CIVIL - MILITARY FUSION CEN TRE Afghanistan Review Week 32 09 August 2011 Comprehensive Information on Complex Crises INSIDE THIS ISSUE This document provides a weekly overview of developments in Afghanistan from 02 August—08 August 2011, with hyper-links to source material highlighted in blue and underlined in the text. For Economic Development more information on the topics below or other issues pertaining to events in Afghanistan, feel free to con- Governance & Rule of Law Humanitarian Affairs tact the members of the Afghanistan Team, or visit our website at www.cimicweb.org. Infrastructure Security & Force Protection Socio-Cultural Development Economic Development Steven A. Zyck ► [email protected] DISCLAIMER ontinuing a story from last week’s Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) natural gas Afghanistan Review (see 02 August pipeline project is moving ahead, and an The Civil-Military Fusion Centre C 2011), Reuters reports that approxi- agreement on natural gas pricing is expected (CFC) is an information and mately 2,500 Afghanistan-bound shipping in the coming weeks. Afghanistan’s Ministry knowledge management containers continue to be held in Karachi, Pa- of Mines (MoM) indicates that the pricing organisation focused on improving kistan, as a result of a regulatory impasse re- agreement will enable the Afghan government civil-military interaction, facilitating lated to the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit to project how much it can expect to receive in information sharing and enhancing Trade Agreement (APTTA). Under the APT- natural gas transit fees once the pipeline is situational awareness through the TA, importers are required to pay a non- operational. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty CimicWeb portal and our weekly refundable fee to Pakistani banks or insurance did, however, report concerns that the pipeline and monthly publications. companies equivalent to 2.5% of the value of project, which was first proposed 16 years ago taxes on items imported into Afghanistan via and which is estimated to cost up to USD 10 CFC products are based upon and Pakistan. A Pakistani Ministry of Finance billion, will be further delayed. link to open-source information (MoF) official stated that traders are unwilling from a wide variety of organisations, to pay this fee. The Tribune, a Pakistani news- Asia Times profiled the work of the US De- research centres and media sources. paper, reported last week that Pakistani insur- partment of Defense’s (DoD) Task Force for However, the CFC does not endorse ance companies are also unwilling to accept Business and Stability Operations, which has and cannot necessarily guarantee such fees, known as “insurance guarantees”. been working under the direction of Paul Brin- the accuracy or objectivity of these kley to attract foreign investment into Afghan- sources. CFC publications are In related news, Pajhwok Afghan News notes istan since 2009. Brinkley’s team gained in- independently produced by that a trade facilitation and promotion centre vestments from companies such as JP Morgan Knowledge Managers and do not has opened in Kabul. Financed by the United into gold mining in northern Afghanistan. reflect NATO or ISAF policies or States Agency for International Development Brinkley’s task force believes that private- positions of any other organisation. (USAID), the centre will provide traders with sector promotion will lead to growth and ena- information regarding local and international ble the Afghan government to expand its tax The CFC is part of NATO Allied markets and applicable trade agreements while base. The Task Force has, however, encoun- Command Operations. also offering internet access. A similar centre tered opposition from other government agen- was established by USAID in Nangarhar prov- cies which have previously suggested that ince, and a third such facility is being built in federal regulations give the US State Depart- Kandahar at a cost of USD 130,000. ment, not the DoD, responsibility for overseas development projects, notes the Asia Times. Officials from Afghanistan’s Ministry of Earlier this year, the US Congress passed leg- Commerce and Industries (MoCI) told Pajh- islation which mandated that the DoD turn wok that the government-imposed price cap on over the Task Force to USAID, says The CONTACT THE CFC fuel had largely been effective in keeping en- Washington Post. ergy cost from rising further in Kabul, For further information, contact: Baghlan and Balkh provinces. The head of Finally, the Indian government announced a Afghanistan’s Oil Tankers Association, Ali new 26% tax on mining companies’ profits, Afghanistan Team Leader Muhammad Ahmadzai, was charged by the says the BBC. India Times says a consortium Steven A. Zyck Attorney General’s Office (AGO) over some of 15 Indian companies is on the verge of sub- [email protected] fuel sellers’ violations of the price cap of AFN mitting a proposal to gain the mining rights to The Afghanistan Team 57 (USD 1.33) per litre for petrol and diesel. the Hajigak iron ore deposit in central Afghan- [email protected] istan. It not yet clear if or how the newly an- Tolo News reports that the Turkmenistan- nounced tax will affect the consortium’s bid. Governance & Rule of Law Stefanie Nijssen ► [email protected] he German government announced that it is ready to and senior Taliban leaders who can contribute to the peace host the second international Bonn Conference on Af- effort, notes a separate article from Daily Outlook Afghanistan. T ghanistan in December 2011, notes Pajhwok Afghan News. According to a separate article from Pajhwok, the US An unnamed source informed Tolo News that the Kabul Ap- Ambassador to Afghanistan, Ryan Crocker, indicated civil peals Court ruled to uphold the verdict recently issued by the society representatives will be invited to attend the Bonn Con- Special Elections Court (SEC) on 03 August 2011. The SEC’s ference. The inclusion of nongovernmental stakeholders from verdict had recommended unseating 62 members of Afghani- Afghanistan has proven sensitive. Afghan President Hamid stan’s lower house of parliament, the Wolesi Jirga. President Karzai had previously said that his administration would repre- Karzai will reportedly make a final decision on the issue, notes sent all of Afghanistan and suggested that he may decline to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan participate in the Bonn Conference if other Afghan groups (UNAMA). The head of the Afghan parliamentary commission were also invited. on domestic security “insists both the court and its verdict were illegal”, says Pajhwok. Continued deadlock between In related news, Tolo News says that Ambassador Crocker President Karzai and the Wolesi Jirga will increase chances reaffirmed that the Taliban would not be included as partici- that the Afghan president could declare a state of emergency, pants in the Bonn Conference. Questions regarding the Tali- the International Crisis Group (ICG) suggests. ban’s participation in the Bonn Conference emerged shortly after the Afghan government’s High Peace Council (HPC) Pajhwok reports that residents of Nangarhar province protested announced that Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar had the redistribution of land in the town of Qasimabad by block- shown an interest in engaging in the Afghan peace process. ing the Kunar-Jalalabad highway for an hour. A demonstrator Zalmay Rassoul, Afghanistan's Minister of Foreign Affairs, alleged that the government had seized all the land in Qasima- told Pajhwok that sufficient progress on national reconciliation bad, which he claimed belongs to its residents. A government could allow the Taliban to be included in the Bonn Conference official said the municipality and other government institutions “under the auspices of the Afghan government”. had established the land redistribution plans six years earlier and that they had been passed by a council of ministers. Pro- High-level talks on regional relations continued with the fourth testors demanded that the government should negotiate with meeting of the Trilateral Core Group, which includes senior the residents and that claims to the land should be assessed by representatives from Afghanistan, Pakistan and the United the courts. States, in Islamabad on 03 August 2011, says Pajhwok. The US government urged countries in the region, particularly Pa- In other news, Daily Outlook Afghanistan reports that the kistan, to support reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan. Ac- Wolesi Jirga passed a law on extradition procedures with other cording to Daily Outlook Afghanistan, the Afghan government countries. Extradition from Afghanistan would only be made has stated that it is ready to include Pakistan in its dialogue to countries which had signed a reciprocal extradition treaty with the Taliban. The Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs with Afghanistan under international conventions. The law (MFA) spokesperson, Janan Musazai, said that the Afghan would ensure that Kabul would deliver an Afghan citizen ac- government hopes that coordinated reconciliation efforts with- cused of committing a crime in a foreign country and, in turn, in the region would result in “practical steps” with tangible Afghanistan would seek the transfer of a foreigner who leaves outcomes for security. One such step is identifying mid-level Afghanistan after committing a crime in Afghanistan. Humanitarian Affairs Linda Lavender ► [email protected] he Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS insecurity in these areas. NET) published its food security projections for Sep- T tember 2011 through March 2012 this past week. Field Seasonal flooding in the north-eastern province of Kunar, assessments confirm initial reports that Afghanistan has been which borders Pakistan, has left six dead and several others experiencing below-average harvests this year. Agricultural missing in the region. Pajhwok Afghan News reports that fatal- yields in the coming weeks and months are expected to be ities occurred in Sandari, Nanglam and Wardesh districts of slightly better than the drought-affected 2008 harvest levels, Kunar. In addition to the loss of life, Manogai district chief, which resulted in intense food insecurity.