Afghan Weekly (Feb 24 – Mar 02, 2017)

Pakistan assured Afghanistan of its full support this week as Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry on Sunday stated that Pakistan had equally faced the brunt of terrorism and continues to be i greatly affected by Afghanistan’s instability. Terming Afghanistan as its twin brother and extending Pakistan’s complete assistance for the country’s peace process, he welcomed the upcoming Economic Cooperation Organisation’s special meeting on Afghanistan in Kabul.[1] Both countries seem to have misunderstood each other during the recent terrorist bombings across Pakistan and the consequent immediate response carrying strict measures by Pakistan’s military. Islamabad has conveyed to Kabul that border closure was meant to prevent the terrorists from crossing over the border. Though, Pakistan’s government has decided in principal to fence only selected parts of the country’s border with Afghanistan to stop suspected persons from entering into Pakistani territory.[2] Meanwhile, Torkham border has been closed off while security officials are on high alert on Ghulam Khan, Angor Ada, Khar Lachi crossing points. A border management mechanism will be devised later, allowing only people with proper documentation to enter the country.[3]

On the other hand, speculations have stirred over the news of Chinese military patrols inside Afghanistan. China’s Defense Ministry has dismissed these reports, stating that the two countries have only been carrying out counter-terrorism operations along their common border.[4] Some are still skeptical about the definition and scope of their counter-terrorism operations. Meanwhile, US forces in Afghanistan have also promised to continue their efforts with the Afghan forces to fight terrorist groups. While citing the recent activities by the terror group in northern parts of the country, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has reported that the loyalists of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group may develop a regional power base in northwestern Afghanistan,, particularly by using the opportunity provided to them with the absence of the Junbish-e-Millie fighters led by the Vice President General Abdul Rashid Dostum. [5]

On the economic front, the Central Bank of Afghanistan, the country’s state-owned bank, has said Afghanistan has addressed all the requirements of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and it will be taken off the gray list of the organization within a month. Being taken off this list will allow Afghanistan’s financial system to gain credibility in the world while all banks in the country would be able to deal with international banks in other parts of the world.[6]

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

Security Overview

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10 policemen and a woman dead in an attack carried by ISIS loyalists in volatile Jawzjan province of Afghanistan on February 25.[7]
8 ISIS loyalists killed in separate airstrikes near the vicinity of Achin District in Eastern Afghanistan on February 27.[8]
5 militants killed and many wounded as 2 suicide bombers attacked rival Taliban’s faction compound in Shindand district of Herat province of western Afghanistan on February 28.[9]
22 killed, over 100 wounded amid attack on police headquarters in Kabul on March 01.[10]
The Tala Wa Barfak district of Baghlan province fell to the Taliban after clashes with Afghan government forces on March 01.[11]
30 Taliban and 6 policemen killed in insurgency related violence in Farah, Faryab and Badghis provinces on March 01.[12]
Taliban Commander among 6 killed in a drone strike in the Lalpura district of eastern Nangarhar province on March 02.[13]
20 Taliban killed and 13 others wounded in an offense launched by Afghan forces in Mehterlam, the provincial capital of Laghman on March 02.[14]

Update on Afghan Refugees

India plans to build low-cost houses in Afghanistan for refugees

The government of India is mulling to build low-cost houses in Afghanistan in a bid to help resolve the housing issues of the Afghan refugees repatriating to country. India’s joint secretary for development partnership agreement in ministry of external affairs M. Subbarayudu informed regarding the plan on Saturday.[15]

Leaving Pakistan, Afghan refugees struggle to start afresh

Afghan refugees, some who have spent decades in Pakistan, have been leaving to return to their home country, which continues to struggle with recovering from its history of wars and violence.[16]

International Engagements

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China denies reports of military patrols in Afghanistan

China’s Defense Ministry dismissed reports about Chinese military vehicles patrolling inside Afghanistan. The Chinese defense ministry said the two countries were only carrying out counter-terrorism operations along their common border.[17]

European Union renews commitment to Kabul, urges transparency

The European Union delegation on tour of Kabul said that member nations were resolute in their support for Afghanistan in its efforts towards sustainable peace, security and economic development. It urged the Afghan government to do more in promoting good governance and accountability in the country.[18]

Afghan CEO urges regional countries to review their anti-terror policy

Without naming any specific country, Chief Executive of Afghanistan Abdullah Abdullah said a number of regional countries are involved in supporting and creating terrorist groups. Those countries must review their policy against terrorist groups.[19]

Kabul pushes for regional alliance against terrorism, extremism

The Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Tuesday said that regional countries need to join hands and fight terrorism strategically in the region. The Afghan government has always stressed the need for wider cooperation between the countries of the region in the fight against terror. The fight against terrorism must be carried out at the regional level on the basis of a combined strategy, the statement added.[20]

US forces vow to work with Afghan forces to target enemies of peace

The US forces in Afghanistan have vowed to continue their work with the Afghan forces to target the enemies of peace and prosperity of Afghanistan. The US forces reaffirmed the support in statement issued to confirm the death of the top Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Salam.[21]

UN Security Council slams Taliban Kabul attacks

The UN Security Council on Wednesday has “condemned in the strongest terms the heinous and cowardly terrorist attacks” on Kabul in which 22 people were killed and 119 others injured.[22]

Relations with Pakistan

Pakistan assures Afghanistan of full assistance

Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry on Sunday said that Pakistan had faced the brunt of terrorism and was greatly affected by Afghanistan’s instability. Terming Afghanistan as its twin brother and extending full support for the country’s peace process, he welcomed the upcoming Economic Cooperation Organisation’s special meeting on Afghanistan in Kabul.[23]

Border row harming Afghanistan, Pakistan business sectors

Some Afghan businessmen are searching new routes for their commercial activities as border tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan continue to undermine the economic interaction between the two countries. Afghan officials say Pakistan’s actions have massively affected the export of fresh fruits and vegetables from Pakistan to Afghanistan and the Central Asian countries.[24]

Parts of Afghan border to be fenced

The federal government has decided in principal to fence selected parts of the country’s border with Afghanistan to stop suspected Afghan people from entering Pakistani territory.[25]

Border fencing: Torkham no longer ‘soft crossing point’

Officials said that the Torkham border had been closed off while the security officials were on high alert on Ghulam Khan, Angor Ada, Khar Lachi crossing points. A border management mechanism, they said, will be devised, allowing only people with proper documentation to enter the country.[26]

End proxy wars, Jamaat-e-Islami Chief tells Islamabad and Kabul

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Sirajul Haq has called upon the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan to end all forms of proxy wars. “Whenever a conflict occurs between Pakistan and Afghanistan, India takes 100 per cent advantage of the opportunity,” Haq told reporters in Hyderabad on Saturday. He expressed the desire for resumption of negotiations and establishment of a harmonious relationship between the two countries.[27]

Pakistan’s cement export to Afghanistan falls

Pakistan’s export of cement to Afghanistan has decreased from 0.174 million tons to 0.166 million tons as of January 2017, compared to the corresponding period last year, Pakistani media reported on Monday. This represents a 4.5 percent drop.[28]

Afghanistan urges Pakistan to reopen border, de-escalate tensions

According to the statement issued by Foreign Office, Deputy Chief of Staff at Ministry of Defence, Afghanistan General Murad Ali Murad requested Pakistan’s Ambassador to Kabul Syed Abrar Hussain for de-escalation and re-opening of crossing points.[29]

Afghanistan needs to abandon ‘anti-Pakistan lens’: DG ISPR

Director General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor in an interview with a private TV channel on Tuesday called for Afghanistan to abandon its ‘anti-Pakistan lens’ and devise policies with Pakistan through an ‘Afghan lens’. He further stressed the importance of political engagement between the two countries.[30]

Pak-Afghan Border be defined before FATA merger into KP

Former provincial Minister Iftikhar Mohmand has said that the border with Afghanistan should be defined before taking a decision of merging the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).[31]

Internal Politics and Governance

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In rare move, Afghan Taliban Chief calls for tree plantation

In a surprise move, supreme leader of the Afghan Taliban Hibatullah Akhundzada on Sunday called for tree plantation in the war-ravaged country, highlighting the importance of plantation under Islamic injunctions. Afghans believe decades of war and smuggling have caused irreparable damage to forests across the country.[32]

ISIS may develop regional power base in Northwest of Afghanistan, says Institute for the Study of War (ISW)

The loyalists of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group may develop a regional power base in northwestern Afghanistan, the Institute for the Study of War has said in a report, citing the recent activities by the terror group northern parts of the country. According to ISW, the loyalists of the terror group may particularly use the opportunity provided to them with the absence of the Junbish-e-Millie fighters led by the Vice President General Abdul Rashid Dostum.[33]

Helmand’s historical, cultural heritage under threat

Of the 80 historical castles in Helmand province, 40 are in places controlled by the Taliban and under threat of destruction, said the Directorate of Culture and Information (DoCI) of southern Helmand province. “In the provincial center and in the districts, there are 80 castles and we are trying to preserve them,” said Farid Ahmad Farhang, director of the culture and information department.[34]

Afghanistan is not a threat to any country: Ghani

“Afghanistan is not a threat to any country, Afghanistan is an independent country and will remain so for hundreds of years to come,” President Ashraf Ghani said on Monday. “Those who want to change Afghanistan into a battle field will take their wishes to the grave with them,” he added.[35]

Afghan government takes key step towards electronic ID card distribution

The Afghan government has taken a key step towards the distribution of the electronic national identity cards by signing the draft amendment regarding the article sixth of the census law.[36]

Economy and Development

Afghanistan to be off banking gray list in a month

The Central Bank of Afghanistan, the country’s state-owned bank, has said Afghanistan has addressed all the requirements of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and it will be taken off the gray list of the organization within a month. After being taken off the list, Afghanistan’s financial system will gain credibility in the world and all banks in the country would be able to deal with international banks in other parts of the world, officials at the bank said.[37]

Ex-users try to help Afghanistan’s 3 million drug addicts

Afghanistan has one of the highest rates of drug use in the world, with an estimated 3 million addicts making 10 percent of its 30 million population. The government struggles to provide services, but can’t keep up as the numbers are continuously growing in the country which is the world’s main source of opium and heroin. In this backdrop, ex-addicts help in rehabilitation is a ray of hope.[38]

Work on first ever private hospital begins in Samangan

Construction work on a private 100-bed hospital, the first of its kind, has been launched in the capital of northern Samangan province. Eng. Syed Yaqub Shah Roshanzada, who designed the hospital, told Pajhwok Afghan News the cost of the hospital was estimated at $2million, provided by Haji Baba Qul, a resident of Aibak, the provincial capital.[39]

No cargo train from China after railroad inauguration

Not a single cargo train has arrived from China at the Hairatan dry port in northern Afghanistan since September last year, when the railroad was inaugurated.[40]

Afghan government approves contracts worth AFN 4 billion

The Afghan government has approved ten contracts worth AFN 4 billion during a meeting of the National Procurement Commission chaired by President Ghani. It includes the construction of 32 kilometer road in Maimani city of Faryab, road construction and upgrade from Deh Salah district to Shashan in Baghlan, procurement of spares for Mazar-e-Sharif electricity enterprise, security services for Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kandahar, and Hamid Karzai airports.[41]

Women in Afghanistan

Business-women seek govt’s financial, technical support

To develop their contribution to the economy of Afghanistan, women need financial and technical support from the government, businesswomen said on Thursday. Solid steps are needed to attract investments for businesswomen to increase their products and contribute effectively their income.[42]

Ghani’s quick response to Afghan woman’s desperate plea widely hailed

The immediate response by the government to a woman’s desperate plea for husband who became a victim of terror attack has been widely hailed and welcomed. The woman, Roqia, hailing from a remote province in central Afghanistan sent an open letter to President Ghani, desperately making pleas for her husband who is in a critical condition after an attack in northern Baghlan province.[43]

Women are a key to building post-conflict stability

International Development Secretary warns that countries will only achieve security and prosperity if women can play a full and active role. Countries will only be able to fully recover from conflict if they involve women in building security and stability.[44]

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

Sources

[1] https://tribune.com.pk/story/1340099/eco-special-meeting-pakistan-assures-afghanistan-full-assistance/

[2] https://www.dawn.com/news/1317515/parts-of-afghan-border-to-be-fenced

[3] https://tribune.com.pk/story/1341109/border-fencing-torkham-no-longer-soft-crossing-point-officials/

[4] http://www.tolonews.com/world/china-denies-reports-military-patrols-afghanistan

[5] http://www.khaama.com/isis-may-develop-regional-power-base-in-northwest-of-afghanistan-isw-02971

[6] http://www.tolonews.com/business/afghanistan-be-banking-gray-list-month

[7] http://www.khaama.com/isis-attack-in-north-of-afghanistan-leaves-10-policemen-and-a-woman-dead-02977

[8] http://www.khaama.com/8-isis-loyalists-in-separate-airstrikes-in-east-of-afghanistan-02989

[9] http://www.khaama.com/suicide-bombers-attack-taliban-compound-in-west-of-afghanistan-02998

[10] http://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan/blast-reported-kabul