Afghan Weekly (Feb 10 - Feb 16, 2017)

Moscow hosted a six-party conference on Wednesday with high-level representatives from China, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, India and naturally Russia itself, to address the issue of deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan and work towards finding a peaceful and political solution to the Afghan dilemma.[1] According to the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the consultative meeting on Afghanistan in Moscow is a constructive step in encouraging regional cooperation and solidarity in the war against terrorism.[2] Political commentators believe that Russia’s interests in Afghanistan’s political situation and the thaw in ties between Russians and the Taliban would further complicate the war in Afghanistan.[3] With both Russia and China leading the initiative, Pakistan might claim a diplomatic victory here, but it is yet to be seen how India, with the strengthening of ties with the US and powerful lobbyist in the current US administration, indulges in the dialogue.

Meanwhile, Islamabad and Kabul are once again at daggers drawn to each other. The development comes two days after a deadly bombing rocked the Punjab provincial capital Lahore, killing at least 14 people and wounding dozens more. According to a press release from the Foreign Office, Pakistan has summoned the Afghan deputy head of mission to convey its concerns over continuing attacks by terrorist outfit Jamaat-ul-Ahrar from its sanctuaries inside Afghanistan.[4] Two days later another bomb ripped through a shrine in interior Sindh leaving over 70 people dead. Hours after the incident the Pak-Afghan border was closed with immediate effect due to security reasons, as revealed by DG ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor in a tweet.[5] The border will remain closed until further orders, according to Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).[6] The Afghan embassy officials have also been summoned at General Headquarters in this regard, read a statement from the military-wing Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).[7] According to the statement, a list of 76 terrorists has been given to the officials at the Afghan embassy so that action is taken against them. However, the Pakistan Army has demanded the terrorists be handed over to them if the Afghan government cannot take action.

Below follow other updates on the security, internal politics, international engagements and socio-economic developments in Afghanistan from the past week.

Security Overview

16 people including 14 Afghan security personnel killed and 24 others wounded following suicide attack in Lashkargah city of southern Helmand provinceon February 12.[8]
At least 18 civilians killed, nearly all women and children amid US airstrike in Sangin district of Helmand, on February 13.[9]
Taliban Senior Commander Killed in Zankhan districtof Ghazni province on February 13.[10]
20 militants killed in airstrikes in the vicinity of Tarinkot city, the capital of Uruzgan province on February 14.[11]
10 anti-government militias killed and seven others wounded during clashes with Afghan security troops in Kohistanat district of northern Sar-e-pul province on February 14.[12]
16 foreign Daesh militants killed in Kott and Dih Bala districts of Nangarhar by Afghan Security Forces district on February 15.[13]
Large cache of ammunition, rockets, and explosives was discovered and seized during an operation in Behsud district of eastern Nangarhar province on February 15.[14]
52 farmers kidnapped by militants in Darzab district of northern Jawzjan province on February 15.[15]
UAE Ambassador Juma Mohammed Abdullah al-Kaabi wounded in Afghanistan bombing dies on February 15.
4 civilians and a soldier killed in two separate incidents in Laghman province on February 15.[16]

Update on Afghan Refugees

Germans demonstrate against return of failed asylum seekers to Afghanistan

Several thousand people have taken part in demonstrations across Germany in support of Afghan nationals who are being obliged to return home after their asylum requests failed. Nearly 12,000 have been asked to leave.[17]

2017: Making sustainable solutions a reality for Afghan refugees

The government of Pakistan hosted the 28th Tripartite Commission – a high-level meeting in Islamabad. Representatives of the Islamic Republics of Pakistan and Afghanistan and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) underlined the importance of moving expeditiously from policy to implementation to support the needs of Afghan refugees.[18]

International Engagements

Six Nations to meet in Moscow over Afghanistan

A second round of talks is reportedly on the cards to discuss the peace process in Afghanistan – this time Kabul will participate. A similar meeting was held in Moscow in December 2016 between Russia, China and Pakistan – without Afghanistan’s participation.[19]

Kabul welcomes Nicholson’s call for more troops

The Arg – Presidential Palace welcomed Resolute Support Commander General John Nicholson’s call for more U.S soldiers to Afghanistan. Earlier, Nicholson said that the Afghan war is deadlocked and in order to break this, thousands of new U.S and NATO soldiers should be deployed to Afghanistan.[20]

Russia ready to cooperate with US, NATO over Afghanistan

Russian president’s special envoy to Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, has said that Russia is ready to restore cooperation with the U.S. and NATO on the settlement of common tasks in Afghanistan, Russia’s news agency TASS reported.[21]

UK Envoy says Taliban needs to join peace process

Dominic Jermey, Ambassador of the United Kingdom (UK) to Afghanistan said in an interview with TOLO news that peace will not come to Afghanistan through battles and urged the Taliban to join the peace talk’s process with the Afghan government.[22]

Terrorism remains a threat to global security: Afghan Envoy

Addressing the six nations meeting on Afghanistan in Moscow on February 15, the Director General of Policy and Strategy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ashraf Haidari, said “terrorism remains a threat to security of region and the world”. He stated that Afghanistan firmly believes in peace and has made every effort to reach reconciliation.[23]

Relations with Pakistan

Return of Afghans to promote peace, Islamabad hopes

Pakistan hopes the dignified return of Afghans to their homeland will go a long way in promoting durable peace and stability in their country and the region at large. The Foreign Office (FO) refuted a recent Human Rights Watch (HRW) report on Afghan refugees, calling it as “misplaced and removed from facts and realities on the ground”. In a report earlier in the week, HRW asked Pakistan to end police abuse, revert to its earlier policy of extending Proof of Registration cards by at least two years and avoid creating anxiety about the deportation of Afghans.[24]

Ghani condoles loss of lives in Lahore bombing

President Ashraf Ghani has extended condolences to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif over the loss of life in terrorist attack in Lahore.[25]

Jamaat-ul-Ahrar launching terrorist attacks from sanctuaries in Afghanistan: MoFA

An official from the Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) met Afghan Deputy Head of Mission Syed Abdul Nasir Yousafi in Islamabad to address the militant attacks in Pakistan by factions operating in Afghanistan, said a press release from MoFA.[26]

Pakistan summoned Afghan Envoy, protest lodged

Pakistan summoned Afghan Deputy Head of Mission (DHM) Syed Abdul Nasir Yousafi on Wednesday to register a protest on the attack in Lahore by Afghanistan-based Jamaatul Ahrar (JuA) and demanded an action against the militant group.[27]

Security concerns prompt closure of Pak-Afghan border

The Pakistan-Afghanistan border has been closed with immediate effect due to security reasons, the Inter Services Public Relations, hours after a bomb ripped through a shrine in interior Sindh leaving over 70 people dead.[28]

Afghan embassy officials summoned at GHQ in Rawalpindi

According to the statement by Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), a list 76 terrorists has been given to the officials at the Afghan embassy so that action is taken against them. However, the Pakistan army has demanded the terrorists be handed over to them if the Afghan government cannot take action.[29]

Concerns raised over widespread use of Pakistani rupees

A number of money exchangers at Saray Shahzada (Shahzada Money Market) in Kabul said that they are concerned about the widespread of use of Pakistani Rupees in a number of provinces and urged the Central Bank to clamp down on the practice.[30]

Concerns raised over widespread use of Pakistani rupees

Internal Politics and Governance

Ghani marks 28th anniversary of Soviet withdrawal

President Ashraf Ghani addressed the guests attending the 28th anniversary ceremony to mark the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan and said “yesterday was about freedom, today is about development.” By signing the recent peace agreement with Hizb-e-Islami, government is paving the way for “unhappy Mujahideen brothers to return to their country”, he added.[32]

Prof. Sayyaf calls for war on corruption, immorality

Renowned jihadi leader Prof. Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf called corruption a serious threat to the democratic system and asked the president to eradicate the menace.[33]

Ghani calls on Taliban to return to Afghanistan and live with dignity

In his speech during a gathering to mark the 28^thanniversary of the Soviet forces withdrawal, President Ghani said the Taliban group members who are having an independent and an Afghan mindset should return to Afghanistan and start a dignified life.[34]

Drug lord famous as ‘Wolf’ arrested in West of Afghanistan

According to the local security officials, the drug smuggler, Naeem famous Wolf, was arrested during a special military operation conducted by the police forces of the counter-narcotics department. Naeem was one of the major drug smugglers in western Nimroz province.[35]

Jihadi Leaders’ Council calls for review of government’s plans

The Council of Protection and Stability for Afghanistan (CPSA) and the New National Front of Afghanistan commemorated the 28th anniversary of the withdrawal of Soviet forces from Afghanistan. Participants of the ceremony urged for the review of government’s plans in governance, elections and reforms.[36]

Economy and Development

Afghan government approves 3 contracts worth 1.5 billion AFN

The contracts include construction of a road in Zaranj city of western Nimroz province having a length of 10.8 kilometers. The other contracts approved include the construction of a 50-bed hospital in Sia Gerd district of Parwan province and procurement of subsistence materials for the Ministry of Defense.[37]

Afghan, Turkmen Presidents Discuss TAPI Project

President Ashraf Ghani and Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in a telephonic conversation discussed further development of bilateral relations as well as the implementation of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project.[38]

Millions of dollars still owed to Kabul Bank

Officials will not say how much of the $407 million owed has been recovered but Integrity Watch says only $29 million has been paid back. The office assigned to recoup money owed to Kabul Bank said that they have faced numerous challenges and some debtors refuse to repay the money owed.[39]

Women in Afghanistan

Honor killing in Afghanistan: Armed mob brutally kill young couple for eloping

A mob of up to 300 armed men in eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province reportedly “lynched” a young couple. The mob allegedly forced police officers, who had arrested the married woman and her lover for eloping, to surrender the accused adulterers over to the angry horde.[40]

Depression Rampant Among Afghan Women

Gender violence, poverty and associated social problems fuels widespread mental health problems. Local mental health practitioners estimate that they have dealt with 20 per cent more referrals this year than last year.[41]

This weekly is compiled by Saddam Hussein who is a research intern at the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS).

Sources

[1] http://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan/six-nation-talks-moscow-ponder-afghanistan-crisis

[2] http://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan/six-nation-talks-moscow-ponder-afghanistan-crisis

[3] http://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan/six-nation-talks-moscow-ponder-afghanistan-crisis

[4] https://timesofislamabad.com/pakistan-foreign-office-summons-afghan-dhm-terrorist-attacks/2017/02/15/

[5] https://www.geo.tv/latest/131385-Security-concerns-prompt-closure-of-Pak-Afghan-border

[6] https://www.geo.tv/latest/131397-Sehwan-suicide-bomber-was-not-female-CTD-official-Raja-Umar-Khattab

[7] https://www.geo.tv/latest/131398-Afghan-embassy-officials-summoned-at-GHQ-in-Rawalpindi

[8]http://www.bakhtarnews.com.af/eng/security/item/27473-suicide-attack-martyrs-16-include-security-personnel-hurt-24-in-helmand.html

[9] http://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-afghanistan-airstrikes-20170213-story.html

[10] http://www.bakhtarnews.com.af/eng/security/item/27507-taliban-senior-commander-killed-in-ghazni.html