Monthly Archives: January 2013

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 influence in Afghanistan changed since the U.S. troop surge in 2010? What steps has it taken in anticipation of the U.S. withdrawal planned for 2014?…

Read more »

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 2012 the highest in any single year. The issue that has stumped many – and caused NATO allies to initially halt joint operations – is…

Read more »

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 few as 2,500 troops after 2014. And on Tuesday, Ben Rhodes, US Deputy National Security Advisor said a complete withdrawal is also an option. Although…

Read more »

2014 Endgame in Afghanistan: Reconciliation

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 and refuses to negotiate with the Afghan government towards a political settlement. With no military victory over the Taliban in sight, the White House needs…

Read more »

Afghanistan: Obama and Karzai’s Shared Legacy

By Omar SAMAD - When Presidents Barack Obama and Hamid Karzai meet in Washington this week, they will have yet another opportunity to deliberate on an intense bilateral agenda, including the transition process, prospects for reconciliation, the nagging insurgency, a bilateral security agreement, and the U.S. commitment to Afghanistan’s future beyond 2014. However, this encounter…

Read more »

U.S.-Afghan Security Agreement: What’s at Stake?

By Javid Ahmad - For months, Washington and Kabul have been working towards a bilateral security agreement to set a framework for a lighter U.S. military contingent to remain in Afghanistan after the combat mission ends in 2014. President Hamid Karzai’s visit to Washington next week may provide him and President Obama an opportunity to…

Read more »

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)

Like us