DOCSLIB.ORG

Afghanistan Review

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Afghanistan Review 1 15 December 2010 AFGHANISTAN REVIEW Inside This Issue Economic Stabilization This document is intended to provide an overview of relevant sector Governance & Participation events in Afghanistan from 01 December–14 December 2010. More Humanitarian Assistance comprehensive information is available on the Civil-Military Overview (CMO) at www.cimicweb.org. Hyperlinks to original source material Infrastructure are highlighted in blue and underlined in the embedded text. Justice & Reconciliation Security Social Well-Being For further information on CFC activities related to Afghanistan or inquiries about this publication, please contact the Afghanistan Team Manager: Valeria Davanzo, [email protected] or the Afghanistan Editor: Amber Ram- sey, [email protected] ECONOMIC STABILISATION Steve Zyck, [email protected] / +1 757-683-4275 Back to top Headlines this past week were dominated by the perspective on the prospects of saffron cultivation signing of an agreement concerning the Turkmeni- in Afghanistan, an article by the Institute for War stan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) Natural Gas and Peace Reporting (IWPR) claims that insurgents Pipeline Project. United Press International (UPI) have recently attacked saffron cultivation projects in reports that, while questions concerning natural gas Herat province. The destruction of numerous hec- pricing remain un-settled, officials from the four tares of saffron fields and an attack on two trucks countries signed an agreement to move forward with carrying saffron bulbs to Herati farmers has report- the pipeline at a meeting in Ashgabat, the Turkmen edly undermined the willingness of many farmers to capital, on Saturday, 11 December 2010. While sig- grow the crop, says IWPR. nificant in demonstrating the four countries‟ contin- ued support for the TAPI project, the New York In other news, Afghan officials are continuing ef- Times described the agreement as “preliminary“ and forts to attract investors to their country‟s private "an early step” given concerns regarding security sector. The Afghanistan International Investment and financing for the pipeline infrastructure, which is Conference (AIIC), which was held in Dubai in late estimated to cost up to USD 10 billion. Pajhwok Af- November, brought together representatives of 500 ghan News adds that the Afghan government could companies to consider investment opportunities earn between USD 350 million and USD 400 million related to agriculture, railways, and mining within annually in natural gas transit fees if the pipeline is Afghanistan, reports the Associated Press. The Af- eventually built. ghanistan Investment Support Agency (AISA) took the opportunity to propose an international invest- According to Tolo News, farmers in the Daman dis- ment fund for Afghanistan which would pool re- trict of Kandahar province have begun to switch sources to promote development and economic from illegal poppy cultivation to higher-value saffron growth. cultivation for the first time. An official from Daman indicated that "[b]ecause it is possible to earn a lot Such efforts may be paying off, as Tolo News re- with little work, the people have turned to saffron ports that an industrial zone in Herat province is set cultivation." Another article from Tolo News noted to receive approximately USD 1 billion in investment that the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Live- as part of the construction of 800 industrial facili- stock (MAIL) is planning to expand saffron cultiva- ties. One of the key achievements in attracting for- tion throughout the country and market Afghan saf- eign investment into Herat has been the clarification fron internationally. Meanwhile, providing a different of complex land ownership issues, which had previ- 2 ously discouraged some would-be investors, says day from the Angot oil fields in Sar-e Pul province. Tolo News. However, Analysts interviewed by The Washington Post questioned whether Afghanistan‟s mineral re- Afghanistan's Ministry of Mines (MoM) has awarded sources will foster peace and economic growth or what The Washington Post has labelled a exacerbate existing internal divisions and violence. "potentially path-breaking" contract to an Afghan oil (Comments? Click here) firm. Under this contract, Ghazanfar Neft Gas will begin pumping approximately 800 barrels of oil per FOR MORE DISCUSSION CLICK HERE GOVERNANCE & PARTICIPATION Anne-Catherine Claude, [email protected] / +1 757-683-4368 Back to top In the latest developments on the September parlia- ing to the article, Karzai has not yet endorsed the mentary elections, Deputy Attorney General Rah- election results, which saw his traditional Pashtun matullah Nazari has called on the Supreme Court to allies lose many of their parliamentary seats (see 23 annul the election results, according to Tolo News. November CFC Weekly Afghanistan Review, Gov- Nazari also called for certain individuals to be put on ernance and Participation section). The Associated trial for their involvement in election irregularities Press also reported that Karzai has met with several and fraud. Both the Independent Election Commis- groups of parliamentarians to discuss the issue but sion (IEC) and the Electoral Complaints Commission has made no move one way or the other. However, (ECC) have strongly rejected the Attorney General‟s according to Pajhwok Afghan News, following a Office (AGO) involvement in the elections. The IEC meeting with MPs on 14 December, Karzai agreed went as far as issuing a press statement emphasis- to inaugurate the new Wolesi Jirga on 21 January. ing that under article 156 of the Afghan Constitution, the IEC is the only legally mandated body to certify Reuters has reported that a new national identifica- and announce election results. Meanwhile, Reuters tion card is being developed for Afghanistan in an reports that Fazal Ahmed Manawi, the Chair of the attempt to improve security and access to services IEC, claimed the AGO had “expressed various irre- by Afghan citizens. The Minister of Communications sponsible statements” that could lead to a political and Information Technology (MoCIT), Amir Zai crisis. Nazari retorted saying that the AGO was only Sangin, unveiled the electronic card to reporters on concerned about the respect of the law and not the 12 December, explaining that the new card will con- political consequences certain statements could tain an electronic chip with each individual‟s drivers have. During a press conference, President Karzai‟s licence, vehicle registration, voter registration and spokesperson, Waheed Omar, gave assurances that signature. The Minister added that the new technol- the ongoing dispute between the AGO and the IEC ogy will assist in reducing fraud and corruption in would not lead to a political crisis, adding that ef- future elections. The Afghan company Grand Tech- forts are underway to find a solution. nology Resources was awarded the USD 100 million contract to create the cards and the MoCIT esti- Agence France-Presse reports that more than 100 re mates that it will take 3-5 years for everyone in the -elected Members of Parliament (MPs), under the country to receive a new ID card. (Comments? name of the Administrative Board of the Parliament, Click here) have called on President Karzai to inaugurate the new parliament on 19 December. However, accord- FOR MORE DISCUSSION CLICK HERE HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE Erin Foster, [email protected] / +1 757-683-4233 Back to top The United Nations, led by UN Deputy Emergency aster risk reduction.” The 2011 Humanitarian Ap- Relief Coordinator and Assistant Secretary-General peal launched by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- for Humanitarian Affairs, Catherine Bragg, launched Moon further requests USD 7.4 billion for the provi- an appeal on 05 December for USD 678 million for sion of assistance to more than 50 million people in humanitarian assistance programmes in Afghanistan. 28 countries worldwide. Reuters adds that the visit According to the UN, Afghans‟ access to basic ser- by Ms. Bragg was an attempt to place the humani- vices is limited due to years of conflict and recurring tarian situation of Afghans at the forefront of global natural disasters. Therefore, the 2011 priorities discussions while advocating for access of humani- listed in the appeal include “providing life-saving tarian organisations to victims of disasters no mat- assistance to populations affected by conflict or ter their location. Meanwhile, the International natural disaster and contingency planning in accor- Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) claims that the dance with the Hyogo Framework Priority 5 for dis- humanitarian situation in Afghanistan is worsening 3 as the conflict spreads to other parts of the country. (UNHCR). Afghan asylum seekers attempt to reach In response to this deterioration, the organisation Europe, Australia, Canada and the United States via has opened five new sub-offices since 2009. Pakistan and Iran, with Australia and several Euro- pean countries reporting an increase in refugee In an effort to meet the growing humanitarian need numbers as well as deportations, according to The in Afghanistan, the US Agency for International De- Washington Post. The Integrated Regional Informa- velopment (USAID) Office of Foreign Disaster Assis- tion Network (IRIN) adds that Afghans are increas- tance (OFDA) will provide more than USD 47 million ingly willing to face financial risks and the danger- for emergency food assistance as well as humanitar- ous journey
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Winning Hearts and Minds? Examining the Relationship Between Aid and Security in Afghanistan’S Faryab Province Geert Gompelman ©2010 Feinstein International Center
    JANUARY 2011 Strengthening the humanity and dignity of people in crisis through knowledge and practice Winning Hearts and Minds? Examining the Relationship between Aid and Security in Afghanistan’s Faryab Province Geert Gompelman ©2010 Feinstein International Center. All Rights Reserved. Fair use of this copyrighted material includes its use for non-commercial educational purposes, such as teaching, scholarship, research, criticism, commentary, and news reporting. Unless otherwise noted, those who wish to reproduce text and image files from this publication for such uses may do so without the Feinstein International Center’s express permission. However, all commercial use of this material and/or reproduction that alters its meaning or intent, without the express permission of the Feinstein International Center, is prohibited. Feinstein International Center Tufts University 200 Boston Ave., Suite 4800 Medford, MA 02155 USA tel: +1 617.627.3423 fax: +1 617.627.3428 fic.tufts.edu Author Geert Gompelman (MSc.) is a graduate in Development Studies from the Centre for International Development Issues Nijmegen (CIDIN) at Radboud University Nijmegen (Netherlands). He has worked as a development practitioner and research consultant in Afghanistan since 2007. Acknowledgements The author wishes to thank his research colleagues Ahmad Hakeem (“Shajay”) and Kanishka Haya for their assistance and insights as well as companionship in the field. Gratitude is also due to Antonio Giustozzi, Arne Strand, Petter Bauck, and Hans Dieset for their substantive comments and suggestions on a draft version. The author is indebted to Mervyn Patterson for his significant contribution to the historical and background sections. Thanks go to Joyce Maxwell for her editorial guidance and for helping to clarify unclear passages and to Bridget Snow for her efficient and patient work on the production of the final document.
    [Show full text]
  • Left in the Dark
    LEFT IN THE DARK FAILURES OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR CIVILIAN CASUALTIES CAUSED BY INTERNATIONAL MILITARY OPERATIONS IN AFGHANISTAN Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 3 million supporters, members and activists in more than 150 countries and territories who campaign to end grave abuses of human rights. Our vision is for every person to enjoy all the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards. We are independent of any government, political ideology, economic interest or religion and are funded mainly by our membership and public donations. First published in 2014 by Amnesty International Ltd Peter Benenson House 1 Easton Street London WC1X 0DW United Kingdom © Amnesty International 2014 Index: ASA 11/006/2014 Original language: English Printed by Amnesty International, International Secretariat, United Kingdom All rights reserved. This publication is copyright, but may be reproduced by any method without fee for advocacy, campaigning and teaching purposes, but not for resale. The copyright holders request that all such use be registered with them for impact assessment purposes. For copying in any other circumstances, or for reuse in other publications, or for translation or adaptation, prior written permission must be obtained from the publishers, and a fee may be payable. To request permission, or for any other inquiries, please contact [email protected] Cover photo: Bodies of women who were killed in a September 2012 US airstrike are brought to a hospital in the Alingar district of Laghman province. © ASSOCIATED PRESS/Khalid Khan amnesty.org CONTENTS MAP OF AFGHANISTAN .......................................................................................... 6 1. SUMMARY ......................................................................................................... 7 Methodology ..........................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Transitioning Afghanistan in the Post-Withdrawal Era: Setting the Stage for a Stable Political Order
    Transitioning Afghanistan in the Post-Withdrawal Era: Setting the Stage for a Stable Political Order Reza Sanati * Abstract : Within the coming year, the American led-NATO mission will begin withdrawing troops from Afghanistan. Though the decrease in troop levels in the short-term has been expected, the final date wherein all American and NATO troops leave the country is still a matter of heated debate, primarily for two reasons: the inconclusive steadiness of the present Afghan regime and the uncertainty of what a post-withdrawal Afghanistan would like. With this in mind, this article intends to explore both the logic of NATO intervention and the subsequent occupation of that war-torn country. It examines the primary reasons why stability and progress within Afghanistan have been elusive, the current debate amongst policy makers regarding the steps ahead, and finally proposing an alternative model that proposes a new US and NATO regional strategy that places the burden on Afghanistan stability and reconstruction on neighbors who share the larger NATO goal of a self-sufficient and stable Afghan government. Accordingly, the most potentially successful NATO approach towards Afghan stability would adopt the proven economic, social, political, infrastructural, and local governance models of regional states, and honing and adopting those models into the broader Afghan domestic theatre. For this to happen, a new plan of cooperation from both NATO and American policy makers with regional states and their respective civil societies needs to be
    [Show full text]
  • Briefing Notes 15 September 2014
    Group 22 - Information Centre Asylum and Migration Briefing Notes 15 September 2014 Afghanistan Security situation The head of the police of Arghistan district in the southern province of Kandahar and two of his body guards were killed and six policemen were wounded in a suicide bombing on 08 September 2014. In Badkhshan province in the north-east (Baharak district) six Afghan soldiers died in a bomb attack. In Maqur district in the western province of Badghis unknown killers assassinated a tribal elder. In Kunduz province in the north ten insurgents lost their lives in fighting. In Farah province in the west two civilians died when their house was hit by a shell. In Kunar province in the east, two civilians died in rocket fire from Pakistan, six civilians were injured. On 09 September 2014 insurgents started an attack near the border between the eastern provinces of Nuristan and Kunar in which two of them died. In fighting and air raids in Mohammad Agha district in the central province of Logar at least 16 insurgents were killed. In the western province of Badghi an Afghan secret service agent died in an ambush and five others were wounded. Unknown gunmen shot a tribal elder in Ma- qur district in the eastern province of Ghazni. In a NATO air strike against the Taliban on 10 September 2014 14 civilians were killed and 13 people in- jured in the eastern province of Kunar. Also in Kunar province the Taliban burnt down the houses of seven policemen and took a dozen civilians hostage. The Taliban death toll after a month-long military operation in Chahar Dara district in the north eastern province of Kunduz is 130.
    [Show full text]
  • 19 October 2020 "Generated on Refers to the Date on Which the User Accessed the List and Not the Last Date of Substantive Update to the List
    Res. 1988 (2011) List The List established and maintained pursuant to Security Council res. 1988 (2011) Generated on: 19 October 2020 "Generated on refers to the date on which the user accessed the list and not the last date of substantive update to the list. Information on the substantive list updates are provided on the Council / Committee’s website." Composition of the List The list consists of the two sections specified below: A. Individuals B. Entities and other groups Information about de-listing may be found at: https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/ombudsperson (for res. 1267) https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/delisting (for other Committees) https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/2231/list (for res. 2231) A. Individuals TAi.155 Name: 1: ABDUL AZIZ 2: ABBASIN 3: na 4: na ﻋﺒﺪ اﻟﻌﺰﻳﺰ ﻋﺒﺎﺳﯿﻦ :(Name (original script Title: na Designation: na DOB: 1969 POB: Sheykhan Village, Pirkowti Area, Orgun District, Paktika Province, Afghanistan Good quality a.k.a.: Abdul Aziz Mahsud Low quality a.k.a.: na Nationality: na Passport no: na National identification no: na Address: na Listed on: 4 Oct. 2011 (amended on 22 Apr. 2013) Other information: Key commander in the Haqqani Network (TAe.012) under Sirajuddin Jallaloudine Haqqani (TAi.144). Taliban Shadow Governor for Orgun District, Paktika Province as of early 2010. Operated a training camp for non- Afghan fighters in Paktika Province. Has been involved in the transport of weapons to Afghanistan. INTERPOL- UN Security Council Special Notice web link: https://www.interpol.int/en/How-we-work/Notices/View-UN-Notices- Individuals click here TAi.121 Name: 1: AZIZIRAHMAN 2: ABDUL AHAD 3: na 4: na ﻋﺰﯾﺰ اﻟﺮﺣﻤﺎن ﻋﺒﺪ اﻻﺣﺪ :(Name (original script Title: Mr Designation: Third Secretary, Taliban Embassy, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates DOB: 1972 POB: Shega District, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan Good quality a.k.a.: na Low quality a.k.a.: na Nationality: Afghanistan Passport no: na National identification no: Afghan national identification card (tazkira) number 44323 na Address: na Listed on: 25 Jan.
    [Show full text]
  • Annex to Financial Sanctions: Afghanistan 01.02.21
    ANNEX TO NOTICE FINANCIAL SANCTIONS: AFGHANISTAN THE AFGHANISTAN (SANCTIONS) (EU EXIT) REGULATIONS 2020 (S.I. 2020/948) AMENDMENTS Deleted information appears in strikethrough. Additional information appears in italics and is underlined. Individuals 1. ABBASIN, Abdul Aziz DOB: --/--/1969. POB: Sheykhan village, Pirkowti Area, Orgun District, Paktika Province, Afghanistan a.k.a: MAHSUD, Abdul Aziz Other Information: (UK Sanctions List Ref): AFG0121 (UN Ref): TAi.155 (Further Identifying Information): Key commander in the Haqqani Network (TAe.012) under Sirajuddin Jallaloudine Haqqani (TAi.144). Taliban Shadow Governor for Orgun District, Paktika Province as of early 2010. Operated a training camp for nonAfghan fighters in Paktika Province. Has been involved in the transport of weapons to Afghanistan. INTERPOL-UN Security Council Special Notice web link: https://www.interpol.int/en/How-we-work/Notices/View-UN-Notices- Individuals click here. Listed On: 21/10/2011 Last Updated: 31/12/2020 01/02/2021 Group ID: 12156. 2. ABDUL AHAD, Azizirahman Title: Mr DOB: --/--/1972. POB: Shega District, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan Nationality: Afghan National Identification no: 44323 (Afghan) (tazkira) Position: Third Secretary, Taliban Embassy, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Other Information: (UK Sanctions List Ref): AFG0094 (UN Ref): TAi.121 (Further Identifying Information): Belongs to Hotak tribe. Review pursuant to Security Council resolution 1822 (2008) was concluded on 29 Jul. 2010. INTERPOL-UN Security Council Special Notice web link: https://www.interpol.int/en/How-we-work/ Notices/View-UN-Notices- Individuals click here. Listed On: 23/02/2001 Last Updated: 31/12/2020 01/02/2021 Group ID: 7055. 3. ABDUL AHMAD TURK, Abdul Ghani Baradar Title: Mullah DOB: --/--/1968.
    [Show full text]
  • “They've Shot Many Like This”
    HUMAN RIGHTS “They’ve Shot Many Like This” Abusive Night Raids by CIA-Backed Afghan Strike Forces WATCH “They’ve Shot Many Like This” Abusive Night Raids by CIA-Backed Afghan Strike Forces Copyright © 2019 Human Rights Watch All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America ISBN: 978-1-6231-37779 Cover design by Rafael Jimenez Human Rights Watch defends the rights of people worldwide. We scrupulously investigate abuses, expose the facts widely, and pressure those with power to respect rights and secure justice. Human Rights Watch is an independent, international organization that works as part of a vibrant movement to uphold human dignity and advance the cause of human rights for all. Human Rights Watch is an international organization with staff in more than 40 countries, and offices in Amsterdam, Beirut, Berlin, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Goma, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Nairobi, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, Tunis, Washington DC, and Zurich. For more information, please visit our website: http://www.hrw.org OCTOBER 2019 ISBN: 978-1-6231-37779 “They’ve Shot Many Like This” Abusive Night Raids by CIA-Backed Afghan Strike Forces Map of Afghanistan ............................................................................................................... i Summary ............................................................................................................................... 1 Recommendations ..............................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Ethnicity, Space, and Politics in Afghanistan
    University of Pennsylvania ScholarlyCommons Urban Studies Senior Seminar Papers Urban Studies Program 11-2009 Ethnicity, Space, and Politics in Afghanistan Benjamin Dubow University of Pennsylvania Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.upenn.edu/senior_seminar Dubow, Benjamin, "Ethnicity, Space, and Politics in Afghanistan" (2009). Urban Studies Senior Seminar Papers. 13. https://repository.upenn.edu/senior_seminar/13 Suggested Citation: Benjamin Dubow. "Ethnicity, Space, and Politics in Afghanistan." University of Pennsylvania, Urban Studies Program. 2009. This paper is posted at ScholarlyCommons. https://repository.upenn.edu/senior_seminar/13 For more information, please contact [email protected]. Ethnicity, Space, and Politics in Afghanistan Abstract The 2004 election was a disaster. For all the unity that could have come from 2001, the election results shattered any hope that the country had overcome its fractures. The winner needed to find a way to unite a country that could not be more divided. In Afghanistan’s Panjshir Province, runner-up Yunis Qanooni received 95.0% of the vote. In Paktia Province, incumbent Hamid Karzai received 95.9%. Those were only two of the seven provinces where more than 90% or more of the vote went to a single candidate. Two minor candidates who received less than a tenth of the total won 83% and 78% of the vote in their home provinces. For comparison, the most lopsided state in the 2004 United States was Wyoming, with 69% of the vote going to Bush. This means Wyoming voters were 1.8 times as likely to vote for Bush as were Massachusetts voters. Paktia voters were 120 times as likely to vote for Karzai as were Panjshir voters.
    [Show full text]
  • Länderinformationen Afghanistan Country
    Staatendokumentation Country of Origin Information Afghanistan Country Report Security Situation (EN) from the COI-CMS Country of Origin Information – Content Management System Compiled on: 17.12.2020, version 3 This project was co-financed by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund Disclaimer This product of the Country of Origin Information Department of the Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum was prepared in conformity with the standards adopted by the Advisory Council of the COI Department and the methodology developed by the COI Department. A Country of Origin Information - Content Management System (COI-CMS) entry is a COI product drawn up in conformity with COI standards to satisfy the requirements of immigration and asylum procedures (regional directorates, initial reception centres, Federal Administrative Court) based on research of existing, credible and primarily publicly accessible information. The content of the COI-CMS provides a general view of the situation with respect to relevant facts in countries of origin or in EU Member States, independent of any given individual case. The content of the COI-CMS includes working translations of foreign-language sources. The content of the COI-CMS is intended for use by the target audience in the institutions tasked with asylum and immigration matters. Section 5, para 5, last sentence of the Act on the Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum (BFA-G) applies to them, i.e. it is as such not part of the country of origin information accessible to the general public. However, it becomes accessible to the party in question by being used in proceedings (party’s right to be heard, use in the decision letter) and to the general public by being used in the decision.
    [Show full text]
  • Caring for Their Own: a Stronger Afghan Response to Civilian Harm
    Part of the Countries in Conflict Series Caring for Their Own: A Stronger Afghan Response to Civilian Harm CARING FOR THEIR OWN: A STRONGER AFGHAN RESPONSE TO CIVILIAN HARM Acknowledgements Center for Civilians in Conflict would like to thank Open Society Foundations (OSF), which provided funding to support this research and offered insightful comments during the drafting of this report. We also appreciate the Afghan translators and interpreters that worked diligently to deliver quality research for this report, as well as those that offered us travel assistance. Finally, Center for Civilians in Conflict is deeply grateful to all those interviewed for this report, especially civilians suffering from the con- flict in Afghanistan, for their willingness to share their stories, experi- ences and views with us. Copyright © 2013 Center for Civilians in Conflict (formerly CIVIC) All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America. Copies of this report are available for download at: www.civiliansinconflict.org NOTE: Many names in this report have been changed to protect the identity of those interviewed. Cover photo courtesy of James Longley. All photos in text by Trevor Keck/Center for Civilians in Conflict. Map of Afghanistan C A m H 64 u 66 68 70 72 Mur 74 H ° D ° ° ° a-ye ° gho ° ar y b INA ya UZBEKISTAN r INA a AFGHANISTAN D Qurghonteppa TAJIKISTAN Kerki (Kurgan-Tyube) Mary Kiroya iz M rm Dusti Khorugh u e BADAKHSHAN r T g a Keleft Rostaq FayzFayzabad Abad b ir Qala-I-Panjeh Andkhvoy Jeyretan am JAWZJAN P Mazar-e-Sharif KUNDUZ
    [Show full text]
  • Country Information on Sri Lanka, January 2004
    Chronology of Events in Afghanistan, March 2003* March 1 UNHCR seeks slower return of Afghan refugees. (Reuters) The United Nations said it would work for the return of about 1.2 million Afghan refugees this year, far fewer than the massive influx last year which strained the war- torn country's scarce resources. U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers stated that it was important to build houses, schools and ensure sources of drinking water before all Afghans could be brought home. "We are shifting the emphasis from maximal repatriation to a more sustainable return," Lubbers, on a 10-day tour of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran, said. "We are in the process that Afghanistan accommodates itself to the Afghans coming back." The Afghan Research and Evaluation Unit said in a report this month that last year's mass repatriation was driven more by neighbouring countries wanting to be rid of refugees and donors trying to legitimise the country's new government. Lubbers said the refugees would be encouraged to return to their home towns and villages, rather than big cities such as Kabul, which are unable to cope with the inflow. "We hope to shift a little bit to the countryside," he said. "It's clear that somewhat too many of those who are coming back prefer to go to the city.” Lubbers said rival warlords in the volatile northern provinces had given him personal guarantees of the safe return of hundreds of thousands of ethnic Pashtuns who fled to the south. Four wounded in Kabul protest against rising crime.
    [Show full text]
  • Service Delivery in Taliban Influenced Areas…
    SPECIAL REPORT NO. 465 | APRIL 2020 UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE www.usip.org Service Delivery in Taliban- Influenced Areas of Afghanistan By Scott S. Smith Contents “One Land, Two Rules” ................3 Emergence and Consolidation of the Insurgency ......................... 5 Education .......................................8 Health ............................................ 11 Electricity, Media, and Telecommunications .................. 15 Other Services ............................ 17 Conclusion ................................... 18 Students take an exam outdoors because their school had suffered extensive damage in fighting between Taliban and government forces. (Photo by Jim Huylebroek/New York Times) Summary • As the Taliban gained and con- • A study of several diverse districts • The Taliban initially opposed gov- solidated their hold over territo- across Afghanistan reveals that the ernment schools, but they later ry, they were forced to become Taliban leadership has attempted developed policies that allowed responsible for the well-being of to establish a certain uniformity in schools to function, as well as per- local communities. its governance of territory largely mitting girls to attend school to • Even as the Taliban leadership re- or partly under its control. age twelve. mained focused on military objec- • For example, while the Taliban have • Should there be a peace process, tives, in recent years they began to always allowed health officials to the Taliban and government will develop policies to deliver educa- work in their areas, in part because need to reconcile their differenc- tion and health services in particu- they too need these services, they es on service delivery in the areas lar, in some cases reversing earlier have taken increasing ownership of falling under their control. policies that denied these services.
    [Show full text]