CIVIL - MILITARY FUSION CEN TRE

Afghanistan Review Week 40 04 October 2011 Comprehensive Information on Complex Crises

INSIDE THIS ISSUE This document provides a weekly overview of developments in from 27 September—03 Octo- ber 2011, with hyper-links to source material highlighted in blue and underlined in the text. For Economic Development more information on the topics below or other issues pertaining to events in Afghanistan, contact the Governance & Rule of Law Humanitarian Affairs members of the Afghanistan Team, or visit our website at www.cimicweb.org. Infrastructure Security & Force Protection Socio-Cultural Development Economic Development Steven A. Zyck ► [email protected]

DISCLAIMER he International Monetary Fund’s A subcommittee of the US House of Repre- (IMF) decision whether to renew its sentatives is proposing cutting US foreign aid The Civil-Military Fusion Centre T Afghanistan programme drew substan- to Afghanistan by 20% for the current fiscal (CFC) is an information and tial and contrasting media attention over the year, which started on 01 October, reports The knowledge management past week. On 26 September, the IMF issued a New York Times. President Barack Obama’s organisation focused on improving statement saying that Afghanistan is nearing administration proposed providing USD 59 civil-military interaction, facilitating the point of qualifying for a renewed IMF billion for Afghanistan this year. The US Sen- information sharing and enhancing programme, but that additional steps safe- ate recently voted to approve USD 53 billion, situational awareness through the guarding its financial and economic stability and the House of Representatives proposed CimicWeb portal and our weekly must still be taken over the course of the com- USD 47 billion. The final figure will be and monthly publications. ing month. However, Afghan media outlets reached between the executive and legislative presented a picture that differed from the IMF branches of the American government in the CFC products are based upon and statement. Tolo News, citing Afghan Ministry coming months. link to open-source information of Finance (MoF) officials, said that the IMF from a wide variety of organisations, had resumed aid to the Afghan government Businessweek reported on the presence of rare- research centres and media sources. and had encouraged other donor agencies to earth elements and other valuable minerals, However, the CFC does not endorse do the same. Similarly, Khaama Press said including gold, copper and iron, in Afghani- and cannot necessarily guarantee that “the Afghan government has met all the stan. Afghanistan’s rare-earth elements are the accuracy or objectivity of these conditions of the International Monetary used in high-tech electronics, including some sources. CFC publications are Fund.” Receiving a new programme with the hybrid cars and military radar. Afghanistan’s independently produced by IMF will also allow Afghanistan to receive Ambassador to the United States, Eklil Ha- Knowledge Managers and do not withheld funds from the IMF, the British and kimi, told Businessweek the following: “the reflect NATO or ISAF policies or Norwegian governments and the World Bank- key to peace in Afghanistan lies in our mineral positions of any other organisation. administered Afghanistan Reconstruction resources because lasting security and stability The CFC is part of NATO Allied Trust Fund (ARTF), says Outlook Afghani- is dependent on the amount of economic op- Command Operations. stan. portunity available to Afghans.”

The US government is pushing hard for the Finally, Afghan carpet weavers have reported- expansion of trade relations between Afghani- ly been departing Afghanistan for Pakistan in stan and as part of the “New Silk Road” large numbers as the limited power supply, initiative, reports the Daily Times, a Pakistani high costs and burdensome export taxes have news outlet. The US Assistant Secretary of made carpet production difficult within their State for South and Central Asian Affairs, home country, says the Institute for War and Robert Blake, is quoted as saying that: Peace Reporting. Abdul Sabur Qaderi, head of CONTACT THE CFC “Opening transit trade to India would be trans- the Balkh province department for refugees formative, as it is going to be important eco- and displaced people, confirmed that large For further information, contact: nomic anchor for the region in 21st century.” numbers of carpet weavers had left the area in Afghanistan Team Leader The US government, according to Daily order to resume production outside the coun- Steven A. Zyck Times, views the upcoming second interna- try. Carpets continue to comprise a significant [email protected] tional Bonn Conference on Afghanistan as a proportion of Afghanistan’s exports, though

key opportunity for progress on regional coop- Tolo News reported in July that the value of The Afghanistan Team eration, including increasing the volume of carpet exports from Afghanistan had de- [email protected] trade between Afghanistan and India. creased by 75% in recent years. Governance & Rule of Law Stefanie Nijssen ► [email protected]

resident Hamid Karzai has ruled out future negotiations lishing and managing bases in Paktiya province and heading with the Taliban, reports The Guardian. The killing of the financial and logistical support for various operations. In P Burhanuddin Rabbani, the former Afghan president and the meantime, a US Department of State (DoS) official has Chief of the Afghan High Peace Council (HPC), has led Presi- confirmed that the United States is working to designate the dent Karzai to focus on talks with Pakistan instead. President Haqqani network as a terrorist organisation. Bloomberg News Karzai met with the National Security Council last week to reports that some individual Haqqani kingpins have already discuss the future of peace talks after Rabbani’s assassination, been designated as terrorists, but the new move will affect the reported Reuters. The group concluded that the Taliban leader- entire organisation. Calling reports that linked Pakistan and ship was not independent enough to make decisions about how the Haqqani network as “baseless”, the chief of Pakistan’s it conducted operations and was quoted as saying that “During Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI) joined other political our three-year efforts for peace, the Taliban has martyred our parties in rejecting the allegations, informs Reuters. Sirajuddin religious ulema (leaders), tribal elders, women, children, old Haqqani has denied US allegations that the Haqqanis are re- and young.” Calling current attempts at peace talks with the sponsible for killing Rabbani and initiating various other high- Taliban futile, President Karzai told the press that “their profile attacks in , reports The Telegraph. [Taliban] messengers are coming and killing...so with whom should we make peace?” News of President Karzai’s statement The Associated Press says that Afghan and US-led coalition comes as investigations by the Afghan government have un- troops destroyed more than USD 350 million worth of drugs in covered Rabbani’s suspected killer to be a Pakistani, reports what may be the largest narcotics seizure in Afghanistan to the BBC. Evidence suggests that the murder was planned in date. Proceeds from illegal drug activities are believed to have Quetta, Pakistan, which is believed to be home to the Taliban’s funded many of the attacks on Afghan and coalition forces. leadership. According to the article, documents and infor- Over 12,065 kg of chemicals, 100 kg of heroin and 80 kg of mation have been shared with the government of Pakistan to opium were seized. According to a separate article from Out- substantiate an arrest. look Afghanistan, the DoS Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs will provide the government of Pakistan’s Prime Minster, Yousuf Raza Gilani, has asked Pres- Afghanistan with approximately USD 268 million for pro- ident Karzai to address misconceptions concerning Pakistan’s grammes promoting rule of law, corrections, counter-narcotics role in Rabbani’s assassination, reports Outlook Afghanistan. and law enforcement. The Prime Minister’s request comes after hundreds of Afghans took to the streets of Kabul to protest Pakistan’s alleged in- A number of Afghan trade bodies have demanded that the volvement in the Rabbani assassination last week. According government either abolish or amend the municipal tax law, to Tolo News, Pakistan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hina reports Pajhwok Afghan News. A rule passed by the Cabinet Rabbani Khar, told the UN General Assembly that Pakistan is 10 months ago will go into effect shortly and will require busi- determined to eliminate terrorism from its country. Khar stated nessmen to pay tax on municipal services. According to the that “the complexity of the situation and the ground dynamics Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI), need to be analysed objectively and carefully. Clarity and stra- heavy taxes would be imposed on the import of tires, cement, tegic coherence, especially among Afghanistan, United States mineral water, flour, wheat and rice. The chief of Afghan In- and Pakistan is of utmost importance.” vestors’ High Consultative Board called the law a barrier for traders and called on the government to abolish it. Major media outlets around the world reported that a top lead- er of the Haqqani network, Haji Mali Khan, was captured by Tolo News informs that Norway hosted a meeting in Oslo on NATO forces last week. Mali Khan is the uncle of the group’s Friday where representatives from India, , Pakistan, China, leader, Sirajuddin Haqqani. Mali Khan reportedly served as France, Great Britain and the United States reviewed the cur- emissary between the Haqqani network and Baitullah Mehsud, rent situation in Afghanistan and worked to promote regional Pakistan’s Taliban chief who was killed in 2009. The Los An- cooperation. geles Times reports that Mali Khan is also suspected of estab-

Humanitarian Affairs Linda Lavender ► [email protected]

adio Free /Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reports that Afghan refugees around the world live in difficulty, with many the Afghan government is formulating plans to bring denied basic rights and access to healthcare, food and shelter R home more than three million refugees currently living [and] we believe they have a better chance of receiving these in Pakistan and Iran. The new initiative will be discussed at an things in Afghanistan”. According to the report, Anwari’s re- international conference in Tokyo in 2012, and its success will cent travels outside the country to inspect refugee populations rely upon USD 1 billion of international assistance to imple- revealed that some are being mistreated. Until recently, says ment the programme. The Minister of Refugees and Repatria- RFE/RL, Afghanistan’s unstable security situation was impact- tion (MoRR), Jamahir Anwari, told RFE/RL that “millions of ing efforts to develop repatriation plans.

Page 2 04 October 2011 Pajhwok Afghan News reports that the MoRR expressed con- tance. The article notes that the transportation of 150,000 cerns for Afghan refugees residing in Greece. Anwari reported tonnes of wheat, purchased from India, is in progress. Moham- that Afghan refugees living in camps are subjected to torture mad Aslam Sayyas, the deputy head of the Afghanistan Natu- by police and nationalist groups. According to the article, there ral Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA), stated his or- are 65,000 Afghan refugees seeking asylum in Greece; only 71 ganisation was ready to assist vulnerable families this winter have been given citizenship. Pajhwok reports that the animosi- but urged the government to move required supplies quickly as ty towards refugees is attributed to Greece’s current economic some provinces are inaccessible during the winter months. crisis. Anwari told Pajhwok that Greece “cannot accept refu- gees of another country.” Additionally the Minister encour- The UN-affiliated Integrated Regional Information Network aged Greek officials to pave the way for Afghans to migrate to (IRIN) reports that the United States Agency for International other countries that were willing to accept refugees instead of Development (USAID) is rethinking its approach to agricultur- repatriating them to Afghanistan at this time. al projects. Agricultural projects often hurt a community’s health and nutrition when the focus is only on tonnes and dol- The World Food Programme (WFP) has raised concern over lars, reports USAID. Working in conjunction with non- the impending food emergency unfolding in Afghanistan since governmental organisations (NGOs), USAID is looking for aid agencies’ efforts are heavily focused on the Somalia fam- ways to ensure agricultural investments support proper nutri- ine. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) notes that tion. The new “nutritional impact assessment tool” will be almost 75% of the Afghan population living within the affect- used to guarantee that projects do not have a negative impact ed regions will run out of food in less than two months without upon nutrition for local populations in what is called a “do no intervention. According to the WFP, severe drought within harm approach” to agricultural programming. Currently, Afghanistan has created food shortages that are likely to inten- USAID is working with NGOs to field test the tool. Charlotte sify over the next several months. The Pakistani Frontier Post Dufour, a food security and livelihoods officer with the Food reports that the Afghan government has appealed to the inter- and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations national community for USD 598 million to address the hu- told IRIN that “the agriculture sector needs to be accountable - manitarian emergency. Government assessments show that contributing to improved diets.” there are currently 200,000 families that need emergency assis-

Infrastructure Rainer Gonzalez ► [email protected]

he Asian Development Bank (ADB) will finance a USD 100 million upgrade of a key railway in Uzbeki- T stan, reports the Pakistani Business Recorder. The ADB’s loan will provide funds for the electrification of a 140 km railway stretch between Marakand and Karshi. The railway is part of the strategic corridor linking Europe through Central to the and . The route carries ap- proximately 10 million tonnes in freight annually, including a large portion of humanitarian relief supplies. According to the report, the line is not electrified and currently requires the use of slower diesel locomotives with limited carrying capacity. The Business Recorder reports that passenger traffic in this stretch of line has increased in recent years, which has placed a strain on the line’s current infrastructure and created transpor- tation bottlenecks. The new development will provide new opportunities for the recently-completed, ADB-funded Mazar- Source: Modified from Perry-Castaneda Library Map e Sharif-Hairatan railway to link Afghanistan to Uzbekistan.

ments were reported by the media during the course of the last The United States Agency for International Development week (see the map, above): (USAID) is partnering with the Central Asia Development

Group to implement air, road and pedestrian transportation a. Eight micro hydro-power plants have been installed in projects, reports a USAID press release. USAID has employed Ghor province, reports the Ministry of Rural Rehabilita- more than 2,500 skilled and unskilled labourers in Dai Kundi tion and Development (MRRD). The plants, which will province as part of a larger drive to facilitate sustainability by provide electricity to 1,010 rural families, produce 99 kW utilising the local labour force. Projects within the province of electricity and have been funded through the National seek to ensure Dai Kundi residents can contribute to their own Area-Based Development Program (NABDP). economy and infrastructure, thereby preventing the migration of people to other areas for secure employment. b. The Ferosgha-e Afghan shopping centre in Kabul has been restored with funds from USAID. The shopping cen- In addition, a number of individual infrastructure develop- tre was damaged during 2010 Taliban attacks on govern-

Page 3 04 October 2011 ment buildings within the city. reopened, reports Pajhwok. A 40 km portion of the road has been closed for more than a year due to construction c. Reconstruction and cleaning projects for two irrigation work. canals have been completed in Badghis province, reports Bakhtar News. The completion of the project, funded by f. The reconstruction work for intakes, retaining walls and the World Bank, will provide irrigation for 7.7 square km check dams along the Shamas River in Ghanzi province of crops. has been completed, reports USAID. The project was im- plemented by USAID in partnership with Saynee village d. The Herat International Airport tarmac will be recon- residents, the provincial governor and the Ghanzi Water structed to provide additional aircraft parking facilities, Director. Local community elders provided security for reports Pajhwok Afghan News. The overall cost of the the project, and the Provincial Development Council as- project is estimated at USD 2.3 million. sumed responsibility for the maintenance of the new infra- e. The Qalat-Mezan road in Zabul province was recently structure.

The CFC is pleased to welcome John Caldwell, the new Counter-Improvised Explosive Device Knowledge Manager, who will be contributing information to the Security and Force Protection section of the “Afghanistan Review”. He may be reached at [email protected].

Security & Force Protection Mark Checchia ► [email protected]

euters reports that 16 people, 11 of them children, 28 September, reports Pajhwok Afghan News. Funded by the were killed on 27 September when a roadside bomb United Kingdom and Denmark, the building was constructed R blew up a van carrying the group back from an en- in a year at a cost of USD 18 million. General Nabi Jan Mul- gagement party in Herat province. Hours before, five people lahkhel, deputy police chief for the 707th police zone, stated died and 20 others were injured in a suicide attack in Lashkar that the facility is fully equipped and replaces the previous Gah, the capital of Helmand province. According to Reuters, makeshift building. In the past two months, 180 policemen, the deputy police chief stated the attacker rammed his explo- including 52 sergeants, have been trained by international sive-laden car into a bakery that supplies food for the Afghan mentors, said the training center head. Pajhwok reports that the National Army (ANA) near the police headquarters. Radio graduates of the centre will be deployed to Helmand and Nim- Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) also reports eight police roz provinces. officers were shot and killed in an attack on a checkpoint in Helmand province. Local officials said an additional three Police seized a militants’ ammunition cache in Logar province, policemen were wounded in the overnight attack near Lashkar officials announced on 29 September. According to Pajhwok, Gah. RFL/RL reports that a police officer, who was part of the Brigadier General Ghulam Sakhi Rogh Lewanai said the cache group manning the checkpoint, is missing. Reuters reports that included rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) and mortar shells, ISAF handed over responsibility for security in Lashkar Gah firecrackers, 15 kg of explosives and more than 100 metres of to their Afghan counterparts two months ago. bomb fuse wire. Officials told Pajhwok that no one had yet been detained in connection with the stockpile, but an investi- An additional 800 US military trainers will arrive in Afghani- gation was underway. In related news, the Ministry of Interior stan by March 2012 to provide training in logistics, mainte- (MoI) reported that 37 militants were killed and 22 others were nance, medical care and other areas in which the Afghan Na- detained in various provinces over the past weekend. The Pa- tional Army (ANA) is short on skills, reports The Washington jhwok article notes that the numerous joint operations conduct- Post. Lieutenant General William B. Caldwell, commander of ed by the ANA and NATO’s International Security Assistance NATO’s training mission, said this training was needed to Force (ISAF) had also resulted in the discovery of 11 AK-47 enable ANA units to be better prepared to operate without US rifles, three rocket launchers, 16 anti-vehicle mines, four hand support by 2014, when American combat troops are scheduled grenades, 190 kg of explosives and 345 kg of opium. to leave. The Washington Post reports that Caldwell said only two of 126 Afghan army battalions are currently operating “by In other news, an ISAF service member died following an in- themselves,” adding that even those two needed logistics, surgent attack in Wardak province in eastern Afghanistan on maintenance, medical and intelligence support. 28 September. An ISAF casualty report confirms an additional seven ISAF service members died following improvised explo- A new police training centre opened in Helmand province on sive device attacks last week.

RECOMMEND REPORT TOPICS TO THE CFC: AFGHANISTAN IN TRANSITION

With the transition in Afghanistan underway, it will be increasingly important to better understand the civilian and military elements of this process. Accordingly, beginning September 2011, the CFC is proud to announce a new supplemental series on “Afghanistan in Transition” which will include at least 20 thematic reports on a range of topics and sectors.

If you have recommendations for report topics to be included in the “Afghanistan in Transition” series, please send them to [email protected] as soon as possible. We greatly appreciate our readers’ input.

Page 4 04 October 2011 Socio-Cultural Development Linda Lavender ► [email protected]

edia professionals and journalists recently said the ghan government recently created a mass-marriage commis- government-run newspapers are avoiding coverage sion in order to help young people who wish to be married but M of the real problems facing the nation, reports Pajh- cannot afford to do so. Wedding costs in Afghanistan have wok Afghan News. According to the article, government offi- skyrocketed in recent years, as Afghans see lavish weddings cials acknowledged the criticism but noted that social issues and wedding feasts held in other countries. Each of the 21 were not altogether ignored by Anis, Hewad, Islah and Kabul couples was given household items and a month’s expenses. Times newspapers. Reportedly, an independent news organisa- Pajhwok reports that the Ministry of Women’s Affairs tion found the aforementioned newspapers covered only gov- (MoWA) finds providing assistance for weddings is effective ernment activities and policies. According to Pajhwok, criti- in curbing domestic violence. cism of the papers has resulted in the recent loss of readership. An increase in the number of religious books in circulation The United States Agency for International Development from Iran has angered some Afghans, states the Institute for (USAID) completed the training of 30 Afghan midwives in War and Peace Reporting (IWPR). According to IWPR, there Egypt. USAID stated that the advanced midwifery training is widespread suspicion of Tehran’s motives in sending Shia resulted not only in the development of professional skills by literature into regions largely dominated by Sunni Muslims. building new strategies, knowledge and techniques but also Some feel Tehran is seeking to stir sectarian conflict. Herat improved many participants’ self-confidence. Additionally, province, which borders Iran, is a large recipient of these ma- many of the participants had never travelled outside their terials since it has many cultural and economic connections country before. One midwife shared: “this was an unforgetta- with the Shia-dominated Iran, reports IWPR. Iranians have ble visit for me and I promise to share the knowledge that I historically supplied Afghan universities with books, opened gained here with all midwives and midwifery teachers.” cultural centres and funded Herat’s public library since it was opened in 2004. Bakhtar News Agency reports that a group of disabled Afghans gathered before the Wolesi Jirga in order to raise awareness of the needs for those with disabilities. Members of the National Deaf Association petitioned President Hamid Karzai to help SUBMIT A REQUEST them gain access to education and jobs. The protestors de- FOR INFORMATION (RFI) manded that, as citizens, they were entitled to equal rights and opportunities under the law. According to the article, the deaf CimicWeb account holders can submit are an under-privileged segment of society in Afghanistan. RFIs to the CFC. These may concern the Approximately 2.7% of the population has a disability, reports sectors addressed in this newsletter or other topics relevant to Afghanistan or Bakhtar. The United Nations (UN) International Convention our other focus areas. To submit an RFI, on Disabled Rights states that Afghanistan has made little pro- fill out the request form by clicking here. gress in improving the living conditions for disabled popula- tions. Have a colleague who is interested in sub- mitting an RFI? Tell them to request a Twenty-one couples in Parwan province were recently married CimicWeb account by clicking here. in a mass wedding ceremony, according to Pajhwok. The Af-

AFGHANISTAN NOTICE BOARD

Agricultural Development for Afghanistan Pre-Deployment Training

Who? United States Department of Agriculture (www.usda.gov) and a consortium of American universities

What? The curriculum developed will meet the needs of all deploying United States Government personnel in support of the USG Agriculture Strategy in Afghanistan.

For whom? United States Government personnel.

When & Where? 12-17 DEC / 16-21 JAN / 23-28 JAN / 26-31 MAR / 02-07 APR / 18-23 JUN in Fresno, CA. First come first serve basis.

Contact Details: Ryan Brewster, U.S. Department of Agriculture, [email protected]

If you are a CFC account-holder and would like your notice to appear here, please send all relevant details to [email protected]. The CFC is not obliged to print any notice that it receives, and the CFC retains the right to revise notices for clarity and appropriateness. Any notices submitted for publication in the “Afghanistan Review” newsletter should be relevant to Afghanistan and to the CFC’s mission as a knowledge management and information sharing institution.

ENGAGE WITH US Civil-Military Fusion Centre (CFC) [email protected] www.cimicweb.org

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