Afghanistan – Researched and compiled by the Refugee Documentation Centre of Ireland on 10 June 2015

Afghanistan: Level of Violence caused by Pro-Government & Anti- Government/Insurgent Forces in .

A report from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, in a section headed “Eastern Region: Nangarhar”, states:

“Armed conflict between ANSF and AGEs as well as harassment and intimidation of civilians by AGEs were reported as the main causes of displacement towards areas that the families perceived as safer. Several families reported to have been affected by AGEs’ attacks against military installations in the proximity of their villages or accommodations; to have been caught in cross-fire incidents; to have had their houses damaged or destroyed by shelling from the parties in conflict, sometimes with loss or injury of family members and relatives. Other families reported direct intimidation and threats to their families by AGEs, including cases of kidnapping, particularly if families and individuals were perceived as associated or were effective members of the security forces (ANA/ ANP).” (UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) (March 2015) Afghanistan - Conflict- Induced Internal Displacement Monthly Update, March 2015, p.4)

A report from the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), in a section headed “War Crime of Murder: Targeted Killings of Civilians”, states:

“Anti-Government Elements continued to target and kill Government employees, civilians they accused of spying for the Government, community leaders and off-duty police officers or ANP while performing solely civilian law enforcement functions. In many cases, the Taliban claimed responsibility for the killings on their public website. Targeted killings were most prevalent in the eastern region, with 184 incidents, followed by the southern region with 129 incidents, the southeast with 96 incidents, the northern region with 92 incidents, the western region with 58 incidents, the central region with 49 incidents, and the northeast region with 35 incidents. Nangarhar province had the highest number of targeted killing incidents documented by UNAMA, followed by Kandahar with 77 incidents and Kunar with 67.” (UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) (8 February 2014) Afghanistan: Annual Report 2013 – Protection Of Civilians In Armed Conflict, p.24)

See also UNAMA report which, in a section titled Arson attacks by the Taliban against civilian houses in the Eastern region (paragraph headed “Nangarhar province”), states:

“On 23 September, Taliban fighters conducted coordinated attacks against ALP check posts in Dur Baba district, Nangarhar province. They also burnt at least 20 civilian houses of families of Government supporters and ALP members. On 24 September, Taliban fighters burnt 10-15 civilian houses in

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Dur Baba district, Nangarhar province, which families had vacated following a warning by the Taliban to evacuate the area.” (UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) (February 2015) Afghanistan: Annual Report 2014, Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, p.69)

A Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty report states:

“At least 18 militants and a member of Afghan security forces have been reported killed in a gunbattle in the country's east. Officials said the fighting took place in Nazyan district of Nangarhar Province, near the Pakistani border.” (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (5 February 2015) Afghanistan Says 18 Militants Killed Near Pakistan Border)

A report from the Afghan news channel TOLOnews states:

“At least eight civilians were killed and three others injured in two separate roadside mine blasts in eastern Nangarhar province on Monday, local officials said. The first blast took place in , the capital of Nangarhar, early Monday morning when students were walking on a road when a roadside mine detonated, killing two students and injuring another, spokesman for the Provincial Police Chief, Hazrat Hussain Mashriqiwal, said. He said that the police have started investigations in regards to the blast. So far no one has been arrested in connection to the blast. This comes while, six other civilians were killed and two others injured after their vehicle struck a roadside mine in of the province, spokesman for the acting Governor Ahmad Zia Abdulzai said.” (TOLOnews (2 March 2015) Eight Civilians Killed in Nangarhar Roadside Mine Blasts)

A report from the Afghan news agency Khaama Press states:

“Four civilians including three children were killed in two separate explosions in eastern Nangarhar province. A statement issued by the Ministry of Defense (MoD) states that the incidents took place in Hashimkhil area of Shirzad district during 5 days military operation (Operation Shaheen 35) against insurgents which ended yesterday. According to the statement one landmine exploded at a civilian vehicle killing three children and wounding six others including four children and two women.” (Khaama Press (25 March 2015) 4 civilians killed in separate explosions in Nangarhar)

A Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty report states:

“In Nangarhar Province, a suicide car bomb targeted a NATO convoy, killing at least three civilians and wounding four others. The attack took place near a U.S. military base not far from the airport in Jalalabad, the provincial capital” (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (10 April 2015) Bombings Kill At Least 15 Afghan Civilians)

A Deutsche Welle report states:

“A suicide bomber detonated his explosives-filled car close to a convoy of NATO troops in Jalalabad city in the eastern province of Nangarhar, police and health officials said. ‘The attacker targeted a foreign troops' convoy near the airport,’ said Hazrat Hussain Mashreqiwall, provincial police spokesman. He said he did not know whether foreign troops were casualties. A provincial

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health official who asked not to be named said that four civilians were killed and 13 wounded. The bomber also died.” (Deutsche Welle (10 April 2015) Sixteen civilians killed in separate attacks in Afghanistan)

A Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty report states:

“At least 33 people have been killed and more than 100 injured in Afghanistan's eastern city of Jalalabad in a suicide attack which President Ashraf Ghani said was orchestrated by the militant group Islamic State (IS). Witnesses said the attacker blew himself up on April 18 outside a bank in the capital of Nangarhar province where government staff and military personnel were collecting their salaries.” (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (18 April 2015) Suicide-Bomb Blast Kills Dozens In Jalalabad, In Afghan East)

A report on this incident from the Afghanistan Analysts Network states:

“Jalalabad endured a bloody day on Saturday, 18 April 2015. A suicide bomber blew himself up among crowds of people outside the city’s branch of the Kabul Bank, killing and injuring scores of those queuing up to get their monthly salaries from the government. Members of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) (not in uniform) were hit, along with government workers and other civilians. Children were among the casualties. The scenes of carnage captured on film showed dazed and bloody survivors among the wounded and dead. At about the same time in Jalalabad, a saint’s shrine called Dolakai Baba was blown up, wounding two civilians and, also on the same day, a magnetic bomb exploded in the nearby Behsud district killing one person and injuring two others. A fourth bomb was safely detonated by Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) outside the Jalalabad branch of Afghanistan’s central bank which is not far away from the Kabul Bank.” (Afghanistan Analysts Network (22 April 2015) First wave of IS attacks? Claim and denial over the Jalalabad bombs)

A Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty report states:

“Five Taliban militants have been killed in an overnight battle when they tried to storm a police compound in Afghanistan’s eastern city of Jalalabad in an attack that began with a suicide car bomber driving into the facility’s gate. Authorities say nine Afghan police were wounded by the car bomber. Fazal Ahmad Shirzad, the police chief for Nangarhar Province, said that in addition to the suicide bomber, his officers shot dead four attackers and detained a fifth before the battle ended in the early morning hours of June 1.” (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (1 June 2015) Five Killed In Taliban Attack On Afghan Police Compound)

An article from the Mail Online states:

“Extremists fighting for the Islamic State's fledgling outpost in Afghanistan have brutally beheaded at least 10 Taliban members, as the bloody rivalry between the two Islamic terror groups intensifies. The attack took place in a remote area in the eastern province of Nangarhar after ISIS jihadis intercepted at least a dozen Taliban fighters who were fleeing a gun battle with government troops. The rival terror groups declared war on one another in April after the Afghan Taliban branded ISIS' self-declared caliphate illegitimate and refused to declare allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. ISIS

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responded by launching recruitment drives deep into Taliban territory, allowing them to expand rapidly - even reportedly replacing the Taliban as the dominant controlling force in one district.” (Mail Online (8 June 2015) ISIS terrorists ambush and behead 10 Taliban fighters in Afghanistan as the bloody rivalry between the terror groups intensifies)

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research and Information Unit within time constraints. This response is not and does not purport to be conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please read in full all documents referred to.

References:

Afghanistan Analysts Network (22 April 2015) First wave of IS attacks? Claim and denial over the Jalalabad bombs https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/first-wave-of-is-attacks-claim-and- denial-over-the-jalalabad-bombs/ (Accessed 10 June 2015)

Deutsche Welle (10 April 2015) Sixteen civilians killed in separate attacks in Afghanistan http://www.dpa-international.com/news/asia/suicide-attack-targets-nato- convoy-in-afghanistan-a-44858397-img-1.html (Accessed 10 June 2015)

Khaama Press (25 March 2015) 4 civilians killed in separate explosions in Nangarhar http://www.khaama.com/4-civilians-killed-in-separate-explosions-in- nangarhar-3058 (Accessed 10 June 2015)

Mail Online (8 June 2015) ISIS terrorists ambush and behead 10 Taliban fighters in Afghanistan as the bloody rivalry between the terror groups intensifies http://www.lexisnexis.com (Accessed 9 June 2015) This is a subscription database

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (1 June 2015) Five Killed In Taliban Attack On Afghan Police Compound http://www.rferl.org/content/afghanistan-taliban-attack/27047119.html (Accessed 10 June 2015)

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (18 April 2015) Suicide-Bomb Blast Kills Dozens In Jalalabad, In Afghan East http://www.rferl.org/content/afghanistan-jalalabad-blast-/26964691.html (Accessed 9 June 2015)

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Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (10 April 2015) Bombings Kill At Least 15 Afghan Civilians http://www.rferl.org/content/bom-kill-at-least-13-afghan- civilians/26948486.html (Accessed 9 June 2015)

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (5 February 2015) Afghanistan Says 18 Militants Killed Near Pakistan Border http://www.rferl.org/content/afghanistan-says-18-militants-killed-near- pakistan/26831462.html (Accessed 10 June 2015)

TOLOnews (2 March 2015) Eight Civilians Killed in Nangarhar Roadside Mine Blasts http://www.tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/18439-eight-civilians-killed-in- nangarhar-roadside-mine-blasts (Accessed 10 June 2015)

UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) (February 2015) Afghanistan: Annual Report 2014, Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict http://www.refworld.org/docid/54e44e274.html (Accessed 9 June 2015)

UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) (8 February 2014) Afghanistan: Annual Report 2013 – Protection Of Civilians In Armed Conflict http://unama.unmissions.org/Portals/UNAMA/human%20rights/Feb_8_2014_ PoC-report_2013-Full-report-ENG.pdf (Accessed 10 June 2015)

UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) (March 2015) Afghanistan - Conflict-Induced Internal Displacement Monthly Update, March 2015 http://www.refworld.org/docid/5534d99e4.html (Accessed 9 June 2015)

Sources Consulted:

DFAT Electronic Immigration Network European Country of Origin Information Network Freedom House Google Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Lexis Nexis Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Refugee Documentation Centre Query Database UK Home Office UNAMA UNHCR Refworld

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