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Usama Bin Ladin's
Usama bin Ladin’s “Father Sheikh”: Yunus Khalis and the Return of al-Qa`ida’s Leadership to Afghanistan Harmony Program Kevin Bell USAMA BIN LADIN’S “FATHER SHEIKH:” YUNUS KHALIS AND THE RETURN OF AL‐QA`IDA’S LEADERSHIP TO AFGHANISTAN THE COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER AT WEST POINT www.ctc.usma.edu 14 May 2013 The views expressed in this paper are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect those of the Combating Terrorism Center, the U.S. Military Academy, the Department of Defense or the U.S. government. Author’s Acknowledgments This report would not have been possible without the generosity and assistance of the director of the Harmony Research Program at the Combating Terrorism Center (CTC), Don Rassler. Mr. Rassler provided me with the support and encouragement to pursue this project, and his enthusiasm for the material always helped to lighten my load. I should state here that the first tentative steps on this line of inquiry were made during my time as a student at the Program in Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University. If not for professor Şükrü Hanioğlu’s open‐minded approach to directing my MA thesis, it is unlikely that I would have embarked on this investigation of Yunus Khalis. Professor Michael Reynolds also deserves great credit for his patience with this project as a member of my thesis committee. I must also extend my utmost appreciation to my reviewers—Carr Center Fellow Michael Semple, professor David Edwards and Vahid Brown—whose insightful comments, I believe, have led to a substantially improved and more thoughtful product. -
Book Pakistanonedge.Pdf
Pakistan Project Report April 2013 Pakistan on the Edge Copyright © Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, 2013 Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses No.1, Development Enclave, Rao Tula Ram Marg, Delhi Cantt., New Delhi - 110 010 Tel. (91-11) 2671-7983 Fax.(91-11) 2615 4191 E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.idsa.in ISBN: 978-93-82512-02-8 First Published: April 2013 Cover shows Data Ganj Baksh, popularly known as Data Durbar, a Sufi shrine in Lahore. It is the tomb of Syed Abul Hassan Bin Usman Bin Ali Al-Hajweri. The shrine was attacked by radical elements in July 2010. The photograph was taken in August 2010. Courtesy: Smruti S Pattanaik. Disclaimer: The views expressed in this Report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Institute or the Government of India. Published by: Magnum Books Pvt Ltd Registered Office: C-27-B, Gangotri Enclave Alaknanda, New Delhi-110 019 Tel.: +91-11-42143062, +91-9811097054 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.magnumbooks.org All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, sorted in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photo-copying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA). Contents Preface 5 Abbreviations 7 Introduction 9 Chapter 1 Political Scenario: The Emerging Trends Amit Julka, Ashok K. Behuria and Sushant Sareen 13 Chapter 2 Provinces: A Strained Federation Sushant Sareen and Ashok K. Behuria 29 Chapter 3 Militant Groups in Pakistan: New Coalition, Old Politics Amit Julka and Shamshad Ahmad Khan 41 Chapter 4 Continuing Religious Radicalism and Ever Widening Sectarian Divide P. -
The Causes of the Second Anglo-Afghan War, a Probe Into the Reality of the International Relations in Central Asia in the Second Half of the 19Th Century1
wbhr 01|2014 The Causes of the Second Anglo-Afghan War, a Probe into the Reality of the International Relations in Central Asia in the Second Half of the 19th Century1 JIŘÍ KÁRNÍK Institute of World History, Faculty of Arts, Charles University, Prague Nám. J. Palacha 2, 116 38 Praha, Czech Republic [email protected] Central Asia has always been a very important region. Already in the time of Alexander the Great the most important trade routes between Europe and Asia run through this region. This importance kept strengthening with the development of the trade which was particularly connected with the famous Silk Road. Cities through which this trade artery runs through were experiencing a real boom in the late Middle Ages and in the Early modern period. Over the wealth of the business oases of Khiva and Bukhara rose Samarkand, the capital city of the empire of the last Great Mongol conqueror Timur Lenk (Tamerlane).2 The golden age of the Silk Road did not last forever. The overseas discoveries and the rapid development of the transoceanic sailing was gradually weakening the influence of this ancient trade route and thus lessening the importance and wealth of the cities and areas it run through. The profits of the East India companies were so huge that it paid off for them to protect their business territories. In the name of the trade protection began also the political penetration of the European powers into the overseas areas and empires began to emerge. 1 This article was created under project British-Afghan relations in 19th century which is dealt with in 2014 at Faculty of Arts of Charles University in Prague with funds from Charles University Grant Agency. -
Making Sense of Daesh in Afghanistan: a Social Movement Perspective
\ WORKING PAPER 6\ 2017 Making sense of Daesh in Afghanistan: A social movement perspective Katja Mielke \ BICC Nick Miszak \ TLO Joint publication by \ WORKING PAPER 6 \ 2017 MAKING SENSE OF DAESH IN AFGHANISTAN: A SOCIAL MOVEMENT PERSPECTIVE \ K. MIELKE & N. MISZAK SUMMARY So-called Islamic State (IS or Daesh) in Iraq and Syria is widely interpreted as a terrorist phenomenon. The proclamation in late January 2015 of a Wilayat Kho- rasan, which includes Afghanistan and Pakistan, as an IS branch is commonly interpreted as a manifestation of Daesh's global ambition to erect an Islamic caliphate. Its expansion implies hierarchical order, command structures and financial flows as well as a transnational mobility of fighters, arms and recruits between Syria and Iraq, on the one hand, and Afghanistan–Pakistan, on the other. In this Working Paper, we take a (new) social movement perspective to investigate the processes and underlying dynamics of Daesh’s emergence in different parts of the country. By employing social movement concepts, such as opportunity structures, coalition-building, resource mobilization and framing, we disentangle the different types of resource mobilization and long-term conflicts that have merged into the phenomenon of Daesh in Afghanistan. In dialogue with other approaches to terrorism studies as well as peace, civil war and security studies, our analysis focuses on relations and interactions among various actors in the Afghan-Pakistan region and their translocal networks. The insight builds on a ten-month fieldwork-based research project conducted in four regions—east, west, north-east and north Afghanistan—during 2016. We find that Daesh in Afghanistan is a context-specific phenomenon that manifests differently in the various regions across the country and is embedded in a long- term transformation of the religious, cultural and political landscape in the cross-border region of Afghanistan–Pakistan. -
Afghanistan Security Situation in Nangarhar Province
Report Afghanistan: The security situation in Nangarhar province Translation provided by the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons, Belgium. Report Afghanistan: The security situation in Nangarhar province LANDINFO – 13 OCTOBER 2016 1 About Landinfo’s reports The Norwegian Country of Origin Information Centre, Landinfo, is an independent body within the Norwegian Immigration Authorities. Landinfo provides country of origin information to the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (Utlendingsdirektoratet – UDI), the Immigration Appeals Board (Utlendingsnemnda – UNE) and the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Public Security. Reports produced by Landinfo are based on information from carefully selected sources. The information is researched and evaluated in accordance with common methodology for processing COI and Landinfo’s internal guidelines on source and information analysis. To ensure balanced reports, efforts are made to obtain information from a wide range of sources. Many of our reports draw on findings and interviews conducted on fact-finding missions. All sources used are referenced. Sources hesitant to provide information to be cited in a public report have retained anonymity. The reports do not provide exhaustive overviews of topics or themes, but cover aspects relevant for the processing of asylum and residency cases. Country of origin information presented in Landinfo’s reports does not contain policy recommendations nor does it reflect official Norwegian views. © Landinfo 2017 The material in this report is covered by copyright law. Any reproduction or publication of this report or any extract thereof other than as permitted by current Norwegian copyright law requires the explicit written consent of Landinfo. For information on all of the reports published by Landinfo, please contact: Landinfo Country of Origin Information Centre Storgata 33A P.O. -
CURRICULUM VITAE of H.E. Ambassador Mr. Shamshad Ahmad
CURRICULUM VITAE of H.E. Ambassador Mr. Shamshad Ahmad Personal Data: Name : Shamshad Ahmad Date of birth : December 1941, Lahore Marital Status : Married (+ 2 sons) Education: Bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Punjab in Pakistan, Master's degree in political science from the University of Punjab. Wrote articles on regional cooperation. Actually, as retired ambassador. Work Experience: Ambassador Mr. Shamshad Ahmad is a career diplomat having served 40 years in various posts of the foreign service: The Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, From February 1997 to his current appointment, Mr. Ahmad was Pakistan's Foreign Secretary. Prior to that, he served as Special Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1996 to 1997, Before that, Mr. Ahmad served as Secretary-General of the Economic Cooperation Organization in Tehran, a position he held from 1992 to 1996. In 1994, he was also a member of the Economic and Social Commission of Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Panel of Eminent Persons on Human Resources Development, From 1990 to 1992, Mr. Ahmad was Pakistan's Ambassador to Iran. He also served in the same position in the Republic of Korea from 1987 to 1990. Prior to that appointment, he was Director General in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1985 to 1987, Mr. Ahmad's earlier diplomatic experience includes a posting as Consul General in Pakistan's Mission in New York from 1981 to 1985. He was also assigned to the United Nations in New York from 1980 to 1981, when he was both Chairman of the Political Committee of the United Nations Council for Namibia and a member of the United Nations Committee on Palestine, Mr. -
Biodiversity Profile of Afghanistan
NEPA Biodiversity Profile of Afghanistan An Output of the National Capacity Needs Self-Assessment for Global Environment Management (NCSA) for Afghanistan June 2008 United Nations Environment Programme Post-Conflict and Disaster Management Branch First published in Kabul in 2008 by the United Nations Environment Programme. Copyright © 2008, United Nations Environment Programme. This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission from the copyright holder, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. UNEP would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication that uses this publication as a source. No use of this publication may be made for resale or for any other commercial purpose whatsoever without prior permission in writing from the United Nations Environment Programme. United Nations Environment Programme Darulaman Kabul, Afghanistan Tel: +93 (0)799 382 571 E-mail: [email protected] Web: http://www.unep.org DISCLAIMER The contents of this volume do not necessarily reflect the views of UNEP, or contributory organizations. The designations employed and the presentations do not imply the expressions of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNEP or contributory organizations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or its authority, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Unless otherwise credited, all the photos in this publication have been taken by the UNEP staff. Design and Layout: Rachel Dolores -
Great Game to 9/11
Air Force Engaging the World Great Game to 9/11 A Concise History of Afghanistan’s International Relations Michael R. Rouland COVER Aerial view of a village in Farah Province, Afghanistan. Photo (2009) by MSst. Tracy L. DeMarco, USAF. Department of Defense. Great Game to 9/11 A Concise History of Afghanistan’s International Relations Michael R. Rouland Washington, D.C. 2014 ENGAGING THE WORLD The ENGAGING THE WORLD series focuses on U.S. involvement around the globe, primarily in the post-Cold War period. It includes peacekeeping and humanitarian missions as well as Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom—all missions in which the U.S. Air Force has been integrally involved. It will also document developments within the Air Force and the Department of Defense. GREAT GAME TO 9/11 GREAT GAME TO 9/11 was initially begun as an introduction for a larger work on U.S./coalition involvement in Afghanistan. It provides essential information for an understanding of how this isolated country has, over centuries, become a battleground for world powers. Although an overview, this study draws on primary- source material to present a detailed examination of U.S.-Afghan relations prior to Operation Enduring Freedom. Opinions, conclusions, and recommendations expressed or implied within are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government. Cleared for public release. Contents INTRODUCTION The Razor’s Edge 1 ONE Origins of the Afghan State, the Great Game, and Afghan Nationalism 5 TWO Stasis and Modernization 15 THREE Early Relations with the United States 27 FOUR Afghanistan’s Soviet Shift and the U.S. -
The Role of the Department of Defense in Provincial Reconstruction Teams
TESTIMONY The Role of the Department of Defense in Provincial Reconstruction Teams MICHELLE PARKER CT-290 September 2007 Testimony presented before House Armed Services Committee, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations on September 5, 2007 This product is part of the RAND Corporation testimony series. RAND testimonies record testimony presented by RAND associates to federal, state, or local legislative committees; government-appointed commissions and panels; and private review and oversight bodies. The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit research organization providing objective analysis and effective solutions that address the challenges facing the public and private sectors around the world. RAND’s publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors. is a registered trademark. Published 2007 by the RAND Corporation 1776 Main Street, P.O. Box 2138, Santa Monica, CA 90407-2138 1200 South Hayes Street, Arlington, VA 22202-5050 4570 Fifth Avenue, Suite 600, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 RAND URL: http://www.rand.org/ To order RAND documents or to obtain additional information, contact Distribution Services: Telephone: (310) 451-7002; Fax: (310) 451-6915; Email: [email protected] Statement of Michelle Parker1 The RAND Corporation The Role of the Department of Defense in Provincial Reconstruction Teams2 Before the Committee on Armed Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations United States House of Representatives September 5, 2007 My name is Michelle Parker, and I am a Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellow based at the RAND Corporation. My testimony is based on the time I spent from July 2004 to February 2006 as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Field Program Officer in the Jalalabad Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), and from March to December 2006 as the Development Advisor for General David Richards (UK), the Commanding General of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). -
Arthur Paul Afghanistan Collection Bibliography - Volume II: English and European Languages Shaista Wahab
University of Nebraska at Omaha DigitalCommons@UNO Books in English Arthur Paul Afghanistan Collection Digitized Books 2000 Arthur Paul Afghanistan Collection Bibliography - Volume II: English and European Languages Shaista Wahab Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/afghanuno Part of the International and Area Studies Commons Recommended Citation Wahab, Shaista, "Arthur Paul Afghanistan Collection Bibliography - Volume II: English and European Languages " (2000). Books in English. Paper 41. http://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/afghanuno/41 This Monograph is brought to you for free and open access by the Arthur Paul Afghanistan Collection Digitized Books at DigitalCommons@UNO. It has been accepted for inclusion in Books in English by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UNO. For more information, please contact [email protected]. v0ILuNJI: 11: ISH AND EUROPEAN LANGUAGE SHATSTA WAHAB Dagefimle Publishing Lincoln, Nebraska Copl;rii$i~ G3009 Univcrsit!; oSNebraska at Omaha. All rights rcscrved. No part of this publication may be reproducc.d. stored in n rm-ieval syslcm, or Iransmitted in any fonn or by any nwans, electronic, niccllanical, photocopied, recorded. or O~~IL'ITV~SC, without 111c prior uritten permission of the au~lior.For in t'ornlation. wi[c Arthur Paul Afgllanistan (:ollcction, University Library. Univer-sih of Ncbrnska at Omaha. Onlaha. NE GS 182-0237 Library of Coligrcss C:ii;~logi~~g-in-Puhlic:i~ionData \\rnImb, Shnisla. Arrllur Paul :\l'ghauis~nnCollcc~ion hbliograpliy i Sllais~n\Vahab. v. : ill. ; 23 cln. Includcs irtdts. "Oascd on 11ic t\f;lin~usra~im:~tc~ials avnilablc in rlic .4r1hur Paul :lfghanis~anCollection a[ thc L'nivcrsi~yLibrary. -
The Durand Line: Its Historical, Legal and Political Status
Iftikhar Ahmad Yousafzai * Himayatullah Yaqubi ** THE DURAND LINE: ITS HISTORICAL, LEGAL AND POLITICAL STATUS Abstract Durand Line is the name of the international border between Pakistan and Afghanistan which was established in 1893 as a result of an agreement between the British Indian Government and Amir Abdur Rahman, the then ruler of Afghanistan. The treaty was confirmed in 1905, 1919 and 1930 by successive Afghan rulers. But in 1947 at the time of the British withdrawal from the Indian subcontinent and, subsequently, after the creation of Pakistan, Afghanistan began to raise objections and refused to recognize it as the international frontier between the two countries. It challenged the validity of the Durand line on several grounds. It claims that the territory up to river Indus was once part of the Afghan Empire and since their rightful dominion. However, the Government of Pakistan always repudiates its claim on every international forum. This paper aims at analysing the historical, legal and political status of the Durand Line. The objective is to examine factual evidences to prove whether it is the established international border between Pakistan and Afghanistan or otherwise. Historical Background Both Afghanistan and Pakistan are, comparatively late-comers to the comity of nations. During different phases of their history they remained parts of different empires. Afghanistan remained part of the Indian, Persian and Central Asian empires in different times of its historical evolution. Sometimes, it remained divided between different empires. Pakistan, for most part of its history, remained part of the successive Indian empires. Throughout the Mughal period, Pakistan remained an integral part of it while Afghan territories remained divided between Persia and Mughal India. -
The Inevitable Pak-Afghan Union ICSSA Occasional Paper
1 The inevitable Pak-Afghan Union ICSSA Occasional Paper Abid Ullah Jan The paper assesses Pak-Afghan future in the light of history, culture and the ongoing situation on the ground. 2 Contents History 4 Early history 4 Muslim conquests 5 Beginning of the international problem 6 The indivisible people and land 8 Recent border tensions 10 Talks of division 12 Greater Afghanistan 12 Footnotes 15 Annexure 17 3 The Inevitable Pak-Afghan Union. The paper is based on arguments in the light of history and current realities, which shows that Union of Pakistan and Afghanistan is necessary, inevitable and possible. Any reference to religion has been purposely avoided to keep it understandable. When analysed from the religious point of view, there are authentic sayings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), which show that there would be a strong government towards the Eastern side of Arab Peninsula, which will play a leading role in Islamic revival. The continued struggle in Afghanistan, the unflinching determination of both Afghans and Pakistanis never to live under occupation and the military strength that Pakistan has acquired are some of the indications towards realisation of Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) prophesies and the establishment of Greater Afghanistan. The US and its allies occupy both Afghanistan and forces advocating South Asian regional cooperation (even Pakistan. The only difference is that the former is under Pakistan’s reunion with India) are the forces acting for the direct military occupation as a result of full-scale war disintegration of Pakistan. There are also plans under con- waged against its former government.