Afghan Weekly (Nov 25 – Dec 02, 2016)

Recent surges in casualties among children and women caused by Taliban’s militant attacks, as well as the group’s willingness to consider peace negotiation talks, seems to have dampened the generosity of Taliban’s financial backers. Where the Taliban had previously expressed satisfaction over their gains on the battlefield, a senior member of the insurgent group Mullah Rahmatullah Kakazada revealed to The Guardian this week that Taliban backers are no longer willing to provide the group with funding. As a result, the group is facing a financial crisis.[1] On the other hand, figures reported by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs revealed a shocking number of more than 500,000 Afghans internally displaced by conflict in 2016 this week; the highest number on record so far.[2] In the development sector, the Afghan and Turkmen governments inaugurated the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan railway which is expected to boost exports of fuel and reduce Afghanistan’s dependence on China and Russia.[3] Other such updates on the security, internal politics, international engagements and socio-economic situation in Afghanistan follow below.

A Security Overview

5 killed, 27 wounded in three back to back explosions in Jalalabad city – November 25, 2016

At least 5 people were killed and 27 others were wounded in a series of explosions in in the 2^ndpolice district of Jalalabad city, the provincial capital of eastern Nangarhar province. According to Provincial governor’s spokesman Ataullah Khogyani, the target of the explosion was the chief of the detention center of the provincial jail who was killed along with his son in the first attack. The second blast targeted the convoy of the security forces as they were on their way to the blast site while the third blast occurred in the same area after the security forces had gathered and cordoned off the area.[4]

Taliban leader among 4 killed in Nangarhar province – November 25, 2016

The provincial police commandment in a statement said a commander of the Taliban group identified as Ghorzang was killed during a clash with the security forces in Hesarak district on November 25.[5]

ISIS plans to deploy 200 families in each district by disguising as refugees: Qadir – November 26, 2016

The loyalists of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group plan to deploy at least 200 families in each district by disguising them as refugees, an Afghan lawmaker said on November 26. Zahir Qadir, Deputy House Speaker, Lower House of the Parliament, Wolesi Jirga, said at least 1000 families belonging to the loyalists of the terror group in each district, warning that the control of the situation would become difficult if they managed to deploy the families in the districts.[6]

2 ISIS suicide bombers arrested in Kabul city – November 27, 2016

Two suicide bombers recruited by the loyalists of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group were arrested by the Afghan intelligence operative in Kabul city on November 27. A statement by NDS said the two men have been identified as Jalil Ahmad son of Syed Ahmad and Hamid son of Aminullah.[7]

6 militants arrested after infiltrating among Afghan forces in Kandahar – November 27, 2016

Six militants were arrested on November 27 by the operatives of the provincial intelligence department, National Directorate of Security (NDS), after they managed to infiltrate among the Afghan forces to conduct insurgency by disguising as security personnel.[8]

Suicide attack vests explosion leaves 8 Taliban militants dead – November 27, 2016

Eight Taliban insurgents were killed in a premature explosion triggered by suicide attack vests in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan on November 27. The Ministry of Defense of Afghanistan (MoD) said the incident took place in Ghani Khel district as the militants were busy preparing the suicide attack vests.[9]

US airstrike kill 7 ISIS militants in East of Afghanistan – November 27, 2016

7 loyalists of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group were killed in an airstrike carried out by US forces in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan on November 27. The officials further added that three militants of the terror group were also wounded in the airstrike while several weapons and ammunition belonging to the terror group were destroyed in the airstrike.[10]

Top ISIS leader among 44 killed in Nangarhar province of Afghanistan – November 27, 2016

A top leader of the loyalists of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group was killed along with at least 43 other militants in Pacher Agam district of Nangarhar province and Deh Bala on November 27. The Ministry of Defense (MoD) said the militants were killed during the joint military operations conducted by the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces.[11]

21 militants killed in air and ground raids of Afghan forces in Nangarhar – November 28, 2016

The Ministry of Defense (MoD), in a statement on November 28 said that 44 militants of the terror group were killed along with the shadow judge. The operations in Pacher Agam were launched amid concerns that the loyalists of the terror group are attempting to move towards the Tora Bora mountainous region in a bid to fortify their presence in the region.[12]

Taliban militants execute 2 including a woman in North of Afghanistan – November 29, 2016

The Taliban militants executed at least two militants including a woman in North of Afghanistan on November 29. Local officials in northern Jawzjan province said the two individuals were executed in Aqcha district.[13]

Afghan Peace, Stability to Top Agenda at Heart of Asia Summit – December 2, 2016

Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said Friday that the issue of peace and stability in Afghanistan will dominate the agenda of the 6th Heart of Asia Conference scheduled to be held in Amritsar, in India on Saturday.[14]

Update on the Afghan Refugees

85,000 registered Afghan refugee families returned homeland this year

A total of 65,000 families totalling 3,80,045 registered Afghan refugees have returned to Afghanistan this year as part of the volunteer repatriation process of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), an official said on Novembe 27. “This has been the highest number of volunteer returnees from Pakistan since 2006 due to various factors,” UNHCR spokesman Qaisar Khan Afridi told.[15]

Return of Afghan refugees to be completed by end 2017: Qadir Baloch

Pakistan’s Minister for States and Frontier Regions Abdul Qadir Baloch stated on November 30 that Pakistan, Afghanistan and UNHCR unanimously declared 2017 as the ‘year of repatriation.’ Abdul Qadir Baloch said that presently there is a winter pause and the process of return of refugees will resume from March next year.[16]

More than 500,000 Internally Displaced by Conflict in 2016: UN

More than half a million Afghans have been internally displaced by conflict so far this year, the highest number on record, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) in Afghanistan announced in a report on Wednesday. As of 30 November, 515,815 internally displaced persons (IDPs) have been recorded as newly displaced in Afghanistan in 2016. This surpasses last year’s record of approximately 471,000 IDPs, and is around 15 percent higher than the same time last year. According to the report. More than 1.3 million Afghans have been internally displaced by conflict in the past five years, with severe humanitarian impact.[17]

Economy & Development

Afghan and Turkmen presidents formally inaugurate Asian International Railway

The Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani inaugurated the Asian International Railway during a special ceremony organized in Turkmenabad area of Turkmenistan on November 28.[18] The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan railway is expected to boost exports of fuel as the gas-rich but cash-strapped nation of Afghanistan seeks to ease its dependence on China and Russia. On the Afghan side, the link goes to the Aqina dry port in the Faryab province, but there are plans to extend it further. The Turkmen government said in a statement the railway would become part of longer link that would eventually connect landlocked Central Asia to China and Southeast Asia.[19]

Relations with Pakistan

President Ghani meets Nawaz Sharif on sidelines of Turkmenistan summit

The Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani met with the Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Turkmenistan on November 26. According to reports, the meeting took place on the sidelines of an international summit organized in Turkmenistan. The two leaders reportedly discussed issues of bilateral interest including the situation of the two countries and other regional issues.[20]

Afghanistan strongly reacts on Pakistani military ceremony along Durand Line

Afghanistan showed a strong reaction on Pakistani military’s flag-lowering ceremony along the Durand Line on November 26, calling it an inappropriate, provocative, and against the previous bilateral commitments. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan (MoFA) said the Afghan government offers its strong protest regarding the flag-hoisting and a special ceremony by Pakistani military along the zero point of the Durand Line. Warning that such ceremonies could deteriorate the relations between the two countries, MoFA said the relations between Kabul and Islamabad is in a sensitive situation and such moves could further spark tensions.[21]

Internal Politics & Governance

Afghan Senate approves AFN 465 billion in draft budget for fiscal year 1396

The Afghan Senate House, Upper House of the Parliament, approved the draft budget for the fiscal year 1396 during the general session today. The draft budget for the fiscal year 1396 includes AFN 287 for the ordinary budget and AFN 178 billion for the development budget as proposed by the Ministry of Finance of Afghanistan.[22]

Afghanistan takes on rich and powerful in war on graft

Afghanistan’s anti-corruption court held its inaugural public hearings in Kabul on November 29. The anti-corruption center, the fulfillment of a promise made by President Ashraf Ghani to the international community last May, is armed with prosecutors, judges and police criminal investigators, and had a war chest of half a million dollars for its first four months. This is the first step in the long road to transparency in one of the most corrupt countries in the world. Afghanistan is at the very bottom of their authoritative global ranking, alongside North Korea and Somalia.[23]

Afghan Taliban News

Taliban pledges to protect infrastructural projects in Afghanistan

In a surprise statement on November 29, the Taliban militant group has pledged to protect Afghanistan’s infrastructural projects worth billions of dollars that have been stalled for years due to the ongoing militancy across the war-ravaged country. The group said that it “backs all national projects which are in the interest of the people and result in the development and prosperity of the nation.”[24] The group in its statement also said that they will protect public welfare projects including TAPI, CASA-1000, Ainal Copper Mine, Railway, and other transit routes and electrical projects.[25]

Afghan govt reacts on Taliban’s commitment to protect public welfare projects

The Afghan government reacted towards Taliban’s statement by questioning the group’s stance and challenging them to practically prove they will not harm the public sites and projects. Deputy presidential spokesman Shah Hussain Murtazvi said at least 302 schools, 41 health centers, 50 mosques, 5,305 residential houses, 1,818 shops, 1 government compound, 6 bridges, 170 culverts, 123 kilometers of road, 203 retention walls, and 84 service centers were either destroyed or received serious damages in the past 2 months. Murtazvi further added that the group has incurred a loss of almost AFN2 billion during this period to the government and Afghan people.[26]

Taliban’s Quetta Shura still based in Quetta city of Pakistan: Hayat

The leader ship council of the Taliban group, Quetta Shura, is still based in Quetta city of Pakistan, the provincial governor of southern Helmand province said on November 27. Hayatulllah Hayat rejected reports as baseless regarding the transfer of Quetta Shura to Helmand province.[27] Earlier, a spokesman for the group Zabiullah Mujahd confirmed to Associated Press that the leadership council was relocated some months ago.[28]

Women in Afghanistan

Female Afghan cadets receiving modern training in Turkey including sniping

A group of 250 female police cadets from Afghanistan have been receiving modern training in Turkey as the Afghan government in cooperation with the international community is attempting to increase the number of female police forces in the country. The 250 female police cadets are part of the 5th batch being trained in Sivas Police Academy, formed in 2011 following the conclusion of an agreement between Kabul and Ankara to provide training opportunities for the female Afghan police cadets.[29]