Afghan Weekly (Dec 31 – Jan 05, 2016-17)

Pak-Afghan relations seem to have experienced a slight thaw in bilateral tensions as Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa telephoned Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and his counterpart General Qadam Shah Shahim last week on 31^st December felicitating them on the beginning of another year. This was announced in a statement tweeted by Pakistan’s military media wing’s Chief Major General Asif Ghafoor which said that the Chief of Army Staff pledged to work together in the coming year with Afghanistan for peace in the region, adding that “peace in both countries is in the greater interest of the region”. The Afghan civil and military leadership reciprocated by extending an invitation to the Chief of Army Staff to visit Kabul, the tweet said.[1]

Amid promises for peace in Afghanistan, on the other hand, while skepticism surrounded regarding the viability of the Russia-China-Pakistan strategic talks, due to the absence of United States which has thousands of troops still based in the war-torn country, and Afghan government itself, the United States, on its part, has hoped the meeting would lead to peace. At a news briefing in Washington on January 03, State Department spokesman John Kirby stated that while the United States recognizes Afghanistan’s right to hold all negotiations with other nations on issues that concerns the country and its people, “what we welcome is any international effort to help Afghanistan become secure and more prosperous. And we continue to support, as we always have, an Afghan-led reconciliation process.” The United Sates welcomes any talks held to discuss “the same secure, safe, prosperous Afghanistan that we all want to see”, he added, stating that such talks could be constructive if they came up with “ideas to pursue that, in keeping with mandates from the international community and in particular NATO,” he said.[2]

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

Security Overview

Senior Afghan general injured in a roadside bomb explosion on January 01.[3]
49 Taliban insurgents killed and 29 others wounded in different joint clearance operations launched by security forces on January 01.[4]
Weapons cache of Taliban, 2 Heroin-making factories destroyed in Nangarhar during a counter-narcotic operation by the Afghan Police Special Forces on January 01.[5]
26 Taliban members killed in a Faryab military operation on January 02.[6]
Explosion near a mosque in Herat city leaves 6 wounded on January 02.[7]
Two policemen killed in a Clash with gunmen in Parwan on January 02.[8]
Military operation launched in Badakhshan on January 03.[9]
‘Thousands protest against ISIS in western Afghanistan chanting slogans of Death to Daesh!’ on January 04.[10]
An explosion rocked Jalalabad city, the provincial capital of eastern Nangarhar province on January 05. Causalities feared.[11]

Update on Afghan Refugees

Afghan refugee sets self on fire in Germany

A 19-year-old Afghan asylum seeker has set himself on fire in Germany due to unknown reasons, leaving serious burns over his body. This comes as the Afghan asylum seekers are facing considerable issues in the European countries, mostly with their asylum applications besides thousands others are stranded in the eastern European countries.[12]

UNHCR concerned over law, order for Afghan refugees repatriation

Provincial head of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Quetta, Pakistan, Dinesh Shrestha, told the Voice of America that more than 37,000 Afghan refugees had left for Afghanistan in 2016 while at least 15,000 registered Afghan migrants had already left for Afghanistan. Replying to a question, he said Afghan refugees migrated to areas of Afghanistan where peace has been restored; however, it is difficult to dispatch all Afghan refugees in a year because Iran is also sending Afghan migrants and in Afghanistan.[13]

Achakzai, Fazal on Afghan refugees

Mahmood Khan Achakzai leader of the Pakhtunkhawa Milli Awami Party, a Pakistani political party, has demanded to give citizenship to Afghan Refugees. While Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman asked the government to take back Afghan Refugees who returned to their home land and give them Citizenship. Both these leaders have demanded the creation of independent province “Afghania” for these newly inducted citizens.[14]

Refugees in Austria: Afghan Asylum-Seeker Allegedly Attacks Woman For Reading Bible

A 22-year-old Afghan refugee stabbed a woman in northern Austria when he heard her reading the Bible at an asylum center, according to reports. However, the woman did not sustain serious injuries as her thick winter coat protected her from the stabbing.[15]

International Engagements

Only Afghan-led process can bring peace to Afghanistan: US

At a news briefing in Washington on January 03, State Department spokesman John Kirby said the United States recognized Afghanistan’s right to hold all negotiations with other nations on issues that concerned the country and its people.[16]

Russia has no peace plan for Afghanistan: Kabulov

“Without improved economy, administration and army, Afghanistan will not have a future at all. Afghanistan will disappear, will fall apart,” says Putin’s special envoy to Afghanistan on December 31, 2016.[17] He further added that the number of U.S military bases in Afghanistan and the United States’ continued presence was a matter of concern to Russia. “In Turkey, the U.S has only one military base but in Afghanistan they have the right to use nine big military bases plus almost 10 more.” He asked “Why?”[18]

Former Jihadi Leader Warns Against Russia, Taliban Thaw

Former politician and Jihadi figure Mohammad Ismail Khan on Monday warned that Afghanistan is likely to enter a new era of conflict unless government reviews its regional policies, referring to the recent trilateral meeting between China, Pakistan and Russia on Afghanistan. If action is not taken, Afghanistan could change into a second Syria, he said.[19]

Moscow Could Obstruct Lifting Of UN Sanctions against Hekmatyar

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that Russia has put the delisting of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar’s name on hold but hadn’t blocked it. She did not give reasons as to why Russia needed more time. The Afghan government and Gulbuddin Hekmatyar led Hizb-e-Islami had signed a peace accord in September, effectively ending years of insurgency by the militant group.[20]

Civil War in Afghanistan Was Averted, Says John Kerry

Speaking at his final press conference as Secretary of State on January 5, U.S Secretary of State John Kerry said his mediation not only helped establish the National Unity Government (NUG) in Afghanistan during the post-election crisis but also possibly helped avert a civil war. “We played a pivotal role in forging a national unity government in Afghanistan that, while still facing challenges, has kept alive the chance for future progress,” he said.[21]

Relations with Pakistan

Terrorism equally threatening Afghanistan and Pakistan: Pak Army Chief

Pakistan’s new military chief spoke to Afghan leaders Saturday and promised to work for regional peace as mutual mistrust and suspicion have continued to plague bilateral ties in the outgoing year.[22]

Afghanistan leadership invites Pakistan Army chief on visit Kabul

Afghanistan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah invited new Pakistani Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa to visit the country, the media wing of the Pakistani military said. The invitation was extended by the Afghan leadership during a telephone conversation with General Bajwa, according to a statement by Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Asif Ghafoor.[23]

Passport mandatory for Pakistanis to cross over into Afghanistan now

Possession of Pakistani passport has been made mandatory for cross-border movement by Pakistan nationals at Torkham border.[24]

Chaman-Kandahar highway blocked against closure of border

Traffic between Chaman and Kandahar remained suspended for several hours on January 02 after a large number of protesters blocked the Chaman highway that links Pakistan with Afghanistan by putting up barricades and burning tires.[25]

Internal Politics and Governance

Government Appoints Four New Ambassadors

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) announced that the National Unity Government (NUG) has appointed four new ambassadors including Sayed Tayyeb Jawad as new Afghan ambassador to the United Kingdom who served as advisor to Chief Executive Office Abdullah Abdullah and was Afghanistan’s ambassador to the U.S. Sardar Mohammad Rahman Oghli has been appointed as Afghan envoy to Ukraine, Khujastah Sana Ibrahimkhail to Austria and Mangal Hussain Ahmadzai to Kuwait.[26]

Afghan Minister suspended over corruption scandal

The Afghan government has suspended the Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdul Razaq Wahidi, as efforts are underway to implement massive reforms and tackle corruption among the government entities.[27]

MoFA and Parliament at Odds over Draft Foreign Policy

Confusion surrounds the whereabouts of Afghanistan’s draft foreign policy which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said was sent to parliament last year, but parliament’s international relations committee said they never received it. A number of international relations analysts have said the lack of a formal foreign policy has resulted in numerous challenges in government’s foreign relations and that this has put the country at a disadvantage.[28]

Taliban Impose New Price Restrictions on Goods in Kunduz

Kunduz residents and officials complained that the Taliban recently imposed price regulations on goods being sold in some areas in the province. “This is quite shameful for the government. It was supposed to be announced by the government and not the Taliban,” said a resident of Kunduz.[29]

Terrorists Indirectly Receive Parts of Mine’s Revenue in Nangarhar

Officials in Ministry of Mines and Petroleum have expressed concerns over illegal extraction of the mines in Nangarhar saying terrorist, especially Taliban and Daesh militants, are being beefed indirectly by digging mines.[30]

Afghanistan’s Constitution Has Not Been Fully Implemented

The Independent Commission Overseeing the Implementation of the Constitution (ICOIC) has said more than 20 articles of the constitution have not yet been fully implemented. “There are reasons why some articles of the constitution have not been implemented. Insecurity is one reason. And there have been other reasons as well,” said Mohammad Qasim Hashimzai, head of the ICOIC.[31]

Economy and Development

IMF Sets 150bn Afs Revenue Collection Target For MoF in 2017

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has set a 150 billion Afs revenue collection target for the Ministry of Finance (MoF) for 2017 – the new fiscal year. The spokesman for MoF, Ajmal Hameed Abdul Rahimzai, meanwhile said following the MoF’s achievement in exceeding its 2016 target of 130 billion Afs, this new target is achievable. He also said that because the MoF had exceeded its target, the IMF has pledged to reward government with $100 million USD.[32]

More than 1,000 Schools Closed Across Afghanistan

Acting minister of education Asadullah Mohaqiq has said that more than 1,000 schools are closed across the country due to insecurity. Speaking in the Meshrano Jirga (Upper House of Parliament) on Sunday Mohaqiq said that the Education Ministry is trying to re-open schools in insecure parts of Afghanistan. Mohaqiq said nearly 40,000 teachers were needed for the new school year across the country.[33]

Afghanistan, Uzbekistan Trade Relations Strengthened

Homaion Qiomi, President Ashraf Ghani’s advisor on infrastructure announced on January 03 that Uzbekistan companies are ready to invest in certain sectors including energy, agriculture, road construction and railway in Afghanistan.[34]

Iran, Turkey Accused of Selling Herat Saffron as Their Own

Herat’s saffron has been cited as the best in the world. A number of Saffron traders in northern Herat province on Sunday said due to the lack of processing facilities, they sell their saffron to Turkey and Iran who in turn sell the processed and packaged product to the Unites States and Europe as their own.[35]

Women in Afghanistan

More women join fight against Taliban and ISIS in North of Afghanistan

Several women have picked arms against the Taliban insurgents and ISIS loyalists in northern Jawzjan province of Afghanistan. The anti-ISIS and anti-Taliban uprising by women have taken shape in the remote Darzab district of Jawzjan.[36]

Thanks to this Afghan woman, 6,000 imams have taken gender-sensitivity training

Jamila Afghani, who has battled discrimination since childhood, uses Islam to empower women in Afghanistan. She is committed to continuing the work despite threats and other obstacles.[37]

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.dawn.com/news/1305620

[2] https://www.dawn.com/news/1306527/only-afghan-led-process-can-bring-peace-to-afghanistan-us

[3] http://www.aopnews.com/taliban/senior-afghan-army-general-injured-in-roadside-bomb-explosion/

[4] http://afghanistantimes.af/49-insurgents-killed-in-raids-2/

[5] http://ariananews.af/latest-news/weapons-cache-of-taliban-2-heroin-making-factories-destroyed-in-nangarhar/

[6] http://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan/26-taliban-members-killed-faryab-military-operation

[7] http://www.khaama.com/explosion-near-a-mosque-in-herat-city-leaves-6-wounded-02601

[8] http://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan/two-policemen-killed-clash-gunmen-parwan

[9] http://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan/military-operation-launch-badakhshan

[10] https://www.rt.com/news/372610-afghanistan-thousands-protest-isis/