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,