The Security Situation in Kabul
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from The support network for Afghan Refugees, Norway Oslo, June 2013 Ed: Kari Sverdrup to UNHCR: The Security Situation in Kabul KABUL, 31 May 2010 (IRIN) - As hundreds of delegates from across Afghanistan arrive in Kabul for a three-day meeting to discuss the prospects for peace, experts are warning of major flaws and risks in the government’s draft peace plan. Photo: Fardin Waezi/UNAMA Photo: Fardin Waezi/UNAMA Bomb blast in Kabul - not so secure http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=89318 1 The Security Situation in Kabul The documentation in this paper is showing that all of UNHCR’s criteria for an aerial to be evaluated as insecure are present in Kabul, and that they have been so for years. The authorities are too busy trying - and failing - to protect themselves, to be able to secure the general populations’ safety. For some citizens, the government might be considered a threat. Complementary Forms of Protection for Asylum Seekers is therefore to be found outside Afghanistan. All articles quoted, are to be found in this paper, in chronological order. Afghanistan Security Update Relating to Complementary Forms of Protection In the context of Afghanistan, UNHCR advocates for complementary forms of protection being considered for persons originating from areas where any or several of the following features have been reported or observed within the past months: • Intensified counter insurgency activities, including aerial bombings, by ISAF/NATO which have escalated into open warfare in the south, south east, eastern, and partly in western and central provinces and which affect safe movement to and from these provinces; • Possible military operation in places where the AGE have established their presence; • Indiscriminate attacks by anti-government elements, inter alia through the consistent use of indiscriminate types of warfare (IED on the roads, missile attacks, bombs and suicide bomb attacks) including attacks on “soft targets” such as schools, teachers, and religious figures; • Systematic acts of intimidation, involving arbitrary killings, abductions and other threats to life, security and liberty, by anti-government elements and by regional warlords, militia commanders and criminal groups, including on the highways; • Illegal land occupation and confiscation with limited possibilities for redress; • Religious and tribal conflicts, conflicts over the use of pasture land and inadequate responses by the central government to address violence and protect civilians. Furthermore, UNHCR considers that Afghans should not be reasonably expected to travel through unsafe areas to reach their final destination. Any or several of the above mentioned threats have been observed or reported in the past months in the below mentioned parts of Afghanistan and thus assessed as being insecure. 2 Content 1 Intensified counter insurgency activities 4 2 Possible military operation in places where the AGE have established their presence 16 3 Indiscriminate attacks by anti-government elements 20 4 Systematic acts of intimidation 35 5 Illegal land occupation and confiscation with limited possibilities for redress; 38 6 Religious and tribal conflicts, conflicts over the use of pasture land and inadequate responses by the central government to address violence and protect civilians. 38 Christians in Kabul 42 7 UNHCR considers that Afghans should not be reasonably expected to travel through unsafe areas to reach their final destination. 45 8 Final questions 48 Attachments UNHCR: Respons to your request 52 Articles concerning the Security Situation in Kabul 2009 60 Articles concerning the Security Situation in Kabul 2010 69 Articles concerning the Security Situation in Kabul 2011 84 Articles concerning the Security situation in Kabul 2012 107 Articles concerning the Security situation in Kabul 2013 129 Articles concerning the situation for Hazara in Kabul 151 Articles concerning the situation for Christians in Kabul 162 About the humanitarian situation for refugees in Kabul 170 3 1) Intensified counter insurgency activities Taliban attacked the presidential palace 25th of June 2013. When they can reach so far into the security zone, the town is not safe anywhere. Scoolchildren came in the firezone. It is reported that they were not seriously injured. This means that some of them got hurt. Afghan Taliban attack in Kabul throws peace talks into further doubt By Mirwais Harooni and Hamid Shalizi KABUL | Tue Jun 25, 2013 4:36pm IST (Reuters) - Taliban militants attacked key buildings near Afghanistan's presidential palace and the U.S. CIA headquarters in Kabul, a brazen assault that could derail attempts for peace talks to end 12 years of war. The Taliban, who have said they are willing to take part in talks with the United States and Afghan President Hamid Karzai's administration, said they launched the early morning assault, which triggered a 90-minute firefight. A U.S. envoy was in Kabul on Tuesday to try to smooth the way forward for the stalled talks in the Gulf state of Qatar ahead of the pullout from Afghanistan of most of the NATO-led troops next year. He had been expected to meet reporters at the U.S. Embassy, but the conference was called off. Karzai was also due to attend, but his whereabouts were not known. A palace official said he was safe. A Reuters reporter at the palace said the attack began soon after 6.30 a.m. (0200 GMT) when at least one man opened fire with an automatic rifle close to a gate to the palace in central Shash Darak district. The fighting was over before 8 a.m. Reporters at the palace gates for security checks took cover when the firing started. A senior government official told Reuters four or five attackers had used fake identify papers to try to make their way through security gates in the Shash Darak district, which leads to Kabul's most tightly guarded areas. One car made it through, but a second vehicle was stopped and those inside began shooting. Grenades were thrown. The area is home to the presidential palace compound, the Ministry of Defence and an annexe of the U.S. embassy at the old Ariana Hotel. The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency's Afghanistan station is based there. Afghan forces and U.S. servicemen returned fire and explosions resounded through the area. Children walking to school were caught in the shooting, but escaped serious injury. A thick plume of smoke was seen rising from the Ariana at the height of the exchanges. One of the attackers was killed when he detonated a bomb on his body, the government official said, and three or four were killed by security forces. At least two Afghan security guards were killed. In claiming responsibility for the attack, the Taliban said it had targeted the presidential palace, the CIA office and the defence ministry. http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/06/25/afghanistan-attack-president-palace-idINDEE95O02220130625 If there will be peace talks, it is an open question what kind of peace they might lead to, if any. Rejected asylum seekers from Europe are arriving at Kabul airport. This airport is often under attack, last time so far was 10th of June 2013. According to BBC News, Afghan forces dealt with the situation with no help from international forces, except for that an US. US Blackhawk helicopters circled above. But, how could the insurgents manage to get their heavy weapons and a vehicle loaded with explosives up to the airport's perimeter despite all the security in place? Can it be considered safe for civilians to land here? 4 Afghanistan: Gun and rocket attack near Kabul airport David Loyn at the scene: "This is an Afghan response to an Afghan situation" Continue reading the main story Taliban Conflict Afghan security forces have tackled heavily-armed militants who seized a building near the main airport in the capital Kabul. Bilal SarwaryBBC News, Kabul (…) Police say the attack on Kabul International Airport was well co-ordinated - as was the response by Afghan security forces. Soon after the insurgents opened fire with rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine guns, Afghan security personnel shut down the airport to all incoming and outgoing flights. Elite police reacted swiftly, engaging the militants in a battle that lasted nearly three hours and left all seven attackers dead. The sound of exploding grenades and machine guns could be heard several kilometres away. But the attack left several unanswered questions: For example, how did the insurgents manage to get their heavy weapons and a vehicle loaded with explosives up to the airport's perimeter despite all the security in place? Some experts said the attackers wanted to convey the message that they can strike at will in Kabul. The authorities may be praised for their response - but the attack highlights another clear failure of intelligence. All flights were cancelled in and out of Kabul international airport, which is home to a large Nato-led military base. Nearby roads were closed. Our correspondent said US Blackhawk helicopters circled above but on the ground the fighting was all carried out by Afghan police and army units, who have become far better at combating the insurgency. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22837221#story_continues_2 According to a Norwegian newspaper, Dagsavisen 11th of June 2013, Norwegian forces did assist the Afghan forces in striking back this attack. Victorious: Afghan forces did defeat with support from Norwegian colleges, an attack at the airport in Kabul yesterday. Norwegian soldiers contributed in striking back attack Afghanistan: Norwegian soldiers assisted their Afghan colleges in striking back an attack against the airport in the capital Kabul yesterday. So except from US Blackhawk helicopters and Norwegian Special Forces, the Afghan police and army units did tackle the heavily-armed militants by themselves. The attackers were wearing foreign and Afghan uniforms.