Afghan Weekly (Jan 27 - Feb 02, 2017)

Afghanistan has been experiencing a surge in returning refugees from Pakistan, Iran, and Europe which is exasperating the government’s capacity to absorb refugees in an already hard milieu of high unemployment and internally displaced people after decades of war. According to an International Monetary Fund (IMF) report, almost 700,000 Afghans returned home from Pakistan in 2016.[1] The report further anticipated that up to 2.5 million refugees will follow over the next 18 months, which will add nearly 10 per cent to Afghanistan’s population. This is a massive influx calling for enormous resources. CEO Abdullah Abdullah said at the Council of Ministers Meeting that Afghanistan will need more humanitarian aid this year in order to deal with the flood of thousands of return refugees as well as all the internally displaced people. This comes after the Afghan government recently called on the international community to help with $550 million USD which is needed to address the problem.[2]

Upon Trump’s arrival in the White House, former president of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai urged the incoming U.S. President to keep their promises on ending terror camps in Pakistan that President Obama had failed to do.[3] Meanwhile, the former American General and Commander of US forces in Afghanistan, David Petraeus, suggested that sustained commitment of US forces in Afghanistan is the only way to prevent the country from becoming a terrorist sanctuary once again. Of pledges, the United Nations, too, reassured its firm commitment to Afghanistan and its people, as stated by Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, following a four-day visit to Afghanistan this week.[4]

On the economic front, Kabul is doing pretty well as the government recently signed $55.8 million worth of electricity supply contracts for Logar, Paktia and Khost provinces.[5] The Afghan government has also approved contracts worth 7.4 billion American Forces Network (AFN) during a meeting of the National Procurement Commission.[6] The bilateral trade with Iran is also increasing sharply. According to the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI), 25 percent of Afghanistan’s total trade volume is with Iran.[7]

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

Security Overview

12 Taliban insurgents killed during Operation Shafaq-e-Dowom in Arghandab district of Afghanistan’s southern Zabul province on January 30.[8]
Dozens of Taliban insurgents stormed Sangin district in southern Helmand province of Afghanistan on January 30.[9]
Top Taliban leader in charge of recruitment arrested in the vicinity of Khanabad district of Kunduz province on January 30.[10]
600 soldiers to be sent to Helmand province by Afghan Army, announced on January 30.[11]
Taliban’s group leader of Zabul province Malawi Hamid killed in a blast triggered by a premature explosion on January 30.[12]
8 heroin labs destroyed by Afghan forces’ operation in Bando village, Nowzad district of Helmand province on January 30.[13]
Taliban assault district center of Sangin in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province on January 30.[14]
S. airstrikes hit Taliban in Sangin district of Helmand province after attack on an Afghan army post on January 31.[15]
3 killed as Taliban militants’ vehicle hit their IED near Kajaki area in Helmand province on January 31.[16]
20 ISIS loyalists killed by own bomb near Khwarzangi area in Arghandab district of southern Afghanistan on January 31.[17]
ISIS leader Shahid Omar killed in Nangarhar airstrike in Afghanistan on February 01.[18]
8 people wounded in back to back explosions in Khost city in Southeast of Afghanistan on February 01.[19]
Taliban militants fired several rockets on Lashkargah city, the provincial capital of southern Helmand province, following Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah’s visit on February 01.[20]
2 doctors kidnapped by militants in Qads district of Badghis province in Afghanistan on February 02.[21]

Update on Afghan Refugees

Return of Afghan Refugees to Afghanistan Surges as Country Copes to Rebuild

Afghanistan is seeing a surge in returning refugees from Pakistan, Iran, and Europe. This is seriously aggravating the government’s capacity to absorb refugees in an already difficult environment of high unemployment and internally displaced people after decades of conflict.[22]

700,000 Afghan refugees returned home from Pakistan in 2016: IMF

The report quotes analysts as projecting that up to 2.5 million refugees will follow over the next 18 months, which will add nearly 10 per cent to Afghanistan’s population.[23]

Amid Kabul winter, Afghan war refugees shiver in frigid informal settlements

Some of the refugee camps are invisible and unregulated warrens of mud-walled sheds wedged among urban alleys or clustered in vacant lots. Those who have been officially designated as repatriated refugees or internally displaced persons are entitled to one-time cash payments and handouts of certain basic supplies.[24]

International Engagements

UN Envoy Visits Kabul, Underscores Previous Commitments

The United Nations remains firmly committed to Afghanistan and its people, said Miroslav Jenca, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, following a four-day visit to Afghanistan.[25]

CEO States Afghanistan’s Humanitarian Aid Needs Will Rise

CEO Abdullah Abdullah said at the Council of Ministers Meeting that Afghanistan will need more humanitarian aid this year in order to cope with the influx of thousands of return refugees as well as all the internally displaced people. This comes after government recently called on the international community to help with $550 million USD which is needed to address the problem.[26]

Afghanistan reconstruction ‘remains tenuous and incomplete’: SIGAR

The first progress report to the new Trump administration, a U.S. watchdog, called SIGAR that monitors billions of dollars in aid to Afghanistan, show that the Afghan government controls barely half the country; its security forces numbers are on the decline; drug production is on the rise while its eradication is down.[27]

Petraeus calls for sustained US focus on Afghanistan

“The 9-11 attacks were planned in Afghanistan, where the initial training of the attackers was conducted,” David Petraeus, the former commander of US and NATO troops in Afghanistan, said. “The only way that you can accomplish that mission, without us doing it ourselves, is obviously to enable the Afghans to, over time, secure themselves and to govern themselves to a good enough fashion,” Petraeus said in response to a question at the House Armed Services Committee.[28]

Relations with Pakistan

Go after Pakistan-based terrorists: Karzai to Trump

Former president Hamid Karzai has urged US President Donald Trump to honour his campaign’s promise of dismantling terrorist camps in Pakistan.[29]

Pakistan Arrests 79 Afghan Nationals Trying To Enter Iran

The Pakistan border police launched an operation in Mashkail area and arrested the Afghan nationals, according to Pakistan media. Reports indicate large numbers of illegal and unregistered Afghan refugees are living in Balochistan where they allegedly carry out illegal activities.[30]

Pakistan claims soldier killed in firing from Afghanistan

The Pakistani security officials claim a soldier died after sustaining injuries from firing along the Durand Line. Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of Pakistani military, in a statement said the incident took place on January 28 close to Khyber Agency.[31]

Pakistan reiterates support for peace in Afghanistan

Pakistan reiterated its support for peace in neighboring Afghanistan saying this was also in Islamabad’s interest.[32]

Internal Politics and Governance

Atta Noor Pushes For a Role on National Stage

Atta Mohammad Noor, one of Afghanistan’s most powerful regional leaders, is negotiating with the president to join the central government, a move which could change the political landscape ahead of elections due in 2019.[33]

3 Herat Officials Arrested On Corruption Charges

Three officials from Herat customs office and a resident of the province were arrested on charges of corruption, embezzlement and misuse of their authority. Herat governor’s spokesman Jailani Farhad said the officials were arrested by the National Directorate of Security (NDS) forces.[34]

Officials Call for War on Corruption At All Levels

The commander of the Combined Security Transition Command (CSTC-A) Robert Kaiser said that corruption inflicts millions of dollars in financial losses to the Afghan government, and called on officials to take firm steps to stop the scourge.[35]

41 Schools Closed In Herat amid Security Threats

According to the Herat education department, the closure of these schools in the province has deprived nearly 2,000 children of a regular education. These schools are reportedly located in Herat’s Shindand, Guzra, Gulran, Oba and Zindagan districts.[36]

Khost’s Qalandar District Governor Defends Taliban

Qalandar district governor in Khost has said the Taliban is in control of the district and came out in defense of the insurgent group, saying they were decent people.[37]

Corruption is a cancer that plagues the Afghan nation: US envoy

A top US envoy in Afghanistan has said corruption is a cancer that plagues the Afghan nation. Chargé d’Affaires Ambassador Hugo Llorens made the remarks in a statement released following the establishment of a new permanent facility for the Anti-Corruption Justice Center in Kabul.[38]

Economy and Development

$55.8 million electricity supply contracts signed for Logar, Paktia and Khost

The Office of the President, ARG Palace, said the contracts were signed between Jaguar and Angelique International and the State power supply company, Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS). DABS Chief Qudratullah Delawari said the contracts will be funded by the Asian Development Bank on a non-refundable grant basis.[39]

Contracts worth 7.4 billion AFN approved by Afghan Government

The Afghan government has approved contracts worth 7.4 billion AFN during a meeting of the National Procurement Commission. Chaired by President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, the eight contracts were signed in the presence of the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction John Sopko who was invited as an observer.[40]

Tax problems to be tackled at upcoming conference

The CEO’s office said the private sector and the ministries of finance and justice will hold a conference in the near future on ways to find a solution to problems facing businessmen – especially in terms of paying tax.[41]

Sharp Rise in Trade Volume between Afghanistan and Iran

The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries said Iran has, since 2014, replaced Pakistan as Afghanistan’s single biggest trading partner.[42]

Women in Afghanistan

Herat Ladies Turn to Facebook to Sell Their Products

A Herat woman has created a Facebook Group through which other women are able to sell their handicrafts and unused goods. The group was created by the woman nine months ago, and according to members of the group, the page has generated over $1.5 million USD in the past nine months.[43]

Female Herat prisoners upbeat about post-jail life

Female prisoners, who underwent different vocational trainings at the female prison in western Herat province, say they will be able to fulfill their economic needs after their releases.[44]

MP Nusrat Ghani bids to ban ‘honour killing’ term

Conservative Nusrat Ghani said the term was used by abusers as a “pathetic self-justification” for their violence. She proposed a bill in the House of Commons that would ban the use of the description in official publications.[45]

War against Afghan women goes on

According to this week reports, 2 women killed in Herat, 2 in Badakhshan, 1 each killed in Khosh and Takhar, 1 got ears cut off in Balkh and other one kidnapped by gunmen in Sarepul. Many other such cases go unnoticed as they are not reported.[46]

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.imf.org/en/news/articles/2017/01/26/na012617-return-of-afghan-refugees-to-afghanistan-surges-country-copes-rebuild#Infographic

[2] http://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan/ceo-states-afghanistan%E2%80%99s-humanitarian-aid-needs-will-rise

[3] http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2017/01/30/go-after-pakistan-based-terrorists-karzai-trump

[4] http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2017/02/02/petraeus-calls-sustained-us-focus-afghanistan

[5] www.khaama.com/55-8-million-electricity-supply-contracts-signed-for-logar-paktia-and-khost-02755

[6] http://www.khaama.com/contracts-worth-7-4-billion-afn-approved-by-afghan-government-02766

[7] http://www.tolonews.com/business/sharp-rise-trade-volume-between-afghanistan-and-iran

[8] http://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan/12-taliban-insurgents-killed-zabul-operation-0

[9] http://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan/heavy-clashes-ongoing-following-helmand-attack

[10] http://www.khaama.com/top-taliban-leader-in-charge-of-recruitment-arrested-in-kunduz-02768