EASO Country of Origin Information Report
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European Asylum Support Office EASO Country of Origin Information Report Afghanistan Individuals targeted by armed actors in the conflict December 2017 SUPPORT IS OUR MISSION European Asylum Support Office EASO Country of Origin Information Report Afghanistan Individuals targeted by armed actors in the conflict December 2017 Europe Direct is a service to help you find answers to your questions about the European Union. Freephone number (*): 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 (*) Certain mobile telephone operators do not allow access to 00800 numbers or these calls may be billed. More information on the European Union is available on the Internet (http://europa.eu). ISBN: 978-92-9494-819-9 doi: 10.2847/397769 © European Asylum Support Office 2017 Reproduction is authorised, provided the source is acknowledged, unless otherwise stated. For third-party materials reproduced in this publication, reference is made to the copyrights statements of the respective third parties. Cover photo: © Zabelin (iStockphotos) Neither EASO nor any person acting on its behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained herein. EASO COI Report AFGHANISTAN. Individuals targeted by armed actors in the conflict — 3 Acknowledgements EASO would like to thank following persons and departments for reviewing this report: Lifos – Centre for Country of Origin Information and Analysis, Swedish Migration Agency United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), RSD Section Neamat Nojumi, a scholar at George Mason University’s School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution with more than 20 years experience in democratisation, conflict analysis and state-building in Central and Southwest Asia. He has authored numerous books and studies on Afghanistan’s conflict and governance issues, including The Rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan: Mass Mobilisation, Civil War, and the Future of the Region (2002). United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA), Human Rights Service. It must be noted that the review carried out by the mentioned departments, experts or organisations contributes to the overall quality of the report, but does not necessarily imply their formal endorsement of the final report, which is the full responsibility of EASO. 4 — EASO COI Report AFGHANISTAN. Individuals targeted by armed actors in the conflict Contents Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................... 3 Contents .................................................................................................................................... 4 Disclaimer .................................................................................................................................. 5 Glossary and Abbreviations ....................................................................................................... 6 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 10 Map of Afghanistan ................................................................................................................. 12 1. Insurgent targeting of civilians ....................................................................................... 13 1.1 Modus Operandi of the Taliban ............................................................................. 13 1.1.1 Formal structure of Taliban ................................................................................... 13 1.1.2 Taliban strength ..................................................................................................... 15 1.1.3 Taliban leadership and degree of unity ................................................................. 15 1.1.4 Taliban objectives .................................................................................................. 18 1.1.5 Taliban targeting of civilians .............................................................................. 21 1.2 Targeted individuals ............................................................................................... 28 1.2.1 Members of the Afghan security forces and pro-government militias ................. 28 1.2.2 Government officials or the accusation of being a government spy ..................... 31 1.2.3 Working for foreign military troops ....................................................................... 35 1.2.4 Education sector personnel ................................................................................... 37 1.2.5 Religious scholars ................................................................................................... 42 1.2.6 Humanitarian workers ........................................................................................... 43 1.2.7 Tribal elders ........................................................................................................... 47 1.2.8 Enemies of the Taliban .......................................................................................... 48 1.2.9 Journalists, media workers and human rights defenders...................................... 48 1.2.10 Hazara and Shia minorities .................................................................................. 53 1.2.11 Recruitment ......................................................................................................... 58 1.3 Situation of family members .................................................................................. 59 1.3.1 Family members of ANSF personnel ...................................................................... 59 1.3.2 Family members .................................................................................................... 60 1.4 Escaping targeting .................................................................................................. 60 1.4.1 Repentance and redemption ................................................................................. 60 1.4.2 Relocating .............................................................................................................. 61 1.4.3 Capacity to track and target individuals within large cities ................................... 63 1.5 Insurgent groups other than the Taliban ............................................................... 64 1.5.1 Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP).................................................................. 65 1.5.2 Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) ................................................................ 68 2. Targeting by the government .............................................................................................. 70 2.1 Death penalty, summary executions, drone and air strikes ......................................... 70 2.2 Torture and illegal detention ........................................................................................ 71 2.2.1 Arbitrary arrest and illegal detention .................................................................... 71 2.2.2 Treatment of detainees ......................................................................................... 72 2.3 Government targeting of journalists, media workers and human rights defenders .... 74 2.4 Treatment of healthcare workers, humanitarian workers and teachers ..................... 75 2.5 Government attitudes towards Hazara people ............................................................ 76 2.6 Afghan Local Police and pro-government militias ........................................................ 77 2.3.1 Targeted profiles .................................................................................................... 78 2.7 Redress .......................................................................................................................... 79 Annex I: Bibliography ............................................................................................................... 80 Annex II: Terms of Reference ................................................................................................ 119 EASO COI Report AFGHANISTAN. Individuals targeted by armed actors in the conflict — 5 Disclaimer This report was written according to the EASO COI Report Methodology (2012) (1). The report is based on carefully selected sources of information. All sources used are referenced. To the extent possible and unless otherwise stated, all information presented, except for undisputed or obvious facts, has been crosschecked. The information contained in this report has been researched, evaluated and analysed with utmost care. However, this document does not claim to be exhaustive. If a particular event, person or organisation is not mentioned in the report, this does not mean that the event has not taken place or that the person or organisation does not exist. Furthermore, this report is not conclusive as to the determination or merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Terminology used should not be regarded as indicative of a particular legal position. ‘Refugee’, ‘risk’ and similar terminology are used as a generic terminology and not as legally defined in the EU Asylum Acquis and the Geneva Convention. Neither EASO nor any person acting on its behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained in this report. The target users are asylum caseworkers, COI researchers, policymakers, and decision-making authorities. The drafting of this report was finalised on 27 November