Your Ad Here Your Ad Here

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Your Ad Here Your Ad Here Eye on the News [email protected] Truthful, Factual and Unbiased Vol:X Issue No:103 Price: Afs.15 www.afghanistantimes.af www.facebook.com/ afghanistantimeswww.twitter.com/ afghanistantimes WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER 11 . 2015 -Aqrab 20, 1394 HS Yo ur Yo ur ad ad he re he re US, WB pledge continued support to Afghan agriculture KABUL: United States and World Bank (WB) officials have pledged AT News Report continued support and assistance to the development of Afghanistan agriculture sector, the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Live- stock (MAIL) said on Tuesday. The pledges came at high-lev- el meetings between Afghan Min- ister Assadullah Zamir and senior US and World Bank officials in Washington, the ministry said in a statement. It said the meetings proved KABUL: The National Director- Kabul s residents condemn civilians beheading in Zabul fruitful as Afghanistan s donor ate of Security (NDS) on Tuesday community emphasized the im- said that it has rescued eight pas- AT Monitoring Desk Abdul Zuhoor Qayomi portance of agriculture to the se- sengers, abducted by the Taliban KABUL: A number of Kabul residents took out to the street to give vent to their anger against the beheading curity and prosperity of the Af- several months ago. KABUL: The Meshrano Jirga or a senator from Kapisa, also con- of seven civilians by the Islamic State, also known as Daesh, in southern Zabul province. Condemning the ghan nation. The NDS s spokesman Hasi- Upper House of the Parliament on demned the brutal killing of pas- beheading of civilians, they gathered in Zarnigar Park in Kabul. They asked the government to declare a day Zamir met with senior repre- bullah Seddiqi confirmed release of sentatives from the United States the passengers saying that the spy Tuesday criticized the National sengers in Zabul and said the kill- of mourning over the heartbreaking incident. They also called on concerned officials to transfer the dead Unity Government (NUG) for its ings show weakness of the NUG bodies to Kabul. Younis Akhtar, a protestor who is also member of a civil society told Pajhwok Afghan Agency for International Develop- agency operatives succeeded to ment (USAID), United States De- rescue eight passengers who were failure to improve law and order as it failed to provide security to News that they would arrange a mass funeral ceremony in front of the Presidential Palace for those killed in Zabul. This is worth mentioning that Daesh fighters had abducted seven resident of Jaghori district of partment of State, United States from the group of 31 Hazara pas- situation and rescue the abducted the citizens. Institute of Peace (USIP), United sengers abducted by the Taliban passengers who were beheaded Pointing to protest of the Nan- Ghazni province nine months ago and behead them on Sunday in Khak-i-Afghan district of Zabul. Three States Department of Agriculture on the Zabul-Ghazni highway nine recently by Daesh in Zabul prov- garhar varsity s students he said women and a child were also among the beheaded people where their bodies have been handed over to the (USDA), United States Congress, months ago. ince. that not only the chancellor but Jaghori residents. While condemned the beheading of seven civilians, President Ashraf Ghani said that the and the World Bank during the first The rescued passengers, in- In today s session, the govern- the provincial officials including brutal act was a sign of desperation and defeat of the enemies of the people of Afghanistan. The brutal three days of his ten-day execu- cluding five men, two women and ment was not only castigated for governor are also responsible. killing of innocent people is not justifiable in any religion, he said. Maulvi Abdul Raman Rahmani, a tive fact-finding mission to the a teenager, would be handed over its failure to secure release of the Member of Religious, Cultur- lawmaker from northern Balkh province, told reporters that Daesh fighters were more extremist compared United States. to their families soon, the spokes- to the Taliban. He said that Daesh want to intimidate people and divide them on ethnic lines. Islamic State, man added. It is pertinent to men- hostages but also for its failure to al and Education Committee of the Recognizing agriculture as the tion that from the group of 31 ab- take action against those protest- which is also popular as Daesh is an extremist group that has recently emerged in different parts of backbone of Afghanistan s econo- ducted passengers 19 of them were ing students of the Nangarhar Uni- See P2 Afghanistan. my and the sector key to the released in the month of May 2015. versity who waved flags of the growth and stabilization of the According to media reports Taliban, Daesh and other terrorist Afghan nation, the US and World two kidnapped passengers were organizations. Bank senior officials confirmed killed by the insurgents to press their continued support and While condemning the behead- pledged increased assistance to the government for not meeting ing of passengers by Daesh, the their demands which had not been Afghanistan s farmers and agri- senators said that both President business community. made public. The spy agency in- Muhammad Ashraf Ghani and formed about release of the eight Larry Sampler, Assistant to the passengers at a time when the gov- Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Administrator in the Office of Af- ernment is criticized for not im- Abdullah Abdullah had taken the ghanistan and Pakistan Affairs at proving law and order situation issue lightly and did not take steps USAID, commended Zamir on his which resulted into beheading of to release the passengers who were ministry s ambitious but highly seven Hazara passengers. The pas- abducted from Ghazni province. achievable strategic vision. sengers were beheaded by Daesh Asking the government to pro- He stressed USAID s desire to three days ago in Zabul. vide security to public, they said continue opening a new chapter of the NUG failed to protect the cit- closer engagement, consultations izens. The president and the CEO and partnership with MAIL as Infighting are responsible for killing of the they work together to achieve Zamir s goal of food security and passengers because according to wheat self-sufficiency by 2020. ongoing the Constitution it is responsibili- The same message of close ty of the government to provide collaboration, support, and in- between rival security to the public, said Mu- creased assistance was echoed by hammad Raheem Hassan Yar, a Annette Dixon, World Bank Vice senator from Ghazni. President for the South Asia Re- Taliban factions Farhad Sakhi, a senator from gion. Dixon, herself an enthusiast Kabul, said that the enemy has tar- of Afghanistan s dried fruit, nuts, in Zabul geted an ethnic group in order to and award-winning saffron, con- create differences among Afghans. firmed the bank s interest in in- AT Monitoring Desk He said that Afghans are united and creasing funding to MAIL both share joys and sorrows as a one in the long and short term in or- KABUL: Intense infighting be- nation. der to help in the rehabilitation Regarding the protest of stu- of Afghanistan s agricultural infra- tween two rival groups of the Tal- structure and to create job oppor- iban militants is ongoing in south- dents in Nangarhar in support of tunities for the millions of unem- ern Zabul province, said an offi- militant groups, Sakhi said the ployed Afghan citizens. cial. chancellor of the university must Gul Islam Sial, spokesman for be sacked because the varsity has the provincial governor office, told turned into the center of enemies Azadi Radio that serious fighting supporters. between the main Taliban militant Maulvi Muhayuddin Munsif, group led by Mulah Akhtar Mu- hammad Mansoor and the splin- ter group led by Mullah Muham- MoD promises mad Rasoul is ongoing in Arghand- ab, Daichopan, and Khak-e-Af- tight security ghan districts of Zabul province AT Monitoring Desk over the past three days. AT Monitoring Desk Mullah Abdul Manan Niazi, a KABUL: The Ministry of Defense spokesman for the splinter group (MoD) on Tuesday assured of KABUL: Operatives of the Na- of the Taliban, confirmed the fight- ramping up security within a tional Directorate of Security month in the country as insecuri- ing and said that Mullah Akhtar ty has been intensified recently. (NDS) detained three members of Mansooor s side is receiving sup- Dawlat Waziri, the spokesman to KUNDUZ CITY: Voicing support and current suggestions about elec- gestions and recommendations of reform commission, the Chief Ex- Haqqani network in southeastern port from regional spy agencies. MoD, said that security situation for electoral reforms, the people toral reforms should be respected Kunduz people about reforms to ecutive Officer (CEO) s office and Khost province. A statement is- He added that they will restrain will change in the next two or three of northern Kunduz province on by the government and violations the election bodies, the electoral the President. sued by the NDS on Tuesday said their rival group s activities across weeks and recently 14 anti-mili- Tuesday urged the government to committed in the past elections that three members of the network, the country. tant operations are being conduct- not to allow fraud and irregulari- should not be repeated in future identified as Rahim Khan, Naim ed in 11 provinces in a bid to es- ties experienced in the past to be elections. ACSEN chairman for Spokesmen of the two groups tablish writ of the government in Khan and Najibullah, were supply- said that at least 80 militants have insecure parts of the country. repeated in future elections. Near- northeastern zone, Dr.
Recommended publications
  • Afghan Exodus Afghan Asylum Seekers in Europe and Germany
    STUDY Afghan Exodus Afghan Asylum Seekers in Europe and Germany THOMAS RUTTIG February 2017 n In 2016, Afghans were the second largest group both of migrants seeking protection in Europe and of those formally applying for asylum. Since the peak of the refugee crisis in late 2015, the number of arrivals – both in general and in terms of Afghans – have dropped significantly. European countries have made traveling to, staying, and integrating into the society increasingly complicated. Numbers of asylum applications widely differed between European countries. Furthermore, the EU and individual member states have put agreements in place with the Afghan government that allow »voluntary« and »enforced« returns of large numbers of rejected asylum seekers. n In this comprehensive three-part dispatch, AAN’s co-director Thomas Ruttig looks at the latest figures and trends as well as changes in policy and the social climate that have im-pacted the situation for Afghan asylum seekers in Europe. This will be followed by an overview of the situation in a number of individual European countries and a case study on Germany, the largest recipient country in Europe for refugees. The last part will also draw some conclusions. THOMAS RUTTIG | AFGHAN EXODUS Contents 1. Europe – The Changing Situation ..........................................3 1.1 Overall Figures ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������3 1.2 Afghan Figures . .3 1.2.1 Arrivals in Europe . .3 1.2.2 Asylum Applications in Europe �����������������������������������������������������������������������������4 1.2.3 Decisions in Europe �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������4 1.3 Policy Changes: Sealing Borders . .5 1.4 Policy Changes: Turning the Trend from Influx to Return �����������������������������������������������7 1.5 The Changing Climate in Recipient Countries .
    [Show full text]
  • SITREP | Pressure and Peril: Afghan Refugees and Europe in 2017
    www.ssoar.info SITREP - Pressure and Peril: Afghan Refugees and Europe in 2017 Ruttig, Thomas Veröffentlichungsversion / Published Version Zeitschriftenartikel / journal article Empfohlene Zitierung / Suggested Citation: Ruttig, T. (2018). SITREP - Pressure and Peril: Afghan Refugees and Europe in 2017. IndraStra Global, 1, 1-13. https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-55385-2 Nutzungsbedingungen: Terms of use: Dieser Text wird unter einer Deposit-Lizenz (Keine This document is made available under Deposit Licence (No Weiterverbreitung - keine Bearbeitung) zur Verfügung gestellt. Redistribution - no modifications). We grant a non-exclusive, non- Gewährt wird ein nicht exklusives, nicht übertragbares, transferable, individual and limited right to using this document. persönliches und beschränktes Recht auf Nutzung dieses This document is solely intended for your personal, non- Dokuments. Dieses Dokument ist ausschließlich für commercial use. All of the copies of this documents must retain den persönlichen, nicht-kommerziellen Gebrauch bestimmt. all copyright information and other information regarding legal Auf sämtlichen Kopien dieses Dokuments müssen alle protection. You are not allowed to alter this document in any Urheberrechtshinweise und sonstigen Hinweise auf gesetzlichen way, to copy it for public or commercial purposes, to exhibit the Schutz beibehalten werden. Sie dürfen dieses Dokument document in public, to perform, distribute or otherwise use the nicht in irgendeiner Weise abändern, noch dürfen Sie document in public.
    [Show full text]
  • Afghan Diaspora in Germany
    Prof. Dr. Michael Daxner (project leader) Silvia-Lucretia Nicola M.A. (research associate) Prepare – Protect –Promote Mapping of and report on the Afghan Diaspora in Germany Prepare – Protect – Promote Mapping of and report on the Afghan Diaspora in Germany 3 11 April 2017 Prof. Dr. Michael Daxner (project leader) Silvia-Lucretia Nicola M.A. (research associate) Daylight Consultants GmbH Heinrich Heine Str. 92 228211 Bremen 4 This study was commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and realized by the GIZ Programme Migration for Development (PME). Shaping Migration for Development Migrants are bridge-builders between their countries of origin and the countries in which they currently live and work. With their skills, ideas, experiences and contacts, they are key drivers of change in both settings and help to ensure that their countries of origin can also face the future with confidence. Many migrants contribute to their origin countries’ development while living elsewhere: some establish diaspora organisations and carry out projects on a voluntary basis, while others set up businesses and build economic ties between countries. A significant number of migrants decide at some point to return to their countries of origin on a temporary or permanent basis, enabling them to share their knowledge directly at local level. We support all these activities of migrants, because we believe in the potential of global migration for sustainable development. We also ad- vise people who are not yet sure whether they want to leave their country. We highlight legal migration options and show them alternatives in their country of origin.
    [Show full text]
  • Sikkim University Bhaswati Sarmah
    India and Refugee Issues: A Study of Afghan Refugees A Dissertation Submitted To Sikkim University In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirement for the Degree of Master of Philosophy By Bhaswati Sarmah Department of Political Science School of Social Sciences February, 2018 DECLARATION I, Bhaswati Sarmah, do hereby declare that the subject matter of this dissertation is the record of work done by me, that the content of this dissertation did not form basis of the award of any previous degree to me or to the best of my knowledge to anybody else, and the dissertation has not been submitted by me for any research degree in any other university/institution. This is submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in the Department of Political Science, School of Social Sciences, Sikkim University. Bhaswati Sarmah Registration No- 16/M.Phil/PSC/03 We recommend that this dissertation be placed before the examiners for evaluation. Prof. Mohammad Yasin Dr. Amit Kumar Gupta Head of the Department Supervisor CERTIFICATE This is to certify that the dissertation entitled “India and Refugee Issues: A Study of Afghan Refugees” submitted to Sikkim University in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Political Science is the result of bonafide research work carried out by Bhaswati Sarmah under my guidance and supervision. No part of the dissertation has been submitted for any other degree, diploma, associateship and fellowship. All the assistance and help received during the course of the investigation have been duly acknowledged by her.
    [Show full text]
  • Violence, Mobility and Labour Relations in Asia Special Issue Edited by Benjamin Etzold
    V , S V , S Violence,Violence, MobilityMobility and and Labour Labour RelationsRelations inin AsiaAsia Published from 1970 to 2016 as Internationales Asienforum International ISSN 2566-686x (print) QuarterlyQuarterly for Asian ISSN 2566-6878 (online) Studies International Quarterly for Asian Studies is a forum for multidisciplinary research on current and historical topics relevant to politics, economics and society in contemporary Asia. It seeks to make the results of social science research on Asia known to a broader public beyond the circle of regional spe- cialists and to provide a solid and informed basis for the public discourse about Asia. The contributions are intended for a public that is aware that the regions and cultures of the world have always been interlinked and, thus, need to be understood in relation to one other. Submitted manuscripts are peer-reviewed anonymously by external reviewers and members of the editorial or advisory board; the acceptance or rejection of manuscripts is finally decided by the editors. International Quarterly for Asian Studies appears quarterly, or semi-annually as a double issue. Price per issue €16.25 (double issue €32.50), per year €65.00, plus postage. This journal is also available in an open access version. For further information please go to our website at: https://asianstudies.arnold-bergstraesser.de This journal and all of the contributions published therein are protected by copyright. Any usage outside the limits of copyright law is prohibited without the consent of the copyright owner. Once a manuscript has been accepted for publication, the author grants the publisher the simple and spatially unlimited right to reproduce and disseminate his or her contribution in physical form, in German and in other lan- guages, and to make it accessible to the public, for the duration of the statutory copyright.
    [Show full text]
  • Kolb WT Def.Indd
    IMISCOE kolb & egbert Economics as an established academic discipline in its own right and migration as an RESEARCH ever-growing field of focus within the social sciences have long snubbed each other. While migration research tends to over-emphasise normative concerns, economics so often limits its scope to a traditional if not wizening sphere of analysis. This volume contains eleven case studies that synergise the expertise of researchers in both fields by transgressing disciplinary boundaries. The studies offer new perspectives by applying ( economic methods to migratory phenomena, by using concepts such as trade and club eds. Migrants and Markets theory to analyse migratory patterns and by viewing market development as integral to the shaping of migrant stocks and flows. ) Migrants Migrants and Markets Perspectives from Economics and Holger Kolb is a Research Associate at the Institute for Migration Research and the Other Social Sciences Intercultural Studies (IMIS) at the University of Osnabrück. Henrik Egbert is a Research Officer and Lecturer in the Department of Behavioral and Institutional Economics at the Justus Liebig University of Giessen. holger kolb & henrik egbert (eds.) “Migrants and Markets is an excellent example of fruitful cooperation among economists, sociologists and political scientists. From the impact Chinese student migration has on the UK and France to varying methodologies for remittance research, the array of topics is testament to how different fields can mutually enrich each other.” Thomas Straubhaar, Director of the Hamburg Institute of International Economics and Professor of Economics at the University of Hamburg “A stimulating collection of interdisciplinary essays that examines the economic impacts of migration on host societies.
    [Show full text]
  • Case Study on Afghanistan SUMMARY and ECRE’S RECOMMENDATIONS
    EU Migration Policy and Returns: Case Study on Afghanistan SUMMARY AND ECRE’S RECOMMENDATIONS Analysis With higher numbers of refugees and migrants arriving in Europe in 2015 and 2016, the European Commis- sion (EC) and Member States became concerned about the low numbers of people who left Europe compared to the numbers of return decisions issued. This low rate of return was judged to be due to factors including obstacles to return at Member State level, difficulties in cooperation with third countries and documentation, and non-compliance by individuals. The European Union (EU) has tried to tackle these obstacles and made increasing returns a primary policy aim. This case study looks at how this shift has been implemented in the case of returns to Afghanistan. It looks at how the EC and Member States have interpreted the new policy direction, and the effect on EU-Afghan relations, on refugees and asylum seekers from Afghanistan in Europe, on return to Afghanistan, and on the fate of those returned. 1. EU-Afghan relations The EU and its Member States have had wide and varied relations with Afghanistan for many years. They have supported Afghanistan, its institutions and people as a strong partner since 2001, including as one of its main donors in spheres such as education, health and the rule of law, tackling the root causes of displacement and migration in Afghanistan and neighbouring countries. More recently, the EU has tried to use cooperation agreements to increase returns. The Joint Way Forward signed by the EU and Afghanistan in 2016 is the em- bodiment of this approach.
    [Show full text]
  • Afghanistan: No Safe Country for Refugees
    AFGHANISTAN: NO SAFE COUNTRY FOR REFUGEES An investigation into the country’s political and economic situation, its internal security and the situation of refugees May 2017 CONTENTS 3 PREFACE TO THE ENGLISH EDITION 7 INTRODUCTION 8 DEMANDS ON THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT 9 ADVICE FOR AFGHAN REFUGEES AND THEIR ADVISORS 9 Afghans in Germany 10 Prospects in asylum procedures 12 Integration and participation 12 Deportations 13 Investigating alternative options for right of residence 14 Avoiding hurried advice on “voluntary” returns 15 ASYLUM FOR AFGHAN REFUGEES? 15 Recognition in practice 16 Protection alternatives in Afghanistan? 19 Density of danger: a legal term out of touch with reality 21 AFGHANISTAN IS NOT SAFE 21 Victims in the civilian population 24 The fall of Kunduz: a watershed 26 The Taliban 27 The drone war and its consequences 28 Armed militias against the Taliban and “Islamic State”? 29 The German government’s assessment of the security situation 34 A secret EU plan: 80,000 Afghans are to be deported 37 THE SITUATION OF REFUGEES IN THE REGION 37 Returnees 38 Internally displaced people 40 Afghans in exile in Iran 43 Children’s and young people’s causes of flight from Afghanis tan 44 The situation of women 48 THE ECONOMY, THE SHADOW ECONOMY AND THE BUSINESS OF WAR 48 A devastated Afghan economy 50 The impact of foreign aid 51 Who are the warlords? 55 FACTS ON AFGHANISTAN 56 A BRIEF HISTORY OF AFGHANISTAN 58 IMPRINT PREFACE TO THE ENGLISH EDITION Since the passing of the editorial deadline for the German edition of this text in August 2016 there have been many developments that have further contributed to the unsettling of Afghan refugees’ lives in Germany.
    [Show full text]
  • Peacemaking Engagement of Afghans and Syrians in North Rhine-Westphalia and Germany Meininghaus, Esther; Mielke, Katja
    www.ssoar.info Beyond Doha and Geneva: peacemaking engagement of Afghans and Syrians in North Rhine-Westphalia and Germany Meininghaus, Esther; Mielke, Katja Veröffentlichungsversion / Published Version Arbeitspapier / working paper Empfohlene Zitierung / Suggested Citation: Meininghaus, E., & Mielke, K. (2019). Beyond Doha and Geneva: peacemaking engagement of Afghans and Syrians in North Rhine-Westphalia and Germany. (BICC Working Paper, 11/2019). Bonn: Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC). https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-68078-7 Nutzungsbedingungen: Terms of use: Dieser Text wird unter einer CC BY-NC-ND Lizenz This document is made available under a CC BY-NC-ND Licence (Namensnennung-Nicht-kommerziell-Keine Bearbeitung) zur (Attribution-Non Comercial-NoDerivatives). For more Information Verfügung gestellt. Nähere Auskünfte zu den CC-Lizenzen finden see: Sie hier: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.de \ WORKING PAPER 11\ 2019 Beyond Doha and Geneva Peacemaking engagement of Afghans and Syrians in North Rhine- Westphalia and Germany Esther Meininghaus \ BICC Katja Mielke \ BICC supported by \ WORKING PAPER 11 \ 2019 PEACEMAKING EFFORTS OF AFGHANS AND SYRIANS IN NRW AND GERMANY \ E. MEININGHAUS & K. MIELKE SUMMARY For several decades now, Germany has become home to significant numbers of Afghans, and more recently Syrians, who have fled war. In thisWorking Paper, we analyse the political engagement for peace by Afghans and Syrians in Ger- many since the beginning of violent conflict in Afghanistan (1978) and Syria (2011). Departing from an understanding of peace processes as more than summits and diplomatic events, we focus on peacemaking initiatives ‘from below’ by Afghans and Syrians in Germany, with a particular emphasis on activities in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), in a long-term perspective.
    [Show full text]
  • Adult Education and Development. INSTITUTION German Adult Education Association, Bonn (Germany)
    DOCUMENT RESUME ED 480 386 CE 084 616 AUTHOR Hinzen, Heribert, Ed. TITLE Adult Education and Development. INSTITUTION German Adult Education Association, Bonn (Germany). Inst. for International Cooperation. ISSN ISSN70342-7633 PUB DATE 2002-09-00 NOTE 230p.; Photographs may not copy well. For number 58, see CE 083 687. Published half-yearly. AVAILABLE FROM Institute for International Cooperation, German Adult Education Association, Obere Wilhelmstrasse 32, D-53225 Bonn, Germany. PUB TYPE Collected Works Serials (022) JOURNAL CIT Adult Education and Development; n59 2002 EDRS PRICE EDRS Price MF01/PC10 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Adult Development; Adult Education; Adult Educators; *Adult Learning; Continuing Education; Educational Attitudes; *Educational Policy; *Educational Practices; *Educational Trends; Elementary Secondary Education; Employment Qualifications; Empowerment; Indigenous Populations; International Organizations; Job Skills; *Lifelong Learning; Literacy Education; National Programs; Postsecondary Education; Role of Education IDENTIFIERS Africa; Asia; Caribbean; Chile; Cuba; Latin America; Thailand; Work Based Learning ABSTRACT This document contains 19 papers on adult education and development worldwide. The following papers are included: "Editorial" (Heribert Hinzen); "Lifelong Learning in Europe: Moving towards EFA (Dakar Framework for Action on Education for All) Goals and the CONFINTEA V Agenda" (Sofia Conference on Adult Education); "Poverty and Schooling in the Lives of Girls in Latin America" (Nelly P. Stromquist);
    [Show full text]
  • Beyond Doha and Geneva
    \ WORKING PAPER 11\ 2019 Beyond Doha and Geneva Peacemaking engagement of Afghans and Syrians in North Rhine- Westphalia and Germany Esther Meininghaus \ BICC Katja Mielke \ BICC supported by \ WORKING PAPER 11 \ 2019 PEACEMAKING EFFORTS OF AFGHANS AND SYRIANS IN NRW AND GERMANY \ E. MEININGHAUS & K. MIELKE SUMMARY For several decades now, Germany has become home to significant numbers of Afghans, and more recently Syrians, who have fled war. In thisWorking Paper, we analyse the political engagement for peace by Afghans and Syrians in Ger- many since the beginning of violent conflict in Afghanistan (1978) and Syria (2011). Departing from an understanding of peace processes as more than summits and diplomatic events, we focus on peacemaking initiatives ‘from below’ by Afghans and Syrians in Germany, with a particular emphasis on activities in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), in a long-term perspective. As a guiding research question for this Paper, we ask: To what extent have Afghans and Syrians in NRW and other parts of Germany been able to engage in peacemaking, and how are these efforts linked to official talks and the situation inside Afghanistan and Syria? We argue that the different types of engagement we give evidence of, for instance, rallies, publications, the establishment of associations and even privately initiated dialogue forums for peace, constitute significant building blocks in peace processes. They demonstrate the agency of individuals and groups of Afghan and Syrian background to engage for peace and the potential impact they could have if acknowledged more widely. However, the same individuals and initiatives are usually excluded from official negotiations.
    [Show full text]
  • German Politics of Deporting Afghans
    IQAS V. / –, . – Nations Rebound: German Politics of Deporting Afghans Martin Sökefeld Abstract This article traces the development of German politics of deporting Afghans. Since the great influx of refugees in 2015 – which doubled the number of Afghans in Germany – the asylum acceptance rate of Afghan refugees has been reduced while at the same time the government has made eorts to increase the number of deportations, arguing that parts of Afghanistan are “safe” for deportees, in spite of increasing violence in the country. Using a logic of deserving- ness, politicians maintain that the only persons deported are those who refuse to “integrate”. In fact, however, more “well-integrated” Afghans are deported than persons with a criminal rec- ord. Within the context of an increasingly restrictive asylum system, the emphasis on deporta- tions has to be understood as an attempt to counter the rise of right-wing populism in Germa- ny. Yet activists who support individual refugees and rejected asylum seekers, trying to prevent their deportation, increasingly contest this approach. By pointing out that particular persons who are threatened by deportation are “well integrated” and therefore deserve to stay, these activists essentially accept and reinforce the logic of deservingness. The article argues that the deportee epitomises the current reterritorialisation of nation-states and global system of un- equal (im)mobility. Keywords: Deportation, refugees, deservingness, asylum, politics, Afghanistan, Germany Introduction At the beginning of the 1990s a new paradigm began to dominate migration studies: transnationalism. Migration could no longer be conceptualised exclu- sively as a unidirectional movement governed by push and pull factors.
    [Show full text]