Afghan Weekly (Feb 03 - Feb 09, 2017)

The peace measures in Afghanistan, most often prove to be in shadows, but the recent peace accord of Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin Hekmatyar with Afghan Government is being considered as a silver lining in the cloud. With these rapidly moving developments, different maneuvers to expedite the peace process are being employed by Russia, China, Pakistan and other regional and international actors. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Afghanistan now has been formally invited to another round due in mid-February in Moscow, where high level representatives from China, Iran, India and Pakistan will be present.[1] Lavrov made this announcement on February 07 in Moscow after talks with his visiting Afghan counterpart, Salahuddin Rabbani, revealing that most of these countries had already confirmed their participation. China, too, is engaging both the Afghan Government and Taliban for a settlement through dialogue. Deng Xijun, China’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, has said to the Afghan Government that negotiations with the Taliban is the only way forward. The Chinese envoy also said that during their talks with the Taliban they had encouraged them to do the same.[2]

The internal actors and stakeholders in Afghanistan are disparately trying to impress upon their mantras for truce. The High Peace Council (HPC) has said that it has defined a new peace process strategy which they hope will influence Taliban insurgents to join peace negotiations with the Afghan Government. The new peace process strategy ought to be indigenous and will seek no involvement of others.[3] A somewhat similar notion was shared in a separate conference in Kabul which was organized by Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies (AISS). In the conference, former National Security Advisor Rangeen Dadfar Spanta told the participants that Afghanistan has to break away from the reliance on certain nations and work on new concepts.[4] A multipronged policy will help Afghanistan to be in more harmony and cooperation with other countries and in principle will ensure equal rights, the right of national sovereignty and mutual respect.

On the issue of Afghan refugees, the Government of Pakistan has approved new changes in the policy regarding their repatriation and management on February 07. The deadline for Afghan refugees to leave the country has now been extended from March 31 to December 31, 2017, while beyond this date, their entry back into Pakistan has been barred without valid visas.[5]

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

Security Overview

12 Daesh fighters killed in attack on Afghan police outpost in Kot district of Nangarhar province on February 03.[6]
15 civilians and 65 Taliban dead in clashes amid security operations in Sangin district, Helmand province on February 03.[7]
8 police force members killed by a surrendered Taliban fighter in Gard Marshkar village of Almar district, Faryab province on February 03.[8]
4 suspects arrested from the vicinity of Achin district in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan for having links with ISIS on February 05.[9]
Top government official, the district administrative chief of Khak-e-Safid Abdul Raziq Noorzai killed in an explosion in West of Afghanistan on February 07.[10]
ISIS militants suffer casualties in US airstrikes in Charzoi and Nari Obo areas of Haska Mina district, Nangarhar province on Februray 07.[11]
20 dead in suicide blast outside Afghan Supreme Court in Kabul on February 07.[12]
6 employees of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) killed by a gunmen near the northern town of Shibirghan, capital of the Jowzjan province on February 08.[13]
ISIS leaders Omar Sadiq and Omar Farooq killed in US drone strikes in Achin and Kot districts of Nagarhar province on February 09.[14]
6,500 rounds of AK-47 ammunition seized in the vicinity of Bati Kot district of Nangarhar province on February 09.[15]

Update on Afghan Refugees

War-torn Afghanistan’s returning refugees find little hope in their homeland

Conflict-torn Afghanistan is struggling to reabsorb large masses of refugees and failed asylum seekers being sent back from Pakistan, Europe and Iran, joining more than half a million others uprooted by war. Clutching meager household possessions, often with small children in tow, unprecedented numbers seek refuge in crowded cities such as eastern Jalalabad, straining public resources that are already near breaking point.[16]

Afghanistan: The crisis of deportees from Europe

The refugee crisis is being politicized, at the expense of human rights. These refugees have invariably undergone some horrific physical and mental experiences, with lifelong repercussions. Yet, their stories are often misunderstood, misinterpreted, and worst of all politicized and manipulated for exigent ends.[17]

International Engagements

U.S. won’t let Afghanistan to become safe haven for terrorists

Former Commander of the United States forces in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus at a meeting with the U.S. Congress Military Commission said Washington’s mission is to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for terrorists. Petraeus said the U.S. soldiers should train Afghan security forces to stand on their own feet and defend their country.[18]

Russia to host wider regional conference on Afghanistan

Russia will host a regional conference on Afghanistan later this month to discuss efforts aimed at settling the protracted Afghan conflict and containing “spillover effects” of Islamic State terrorists trying to get a foothold in the war-ravaged nation.[19]

Civilian toll in Afghanistan is highest in years, says U.N.

United Nations reported that nearly 3,500 Afghan civilians died and more than 7,900 were wounded in the conflict last year – the highest tolls since U.N. officials began recording civilian casualties in 2009.[20]

U.S. aggressively targeting ISIS and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan

Brig. Gen. Charlie Cleveland, a top spokesman for U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, says that United States is aggressively targeting ISIS and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. There were close to 3,000 ISIS members operating in 10 or 12 districts in Nangarhar province near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
Now there are about 1,000 in two districts. The U.S. counterterrorism mission also eliminated about 200 al-Qaida fighters in 2016, he added.[21]

Chinese tell President Ghani negotiations with Taliban only way for peace in region

Deng Xijun, China’s Special Representative for Afghanistan has said to the Afghan government that negotiations with the Taliban is the only way forward. The Chinese envoy also said that during their talks with the Taliban they had encouraged them to do the same.[22]

NATO reaffirms its commitment to Afghanistan during Atmar’s visit to Brussels

The NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller made this commitment during a meeting with the National Security Adviser of Afghanistan Mohammad Hanif Atmar. Minister Atmar also briefed the North Atlantic Council, which met in a format including all the Resolute Support contributing nations.[23]

ICRC halts operations in Afghanistan after workers killed

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) temporarily suspended some of its efforts in Afghanistan on February 09, a day after gunmen killed six employees delivering aid to a remote northern region hit by heavy snowstorms. A search operation was under way to find two charity workers still missing. The head of the ICRC called the incident the “worst attack against us” in 20 years.[24]

Relations with Pakistan

Pakistani parliamentarians and politicians plan trip to Afghanistan soon

Several Pakistani politicians and parliamentarians are planning to visit Afghanistan in a bid to reduce tensions between the two neighbouring states. Afghan Ambassador Omar Zakhilwal has agreed to a proposal, though no actual date has been set for the visit.[25]

Afghan diplomat shot dead by guard at Karachi consulate in Pakistan

A senior Afghan diplomat was killed as a private security guard Rahatullah, deputed inside the consulate building in Karachi’s Clifton area, opened fire on Muhammad Zaki – a senior consulate official. Talking to media, DIG South Azad Khan said, the incident was probably due to personal enmity.[26]

Afghanistan, Pakistan to jointly investigate Afghan diplomat’s killing in Karachi

The Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said a delegation comprising of Afghan and Pakistani officials will be investigating the incident. Earlier, a security guard gunned down a senior Afghan diplomat at the Afghan consulate in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi.[27]

Afghan refugees’ status extended by Pakistan until end of year

Pakistan’s government has extended a deadline for Afghan refugees to leave the country until the end of 2017, according to state media.[28] The new policy also ensures that those without visas are not allowed entry into the country.[29]

Goodwill gesture: Pakistan handed over four IS militants to Afghanistan

Pakistani authorities have handed over four suspected Islamic State militants to Afghanistan. The suspected militants had crossed into Pakistan after being injured in a fight with the Afghan Taliban in the Nangarhar province and were later arrested from a hospital in Peshawar.[30]

Pak-Afghan trade suspension enters 5th day

The Pak-Afghan transit trade suspension has entered fifth day, owing to which a long queue of hundreds of containers is seen near Friendship Gate. A scuffle on weighting of goods in Balochistan border city of Chaman triggered suspension of trade between the two countries.[31]

Internal Politics and Governance

Afghanistan needs a balanced and multipronged foreign policy concept

Afghanistan could change into a battlefield for foreign countries unless government defines a more balanced and multi-pronged foreign policy strategy, said former national security advisor Rangeen Dadfar Spanta. Afghanistan has to break away from the reliance on certain nations and work on new concepts, he added.[32]

Taliban engage in rescue efforts after deadly snowfall

The Taliban militant group has announced its engagement regarding rescue efforts in Afghanistan after heavy snowfall caused over 80 deaths in 48 hours. It published a report on its internet portal ‘The Jihad Voice’ in which it claims to have helped dozens of people in vehicles stuck in snow in the southern province of Zabul.[33]

HPC draws up new peace strategy for talks with Taliban

The High Peace Council (HPC) has said that it has defined a new peace process strategy which they hope will influence Taliban insurgents to join peace negotiations with the Afghan government. The new peace process strategy will not involve other countries, the HPC said.[34]

NUG’s security policy sparks debate after court bombing

Members of the public have raised questions around the issue of what government is doing to prevent deadly attacks on the capital. They also questioned the appointments made by NUG leaders in security institutions, saying the NUG has appointed those people in the security institutions who do not have the experience to deal with threats against the country.[35]

Economy and Development

Militant groups in Afghanistan make money smuggling minerals

The Afghanistan Anti-Corruption Network said in a report that militant groups received at least $46 million by illegally exporting minerals and precious stones to Pakistan. The report said up to 750,000 tons of marble and talc were smuggled from various parts of Nangarhar province. Some areas of this province have active Taliban and Islamic State fighters.[36]

Afghan Ministry of Economy predicts 3% growth next year

The Ministry of Economy (MoEc) said that the implementation of development projects within the framework of national priorities and an increase in the level of budget spending has helped boost Afghanistan’s economic growth rate. By investing around 20 billion Afs within the framework of the national budget, the country’s economic growth rate is up by one percent.[37]

Recent snowfall in Afghanistan a boost for the agriculture sector

Speaking on the importance of the agriculture sector within the framework of the national economy, the Central Statistics Organization (CSO) said that this year’s heavy snowfalls would boost agriculture and in turn contribute positively to the national economy. Afghan farmers are also optimistic about this year’s harvests as they say the good rain and snowfall has brought an end to water shortages in parts of the country.[38]

Azerbaijan’s export mission visits Afghanistan

An export mission of Azerbaijani entrepreneurs, comprising representatives of some nine companies is currently in Kabul, Afghanistan. The companies are engaged in such spheres as production of fruit and vegetables, mineral water, fruit juice, sugar and confectionery products, cotton, as well as chemical and other industrial products.[39]

Women in Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s first female Wushu trainer teaches young women to slash the patriarchy

A group of young women aged 14 to 20 gathers on a snowy hilltop overlooking Kabul, where they meet each week no matter what the weather is. Azimi – Afghanistan’s first female Wushu trainer hopes that acquiring martial arts skills will help her students defend themselves from the persistent street abuse.

Young Afghan girls risk their lives to play music

Zarifa is among the first girls in her country in 30 years to study music. She is also one of two female conductors of the Afghanistan Women’s Orchestra, made up of students between the ages of 13 and 20, who play a mix of Western and traditional Afghan instruments. In most of the world, that would make her a star student. In Afghanistan, that makes Zarifa Adiba a target.[40]

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.voanews.com/a/russia-to-host-wider-regional-conference-on-afghanistan/3709818.html

[2] https://www.globalvillagespace.com/2017/02/07/chinese-envoy-meeting-with-president-ashraf-ghani-says-negotiations-with-taliban-only-way-for-peace-in-region/

[3] http://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan/hpc-draws-ups-new-peace-strategy-talks-taliban

[4] http://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan/afghanistan-needs-balanced-multipronged-foreign-policy-concept

[5] http://www.dawn.com/news/1313278

[6] http://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan/provincial/12-daesh-militants-killed-attack-police-outpost-nangarha

[7] http://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan/provincial/helmand-clashes-leave-15-civilians-65-taliban-dead

[8] http://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan/provincial/eight-police-force-members-killed-faryab

[9] https://www.khaama.com/4-suspects-arrested-for-having-links-with-isis-in-east-of-afghanistan-02807

[10] http://www.khaama.com/top-government-official-killed-in-an-explosion-in-west-of-afghanistan-02826