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Beyond Boundaries II
Beyond Boundaries II Beyond Boundaries II Pakistan - Afghanistan Track 1.5 and II cc Connecting People Building Peace Promoting Cooperation 1 Beyond Boundaries II Beyond Boundaries II Pakistan – Afghanistan Track 1.5 and II Connecting People Building Peace Promoting Cooperation 2 Beyond Boundaries II Beyond Boundaries II ©Center for Research and Security Studies 2018 All rights reserved This publication can be ordered from CRSS Islamabad office. All CRSS publications are also available free of cost for digital download from the CRSS website. 14-M, Ali Plaza, 2nd Floor, F-8 Markaz, Islamabad, Pakistan. Tel: +92-51-8314801-03 Fax: +92-51-8314804 www.crss.pk 3 Beyond Boundaries II TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. ACRONYMS ..................................................................................................... 5 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................... 9 3. CONTEXTUALIZING BEYOND BOUNDARIES................................................... 11 4. FIRST MEETING OF THE PAKISTAN AFGHANISTAN JOINT COMMITTEE ........ 56 5. SECOND MEETING OF PAKISTAN AFGHANISTAN JOINT COMMITTEE .......... 72 6. THIRD MEETING OF PAKISTAN AFGHANISTAN JOINT COMMITTEE .............. 95 7. FOURTH MEETING OF PAKISTAN AFGHANISTAN JOINT COMMITTEE ........ 126 8. FIFTH MEETING OF PAKISTAN AFGHANISTAN JOINT COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS/TRADE ........................................................................................ 149 9. SIXTH MEETING OF PAKISTAN AFGHANISTAN JOINT COMMITTEE ............ 170 10. UNIVERSITY -
Afghanistan: Politics, Elections, and Government Performance
Afghanistan: Politics, Elections, and Government Performance Kenneth Katzman Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs February 10, 2011 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov RS21922 CRS Report for Congress Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Afghanistan: Politics, Elections, and Government Performance Summary The limited capacity and widespread corruption of all levels of Afghan governance are growing factors in debate over the effectiveness of U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, as expressed in an Administration assessment of policy released December 16, 2010. A competent, respected, and effective Afghan government is considered a major prerequisite for a transition to Afghan leadership that is to take place by 2014, a timeframe agreed to by the United States, its international partners, and the Afghan government. Afghan governing capacity has increased significantly since the Taliban regime fell in late 2001, but many positions, particularly at the local level, are unfilled or governing functions are performed by unaccountable power brokers. On corruption, the issue that perhaps most divides the United States from the government of President Hamid Karzai, the Afghan leadership is accepting U.S. help to build emerging anti- corruption institutions, but these same institutions have sometimes caused a Karzai backlash when they have targeted his allies or relatives. Effects of corruption burst into public view in August 2010 when the large Kabul Bank nearly collapsed due in part to losses on large loans to major shareholders, many of whom are close to Karzai. Some in Congress have sought to link further U.S. aid to clearer progress on the corruption issue. Purportedly suspicious that U.S. -
Special Report No
SPECIAL REPORT NO. 444 | MARCH 2019 UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE www.usip.org How Peace Was Made: An Inside Account of Talks between the Afghan Government and Hezb-e Islami By Qaseem Ludin Contents Background ...................................3 Talks Begin ................................... 5 Internal Consensus and Divisions .................................7 Components of the Peace Deal ....................................8 Sealing the Deal ......................... 12 Implementation of the Agreement ............................ 13 Lessons for Negotiations with the Taliban ........................... 14 Gulbuddin Hekmatyar addresses supporters in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, in March 2018. (Photo by Ghulamullah Habibi/EPA-EFE/ Shutterstock) Summary • For more than four decades, Afghan- • Peacemaking is a difficult process, the challenges and divisions that istan has been in a state of war and but often the most difficult part is had to be overcome in order to violent conflict that has destroyed how to start peace talks. Thus, the make the September 2016 peace much of the country’s physical and experience of negotiating peace agreement possible. social infrastructure and prevent- between the Afghan government • After the peace accord with ed the formation of a state stable and the Hezb-e Islami insurgent Hezb-e Islami, Afghans have an- enough to establish law and order. group offers unique insights on other historic chance to bring an • Although several internal and exter- peacemaking in the modern era. end to years of conflict with the nal factors contributed to the conflict • This report, based on the author’s Taliban. The Afghan government’s and its current political and security experience working as a negoti- negotiations with Hezb-e Islami environment, a key factor has been ator during talks between the Af- provide important lessons that can weak Afghan leadership, exacerbat- ghan government and Hezb-e Isla- be applied to future peace negoti- ed by political frictions among elites. -
Study on Security Cooperation in The
This publicaion has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publicaion are the sole responsibility of ATR Consuling and can in no way be taken to relect the views of the European Union. CONTENTs Execuive Summary 1 Acronyms 2 Acknowledgements 5 Background and 6 Context Concept and 7 Background of the Heart of Asia Building r Commitment 8 States to the Heart of Asia Process Among Membe Map 1: 9 Heart of Asia Member States Exising Studies 10 on the Heart of Asia Process Approach and 11 Methodology Approach 11 Research Quesions 11 Methodology 12 Findings 13 Security Cooperaion’ Looking Beyond the Tradiional Deiniion of ‘ 13 Security Threats 14 in the Region Security Cooperaion 17 Mechanisms in the Region Obstacles to 22 Efecive Security Cooperaion in the Region Opportuniies for 23 Intensiied Security Cooperaion Incenives for 25 Intensiied Security Cooperaion Policy Opions 26 for the Heart of Asia Conclusion 29 Appendix I: 31 Afghanistan Most Relevant 32 Security Threats to Afghanistan Exising Security 32 Cooperaion Mechanisms Obstacles to 35 Efecive Security Cooperaion Opportuniies aion and 38 Incenives for Intensiied Security Cooper Promising Policy 40 Opions for the Heart of Asia Process Map 2: 40 Proposed Route of TAPI Gas Pipeline Project Appendix II: 42 Azerbaijan Most Relevant 43 Security Threats Exising Security 44 Cooperaion Mechanisms Obstacles to Efecive Security Cooperaion 45 Opportuniies and Incenives for Intensiied Security Cooperaion 46 Promising Policy Opions for the Heart of Asia Process -
Report 5Th EP-Afghanistan IPM, 17-19
European Parliament 2014-2019 Delegation for relations with Afghanistan 15.1.2019 MISSION REPORT following the 5th EU-Afghanistan Inter-Parliamentary Meeting 17-19 December 2018, Kabul Delegation for relations with Afghanistan Members of the mission: Petras Auštrevičius (ALDE) (Leader of the mission) André Elissen (ENF) Frank Engel (PPE) CR\1175047EN.docx PE629.305v01-00 EN United in diversity EN Introduction The Delegation for relations with Afghanistan conducted a mission to Kabul from Monday 17 to Wednesday 19 December 2018. This was the Delegation to Afghanistan's second visit in the current parliamentary mandate after the 4th EU/Afghanistan IPM which took place in Kabul in February 2017. The aim of the mission was to hold the 5th Inter-parliamentary Meeting (IPM) with Members of Parliament from the Wolesi Jirga and to gain first-hand information about the evolving situation in the country and the status of the EU's political, military and development cooperation in Afghanistan. As in 2017, due to strict security provisions, the program of the visit was limited to Kabul, with a reduced delegation size – it was made up of only two members with the addition of the rapporteur on Afghanistan from the Committee for Development, plus, as a member of the secretariat, the Head of Unit of Asia. The Delegation adopted an IPM joint-statement with Afghan MPs and issued a press-statement to sum up the aim and main outcomes of the visit. Meetings In just three working days and in spite of high security concerns, the delegation managed to have an intense and high-level programme for four days, with several meetings, mostly inside the EU compound, through the highly appreciated and committed cooperation of the EU ambassador and his deputy and the EU head of the Political Section. -
Legislative Calendar
S. PRT. 111–61 COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES UNITED STATES SENATE LEGISLATIVE CALENDAR ONE HUNDRED ELEVENTH CONGRESS 2009–2010 CONVENED JANUARY 6, 2009 FIRST SESSION ! ADJOURNED DECEMBER 24, 2009 CONVENED JANUARY 5, 2010 SECOND SESSION ! ADJOURNED DECEMBER 22, 2010 FINAL CALENDAR 63–765 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 2011 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Congressional Sales Office U.S. Government Pinting Office, Washington, DC 20402 VerDate Mar 15 2010 02:07 Feb 12, 2011 Jkt 063765 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 7800 Sfmt 7800 E:\HR\OC\63765.XXX 63765 smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with HEARING CONTENTS Page Members of the Committee on Armed Services .................................................................................................. 3 Subcommittees of the Committee on Armed Services ......................................................................................... 5 Staff of the Committee on Armed Services ......................................................................................................... 19 Rules of Procedure of the Committee on Armed Services .................................................................................. 21 Listing of all Senate bills and resolutions referred to Committee on Armed Services ...................................... 23 Listing of all House bills and resolutions referred to Committee on Armed Services ....................................... 27 Senate bills ............................................................................................................................................................ -
Afghanisches Kabinett Komplett Parlamentsabstimmung Bestätigt Alle 25 Minister
Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Hauptabteilung INT Team Asien e.V. Politischer Bericht / Kurzbericht Thema: Afghanisches Kabinett komplett Parlamentsabstimmung bestätigt alle 25 Minister Autor: Dr. Babak Khalatbari Ort/Datum: Kabul, 25.09.2006 Länder- / Regionalprogramm: AFGHANISTAN AFGHANISCHES KABINETT KOMPLETT Afghanisches Kabinett komplett Parlamentsabstimmung bestätigt alle 25 Minister INHALT 1. Abstimmungsverlauf 2. Lebensläufe der Minister 3. Kabinettsübersicht 4. Abstimmungsergebnisse 1 AFGHANISCHES KABINETT KOMPLETT Abstimmungsverlauf Das Kabinett von Präsident Karzai, das Am Donnerstag, den 19.04.2006 und am Montag, aus insgesamt 25 den 7. August 2006 stellten sich die von Präsident Ministerien besteht, ist Karzai vorgeschlagenen Minister für die neue nun komplett. Regierung dem Parlament zur Vertrauens- abstimmung. Vorangegangen waren Anhörungen, in denen die Ziele, aber auch professionelle Erfahrung derzeit im Gespräch. Am 23.04.2006 wurde und die Nationalität der Kandidaten thematisiert unserem Büro von einem Parlamentarier mitgeteilt, worden waren. Die Presse in Afghanistan dass im Parlament zwischenzeitlich eine nicht kommentierte den Ausgang der Vertrauens- öffentliche Verfahrensabstimmung (87 Ja- abstimmung im April als Überraschung, da von den Stimmen/53 Nein-Stimmen) die Bestätigung der 25 von Präsident Karzai vorgeschlagenen drei in Frage gestellten Kandidaten ergeben habe. Kandidaten 20 angenommen und fünf abgelehnt Der Kandidat für das Amt des Kulturministers, Dr. wurden. Es mussten demnach fünf Kandidaten Sayed Makhdum -
Afghanistan: Politics, Elections, and Government Performance
Afghanistan: Politics, Elections, and Government Performance Kenneth Katzman Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs May 12, 2014 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov RS21922 Afghanistan: Politics, Elections, and Government Performance Summary The capacity, transparency, and legitimacy of Afghan governance are considered crucial to Afghan stability as U.S.-led NATO forces turn over the security mission to Afghan leadership. The size and capability of the Afghan governing structure has increased significantly since the Taliban regime fell in late 2001, but the government remains weak and rife with corruption. The government has slowly widened its writ, even though substantial powers are concentrated in the elected presidency through powers of appointment at all levels. President Hamid Karzai has served as president since late 2001; he is constitutionally term-limited and will leave office after the conclusion of presidential and provincial elections the first round of which took place on April 5, 2014. Several major figures registered to run for president, and many of their slates included faction leaders long accused of human rights abuses. Karzai appeared to tilt toward his longtime confidant and former Foreign Minister, Zalmay Rasoul, but the final, uncertified vote count showed Northern Alliance “opposition” leader Dr. Abdullah Abdullah with nearly 45% of the vote and former Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani with about 31.5%. Abdullah’s total, if certified, is close to but still short of the 50%+ needed for victory. A runoff round is tentatively scheduled for June 7. There are discussions among the major candidates, President Karzai, and other senior figures on a settlement that might avoid the runoff. -
The Dissipation of Political Capital Among Afghanistan's Hazaras
Working Paper no. 51 THE DISSIPATION OF POLITICAL CAPITAL AMONG AFGHANISTAN’S HAZARAS : 2001-2009 Niamatullah Ibrahimi Crisis States Research Centre June 2009 Crisis States Working Papers Series No.2 ISSN 1749-1797 (print) ISSN 1749-1800 (online) Copyright © N. Ibrahimi, 2009 24 Crisis States Research Centre The Dissipation of Political Capital among Afghanistan’s Hazaras: 2001-2009 Niamatullah Ibrahimi Crisis States Research Centre Introduction Since its establishment in 1989 Hizb-e Wahdat-e Islami Afghanistan (The Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan) has been an important political and military player in Afghanistan. Like most contemporary major political parties in Afghanistan, Hizb-e Wahdat is rooted in the turbulent period of the anti-Soviet resistance movements in Afghanistan in the 1980s. It was formed to bring together nine separate and mostly inimical military and ideological groups into a single entity. During the period of the civil war in the early 1990s, it emerged as one of the major actors in Kabul and some other parts of the country. Political Islamism was the ideology of most of its key leaders but it gradually tilted towards its Hazara ethnic support base and became the key vehicle of the community’s political demands and aspirations. Its ideological background and ethnic support base has continuously shaped its character and political agenda. Through the jihad and the civil war, Wahdat accumulated significant political capital among Afghanistan’s Hazaras, which arguably could have been spent in the establishment of long-lasting political institutions in Afghanistan. By 2009, however, Wahdat was so fragmented and divided that the political weight it carried in the country bore little resemblance to what it had once been. -
Afghanistan: Politics, Elections, and Government Performance
Afghanistan: Politics, Elections, and Government Performance Kenneth Katzman Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs November 8, 2011 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov RS21922 CRS Report for Congress Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Afghanistan: Politics, Elections, and Government Performance Summary The limited capacity and widespread corruption of all levels of Afghan governance are factors in debate over the effectiveness of U.S. policy in Afghanistan and in implementing a transition to Afghan security leadership by the end of 2014. The capacity of the formal Afghan governing structure has increased significantly since the Taliban regime fell in late 2001, but many positions, particularly at the local level, are unfilled. Widespread illiteracy limits expansion of a competent bureaucracy. A dispute over the results of the 2010 parliamentary elections paralyzed governance for nearly a year and was resolved in September 2011 with the unseating on the grounds of fraud of nine winners of the elected lower house of parliament. Karzai also has tried, through direct denials, to quell assertions by his critics that he wants to stay in office beyond the 2014 expiration of his second term, the limits under the constitution. While trying, with mixed success, to build the formal governing structure, Afghan President Hamid Karzai also works through an informal power structure centered around his close ethnic Pashtun allies as well as other ethnic and political faction leaders. Some faction leaders oppose Karzai on the grounds that he is too willing to make concessions to insurgent leaders in search of a settlement—a criticism that grew following the September 20 assassination of the most senior Tajik leader, former President Burhanuddin Rabbani. -
Afghanistan's Drug Career
SWP Research Paper Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik German Institute for International and Security Affairs Citha D. Maass Afghanistan’s Drug Career Evolution from a War Economy to a Drug Economy RP 4 March 2011 Berlin All rights reserved. © Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) and Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN), 2011 SWP Research Papers are peer reviewed by senior researchers and the directing staff of the Institute. They express exclusively the per- sonal views of the author(s). SWP Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik German Institute for International and Security Affairs Ludwigkirchplatz 34 10719 Berlin Germany Phone +49 30 880 07-0 Fax +49 30 880 07-100 www.swp-berlin.org [email protected] ISSN 1863-1053 Translation by David Barnes in cooperation with Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN) www.aan-afghanistan.org (English version of SWP-Studie 2/2010) Table of Contents 5 Problems and Recommendations 7 The drug economy: A result of the new post-war order 10 Genesis and consolidation of the drug economy (1979–2001) 10 The expansion of drug production: External factors and central actors 11 The war economy and the war entrepreneurs: Transformation and consolidation 17 The transformation into a drug economy (2002–2008) 17 The structure of drug production in 2008 17 Doubts regarding sustainable decline 19 The interdependence between instability, neo-Taleban, and drug production 21 A misleading measure of success 22 The intertwining of political interests 26 The intertwining of economic structures 31 Conclusion and recommendations 32 Abbreviations Dr. Citha D. Maass is a researcher at SWP’s Asia Division Problems and Recommendations Afghanistan’s Drug Career Evolution from a War Economy to a Drug Economy The commercial production of drugs in Afghanistan began with the anti-Soviet jihad launched by muja- hedeen groups in 1979 with the financial and logis- tical support of the CIA, the United States and other Western states. -
Afghanistan: Post-Taliban Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy
Afghanistan: Post-Taliban Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy Kenneth Katzman Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs December 30, 2009 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov RL30588 CRS Report for Congress Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Afghanistan: Post-Taliban Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy Summary Upon taking office, the Obama Administration faced a deteriorating security environment in Afghanistan, despite a steady increase in U.S. forces there in recent years. Signs of deterioration have included an expanded area in which militants are operating, increasing numbers of civilian and military deaths, Afghan and international disillusionment with corruption in the government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, and the ease of infiltration of Taliban militants from safe havens in Pakistan. Building on assessments completed in the latter days of the Bush Administration, the Obama Administration conducted a “strategic review,” the results of which were announced on March 27, 2009. The outcome of the review leaned toward those in the Administration who believe that adding combat troops is less crucial than building governance. As part of that review, the President did announce an increase of 21,000 U.S. troops, which arrived by November 2009 and brought U.S. force levels to about 68,000, in partnership with about 39,000 international forces from 42 other nations, and about 190,000 Afghan security forces. The Administration also decided that more innovative military tactics were needed to promote those goals, and in May 2009, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen. David McKiernan, was replaced by Gen. Stanley McChrystal. On August 30, 2009, McChrystal submitted his review of the military strategy, recommending a fully resourced, comprehensive counter-insurgency strategy in order to avoid mission failure.