Afghan Weekly (Mar 03 – Mar 09, 2017)

Taliban’s political representatives are reported to have visited China last month; an anonymous Taliban source informed Pakistan’s Express Tribune that “The visit was part of the relations of the political office with European countries such as Norway, Germany, France, and Britain as well as neighboring and regional countries. But these relations are focused on bringing about peace in Afghanistan and resolving the issue through negotiations.”[1] The meeting came days after Deng Xijun, China’s special envoy to Afghanistan, met with senior Afghan leaders, including U.S.-backed President Ashraf Ghani in the Afghan capital of Kabul.[2] Meanwhile, Chinese ground troops are reportedly operating inside Afghanistan, conducting joint counter-terror patrols with Afghan forces along a 50-mile stretch of their shared border. This is fueling speculation that Beijing is preparing to play a considerably greater role in the country’s security once the U.S. and NATO leave. Political commentators have debated on the reasons behind China’s move to bring troops inside the war-ravaged country. According to Sung-Yoon Lee, a professor at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, border security and broader stability are of prime concerns to China. In the wake of a US drawdown, China’s law enforcement actions inside Afghanistan in cooperation with Pakistan serve Beijing’s interests quite well.[3]

Strains between Islamabad and Kabul have also continued to persist. This week Pakistan lost five soldiers in a cross-border terrorist attack on three Pakistani border posts along the Pak-Afghan border. Pakistan Army reportedly killed over 15 suspected terrorists in their retaliatory action and injured 20 others, according to a press release issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).[4] Pakistani authorities, however, decided to open up the border for two days, so that the stranded people on both sides could cross over. Resultantly, more than 51,000 Afghans and 4,900 Pakistanis returned to their respective countries.[5]

President Zia-ul Haq’s famous cricket diplomacy always eased tensions between India and Pakistan in the past, even if short-lived. This time it may offer a silver lining in the cloud amid Pak-Afghan impasse. Peshawar Zalmi’s owner Javed Afridi confirmed that he has received a congratulatory message from Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on winning the Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) second edition. President Ghani invited the Zalmi team to Kabul, which was accepted by the franchise, and they will be traveling to Afghanistan’s capital in the summer this year. Zalmi’s CEO further added that his franchise is trying to bring peace in the region.[6]

In a statement released by CRSS yesterday, members of a CRSS led Pak-Afghan Track 1.5/II initiative, called Beyond Boundaries, also welcomed Afghan President’s invitation to the victors of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Peshawar Zalmi.

“This invitation has triggered hopes that cricket may soon become a vehicle to ease tensions and pave way for the resumption of a meaningful and serious dialogue between Afghanistan and Pakistan shortly,” Pakistani members of the Beyond Boundaries initiative said in a statement.

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

Security Overview

Afghan security forces retook the control of Tala Wa Barfak district in Baghlan province after it fell to the Taliban on March 03.[7]
14 Madrasa teachers rescued from ISIS captivity in Haska Mina district of eastern Nangarhar province on March 04.[8]
Taliban militants destroyed the district’s governor building in Tala Wa Barfak district of Baghlan province on March 04.[9]
5 Afghan policemen killed when their checkpoint was attacked in northeastern Kunduz province on March 05.[10]
18 insurgents were killed and three injured in the Imam Sahib District of Kunduz province during security operations by Afghan forces on March 05.[11]
200 Daesh militants killed and 60 wounded in a one-month military operation by Afghan security forces in Nangarhar province, March 06.[12]
30 killed and 70 wounded as gunmen stormed Army hospital in Kabul on March 08.[13]
17 insurgents killed in military operations conducted in Wardak, Uruzgan, Helmand, Kandahar and Laghman provinces, March 09.[14]

Update on Afghan Refugees

UAR

Iran deports dozens of Afghans on daily basis

Dozens of Afghan refugees are deported from Iran on daily basis and are sent back to Nimroz province – where they start their troubling journey to Afghanistan inwards, a number of refugees have claimed. The deported refugees are living in a miserable situation in Nimroz – with some of them waiting to go back to Iran.[15]

Afghan family with U.S. visas detained on arrival in Los Angeles

U.S. agents detained an Afghan family of five with valid entry visas at Los Angeles International Airport and have been holding them for several days in California. Despite repeated requests, the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has provided no information regarding why the family was detained, whether they have been questioned, and whether any reason at all exists to justify their continued detention.[16]

International Engagements

Soldiers with the People's Liberation Army at Shenyang training base in China, March 24, 2007. DoD photo by Staff Sgt. D. Myles Cullen, U.S. Air Force. (Released)

Chinese troops appear to be operating in Afghanistan, and the Pentagon is OK with it

There is mounting evidence that Chinese ground troops are operating inside Afghanistan, conducting joint counter-terror patrols with Afghan forces along a 50-mile stretch of their shared border and fueling speculation that Beijing is preparing to play a significantly greater role in the country’s security once the U.S. and NATO leave. The full scope of China’s involvement remains unclear, and the Pentagon is unwilling to discuss it.[17]

McCain calls for more resources to U.S. forces in Afghanistan

General John McCain, Chairman of Armed Services Committee of the United States Senate has said, threats in Afghanistan are serious and in order to overcome the challenges, the U.S. President Donald Trump should support U.S. commanders in the country with necessary resources.[18]

Trump administration committed to continue support to Afghanistan: Miller

The new US administration led by President Donald Trump is committed to continue support to Afghanistan, the acting US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Laurel Miller has said. She reaffirmed the US support to the Afghan government and people during a meeting with the Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah.[19]

Afghan Taliban’s delegation visits China at Beijing’s behest

The Afghan Taliban’s senior political negotiators recently visited China on the invitation of the Chinese government, which has been making efforts to encourage the insurgent group to join the peace process, two Taliban officials have said. The Taliban Qatar Office Chief Sher Abbas Stanikazai led the five-member delegation comprising Maulvi Shahabuddin Dilawar, Jan Muhammad Madani, Salam Hanafi and Dr Saleh.[20]

Turkmenistan supplying arms to Taliban: Ismail Khan

Former water and energy minister Ismail Khan on Wednesday claimed Turkmenistan had relations with the Taliban and was supplying weapons to the group.[21]

Relations with Pakistan

Pak-Afghan

Afghanistan to airlift citizens if border is not reopened within two days: Ambassador

Afghan Ambassador Omar Zakhilwal on Saturday said Pakistan does not have a justification for the continued closure of crossing points on the Pak-Afghan border, and that his country might send in chartered flights to airlift stranded Afghans in case the border is not reopened soon.[22]

Multiple deaths reported in Afghan-Pakistan cross-border firing

Five Pakistani soldiers and 10 Islamists were killed in cross-border clashes at multiple border positions between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Gunfight was reported at three border points on Sunday (5 March) night and continued through the early hours of Monday. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media arm of the Pakistani army, said terrorists from the other side of the border attempted to penetrate the positions leading to intense fighting.[23]

Pakistan to open Chaman, Torkham crossings for two days

Pakistan has announced it will open the border crossings at Torkham and Chaman on 7th and 8th March 2017. Afghans and Pakistanis stranded on both sides of the border will be allowed back into their respective countries.[24]

Exports to Afghanistan find way back to Pakistan

Data provided by the customs department shows that 70 per cent of the total goods exported to Afghanistan under the Afghan Transit Trade (ATT) are smuggled back to Pakistan through various points duly guarded by the law enforcement agencies, causing an estimated Rs. 100 billion loss to the exchequer over the last two years alone.[25]

Afghanistan will never recognize the Durand Line: Hamid Karzai

Amid increasing tensions on the western border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, former Afghan president Hamid Karzai in a tweet on Sunday said that, “The Government of Pakistan has no legal authority to dictate terms on the Durand Line. While we wish freedom for the people of FATA from FCR and other repressive measures, we remind the government of Pakistan that Afghanistan has not and will not recognize the Durand Line”.[26]

Pak-Afghan dialogue: Peace activists plead for early reopening of border

Delegates at an unofficial dialogue between Pakistan and Afghanistan on Monday called for immediately reopening the border to address the emerging humanitarian crisis. “A bilateral approach must be agreed upon and implemented to prevent the occurrence of similar incidents in the future,” read a joint statement issued at the end of the two-day Afghanistan-Pakistan Bilateral (Track II/ I.5) Dialogue.[27]

Over 55,000 Afghans, Pakistanis return home in two days

In two days, over 51,000 Afghans and 4,900 Pakistanis returned to their respective countries after the Pakistan government reopened border crossings on Tuesday. Rules about legal travel documents for the returning Afghans were also relaxed and they were allowed to go back even by showing their national identity cards. Same rules were also applied for Pakistanis who got stuck on the Afghan side after the closure of the border.[28]

President Ghani congratulated Peshawar Zalmi and extended an invitation to Kabul

Peshawar Zalmi’s owner Javed Afridi confirmed that he has received a congratulatory message from Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. Afghan President invited the Zalmi team to Kabul, which was accepted by the franchise, and they will be traveling to Afghanistan’s capital in the summer this year with all the big names including Shahid Afridi. Zalmi’s CEO further added that his franchise is trying to bring peace in the region.[29]

Internal Politics and Governance

Ghani-06-March

Ghani: More regional cooperation on water issues needed

Countries in the region should have more cooperation to prevent problems that arise because of a lack of water, President Ashraf Ghani said on Sunday at the 4th National Conference on Developing Water Strategy in Kabul. He said it was of concern that the management of Afghanistan’s water resources was not worrying for neighbor countries.[30]

Ghani blames Taliban for presence of foreign troops

President Ashraf Ghani has blamed the Taliban for the necessary presence of foreign troops in Afghanistan as well as the existence of 20 other terrorist groups in the country. “Our security forces are able to defeat the country’s enemies and foil their attacks. Those who don’t want peace will be eliminated,” Ghani added.[31]

Afghanistan: Police in volatile south complain of not being paid

Police in parts of volatile southern Afghanistan have not been paid for weeks, officials say, undermining morale at a time when Taliban militants traditionally increase attacks on security forces.[32]

Afghanistan: a headless army fights badly

In 2017, the challenges of Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) may possibly be their wide-ranging differences with the US army on its long-term negligence and reluctance to equip it with modern weapons. Afghans complain that the US army often stopped attempts of arming Afghan army by some friendly states, and even bombed its units on many occasions.[33]

Hizb-e-Islami demands government’s action on peace accord

Hizb-e-Islami has blasted the government for dealing with the implementation of the agreement with reluctance. They said the government has yet to meet the preconditions of Hizb-e-Islami before group’s leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar arrives in Kabul.[34]

Economy and Development

agriculture-08-march-17

Irrigation networks to be doubled in two years

Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation on Tuesday signed contracts for 15 new irrigation networks to the value of more than $70 million. The contracts were signed with private companies in Kabul and the new networks are to be built in six of the provinces. The new projects add to the ministry’s objectives of more than doubling the country’s irrigation network in two years.[35]

Growth, self-reliance linked to water resources

Afghanistan has the capacity of using only 36 percent of its water and rest is flowing into neighboring countries. The Ministry of Energy and Water (MoWE) on Tuesday said that it has considered a number of programs for better management of country’s water resources as it has major implications for the national development and economic prosperity.[36]

Absence of Minister for mines harms national economy

If the absence of a full-time minister and the consequential fragility of the ministry of mines, is not addressed, it would have negative repercussions for economy of the country, the Natural Resources Monitoring Network said.[37]

International Monetary Fund commends progress on reform objectives

The International Monetary Fund is likely to release a further £6 million to Afghanistan after being judged to have made satisfactory progress on its reform plan.[38]

Women in Afghanistan

App

Herat girls develop 13 software programs

A group of girls from Herat schools have created 14 technology groups and developed 13 software programs that can be installed on mobiles and computers. Of the 13 software programs, one has been nominated in Asian Technician Challenge competition. The worldwide Technician Challenge competition is held every year in all countries of the globe. The only group from Afghanistan that has membership of this competition is a group of Herat girls who obtained their membership two years ago.[39]

Afghanistan: The only gynecologist for hundreds of miles

Fed up with what she felt was mismanagement at her hospital, gynecologist Homa Amiri Kakar had walked out of her job in a remote part of Afghanistan and returned to the capital. But just a week later she agreed to go back, guilt-stricken about the women she had deserted, as the BBC’s Sarah Buckley and Asif Maroof reported.[40]

Afghanistan launches center to protect women journalists

Reporters Without Borders today launched a center to protect women journalists in Afghanistan, the second most dangerous in the country for the profession after Syria. The center will aim to lobby the government for better working conditions and rights for women reporters. It will also talk to families to try to change perceptions that journalism is not a job for a woman.[41]

Above 80 Faryab schoolgirls poisoned

More than 80 schoolgirls and their three teachers mysteriously fell ill and were hospitalized in Qurghan district of northern Faryab province on Wednesday, when the world celebrated the women’s day. It is not clear yet who did this, but the relevant authorities have started their investigations.[42]

European Union seeks role for Afghan women in peace process

Despite positive efforts by the government, life remains difficult for Afghan women, especially in rural areas, the European Union (EU) said on Wednesday. In a statement from EU, poverty, illiteracy, violence, traditional norms and harmful practices refusing females their rights in having an equal position in society were cited as major challenges to the Afghan women.[43]

Ghani stresses women’s role in nation building

President Ashraf Ghani said on Wednesday, the increasing role of women in society needed an enabling environment and workplace harassment would not be tolerated. The president expressed the view during a gathering at Presidential Palace, marking International Women’s Day. He said every Afghan woman played an important role in security, defense, education and culture of the country. He said the Afghan women had proved how strong they had been despite huge hurdles and barriers.[44]

Kabul Municipality hires women for cleanliness

The Kabul Municipality has appointed women for cleaning roads and streets of the capital – an unprecedented step in the past 15 years that residents hailed as exemplary. The women expressed satisfaction with the work.[45]

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.breitbart.com/national-security/2017/03/07/afghan-taliban-delegation-visits-china-beijings-behest/

[2] http://president.gov.af/en/news/president-ghani-receives-special-envoy-of-china-for-afghanistan-and-pakistan

[3] http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/chinese-troops-afghanistan

[4] https://www.dawn.com/news/1318772/five-soldiers-killed-in-militant-attack-along-pak-afghan-border-ispr

[5] https://www.dawn.com/news/1319352

[6] https://tribune.com.pk/story/1350584/shah-rukh-khan-suggests-three-match-kkr-zalmi-series-javed-afridi/

[7] http://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan/provincial/security-forces-retake-tala-wa-barfak-district

[8] http://www.khaama.com/14-madrasa-teachers-rescued-from-isis-captivity-in-east-of-afghanistan-02321

[9] http://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan/provincial/taliban-destroyed-district-building-baghlan

[10] http://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-five-policemen-killed-taliban-kunduz/28351357.html