Security

  • Beyond Kabul: Women Peace Builder's Reflection on the Peace Process and the Impact of Covid-19

    This research report was drafted by the Afghan Women’s Educational Center (AWEC), synthesizing insights from one hundred and fifty telephone interviews with women peacebuilders and negotiators from eight provinces of Afghanistan (Badakhshan, Kandahar, Herat, Helmand, Paktia, Nangarhar, Kabul, Balkh). It was conducted at a critical juncture, as the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GoIRA) entered into talks with the Taliban. Since the beginning of the United States talks with the Taliban, women across Afghanistan have increased their voice for women participation in peace processes as equal citizen of the country in welcoming the possibility of peace, while raising concerns that their rights may be compromised if the process is conducted hastily and they are not substantially represented. This policy brief aims to ensure that women’s voices are heard in upcoming political dialogues and during the intra-Afghan peace process.

    PDF icon Beyond-Kabul-Eng.pdf
  • Provincial Women’s Networks Perspectives and Recommendations for Intra-Afghan Negotiations

    Following the historic National Consultative Peace Jirga, which endorsed the release of the remaining 400 Taliban prisoners, all milestones for beginning the Intra-Afghan negotiations are achieved. Now no side has any excuse for delaying the negotiations. We, the members of Provincial Women’s Network from 15 provinces of Afghanistan, would like to encourage both the government and the Taliban to respect the call of Jirga delegates for beginning the negotiations as soon as possible...

    PDF icon Provincial Women's Networks Perspectives and Recommendations.pdf
  • Afghan Women Police: Tomorrow’s force for inclusive security

    While today around 3,200 women serve in the Afghan police force, it is realistically still tomorrow’s force for inclusive security. The number of women is far behind the target of 5,000 places that are currently reserved for women in the staffing plan. Afghan women only represent around 2.5 percent of the police force and face an uphill battle against institutional and societal barriers. The police force and the Ministry of Interior still have neither an inclusive institutional culture nor a critical mass of women that can help normalize their inclusion and maximize their added value. The Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda has so far not been able to act as a catalyst for change and more meaningful participation in the security sector.

    PDF icon Afghan_Women_in_the_Police_Full_Report_updated_May_2019_final.pdf
  • Afghanistan in May 2017

    Our monthly review of the key news from Afghanistan.

    PDF icon Afghanistan in May17.pdf
  • Cordaid: Peace is Priority No. 1, August 2016

    In this submission for the upcoming Brussels Conference, Cordaid calls for renewed national and international commitment to peace in Afghanistan. Seeing it as a prerequisite for equitable and sustainable development in the country, they propose inclusive, locally-owned dialogue to be underpinned by strong, sincere regional and international support. Part of their proposal includes a 'Group of Friends of the Afghan Peace Process', bringing together women, youth, civil society and warring parties in negotiations to boost chances of long-term stability and security. 

    PDF icon Peace is Priority No 1_Submission for the Brussels Conference on Afghani....pdf
  • Report of the UN Secretary General to the Security Council, June 2016

    This quarter's report by the Secretary General to the UN Security Council included updates on the progress made towards a peace agreement with the Hezb-i-Islami Gulbuddin whilst uncertainty increased over Taliban peace talks following the killing of the Taliban leader, Mullah Mansoor. The security situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated, with Taliban operations at an unprecedented high rate since the beginning of 2016. And as at 15 May, the UN had recorded more than 118,000 newly internally displaced persons since the beginning of 2016 in 24 of the 34 provinces, representing an increase of 10 per cent compared with the same period in 2015.

    PDF icon SG Report to the GASC June 2016.pdf
  • Global Witness: Afghanistan, lapis lazuli & the battle for mineral wealth, June 2016

    Global Witness's two year investigation reveals that lapiz lazuli mines in the northeastern province of Badakhshan are a major source of conflict and grievance, supplying millions of dollars of funding to armed groups, insurgents, and strongmen, and providing a tiny fraction of the benefit they should to the Afghan people.  Mining is implicated in violence from Balkh to Helmand. Nationally, it is thought to be the Taliban’s second largest source of revenue, while contributing less than 1% of state income in 2013. Armed groups made an estimated $12m from lapis in 2015.

    PDF icon GW war_in_the_treasury_mr1.pdf
  • SCA: Experience on civilian-military interaction & consequences of the military intervention on aid delivery,

    Ahead of the Swedish government's evaluation of its engagement in Afghanistan, the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan conducted research into an area of particular concern for them, civil-military cooperation. This minor qualitative interview-based study aims to give input to various questions around the impact of international military presence and actions on development initiatives.

    Beyond Incidents; SCA's Experience on Civilian-Military Interaction and Consequences of Military Intervention on Aid Delivery
  • SCA: Perspective of the SCA to the Inquiry on Sweden's engagement in Afghanistan, March 2016

    As with other countries, Sweden has conducted an evaluation of its intervention in Afghanistan from the period 2001-14.  The Swedish Committee for Afghanistan provided the following report, presenting their perspective on the contributions made both by their own programmes and the state of Sweden.  The report is based on their own internal reports and minutes and external op-eds, articles and other communications. 

    Concerning the Swedish and International Operations in Afghanistan 2001–2014: An SCA Perspective
  • Report of the UN Secretary General to the Security Council, March 2016

    Deteriorating security and an increasingly vocal political opposition placed increased pressure on the Government of Afghanistan, despite steps towards a possible peace process. The announcement of 15 October 2016 for parliamentary and district council elections brought renewed demands for electoral reforms. The Afghan National Defence and Security Forces continued to face significant challenges in effectively countering the threats of insurgent groups across the country. The Government of Afghanistan took steps to further its economic reform agenda in the context of persistent slow economic growth and emigration, and began preparations for the ministerial-level development conference in Brussels.

    PDF icon sg-report-7march2016.pdf
  • AREU: The Afghan National Army after ISAF, March 2016

    This report cites various issues the Afghan National Army (ANA) is facing including serious problems in recruitment, a resurgence of ghost soldiering (soldiers who are listed as being on active duty, but who do not serve), weaknesses in logistical capabilities, planning, procurement, equipment maintenance and administration. The resulting ANA is less mobile than the insurgents, despite the fact that it remains more or less in control of the main highways of the country.  The report cites opinions suggesting a very serious leadership problem within the military. 

    PDF icon 1603E The Afghan National Army after ISAF.pdf
  • Report of the UN Secretary General to the Security Council, December 2015

    In his quarterly update on the situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, the Secretary General reports on the 3 months to mid December.  During this period the Taliban temporarily took control of Kunduz city in the north, marking an increase in insurgent activity and civilian suffering this year. In addition to the security updates, his report discusses, inter alia, political appointments, regional visits undertaken by the National Unity Government, and human rights violations. 

    PDF icon SG Report to the GASC Dec 2015.pdf
  • UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Afghanistan, December 2015

     The Council held its quarterly debate on Afghanistan on 21 December with Special Representative Nicholas Haysom briefing on the most recent UNAMA report.  Representatives from members including Angola, Chile, France, Russian Federation and the UK commented on the achievements and challenges in Afghanistan in recent months. 

    PDF icon UNSC debate on Afghanistan Dec2015.pdf
  • UNAMA: Special Report on Kunduz Province, December 2015

    In addition to their twice-yearly Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict reports, UNAMA published this special report on the civilian casualties and human rights violations resulting from the Taliban siege and occupation of Kunduz city in October/November 2015. The report documents civilian deaths and injuries during the reporting period and presents preliminary findings on arbitrary killings, abductions, assault and other forms of violence, including threats and widespread criminality, the use of child fighters during the conflict, the impact on access to education, health, and freedom of movement. It provides a preliminary figure of 848 civilian casualties (289 deaths and 559 injured) that occurred in Kunduz province between 28 September and 13 October. These figures include 67 casualties (30 deaths and 37 injured) resulting from an airstrike carried out by international military forces on a Médecins Sans Frontières hospital on 3 October, an event that  is also examined in the report. [MSF reported later in December that the death toll had risen to 42]

    PDF icon UNAMA special_report_on_kunduz_province_12_december_2015.pdf
  • AISS: Trends of radicalisation among the ranks of the Afghan National Police, November 2015

    AISS - the Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies - has conducted this research as the first part of a series of papers on radicalisation in the Afghan National Defence & Security Forces. Radicalization is broadly defined as constraints on both the perspective of individuals and their tolerance to ideology and practices which diverge and differentiate from their own political, religious and social beliefs.The report presents interesting findings on, amongst others, motivations for joining the police force, police perceptions of the Taliban and religious extremism and acceptance of women's and human rights. 

    PDF icon AISS Trends of Radicalization among the Ranks of Afghan National Police.pdf

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