CIVIL - MILITARY FUSION CEN TRE

Afghanistan Review Week 26 29 June 2011 Comprehensive Information on Complex Crises

INSIDE THIS ISSUE This document provides a weekly overview of developments in from 22 June—28 June 2011, with hyper-links to source material highlighted in blue and underlined in the text. For more information Economic Development on the topics below or other issues pertaining to events in Afghanistan, feel free to contact the members of Governance & Rule of Law the Afghanistan Team, or visit our website at www.cimicweb.org. Humanitarian Affairs Infrastructure Security & Force Protection Economic Development Steven A. Zyck ► [email protected] Socio-Cultural Development

he governor of Afghanistan‟s Central organisations, non-governmental organisations

Bank, Abdul Qadir Fitrat, fled and contractors, will find themselves out of ABOUT THE CFC Monday and re-located to the United work. The article notes that the process of

T States, where he issued his resignation letter, withdrawing aid to Afghanistan has already The Civil-Military Fusion Centre reports the BBC and several other media out- begun, with the United States Agency for In- (CFC) is an Information and lets. Fitrat told Radio Free Europe/Radio Lib- ternational Development (USAID) spending Knowledge Management erty that he had resigned, given the Afghan USD 2.5 billion in Afghanistan in 2011, down organisation focused on government‟s unwillingness to prosecute those from USD 4.2 billion in 2010. improving civil-military interaction, known to be responsible for pilfering hundreds facilitating information sharing and of millions of dollars from Kabul Bank, the While providing less assistance to Afghanistan enhancing situational awareness country‟s scandal-afflicted financial institu- overall, USAID has announced that it will through the CimicWeb portal. tion. Fitrat said that he fled Afghanistan be- attempt to channel more of its assistance cause his life had been threatened for having through Afghan government institutions. A CFC products are developed with pushed strongly for the prosecution of those press release from USAID indicates that the open-source information from a politically-connected individuals deemed re- aid agency will be providing more than USD wide variety of organisations and sponsible for the Kabul Bank crisis. Afghan 90 million in direct, on-budget assistance to Afghan government ministries. The announce- media sources. President ‟s spokesperson said that Fitrat‟s flight from the country was an act ment comes at a time when the Afghan gov- By design, CFC products or links to of “treason to the Afghan people” and sug- ernment is facing a potential cash shortage due largely to problematic relations with the Inter- independently produced articles do gested that he left Afghanistan in order to national Monetary Fund (IMF) (See the 21 not necessarily represent the avoid being prosecuted for complicity in the scandal at Kabul Bank. The day after the Cen- June CFC Weekly Afghanistan Review, Eco- opinions, views or official position nomic Development section) of any other organisation. tral Bank governor fled the country, Afghani- stan‟s Attorney General issued an arrest war- Finally, 's Federal Board of Revenue The CFC will become part of rant for Fitrat on charges that he was crimi- (FBR) has asked Pakistani customs officials to NATO Allied Command Operations nally negligent in failing to prevent the near- conduct a weekly records check and audit of 01 July 2011. collapse of Kabul Bank, says The Guardian. goods entering the country under the Afghani- The New York Times cites foreign officials in stan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement Afghanistan who describe accusations against (APTTA), which took effect on 12 June 2011, Fitrat as “politically motivated”. reports The News, a Pakistani newspaper.

The upcoming withdrawal of a portion of in- Pakistani customs officials are under great ternational forces exacerbated concerns that pressure to combat smuggling, a fact which may have implications for imports into Af- aid levels to Afghanistan would soon decline CONTACT THE CFC ghanistan. Case in point, Tolo News reports sharply, according to a number of sources. For further information, contact: Reuters, for instance, reported that the United that Pakistani officials are preventing 60 Af- States was attempting to “wean Afghanistan ghanistan-bound trucks from passing through Afghanistan Team Manager the border crossing at Torkham. The Afghani- Erin Foster off foreign aid” slowly rather than sharply cutting development assistance in or shortly stan Chamber of Commerce and Industries [email protected] (ACCI) indicates that Pakistani authorities are after 2014. The New York Times reports that “thousands” of Afghans employed by US gov- demanding forms of documentation and tax The Afghanistan Team ernment agencies and other international enti- guarantees which are not required under the [email protected] ties, including donor agencies, international APTTA. Governance & Rule of Law Amber Ramsey ► [email protected]

fter months of deliberation and a full vote recount, As the elections controversy has grown, MPs have sought the Afghanistan‟s Special Elections Court issued a verdict intervention of the in a letter addressed to the A last Thursday that would see 62 Members of Parlia- Secretary-General, reports AFP. UN Special Representative of ment (MPs) unseated for their alleged participation in wide- the Secretary General for Afghanistan, Staffan de Mistura, spread fraud that plagued last year‟s parliamentary elections. responded by saying that these issues must be resolved “in According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), the accordance with the [Afghan] Constitution”, while urging par- five-member tribunal found evidence of fraud in 33 out of the liamentarians to “act responsibly” as to not provoke unrest in country‟s 34 provinces. However, members of the Wolesi the country. De Mistura also met with representatives of losing Jirga (Lower House of Parliament) have sought to dissolve the electoral candidates who are now seeking the court‟s decision court since its creation in December 2010, calling it unconsti- to be implemented. Following the meeting, de Mistura con- tutional. Afghanistan‟s Independent Election Commission cluded, “[i]n this critical moment for Afghanistan‟s democratic (IEC) responded to the verdict by saying, “making changes in governance, it is essential that Afghans themselves reach a the election results ... and particularly after the inauguration of political solution to this institutional impasse underpinned by parliament is in no-one‟s authority and is against the country‟s the Constitution and democratic principles and move forward”. laws”, as reported by Agence France-Presse (AFP). The Spe- Meanwhile, presidential spokesman Waheed Omar issued a cial Elections Court was established by statement on Monday declaring it in vio- the country‟s Supreme Court and ap- lation of national sovereignty to call on proved by President Hamid Karzai fol- international organisations to resolve in- lowing allegations of widespread fraud in “It is essential that Afghans them- ternal disputes, says Tolo News. the 18 September 2010 parliamentary elections. Yet, opponents of the special selves reach a political solution to In other news, BBC News reports that the growing emphasis on political and diplo- tribunal claim that it is being used by the this institutional impasse under- president as a tool to boost his support in matic efforts to end the war in Afghani- the 249-member lower house, says United pinned by the Constitution and de- stan has uncovered “explosive fault States National Public Radio. lines”. Though many consider the recent mocratic principles”. breakthroughs with regard to direct talks In anticipation of the court‟s decision last between the US and the to be week, MPs summoned Attorney General Staffan de Mistura, “remarkable”, others, particularly Europe- Mohammad Ishaq Alako to appear before ans, warn that it is still too early to as- UN Special Representative the Wolesi Jirga as per Article 92 of the sume that these talks are a credible and Afghan Constitution. Additionally, the confirmed means of dialogue. Reconcilia- Supreme Court Chief Justice and two tion with the Taliban has been heavily other Supreme Court justices, all of whose terms of office have emphasised by President Karzai, who in the past has pushed a expired, were summoned, writes Pajhwok Afghan News. How- plan to bring disenfranchised Afghans back into the political ever, a later Pajhwok article indicated that the officials failed fold. However, in recent statements Karzai has veered away to appear before the Wolesi Jirga, responding to the summons from discussing his government‟s involvement in peace talks, with a letter declaring that MPs didn‟t have the authority, ac- says BBC News. Among the growing concerns being voiced by cording to AFP. In their absence the lower house passed a vote critics of Afghanistan‟s reconciliation plan are the increasing of no confidence against all four individuals. On Tuesday, 28 number of younger, more extreme Taliban commanders who June, Pajhwok reported that MPs had set a four-day deadline owe little allegiance to the traditional leadership structure. for Alako to resign from his position as Attorney General and Moreover, recent tensions within Afghanistan from opposition called on the government to support them in implementing the groups, mainly non-Pashtun northerners strongly opposed to no confidence votes. While discussing the recent events, AFP reconciliation with the Taliban, leave many worried that ethnic noted that as a result “deep public splits have again surfaced in divisions could be revived (see 11 May CFC Afghanistan Re- Afghanistan‟s political system”. Similarly, RFE/RL writes that view, Governance section). Therefore, with more emphasis “[t]he court‟s decision has intensified an ongoing political cri- being placed on a political settlement to the war in Afghani- sis”, with many of the unseated parliamentarians threatening to stan, as stated by BBC News, “if negotiation is about confi- stage protests. dence-building measures, they are badly needed on every sin- gle front.”

Humanitarian Affairs Erin Foster ► [email protected]

efugees International has released a new report enti- and protection of local communities. The report was released tled, “Afghanistan: Responsible US Transition Must just one week after the observation of World Day on R Address Displacement Crisis”, which calls on interna- 20 June (see 22 June CFC Weekly Afghanistan Review, Hu- tional and Afghan military forces to reassess their impact on manitarian Affairs section) and the United Nations High Com-

Page 2 29June 2011 missioner for (UNHCR) announcement that the the World Food Programme (WFP). WFP sought to provide nearly 1.9 million Afghans residing in Pakistan are one of the food assistance to nearly 7 million Afghans in 2011. Unmet largest populations of refugees in the world. According to funding appeals have resulted in the organisation cutting pro- Refugees International, attacks by insurgents have increased grammes such as school meals, food-for-training and food-for- by 50% since 2010 and nearly 250,000 people have been dis- work in 17 Afghan provinces and reducing assistance to 3.8 placed in the past two years due to conflict, straining the abil- million Afghans this year. WFP requires USD 220 million ity of humanitarian aid organisations and government agencies from donors to meet its original food assistance goals. Mean- to respond to the protection needs of af- while, the Famine Early Warning Systems fected communities. To address the needs Network (FEWS NET) food security alert of civilians and to avoid continued dis- for June 2011 is forecasting a drop in placement, the organisation presents five “Nearly 250,000 people have been wheat harvest levels this year due to a lack policy recommendations: (i) the Interna- displaced in the past two years due of rain and snow during the winter and tional Security Assistance Force (ISAF) spring months. The Afghan Ministry of should take displacement prevention to conflict, straining the ability of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock measures and share information on dis- (MAIL) and the UN Food and Agricultural placement with UNHCR and the UN Of- humanitarian aid organisations and Organization (FAO) report a 28% drop in fice for the Coordination of Humanitarian government agencies to respond to crop harvest levels this year compared to Affairs (OCHA); (ii) the US Congress 2010. According to FEWS NET, Afghans should discontinue funding for the Afghan the protection needs of affected com- living in the Northern provinces will be Local Police (ALP) until processes have most affected by the increases in wheat been formalised and a timeframe estab- munities”. prices, lack of farm labour opportunities lished for their integration into the Afghan associated with harvests and an observed National Police; (iii) UNHCR and OCHA growth in food insecurity. should launch a funding appeal to meet growing protection and humanitarian needs; (iv) the UN Chief of the Kandahar fire department, Colonel Mubarak Shah, should appoint an experienced candidate to the currently va- told Pajhwok Afghan News that his department needs more cant post of Humanitarian Coordinator; and (v) the US Special equipment and personnel to combat the average of one hun- Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan should draft an dred fire calls it receives each month. According to Shah, three interagency plan with the Afghan government to address 30,000-litre water tankers are also needed due to the lack of forced displacement. In an interview with CNN, Refugees In- available water in the province. Increased public awareness ternational advocate Lynn Yoshikawa described the makeshift programmes and the regulation of building fire safety stan- conditions of internationally displaced persons (IDPs) as dards are other suggestions made by Shah to prevent the occur- rence of fires. densely populated and exposed. IDPs reportedly fear returning to their communities due to the ongoing conflict and many are Finally, Pajhwok reports that nearly 20 homes were buried suspicious of the ALP, who according to Refugees Interna- during a sandstorm in Nimroz province on Saturday, 25 June. tional, are intimidating civilians. The May 2011 “Monthly The fast moving winds reached nearly 100 kilometres per hour Humanitarian Update” issued by OCHA estimated a total of and forced officials to close the local airport. No injuries were 433,066 IDPs living in Afghanistan. reported, but officials warned residents to remain cautious as

In other news, Afghans may face heightened food insecurity in seasonal winds typically affect the area between May and Au- the coming months due to a combination of forecasted wheat gust each year. harvest shortfalls and a 50% cut in food support provided by

Infrastructure Rainer Gonzalez ► [email protected]

n 21 June, the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan sequently, two more districts will be added at the end of 2011, (SCA) announced the creation of the National Rural followed by another two in 2012. The projects will focus on O Project (NRP), which will target five districts in the improving rural infrastructure, constructing schools and health Northern region at a cost of USD 5.9 million and is expected centres, broadening water and sanitation access, repairing irri- to last 36 months. SCA hopes to strengthening rural civil soci- gation infrastructure and capacity building. ety by means of community mobilization and short-term fi- nancing. The NRP will operate under the same principles as In other news, on 27 June, BBC News released an article re- the National Solidarity Programme (NSP), specifically by re- garding the status of the Kajaki Dam. The infrastructure, 98m sponding to proposals put forward by the Community Devel- high and 270m long, was built in the 1950s with United States opment Councils (CDCs). The CDCs will also contribute 10% funding and fell into a state of disrepair in the late 1970s. of the project costs. As planned, the project will expand pro- Shortly after 2001, both Turbine No. 1 and No. 2 were repaired gressively, starting with a pilot district in Balkh province. Sub- with the help of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). In 2004, USAID offered to install a

Page 3 29 June 2011 third turbine in hopes of doubling the capacity of the power According to Bakhtar News Agency, the installation of the station to 50 Megawatts. The real challenge of the project in- Samangan electricity power sub-station has started in Saman- volved the transportation of the USD 6 million turbine from gan province at an estimated cost of USD 7 million. The sub- Kandahar airport through the highly hostile Sangin area of station, funded by the World Bank, will increase the electricity Helmand province. The operation was carried out in Septem- capacity of the current infrastructure from 3 to 16 Megawatts. ber 2008 and involved 4,000 Afghan National Security Forces The power station will be located in an interim position within (ANSF) and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) the national network scheme, importing the electricity from troops (see video of the operation). Despite the efforts and Uzbekistan. The project is expected to be complete by January costs involved, the third turbine still remains uninstalled be- 2012 and will provide electricity to an estimated 30,000 fami- cause the cement needed for the foundations never arrived and lies from the Khuram, Sabagh and Hazarte Sultan districts of the Chinese company in charge of its construction pulled out Samangan province. of the project due to security concerns. In addition, the existing power lines and transformers cannot handle the extra capacity Finally, in an interview to Tolo News, Jarullah Mansoori, Min- that the new turbine will provide. Optimistically, the installa- ister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, claimed that tion will not be completed until the end of 2013, according to the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development British officers interviewed by BBC News. The article goes on (MRRD) will require USD 1.5 million in the coming five to quote the Commander of NATO and ISAF troops in Af- years. This amount will be spent on the different programmes ghanistan, General David Petraeus, as saying competition the that the MRRD has undertaken, including the NSP, the Na- project will remain a lesson in “overpromising but under- tional Rural Access Programme (NRAP), the Rural Water delivery”. Supply and the Sanitation and Irrigation Programme (Ru- WatSip), among others.

Security & Force Protection Kathleen Hughes ► [email protected]

n 23 June, the United Nations Office on Drugs and not currently have enough resources to win the fight against Crime (UNODC) published the World Drug Report drugs. O for 2011. Afghanistan was a focus of nearly every section of the report due to its critical role in the world drug In other news, President Obama announced that the United economy. As reported by UNODC, “Afghanistan accounts for States will withdraw 33,000 troops from Afghanistan by the 63% of the total global area under opium cultivation”. The September 2012. The reduction will begin next month and by report cited a 48% decline in Afghan opium production for the end of this year, a total of 10,000 US troops will return 2010 relative to the preceding year, and UNODC forecasts home. After the initial reduction is complete, troops will con- another small decline or stabilisation of opium production in tinue to return home as the Afghan National Security Forces 2011. Despite a decrease in opium production, the drug econ- (ANSF) transition to the lead security role. Ultimately, Obama omy still poses a serious problem in Afghanistan especially in reiterated that, by 2014, Afghan institutions rather than inter- light of increased drug prices and the up-coming troop with- national forces will be responsible for the country‟s security. drawal. For instance, CNN reports that the price of opium has In response to the planned US troop withdrawal, the Washing- tripled, thus providing a significant incentive for the continued ton Post reports that “more attention is being directed toward expansion of the drug industry in Afghanistan. Experts tell Pakistan”, where officials claim al Qaeda and its affiliates are CNN that uncertainty regarding future security and stability in planning attacks against the West. The article suggests that Afghanistan following the withdrawal of many international Afghanistan is likely to take on a new role for the United forces will lead to a continuous rise in the price of poppies and States as “a base to launch unilateral strikes” inside Pakistan. opium. Concerned that post-2014 insecurity in Afghanistan Since the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, Pakistani and US may pose challenges for narcotics trafficking in the region, relations have deteriorated, according to the Washington Post. speculators are pushing opium prices upwards, say officials Experts suggest that these strained relations increases the like- from the UNODC. Additionally, some fear the lucrative drug lihood of future US attacks on Pakistan. Other reactions to industry will be the “only viable option” for income generation Obama‟s announcement addressed the on-going military op- once troops and money are withdrawn from Afghanistan. Al- erations in Afghanistan. According to the Christian Science though emphasis is often placed on poppy farming, Afghan Monitor, the 33,000 troop withdrawal is steeper, larger and manufacturing and trafficking of drugs is also described as sooner than what US military leaders had sought. Security important. Pajhwok Afghan News cites the Deputy Minister of analysts posit the in-coming International Security Force As- Counter Narcotics (MoCN), , as sistance (ISAF) commander, Lieutenant General John Allen, claiming that over three million Afghans “are involved in the will have to make difficult decisions “about battlefield geome- manufacturing and trafficking of drugs”. Ahmadi went on to try” – the „how‟ and „where‟ of troop placement. This reaction compliment the MoCN for their efforts at quelling the drug is in line with the US Department of Defense (DoD), which industry in Afghanistan. However, he requested the interna- has continually warned against a hasty withdrawal of US tional community‟s continued support as the Afghan security forces before the ANSF are ready to take over security control. forces prepare to combat drugs independently in and after 2014. Separately, MoCN officials told Tolo News that they do

Page 4 29 June 2011 A high-profile attack took place at a hospital in Logar province Hamid Karzai publicly condemned the attack, while the acting on Saturday. Initial reports cited 25 casualties, mostly women Minister of Public Health Dr Suraya Dalil reiterated that hospi- and children, when a vehicle laden with explosives hit the ma- tals are not a political or military establishment. Al Jazeera ternity ward of a local hospital, says The Telegraph. Only days went on to report that the Taliban have not claimed responsi- later, Al Jazeera says Afghan officials have raised the death bility for the attack and have in fact suggested that whoever toll to 38 people. Deen Mohammad Darwish, a spokesman for has carried out this act is attempting to defame the Taliban. the Logar provincial government, said “[t]he target of the blast Sanitation and Irrigation Programme (Ru-WatSip), among is not clear” but continued to confirm that those killed were others. hospital staff, patients and their visitors. Afghan President

Socio-Cultural Development Erin Foster ► [email protected]

he Mine Action Coordination Centre for Afghanistan The first ever women‟s security shura was held in Mazar-e (MACCA) told Pajhwok Afghan News that nearly Sharif the provincial capital of Balkh province, to discuss T 80,000 Afghans living in Farah, Herat, Ghor and women‟s role in supporting peace and security, reports ISAF Badghis provinces are at risk of encountering landmines. The media. More than 80 participants from the local community, number of landmine casualties recorded annually has declined women‟s advocacy groups, ISAF female engagement teams from 141 in 2006 to 16 in 2010. MACCA regional head, and Afghan National Security Forces participated in the dis- Mohammad Muqeem Noori attributed the reduction to mine cussions. The women emphasised the need for increased edu- clearance programmes and public awareness campaigns. Ac- cational opportunities and employment within government cording to Noori, progress in mine clearance is limited by re- ministries and the Afghan National Police to further improve sources, while at the moment “there are 280 de-miners work- women‟s contribution to peace and security. ing in 28 teams to clear mines from the region”. MACCA‟s May newsletter highlighted ongoing efforts In health news, the US Agency for Inter- to educate nomadic Kuchi‟s who are consid- national Development (USAID) health ered by officials to be some of the most vul- products, including contraceptives, oral nerable to landmine injury. Mine risk educa- “Widows should be provided with rehydration salts and water purification tion sessions were held with mobile Kuchi solutions, are now available more broadly school teachers while children participated opportunities for the full develop- in Afghan markets with an estimated 50 in „street art‟ classes to promote creative ment of their potential and have million products sold since 2006. The methods for disseminating safety messages. health products are being marketed as part As of April 2011, Afghanistan has reached access and right[s] to participate of a broader campaign by the Afghan So- nearly 50% of benchmarks set for achieving cial Marketing Organization to support the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty or Ot- fully in cultural, spiritual and rec- improved access to health services and tawa Convention. These targets include reduce high infant/child and maternal reational events of society as re- clearing all 12, 884 anti-personnel mines by mortality rates. Similarly, Tearfund, a non 2013, of which 6,339 have been processed. spectful citizens” -governmental organisation (NGO), is working to improve health and hygiene International Widow‟s Day was observed UN Women Afghanistan practices in Kandahar province. The or- for the first time worldwide on 23 June. The ganisation is providing training to educate United Nations Assistance Mission in Af- community members on how to prevent ghanistan (UNAMA) profiled the situation the cross-contamination of food and for the estimated 700,000 widows in Afghanistan. Nearly half proper hand washing practices. Finally, in Badakhshan prov- of all children in Kabul have lost a parent, and widows often ince, NGO Medair is addressing the nutritional health needs of struggle to earn enough money to support their families. Wid- women and children by supporting a clinic in Yawan. The or- owed Afghan women are considered the property of their in- ganisation has been working in the province since 2010 and laws and are often forced to remarry within the family to retain has treated more than 2,000 women and children. Malnutrition their children and inheritance. According to UN WOMEN in is most severe in rural mountainous areas where communities Afghanistan, “Widows should be provided with opportunities face increased food insecurity and long journeys to reach for the full development of their potential and have access and medical clinics. In addition to the clinic, Medair is also train- right[s] to participate fully in cultural, spiritual and recrea- ing 500 community volunteers to teach others about nutritional tional events of society as respectful citizens.” health and hygiene practices.

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