Afghan Analytica

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Should India Provide Direct Military Aid to Afghanistan?

By JAVID AHMAD - Over the past decade, India has invested heavily in Afghanistan’s reconstruction. Recognizing India’s significant economic and development contributions, the United States has called on New Delhi to play an important role in the new Silk Road initiative aimed at transforming Afghanistan into a regional trade hub. At the same time, New…

What’s Behind the Afghan Parliament Spectacle?

By: Atta Nasib – In the latest showdown between the legislative and executive branches, Afghan lawmakers summoned 11 cabinet ministers earlier this month to answer for the hefty left-over of…

Who Will Follow Karzai?

By JAVID AHMAD - As Hamid Karzai’s Afghan presidency enters its final year, it’s not too early to consider the question of who will become his successor. The options are…

Insider Attacks: A Practical Dimension of a Violent Social Mindset

Atal Ahmadzai - On March 11, an assailant in Afghan police uniform killed two American special operations personnel and several members of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) in eastern…

Afghan Artists Shine on World Stage

Afghan Analytica Opinion – Oscar-nominated film Buzkashi Boys did not win an Academy Award Sunday night in the Best Live Action Short Film category, but young amateur actors Jawanmard Paiz…

From Clinton to Kerry – Another Chapter of the Afghan Saga

By Farzana Nabi, Ph.D. - Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, four Secretaries of State – including the current Secretary – and the same number of Secretaries of Defense…

Secretary Clinton and the Future of Women’s Rights

By Hodei Sultan - Last Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stepped down after serving for four years as America’s top diplomat. While some analysts examine her legacy, others…

No more KamAir flights for Afghan President

By Hawa Dawi - Much to his displeasure, President Hamid Karzai travelled to London on a British airline on Saturday to attend the third Afghanistan-UK-Pakistan trilateral summit to discuss regional…

Iran’s Influence in Afghanistan After U.S. Pullout

January 19, 2013 – Interview with Amb. Omar Samad, founding member of Afghan Analytica and President of Silkroad Consulting, published on Iran Primer – USIP blog at: http://iranprimer.usip.org/blog/2013/jan/17/iran%E2%80%99s-influence-afghanistan-after-us-pullout Has Iran’s…

Green-on-Blue Attacks: Results of Lax Recruiting & Cultural Divides

By Farzana Nabi, Ph.D. - The number of green-on-blue or “insider attacks” by rogue elements within the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) has surpassed 50 as of January 2013, making…

Complete Troops Withdrawal is a Recipe for Disaster

By Adela Raz - Intense discussions are taking place in Washington about the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan beyond 2014. Leaked reports indicate the White House is considering keeping as…

2014 Endgame in Afghanistan: Reconciliation

By Hamid Arsalan and Hodei Sultan – While Washington phases out its combat mission and withdraws troops from Afghanistan this year, the Taliban continues to increase its use of violence…

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Light News Bites

Young Afghans determined to rebuild country With foreign troops withdrawing by the end of 2014, educated young Afghans who have tasted new freedoms in post-Taliban times are determined to stay and rebuild their war-ravaged nation. Businessman and builder Jamshid Ibrahimi, 29, who started a construction company in 2003 with $3000, says: “I was not only thinking about becoming rich and making money, but also about how I can play my part in rebuilding my country.” Alka Sadat, a documentary-maker, said her work often moves her to tears but she perseveres. Afghan analyst Omar Sharifi, pointing to a sense of survival, said: “Tthis generation grew up in the 1980s and 1990s. They experienced extreme-left and extreme-right, communism and the Taliban, refugee camps.” Shaharzad Akbar, 25, who heads a political movement called 1400, a collection of 250 young people, says “In the past 10 years, a new generation of Afghans has been educated… they are capable, motivated, they want to work for Afghanistan.” However, expressing some level of apprehension, Ibrahimi said, “Iif the situation gets worse, you can’t put a lot of things at risk. It’s not only about money but also about life.” (AFP, April 19, 2013)

Taliban amputates two Afghans as punishment

Taliban insurgents amputated a hand and a foot of two private security guards in Herat province. One of the victims, 25, said: "They asked us to plant explosives in the security company… but we said no; then their judges ruled that a hand and a foot be cut off." A police spokesman said the men were targeted because they worked for a private security company guarding supply convoys for foreign forces. The Taliban said the men were robbers. (TOLOnews – April 20)

MPs Call to Stop Releasing Taliban Prisoners

Members of the Afghan parliament’s lower house formed a commission tasked to deal with reconciliation and requested that the government stop releasing Taliban prisoners. MPs suggested that many released Taliban have rejoined the insurgents. "The peace process is just a waste of time… it has been a failure," first vice speaker Mirwais Yasini said. MP Shukria Barikzai said: "High Peace Council is a political project for some circles that seek to remain in power.” MPs also suggested that on-going conflict is plotted by orders from Pakistani intelligence and that the neighboring country does not aim for a stable Afghanistan. (TOLOnews - 20 April)

Shinkai Karokhail on Afghan Women

Azarakhsh Hafizi on Afghanistan’s Economy

Mahmoud Saikal on transition in 2014

Afghan media

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