AFGHANISTAN MONTHLY PROGRESS REPORT November - December 2014

The UK is part of a coalition to prevent international terrorists, including Al Qaeda, from again using Afghanistan as a base from which to operate, threatening our security and that of the region.

The Government has committed itself to keeping Parliament informed about developments in Afghanistan on a monthly basis. This report covers progress in November and December 2014. It reflects the combined assessment of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Ministry of Defence and the Department for International Development. With the end of the ISAF mission this will be the last Monthly report to Parliament.

The Rt Hon. Philip Hammond MP Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs

Overview

The period was dominated by the London Conference on Afghanistan, co-hosted by the Afghan and UK governments on 4 December. Associated events involving Civil Society and the Private Sector were held on 3 December. The conference allowed President Ghani to set out his reform agenda, while the International Community sent a strong signal of support to the new government. Despite the strong display of unity at the London Conference, President Ghani and CEO Abdullah were unable to agree on cabinet appointments.

On 27 November, a British Embassy vehicle was attacked in Kabul, resulting in the death of a UK national civilian security contractor. Two Afghan civilians were also killed in the attack. A further UK civilian was wounded as well as 33 Afghan civilians.

The EU published its Local Strategy on Human Rights Defenders in Afghanistan for EU and Member States. The UK contributed to the drafting of the strategy and is now working with the other Member States and the EU Delegation on its implementation.

On 23 November the last UK personnel left Southern Afghanistan on an RAF C-17 aircraft, following a ceremony to mark the end of operations at Kandahar Airfield.

1

London Conference

The UK worked with the Afghan government and international partners to deliver the co-hosted London Conference on Afghanistan in December. President Ghani and CEO Abdullah attended the main plenary on 4 December and set out an ambitious reform programme focusing on tackling corruption and reconnecting Afghan citizens to their government. The international community sent a strong signal of solidarity with the new government.

Associated events held over 3 and 4 December highlighted the role of Civil Society and the Private Sector in Afghanistan’s development. Regional Economic Co-operation issues were also discussed at a Foreign Secretary hosted dinner attended by the President and CEO.

The Civil Society ‘Ayenda’ (‘future’ in Dari) event on 3 December brought together around 250 participants (including 57 from Afghanistan, 20 of whom the UK supported to attend and 23 of whom were women) with UK, Afghan and other international ministers. This was followed by a smaller breakfast on 4 December hosted by the UK’s Secretary of State for International Development and CEO Abdullah with civil society representatives and other key partners. Recommendations focused on justice reform, participation of women and youth in the peace process, increased economic opportunities for women and youth, better health care services, tackling corruption, equal opportunities within public administration roles, improving transparency and accountability, and strengthening partnerships with civil society. Two civil society representatives, one male and one female, were elected by the participants of the Ayenda event to speak at the main conference plenary. In addition, the conference heard from a female civil society representative who had attended the Oslo Symposium on Advancing Women’s Rights and Empowerment in Afghanistan.

President Ghani, the Secretary of State for International Development, Acting Afghan Finance Minister and National Economic Adviser Zakhilwal and FCO Minister Tobias Ellwood, along with representatives of the international and Afghan private sectors, met to discuss the need for reforms aimed at transforming Afghanistan into a functioning market economy. The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Afghan NGO Harakat explained the Afghan private sector’s recommendations for reform. Topics and recommendations included: improving access to finance; improving infrastructure for value chains; streamlining and simplifying business-related administration procedures (to promote transparency and reduce corruption) and improving Afghanistan’s score on the “Doing Business Index”; enhancing investor protection; developing the necessary highly skilled workforce in the medium to long term; and developing industrial land and developing Public Private Partnership opportunities.

I hosted a Regional Economic Cooperation dinner which included representatives from the region, multilateral organisations, and key donor countries. President Ghani outlined how Afghanistan’s historical role as a major Asian trade and transit hub could be re-energised. The emphasis was on opening up Afghanistan and making the country’s location a source of comparative advantage by increasing regional trade and connectivity.

2

Ahead of the London Conference, the British Embassy in Kabul collaborated with Afghan media outlet TOLO TV and other MOBY Group media channels to support the “My Afghanistan My Future” social media campaign, which asked Afghans to set out their vision for their country’s future. Top submissions were showcased in the margins of the LCA, to ensure that Afghan voices were heard by world leaders.

Strengthening the Afghan State

Despite the repeated announcement of deadlines, President Ghani and CEO Abdullah failed to agree on the formal appointment of a permanent cabinet of ministers. In the absence of any formal appointments, on 2 December Ghani promoted deputy ministers to serve as acting ministers until the end of December 2014. Discussions on the appointment of permanent ministers continued between President Ghani and CEO Abdullah amid growing public pressure. The UK Government, along with the international community, raised concerns about the impact of delays on the government’s reform agenda and urged the NUG to formally appoint ministers as a matter of urgency.

The Asia Foundation’s Survey of the Afghan People 2014 was published on 18 November. The survey, carried out in June-July 2014, showed that the underlying tone across the country in that period was one of cautious optimism.

 55% of Afghans say that the country is moving in the right direction (57% in 2013) with reconstruction, security and education as the main drivers of optimism.  As in 2013, three quarters of Afghans think the central government is doing a good job. 68% are satisfied with their provincial government, halting a seven year downward trend.  86% of Afghans are confident in the Afghan National Army, and 73% are confident in the Afghan National Police (ANP). Overall perceptions of both appear to be improving over time, with a particularly strong increase for the ANP between 2013 and 2014 possibly due to the ANP providing the “inner ring” of security for polling places just before the survey was implemented.

On 3 December, the Secretary of State for International Development approved a one year extension to the Tax Administration Project until March 2016. The project will continue to focus on supporting reform and operations within the Afghanistan Revenue Department, including revenue collection to enable it to become a modern, efficient and customer- focused Revenue Collection Department. Raising government revenues is critical to the sustainability of Afghanistan’s public finances, particularly in the context of the current fiscal crisis. In addition, the UK is working in co-ordination with USAID to channel funds to the Afghanistan Customs Department in preparation for the implementation of Value Added Tax.

The UK will continue to assist the Afghan Revenue Department with preparations for the eventual implementation of VAT and to ensure the law is seen as a priority in the Afghan Parliament’s legislative process.

3

Human Rights

In November, Afghanistan passed legislation criminalising recruitment of child soldiers and setting the new legal recruitment age at 18. This follows the NUG’s endorsement of the UN Road Map to Compliance to end recruitment of child soldiers.

On 23 November Foreign Office Minister Baroness Anelay attended and spoke at the Oslo Symposium on Advancing Women’s Rights and Empowerment in Afghanistan. The summary report reaffirmed the commitment of the NUG, Afghan civil society and the international community to the improvement of women’s rights and empowerment. H.E. Rula Ghani gave the key note address, which included a strong message that “rights means responsibilities”, encouraging Afghan women to share knowledge to move forward. Baroness Anelay also met Rula Ghani, Amnesty International UK and Afghan Women’s Network and discussed human rights, including women’s rights.

On 7-10 December the British Embassy supported Kabul Human Rights Week, which this year focused on human rights defenders. The week ended on International Human Rights Day, at which the British Ambassador gave a speech recognising the achievements of human rights defenders in Afghanistan, and urged the Afghan government to do more to protect them. The following day, a civil society theatre performance in the same location was attacked by a suicide bomber, who killed two and wounded numerous others. The Taliban claimed responsibility. Following the attack, President Ghani made a speech condemning the attack and reaffirming his personal commitment to defending human rights for the citizens of Afghanistan.

Following strong lobbying efforts from UK and other EU member states throughout 2014, the EU published the ‘EU and Member States Local Strategy on Human Rights Defenders in Afghanistan 2014’ on 10 December. The UK Government contributed to its drafting and have had the strategy translated into local languages. The UK Government is now working closely with the EU Delegation and other Member States on its implementation. The British Embassy regularly meets human rights defenders (HRDs), and also joined the EU HRD Networking event organised by the European Union in December.

On 11 December HMG published the UK Implementation plan for the UK National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security UNSCR 1325. The Implementation Plan sets out activities that the UK Government will be pursuing with a view to measuring progress on targets set in the UK National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security throughout the life of the plan.

Economic and Social Development

The UK supports the Comprehensive Agriculture and Rural Development Facility (CARD-F) which seeks to increase legal rural employment and income opportunities and aims to reduce the risk of resurgence in poppy cultivation by creating sustainable alternatives for farmers. In December, CARD-F built 16 new greenhouses, trained farmers in greenhouse production, and identified 250 beneficiaries for small scale chicken farms in Parwan province. In Balkh province, training was provided to men and women on how to manage their livestock. In Badakhshan province, the construction of 31 bioclimatic stores to preserve

4

vegetables during the off season was completed and 200 beneficiaries have been identified for small scale chicken farms. In Helmand province, CARD-F built new greenhouses and trained beekeepers on winter management. CARD-F also started its pilot phase for a new programme of work in Herat province.

Security

The Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) and NATO Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) were ratified by the Wolesii Jirga (Lower House) on 23 November and by the Meshrano Jirga (Upper House) on 27 November. On 2 December Foreign Ministers from NATO and operational partner countries met with President Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah in Brussels. They discussed final preparations for NATO’s engagement in Afghanistan from 2015, including formal agreement to the launch of the new NATO Resolute Support Mission on 1 January 2015, and issued a joint statement.

The new US head of the International Police Coordination Board Secretariat (IPCB-S), Ambassador Charles English, began his role on 16 November. The IPCB is the main coordination board for police reform in Afghanistan. Ambassador English will facilitate communication and coordination among all the international and national actors in the area of policing in Afghanistan.

In response to President Ghani’s concerns regarding the continuing insurgent threat to Kabul, UK police advisors took part in the Kabul Security Strategy Group along with key ISAF colleagues and senior elements of the National Directorate of Security (NDS), ANP and Afghan National Army (ANA). Recommendations from the group will form the basis of the Kabul Security Plan. In November, the UK’s policing adviser seconded to the EU Policing Mission Afghanistan (EUPOL) became acting Deputy Head of Mission.

Project Phoenix concluded in November. The 18-month programme was conceived and led by a UK police advisor working with Kabul Police to deliver civilian and community policing principles to the Police Districts (PD’s) in Kabul. The early success of the project led to it being assessed internally as best practice and was subsequently introduced at EUPOL’s field offices in cities of Mazar-e-Sharif and Herat. The project has engaged all of Kabul’s 16 Police Districts in a defined program of tactical police improvement in professionalization, operations, workforce development, community engagement and reporting. The conclusion and handover of final recommendations to the leadership of the ANP provides a legacy of EUPOL’s work since 2007 in civilian policing in Kabul and marks the drawdown of EUPOL field offices from the police districts of Afghanistan.

On 29 December leaders from ISAF, EUPOL Mission Afghanistan and the German Police Project Team signed a “Memorandum of Cooperation”. The agreement was conceived and led by a UK police advisor within ISAF, and formalises the ongoing collaboration between the international organisations that provided training and logistical assistance to the ANP.

5

Security Incidents

At the beginning of November, there was a general slowing of insurgent tempo in keeping with the poorer weather and seasonal norms. The Shia festival of Ashura on 3 November, a potential flash point for sectarian violence, passed without significant incident despite a number of threats.

On 2 November in Kandahar City, the Deputy Provincial Governor of Kandahar province was shot and fatally wounded while speaking at Kandahar University. A suicide attack on the Kabul City Police Headquarters on 9 November killed the Chief of Staff and two policemen, and wounded a further six policemen. On 10 November, in a failed assassination attempt on the Minister for Education, two NDS officers were killed and four wounded when an IED was detonated. Three civilians were also wounded in the attack.

Later in November, the tempo of attacks increased. On 14 November, in Kunduz province, a US soldier was killed in a direct fire engagement. In Kabul, on 24 November, a US vehicle was struck by an IED. One US soldier was killed, a soldier later died of his wounds and further five US soldiers were wounded.

On 16 November, in a failed attempt to assassinate a female Member of Parliament, an insurgent detonated a vehicle borne IED close to her vehicle. The Member of Parliament was injured and her daughter was killed, along with three civilians. Twenty-two civilians were also injured in the attack.

In Patikya province, on 23 November, a suicide bomber detonated his device amid a crowd of mainly young people that had gathered to watch a regional volleyball final. The blast killed 44 civilians and injured a further 66. On 24 November, in Kunduz province, the Taleban detonated an IED attached to a motorcycle in the Archi City Bazaar, killing six civilians and wounding a further seven.

On 27 November, in Kabul, a British Embassy vehicle was attacked by a vehicle borne IED resulting in the death of a UK national security contractor and an Afghan member of British Embassy staff. An Afghan civilian was also killed in the attack. A UK and 33 Afghan civilians were wounded. A full review of embassy security has been completed. Later the same day, there was a complex attack on a compound used by an NGO in the Wazir Akhbar Khan area of the city resulting in four insurgents being killed and a number of US civilian casualties. Later on 27 November, insurgents attacked ANSF Camp Shorabak in Helmand. After breaching the Camp’s fences, the attackers were repelled resulting in two Afghan soldiers killed and a further six wounded.

On 8 December, insurgents initiated a complex attack on the National Directorate of Security HQ. Three personal borne IEDs were detonated and the attack resulted in three ANSF killed in action with a further three wounded. Nine civilians were also injured.

On 11 December, there was an IED attack at the Kabul Esteqlal French Boys School. One civilian was killed and another 20 injured. The head of the secretariat of the Afghan Supreme Court was assassinated on 13 December in Kabul.

6

ANSF

In November, President Ghani reversed the previous Administration‘s decision and authorised the ANSF’s full use of weapons and tactics, including heavy weapons, against insurgents. There was a continued effort to improve military relations in the region with ISAF commander, General John Campbell and the Afghan National Army Chief of Staff, General Sher Mohammad Karimi, visiting Pakistan to meet with Army Chief of Staff, General Raheel Sharif. Afghan National Army officers also completed training programs in India.

Throughout November and December, the ANSF foiled a number of insurgent attacks across Afghanistan. Following a number of deadly attacks in November, the ANSF adopted an increased security posture, which may have contributed to a reduction in incidents later. The ANSF also assumed complete security responsibilities from ISAF in December as the mission came to an end and coalition forces prepared for the NATO Resolute Support Mission.

Redeployment

All of the UK’s major materiel left Afghanistan before the end of 2014. At the height of our involvement, the UK had some 137 bases. More than 120 were handed back to the Afghan forces and the rest have been dismantled.

On 9 November, HRH Prince Harry visited Kandahar Airfield and attended a Remembrance service. The final detachment of RAF Tornados left Kandahar Airfield on 11 November.

On 23 November, Joint Force Support (Afghanistan) held an end of operations ceremony at Kandahar Airfield marking the end of operations in southern Afghanistan. Later that day, the final UK personnel left Southern Afghanistan on an RAF C-17 aircraft.

ISAF Statistics

Table One: ANSF Growth to 21 November 2014

Target Strength Actual Strength (November 2014) ANA: 195,000 162,0081 AAF: 8000 6580 ANP: 157,000 156,439

1 ANSF statistics are taken from NATO/ISAF reports. 7

Table Three: ANSF Attrition Rates November 20142

Target Monthly Attrition Actual Monthly Attrition Nov Target Met

ANA: 1.4% 2.8% NO AAF: 1.4% 0.9% YES ANP: 1.4% 1.9% NO

Table Three: International Contributions to ISAF

Country Contribution % of Total US 5,500 41.2% Italy 1,368 10.3% Germany 1,265 9.5% Georgia 755 5.7% Jordan 616 4.6% UK 600 4.5% Turkey 357 2.7% Bulgaria 318 2.4% Poland 309 2.3% Romania 295 2.2% Others (38 nations) 1953 14.6% Current Total: 13,336 The above numbers are indicative of troop contributions as at 1 December 2014, actual numbers fluctuate daily. Source: ISAF

Foreign and Commonwealth Office January 2015

2 Attrition in the ANSF is defined as the planned or unplanned loss of a soldier from the ranks. Examples of unplanned losses include those dropped from rolls (DFR), killed in action, or medically released. Planned losses include separations, retirements, and term ends. The largest component of attrition is DFR, which occurs after 20 days of Absent Without Official Leave (AWOL); the status for a soldier not on leave, and after 30 days for a soldier who is on leave. 8