Refugee Review Tribunal AUSTRALIA

RRT RESEARCH RESPONSE

Research Response Number: AFG23736 Country: Afghanistan Date: 29 November 2005

Keywords: Afghanistan – Khost Province – Governor – Deputy Governor – Hezb-e-Islami – Jalaluddin Haqani – Security situation

This response was prepared by the Country Research Section of the Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT) after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the RRT within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Questions

1. What are the political party affiliations of the governor and deputy governor of Khost province? 2. Is there any evidence that the governor or deputy governor of Khost Province are particularly opposed to Hezb-e-Islami? 3. Are they causing problems for supporters of this group? 4. Are members of the group headed by Jalaluddin Haqani active in Khost province? 5. Are they part of the provincial government? 6. Are they causing any problems in the area? 7. Please provide information about the general security situation in Khost province.

RESPONSE

1. What are the political party affiliations of the governor and deputy governor of Khost province?

The RRT Country Research Provincial Governors of Afghanistan 2004-2005 package indicates that Mera Juddin Pathan has been the governor of Khost province since April 2004 (RRT Country Research 2005, Provincial Governors of Afghanistan 2004-2005, 22 September – Attachment 1). The package refers to articles that provide background information on Pathan, including an article dated 8 December 2004 that indicates that “Merajuddin Patan, the governor of Khost province,” had “fought the Soviet Union’s occupation of the country in the 1980s, became a taekwondo instructor in Arlington and returned to his native land after the fall of the Taliban.” The article also notes that Patan considered the inauguration of Hamid Karzai as Afghanistan’s first elected president as “the birth of our nation” (Lancaster, John 2004, ‘At Inauguration, Karzai Vows Action on Tough Issues’, Washington Post, 8 December http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A42132-2004Dec7.html – Accessed 15 September 2005 – Attachment 2).

A search of the sources consulted found no information regarding the political party affiliations of the governor of Khost province or details regarding the current deputy governor of the province.

2. Is there any evidence that the governor or deputy governor of Khost Province are particularly opposed to Hezb-e-Islami? 3. Are they causing problems for supporters of this group?

A search of the sources consulted found no specific reference to information regarding whether the governor or deputy governor of Khost Province are particularly opposed to Hezb-e-Islami or whether they are causing problems for supporters of this group.

An article in the Pakistan newspaper Daily Times dated 29 April 2005 refers to comments by “Merajudeen Patan, Khost Governor” regarding the surrender of seventeen members of the Hekmatyar-led Hezb-e-Islami to Afghan authorities. Patan told reporters that “Seventeen commanders of Hezb-e-Islami from different districts of Paktia and Khost provinces returned from Pakistan and joined the political process” (‘17 Hezb-e-Islami militants surrender in Afghanistan’ 2005, Daily Times, 29 April http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_29-4-2005_pg7_51 - Accessed 4 November 2005 – Attachment 3).

In relation to the Taliban, an article dated 28 April 2005 indicates that “Merajuddin Pathan, governor of Khost province,” had said that in relation to President Karzai’s amnesty for lower and middle level Taliban, “We will deal with the Afghan Taliban through dialogue. And we will handle the Pakistani Taliban with bullets” (Baldauf, Scott 2005, ‘Taliban coming in from cold’, AOP: Today’s Afghan News, source: The Christian Science Monitor, 28 April – Attachment 4).

4. Are members of the group headed by Jalaluddin Haqani active in Khost province? 5. Are they causing any problems in the area?

A RFE/RFL Newsline article dated 30 September 2005 indicates that Jalaluddin Haqani was “believed to be the mastermind behind a recent upsurge of neo-Taliban terrorist activities.” According to the article, “Haqani was a celebrated mujahedin commander during the anti- Soviet resistance before joining the Taliban regime in a ministerial capacity. Since the demise of the Taliban regime, Haqani has been regarded as one of the top leaders of the neo-Taliban and as a key coordinator of activities between the Afghan militants and Al-Qaeda members” (‘Pakistani forces arrest wanted neo-Taliban leader’ 2005, RFE/RFL Newsline, Vol. 9, No. 185, Part III, 30 September – Attachment 5).

An article dated 31 August 2005 reports that “Khost intelligence head Sadeq Tarakhel” had said that “a large quantity of weapons and ammunitions had been recovered from the house of commander Zahidullah, a loyalist of former Taliban minister Jalaluddin Haqqani.” The commander was not captured in the raid (‘Rocket attack damages checkpoint in Khost City’ 2005, Pajhwok Afghan News, 31 August - Attachment 6).

An article dated 29 August 2005 refers to the comments of a senior military officer “that apart from al-Qaeda and Taliban, the forces of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar and Jalaluddin Haqqani were launching regular attacks on US and Afghan forces.” Haqqani was “part of a fundamentalist web that is connected to controversial madrassas - religious schools - and training camps in Pakistan.” The officer said that “The Haqqani and Hekmatyar groups are operating around Khost [a border province]” (McGeough, Paul 2005, ‘Into the Afghan danger zone’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 29 August – Attachment 7).

An article dated 9 July 2005 indicates that two Taliban leaders in Khost, “allied with former minister Maulvi Jalaluddin Haqqani, Saturday renounced militancy and pledged allegiance to the government.” The two leaders “vowed support to the government through Mualim Jan, then Jalaluddin Haqqani’s close confidant, who had surrendered to provincial authorities on April 1” (‘Two more Taliban activists switch sides in Khost’ 2005, Pajhwok Afghan News, 9 July – Attachment 8).

According to an article dated 19 May 2005, reliable sources had said that the Taliban had “appointed Maulavi Jalaluddin Haqqani’s son, Sirajuddin Haqqani, as its chief in Paktia, Paktika and Khost” (‘Al-Qaeda and Taleban appoint new regional chiefs’ 2005, AOP: Today’s Afghan News, source: Arman-e-Milli, 19 May – Attachment 9).

An article dated 15 May 2005 indicates that Taliban insurgents commanded by Jalaluddin Haqqani were carrying out assaults “along the Pakistan border, near Khost”. It is stated in the article that: “Further north along the Pakistan border, near Khost, the war hasbecome [sic] a hot one – human waves of Taliban fighters launch night assaults against the fortified bases of an Afghan mercenary force recruited by the CIA. Those insurgents are under the command of an old warlord with links to Saudi Arabia – Jalaluddin Haqqani – whose Pakistan-based operations seem to have received a new infusion of Gulf money” (‘In Afghanistan, the Taliban rises again for fighting season’ 2005, AOP: Today’s Afghan News, source: The Independent (UK), 15 May – Attachment 10).

An article dated 31 March 2005 refers to an attack on the Batai area in Ali Sher district of Khost province during the previous week and the “capture of the town by fighters loyal to another wanted Taleban leader, Commander Jalaloddin Haqqani”. It is stated in the article that:

The attack on Batai area in Ali Sher district of Khost last week and capture of the town by fighters loyal to another wanted Taleban leader, Commander Jalaloddin Haqqani, required heavy bombing by the US planes to dislodge the attackers. The attackers, led by Maulavi Muntazir, suffered as many as 13 casualties in the bombing, but they also claimed to have killed and injured at least 10 Afghan soldiers. No independent confirmation about the casualties is available. "We have the force and will to capture areas close to Kabul, but cannot protect ourselves against heavy bombing," a source close to Maulavi Muntazir claimed.

According to the source, as many as 409 fighters took part in the offensive on Batai area, with 150 fighters pounding the area with heavy and light weapons from the surrounding hill tops, another 150 making the ground advance, 100 deputed to take care of the local informers helping the US and Afghan authorities while nine persons were assigned the task to act as informers for the attackers. Pakistani forces have increased raids and search operations in the border areas in a bid to plug entry-exit points and also smash their hideouts on the Pakistani side of the border (‘Pakistan daily reports less unrest in Waziristan, more clashes in Afghanistan’ 2005, BBC Monitoring South Asia, source: The News website, Islamabad, 31 March – Attachment 11).

An article dated 16 February 2005 indicates that a spokesman for Jalalodin Haqani had denied reports that talks were going on “between close friends of Mawlawi Jalodin Haqani and the government”. The article refers to comments by Khost’s governor, Merajodin Patan, that “Jalalodin Haqani’s close friends” had contacted them and sent representatives. Patan said that they wanted “to join the government” (‘Governor of south Afghan province confirms talks with Taleban’ 2005, BBC Monitoring South Asia, source: Afghan Islamic Press news agency, Peshawar, 16 February – Attachment 12).

According to an article dated 11 September 2004, Jalaluddin Haqqani was one of the Taliban’s commanders within Afghanistan. It is stated in the article that “Haqqani’s “playground” is Khost and Paktia, but Mullah Omar has empowered him to help devise a military strategy for the whole of Afghanistan” (Shahzad, Syed Saleem 2004, ‘Osama adds weight to Afghan resistance’, AOP: Afghan News, source: Asia Times (Hong Kong), 11 September – Attachment 13).

An article dated 21 July 2004 refers to the Taliban having “stepped up operations in Afghanistan, especially in the provinces of Urzgan, Kandahar, Khost, Zabul, Paktia and Paktika, and the scattered movement of the past has managed to re-establish a chain of command in the hands of Jalaluddin Haqqani” (Shahzad, Syed Saleem 2004, ‘Stage set for final showdown’, AOP Afghan News, source: Asia Times (Hong Kong), 21 July – Attachment 14).

6. Are they part of the provincial government?

A search of the sources consulted found no reference to information that indicates that members of the group headed by Jalaluddin Haqani are part of the provincial government.

As previously mentioned, a RFE/RFL Newsline article dated 30 September 2005 indicates that since the Taliban regime’s demise, Jalaluddin Haqani had “been regarded as one of the top leaders of the neo-Taliban” (‘Pakistani forces arrest wanted neo-Taliban leader’ 2005, RFE/RFL Newsline, Vol. 9, No. 185, Part III, 30 September – Attachment 5). Another article dated 19 May 2005 mentions that reliable sources had said that the Taliban had “appointed Maulavi Jalaluddin Haqqani’s son, Sirajuddin Haqqani, as its chief in Paktia, Paktika and Khost” (‘Al-Qaeda and Taleban appoint new regional chiefs’ 2005, AOP: Today’s Afghan News, source: Arman-e-Milli, 19 May – Attachment 9).

An article in AOP Afghan News of 8 May 2004 indicates that Jalaluddin Haqqani had previously refused approaches from the Karzai administration. It is stated in the article that:

As it become [sic] obvious that the Karzai administration lacked sufficient credibility throughout the country to stamp its authority and bring peace, the idea grew to solicit moderate Taliban. Haqqani was a prime target on several occasions, the most recent of which was being offered the premiership under Karzai. He has steadfastly refused all approaches.

In the face of these rebuffs, his brother Ibrahim was arrested, and later one of his sons, Ishaq, was also apprehended from North Waziristan and is still in a Pakistani jail. Using Ibrahim and Ishaq as bargaining chips, both the US Central Intelligence Agency and Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) have sent messages to Haqqani, asking for a truce. But to date he has not changed his position.

Now he is the main engine in the Taliban movement. Recently, US forces crossed into Pakistan territory in North Waziristan in search of Haqqani, but he could not be found. It should be noted that the Pakistan Army's Inter-Service Public Relations has denied such a mission, although Asia Times Online sources are adamant it took place (Shahzad, Sayed Saleem 2004, ‘Revolutions in the Mountains’, AOP Afghan News, source: Asia Times (Hong Kong), 8 May – Attachment 15).

7. Please provide information about the general security situation in Khost province.

A number of articles provide information regarding the security situation in Khost province, including the following:

An article dated 23 November 2005 refers to the Taliban claiming responsibility for the firing of six missiles at the coalition forces base in Khost’s former airport (‘Taleban claim responsibility for missile attack on US base in Khost’ 2005, BBC Monitoring South Asia, source: Afghan Islamic Press news agency, Peshawar, 23 November – Attachment 16).

According to an article dated 19 November 2005, “Haji Habibullah Mangal, head of the National Reconciliation Commission in the southern Paktia province” had said that “The reconciliation process has made a lot of headway in Afghanistan in general and the southern provinces of Paktia, Paktika and Khost in particular. More than 500 people, mostly from the southern region, have joined the government so far” (‘Taliban, Hezb loyalists pledge support to government’ 2005, Pajhwok Afghan News, 19 November – Attachment 17).

An Agence France-Presse article dated 13 November 2005 indicates that a “policeman was killed and six other people wounded in a gun battle that erupted around midnight Friday when militants attacked a district police headquarters in Khost province, an interior ministry spokesman told AFP.” According to the article, the battle “in Bak district, around 140 kilometres (87 miles) southeast of the capital Kabul, lasted about two hours, spokesman Yousuf Stanizai said” (‘Three Afghan policemen, ex-official killed in “Taliban” attacks’ 2005, Agence France-Presse, 13 November – Attachment 18).

An article dated 30 October 2005 indicates that a United States paratrooper “was killed when his patrol came under fire in Khost province, a U.S. military statement said” (‘Attack kills U.S. paratrooper’ 2005, Chicago Tribune, 30 October – Attachment 19).

An article dated 28 October 2005 refers to a report that militants killed a tribal leader and injured three civilians in an attack in a mosque in Sabario district of Khost province. The article also indicates that “in Khost, a remote-controlled bomb exploded in a mosque in Tani district, killing the mullah and injuring 15 others” (‘Tribal leader killed by Taliban militants in eastern Afghanistan’ 2005, Xinhua News Agency, 28 October – Attachment 20).

According to an article dated 16 October 2005, Mullah Ahmad Khan, “a pro-government religious figure” was killed “after a bomb planted in his mosque’s pulpit went off just before prayers in Tanai district in eastern Khost province.” It is stated in the article that “Fifteen worshippers were wounded in the blast which officials said was part of the Taliban’s campaign against supporters of President Hamid Karzai” (‘Afghans protest killing of Islamic cleric’ 2005, AOP: Today’s Afghan News, source: Reuters, 16 October – Attachment 21).

An article dated 16 October 2005 reports that four rockets that were “fired by suspected Taliban remnants Saturday hit an airbase in southeast Khost province, a spokesman of the Afghan Defense Ministry said Sunday” (‘Airbase attacked in southeast Afghanistan’ 2005, AOP: Today’s Afghan News, source: Xinhua, 16 October – Attachment 22). An article dated 24 September 2005 indicates that “Taleban insurgents have stormed a prison and police HQ near the eastern Afghan city of Khost, leaving one inmate dead, Afghan officials say.” A policeman was injured in the attack and the attackers blew up an arms depot in the prison before fleeing to Pakistan. The provincial police chief also said that “an insurgent was killed overnight in another operation in Ali Sher district” (“Taleban’ storm Afghanistan jail’ 2005, AOP: Yesterday’s Afghan News, source: BBC News, 24 September – Attachment 23).

According to an article dated 23 August 2005, the leader of the religious council of Khost had escaped unhurt after his house was bombed by suspected Taliban militants “in the latest attack on religious leaders who back Afghanistan’s US-friendly administration, officials said” (‘Afghan cleric survives Taliban bomb attack’ 2005, AOP: Afghan News, source: AFP, 23 August – Attachment 24).

In an interview reported in an article dated 4 August 2005, the governor of Khost province, Merajoddin Patan, made the following comments regarding security in Khost:

Khost is a distinguished province as it is adjacent to the bordering regions where our enemies are based. As in other provinces, explosions take place in Khost too, but the security situation in Khost is far better than that other provinces and we are satisfied with work of the security apparatus here.

The enemies faced an embarrassing defeat during the former presidential election, and they are thus striving now to disrupt the upcoming parliamentary elections. However, as far as I see, the enemies are extremely weak now and they are not in a position to fight the government forces face to face. Therefore, they resort to carrying out explosions.

As you know, Khost Province shares 160km of border with Pakistan. At present, Arabs, Tajiks, and Afghan and Pakistani Taleban are actively operating in the Miran Shah town of Pakistan and they sometimes cross Afghanistan. But with the help of God and our people we will foil their plots and prevent their infiltration into our territory. Our only problem is that our police and army are not very familiar with the region. Despite all problems, I believe that we will eventually emerge triumphant (‘Afghanistan: Afghan governor says security, reconstruction doing well in Khost’ 2005, BBC Monitoring Alert, source: Anis newspaper, 4 August – Attachment 25).

An article in RFE/RL Newsline dated 18 July 2005 indicates that an Afghan Defence Ministry spokesman had said that “Afghan National Army forces backed by coalition air support have killed 20 militants in Khost Province, close to the border with Pakistan, the official Bakhtar News Agency reported” (‘Afghan, Coalition forces kill 20 militants in southeastern Afghanistan’ 2005, RFE/RL Newsline, Vol. 9, No. 133, Part III, 18 July – Attachment 26). There was a subsequent report that a neo-Taliban commander had disputed the Afghan Defence Ministry report (‘Neo-Taliban disputes numbers killed’ 2005, RFE/RL Newsline, Vol. 9, No. 134, Part III, 19 July – Attachment 27).

The UNHCR update on the situation in Afghanistan dated June 2005 refers to “a relatively open environment for political actors in the Southeast” and the situation in Khost and Ghazni being “generally better for political activities.” The report also indicates that “parts of Khost (Tani, Terezai, Gurbuz)” are amongst areas in Afghanistan “where infiltration of anti- Government elements is reported, and military activities of ANA, US and coalition forces are ongoing. As a result, civilians are at risk of being indirectly affected by the ongoing military operations of these forces and the counter-strikes by insurgent elements, or, may also be directly affected through reported search-operations, investigations, arrests and through (false) denunciations.” The report also notes that “Afghans working with international organizations and international security forces where there are anti- Government insurgent activities or infiltrations of Taleban and Hezb-e-Islami forces continue to be at risk”. Khost is named as one of the provinces in which this is particularly the case (UNHCR 2005, Update on the Situation in Afghanistan and International Protection Considerations, June, pp 20, 55-56, 60 – Attachment 28).

A previously mentioned article dated 28 April 2005 mentions that US troops had “detained 24 suspected Taliban during a Sunday night raid in remote Ali Sher district” in Khost (Baldauf, Scott 2005, ‘Taliban coming in from cold’, AOP: Today’s Afghan News, source: The Christian Science Monitor, 28 April – Attachment 4).

According to an article dated 27 April 2005, “in a retaliatory mission, U.S. forces killed at least 12 neo- Taliban insurgents on 19 April in Khost Province, RFE/RL’s Radio Free Afghanistan reported on 21 April. According to a U.S. military statement, U.S. forces using aircraft and artillery attacked an area from where suspected neo-Taliban militants had launched rockets on a U.S. military facility in Khost” (‘Violence continues in Southern Afghanistan’ 2005, RFE/RL Afghanistan Report, Volume 4, Number 14, 27 April – Attachment 29).

An article dated 31 March 2005 indicates that Afghan and Pakistani tribal sources had said that the situation in Khost province was deteriorating. It is stated in the article that:

But the situation in Paktia, Paktika and Khost provinces, Afghan and Pakistani tribal sources said, is deteriorating due to increased violence and inability of the local administration to cope with. The Khost airport, which is the base of US forces, comes under missile attacks from time to time and the military convoys suffer casualties through ambushes and improvised explosive devices. The US and Afghan forces have intensified searches and raids in these provinces but no major breakthrough has so far been made against the attackers (‘Pakistan daily reports less unrest in Waziristan, more clashes in Afghanistan’ 2005, BBC Monitoring South Asia, source: The News website, Islamabad, 31 March – Attachment 11).

Another article dated 24 March 2005 refers to a clash between the Taleban and Afghan forces in the Ali Sher area of Khost Province. It is stated in the article that:

Afghan Islamic Press reported on 23 March there were contradictory claims about the number of casualties in a clash between the Taleban and Afghan forces in the Ali Sher area of Khost Province. The spokesman for the Taleban, Mofti Latifollah Hakimi, told AIP that they killed 10 government forces and wounded another 15. He also added: The Taleban fired 10 rockets at Khost Airport and also attacked the government forces in Gorbaz District. Coalition forces in Kabul issued a statement confirming the clashes between the Taleban and the government forces in Khost Province. The statement says the attackers attacked Khost Airport and a government check post near the border with Pakistan. The statement says five attackers were killed when coalition forces returned fire and bombed them. The statement does not mentioned [sic] casualties sustained by the government or coalition forces, AIP said. (Afghan Islamic Press, 0752gmt, 23 Mar 05) (‘BBC Monitoring Afghanistan Briefing 21-23 March 2005’ 2005, BBC Monitoring Alert, 24 March – Attachment 30).

List of Sources Consulted Internet Sources: Copernic search engine BBC News website http://news.bbc.co.uk Amnesty International website www.amnesty.org Human Rights Watch website www.hrw.org

Databases: Public FACTIVA Reuters Business Briefing DIMIA BACIS Country Information REFINFO IRBDC Research Responses (Canada) RRT ISYS RRT Country Research database, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, U.S. Department of State Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. UNHCR REFWORLD UNHCR Refugee Information Online Public JANE’S Jane’s Intelligence Review RRT Library FIRST RRT Library Catalogue

List of Attachments

1. RRT Country Research 2005, Provincial Governors of Afghanistan 2004-2005, 22 September.

2. Lancaster, John 2004, ‘At Inauguration, Karzai Vows Action on Tough Issues’, Washington Post, 8 December. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A42132-2004Dec7.html – Accessed 15 September 2005)

3. ‘17 Hezb-e-Islami militants surrender in Afghanistan’ 2005, Daily Times, 29 April. (http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_29-4-2005_pg7_51 - Accessed 4 November 2005)

4. Baldauf, Scott 2005, ‘Taliban coming in from cold’, AOP: Today’s Afghan News, source: The Christian Science Monitor, 28 April.

5. ‘Pakistani forces arrest wanted neo-Taliban leader’ 2005, RFE/RFL Newsline, Vol. 9, No. 185, Part III, 30 September.

6. ‘Rocket attack damages checkpoint in Khost City’ 2005, Pajhwok Afghan News, 31 August. (FACTIVA)

7. McGeough, Paul 2005, ‘Into the Afghan danger zone’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 29 August. (FACTIVA)

8. ‘Two more Taliban activists switch sides in Khost’ 2005, Pajhwok Afghan News, 9 July. (FACTIVA)

9. ‘Al-Qaeda and Taleban appoint new regional chiefs’ 2005, AOP: Today’s Afghan News, source: Arman-e-Milli, 19 May.

10. ‘In Afghanistan, the Taliban rises again for fighting season’ 2005, AOP: Today’s Afghan News, source: The Independent (UK), 15 May.

11. ‘Pakistan daily reports less unrest in Waziristan, more clashes in Afghanistan’ 2005, BBC Monitoring South Asia, source: The News website, Islamabad, 31 March. (FACTIVA)

12. ‘Governor of south Afghan province confirms talks with Taleban’ 2005, BBC Monitoring South Asia, source: Afghan Islamic Press news agency, Peshawar, 16 February. (FACTIVA)

13. Shahzad, Syed Saleem 2004, ‘Osama adds weight to Afghan resistance’, AOP: Afghan News, source: Asia Times (Hong Kong), 11 September.

14. Shahzad, Syed Saleem 2004, ‘Stage set for final showdown’, AOP Afghan News, source: Asia Times (Hong Kong), 21 July.

15. Shahzad, Sayed Saleem 2004, ‘Revolutions in the Mountains’, AOP Afghan News, source: Asia Times (Hong Kong), 8 May.

16. ‘Taleban claim responsibility for missile attack on US base in Khost’ 2005, BBC Monitoring South Asia, source: Afghan Islamic Press news agency, Peshawar, 23 November. (FACTIVA)

17. ‘Taliban, Hezb loyalists pledge support to government’ 2005, Pajhwok Afghan News, 19 November. (FACTIVA)

18. ‘Three Afghan policemen, ex-official killed in “Taliban” attacks’ 2005, Agence France- Presse, 13 November. (FACTIVA)

19. ‘Attack kills U.S. paratrooper’ 2005, Chicago Tribune, 30 October. (FACTIVA)

20. ‘Tribal leader killed by Taliban militants in eastern Afghanistan’ 2005, Xinhua News Agency, 28 October. (FACTIVA)

21. ‘Afghans protest killing of Islamic cleric’ 2005, AOP: Today’s Afghan News, source: Reuters, 16 October.

22. ‘Airbase attacked in southeast Afghanistan’ 2005, AOP: Today’s Afghan News, source: Xinhua, 16 October.

23. “Taleban’ storm Afghanistan jail’ 2005, AOP: Yesterday’s Afghan News, source: BBC News, 24 September.

24. ‘Afghan cleric survives Taliban bomb attack’ 2005, AOP: Afghan News, source: AFP, 23 August.

25. ‘Afghanistan: Afghan governor says security, reconstruction doing well in Khost’ 2005, BBC Monitoring Alert, source: Anis newspaper, 4 August. (CISNET Afghanistan CX130156)

26. ‘Afghan, Coalition forces kill 20 militants in southeastern Afghanistan’ 2005, RFE/RL Newsline, Vol. 9, No. 133, Part III, 18 July.

27. ‘Neo-Taliban disputes numbers killed’ 2005, RFE/RL Newsline, Vol. 9, No. 134, Part III, 19 July.

28. UNHCR 2005, Update on the Situation in Afghanistan and International Protection Considerations, June.

29. ‘Violence continues in Southern Afghanistan’ 2005, RFE/RL Afghanistan Report, Volume 4, Number 14, 27 April.

30. ‘BBC Monitoring Afghanistan Briefing 21-23 March 2005’ 2005, BBC Monitoring Alert, 24 March. (CISNET Afghanistan CX117366)