, the participants declared that reconciliation must be followed by reconstruction and security efforts in order to be sustainable.

Hazrat Sharif Modjadeddi, chairman of the PRC, explains the process that leads to such demobilization: "It depends on the groups, but it usually takes between three weeks to three months to convince our interlocutors to lay down their weapons and return under the authority of the state." To do so, the Commission uses various mediators, including tribal elders, religious leaders and former combatants who had already joined the process. If the former are necessary to contact and convince the insurgents, the latter play an important role

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in reassuring the men that they will neither be arrested nor prosecuted for their past activities. But some anti-governmental elements contact other official channels to return under Government authority. An NDS official explains: "Some insurgents come to us for reconciliation. Usually, we take over their weapons and send them to the Peace and Reconciliation Commission to go through the official process."

The Commission then issues a loyalty letter which guarantees the safety of the candidates. Some security organs have, however, been accused by former rebels of not respecting the official act. To remedy this situation, it has been mentioned that the governor, who has authority over the security organs in the province, may head the reconciliation initiative. Mr Modjadeddi strongly opposes this solution: "The government is fighting with the Talibans. It can't fight and negotiate at the same time. There is a need for a third party, an independent process, to tell both parties to join together." He prides himself on the cooperation he obtained from the security forces: "We drove those men back in Herat with the help of the police."

While much talk has been going on about a national reconciliation strategy, there has been little said about the ongoing process under the PRC, and no new mechanism has been put in place. Mr Modjadeddi mentions that he hopes to be able to submit his request for significant support from the Government and the international community at the Loya Jirga (grand council), scheduled to be held in Kabul in the coming weeks. He insists: "We need full support by the Government and the international community. When insurgents recognize the Government authority, it must be reflected in a change in their lives."

This sentiment is shared by Taza Gul, who explains how he came to join the insurgency at 50: "We were civilians but when our homes were destroyed by the international forces, we joined the Talibans." Now, after nearly three years, he decided to come back under Government authority, weary of fighting Afghan brothers in the national army or police. He has high expectations: "We want reconstruction in our area (Khusk Obeh village of Khaki Safeid district). We need clinics, schools, and security." He and his men have been threatened by their former allies, and request the setting up of a checkpoint manned by the national police or army. The capacity of the Government and its international partners to follow up on the expectations of the newly reconciled will be crucial to the sustainability of peace in the areas formerly held by anti-Governmental elements.

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US troops in Afghanistan outnumber those in Iraq BBC News May 24, 2010

There are more US troops in Afghanistan than Iraq for the first time since Saddam Hussein was toppled in 2003, officials say. New Pentagon figures show there are currently around 94,000 troops in Afghanistan compared to 92,000 in Iraq. President Barack Obama has pledged to withdraw all combat troops from Iraq by the end of August. Up to 50,000 are expected to remain there until the end of 2011 to help train and equip Iraqi forces.

In December, Mr Obama announced he was sending an additional 30,000 troops to help battle the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan. The total number of American troops in the country is expected to reach around 100,000 later this year, while Nato allies contribute another 47,000 soldiers. US troops first fought in Afghanistan shortly after the September 2001 attacks on New York and Washington.

Privileged and Confidential 16 This information is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. You are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this information is strictly prohibited without the explicit approval from StrategicSSI Management. Strategic SSI - Afghanistan

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UN backs training on harmful use of narcotics in Afghanistan UNITED NATIONS May 24 (Xinhua)

The United Nations is supporting a series of training programs in Afghanistan for educators so they can then impart knowledge on the harmful effects of drug use, including the risk of HIV/AIDS infection, to their peers, UN officials said here Monday. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said Monday that the "harm reduction" training was organized by the non- governmental organization Medecins du Monde and supported by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the UN Joint Program on HIV/ AIDS (UNAIDS) and the Afghan National AIDS Control Program (NACP). It is an important component of an effective drug control strategy, the officials said, adding that it seeks to minimize the harmful effects of problematic drug use.

Peer educators are being trained on outreach, safe injection, condom provision, the needle syringe program (NSP) - a strategy for disinfecting needles and syringes where they are reused or shared -- and overdose management. Drug abuse in Afghanistan was traditionally limited. However, due to internal and external displacement caused by more than 30 years of conflict, crisis-coping mechanisms have broken down and addiction rates have soared, according to UNAMA.

Recent data from John Hopkins University and NACP have confirmed fears that Afghanistan has evolved towards an HIV epidemic, concentrated among narcotics abusers. Meanwhile, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) has partnered with the international media development organization, Internews, to launch a 30-minute radio series to promote the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) within Afghanistan. The Child's Home Radio Magazine is being broadcast in and languages via Salam Watandar, a network of 42 community radios nationwide. The first program, broadcast on Friday in Dari and Monday in Pashto, was dedicated to girls' education to mark the 10th anniversary of the UN Girls' Education Initiative (UNGEI). The program aims to entertain, teach and trigger discussion among children, parents and teachers, on children's rights.

In a related development, more than two million rural families in Afghanistan are expected to benefit from projects being undertaken by the UN Development Program (UNDP) and the country's ministry for rural development and rehabilitation. So far 1,269 rural development projects have been completed, while 632 projects are under way in various districts across the country, said the officials. The projects include the construction of health clinics and schools, road building and rehabilitation, clearing of irrigation canals, sinking of wells and the construction of water supply infrastructure.

The projects are estimated to cost more than 125 million U.S. dollars and are funded by Japan, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, the United States, Canada and the Counter-Narcotics Trust Fund, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), UNDP, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

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ACRONYMS

Privileged and Confidential 18 This information is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. You are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this information is strictly prohibited without the explicit approval from StrategicSSI Management.

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