Welcome to the Afghan War Blog Weekly Newsletter. Articles are posted online on the blog and sent out via email newsletter on Sunday morning. We welcome comments, ideas for stories, contributions, and guest writers! Visit our website at www.afghanwarnews.info, follow us on Twitter at @AfghanWarBlog, and on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/afghan-war-news.
Sunday, July 16, 2017
Advisors and the Afghan Security Institutions
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| Members of the TAAC-West medical staff and Police Advisory Team (PAT) provide medical training to female members of the Afghan National Police (ANP) in Herat, Afghanistan. (Photo TAAC-West 2017). |
Advisors Needed at Tactical Level. Michele Flournoy and Richard Fontaine (both from the Center for a New American Security) list some lessons learned and provide some recommendations for the Trump administration on the Afghan conflict. Of the six or so lessons learned one seems key: providing more advisors at the tactical level (battalion) who are former U.S. battalion commanders and who have received MORE than two-weeks of training for their advising role. Read more in "The Afghan War is Not Lost", The National Interest, July 11, 2017.
Podcast about Advisors and the Insider Threat. The Modern War Institute of West Point has published a podcast by a U.S. Army NCO that experienced an insider attack (Green-on-Blue) at an Afghan police station. Listen to The Spear - An Insider Attack in Afghanistan, July 12, 2017.
https://mwi.usma.edu/podcast-spear-insider-attack-afghanistan/
Marines Back in Helmand Province. Two years ago the Marines left Helmand province after having spent millions of dollars in development projects and clearing much of the province of Taliban fighters. In two years the Afghan government and security forces managed to squander the hard-earned achievements of the Marines. Now the Marines are back again - at a significantly reduced force level to conduct the 'train, advise, and assist' mission. Read "Back in Afghan Hot Spot, U.S. Marines Chase Diminished Goals", The New York Times, July 14, 2017.
Marines 'Fly to Advise' the 505th Zone National Police. Marines from Task Force Southwest flew to the capital of Helmand province to spend some time with the Afghan National Police. See "Fly-to-Advise: Marines with Task Force Southwest visit the Provincial Headquarters", RS HQ, July 11, 2017.
AAF and TAAC-Air. Personnel from the 'Train, Advise, and Assist Command - Air' (TAAC-Air) and the Afghan Air Force (AAF) conducted a bilateral casualty evacuation mission and an aerial re-supply training exercise in July. See a news report by DVIDS, July 11, 2017.
Commentary on Afghanistan
"Corruption, in the end, is the principal threat to our long-term objectives in Afghanistan".
General (Ret) John Allen, former ISAF commander, June 2017 in a Brookings interview.Political and Electoral Reform Needed. To end the decades-long conflict in Afghanistan the political institutions of the country need to be revamped and the electoral process reformed. Less control over the province and districts by the central government is needed. Read more in "The Key to Ending Afghanistan's Long War - It's Politics, Stupid", The Hill Opinion, July 9, 2017.
Pakistan and the Haqqani Network. One of the most effective insurgent groups in the Afghan conflict is the Haqqani Network. It has sanctuaries in Pakistan and receives strong support from Pakistan's spy agency - the Inter-Services Intelligence or ISI. Rahmatullah Nabil (former Director of the Afghan National Directorate of Security or NDS) and Melissa Skorka - an advisor on the COMISAF Advisory and Assistance Team (CAAT) for several years have written an article on this topic entitled "The Terror Problem From Pakistan", The Wall Street Journal, July 9, 2017.
Stopping the Taliban (via Pakistan). The Taliban are better financed, equipped and supported than ever and the results on the battlefields of Afghanistan are proof of that. Pakistan plays a big role in the resurgent Taliban. Read more in "Calling Pakistan's Bluff: The Right Way to Stop the Taliban", Foreign Affairs, July 14, 2017.
Five Experts on Afghanistan and Policy Options. John Allen (Gen Ret), Vanda Felbab-Brown, Tanvi Madan, Michael O'Hanlon, and Bruce Riedel all have something to say about Afghanistan and the way forward. Read Rightsizing Expectations: US Policy Options for Afghanistan, Foreign Policy at Brookings, July 2017. A 25-page report about evolving objectives, endurring challenges, and U.S. policy options.
Reintegration - Not Reconciliation. If the Taliban wanted peace they would be sitting at the negotiation table right now. Notice the empty chair? That's because they are winning on the battlefield. If the leaders of the Taliban can't be reconciled then perhaps the foot soldiers can be reintegrated? Probably not, as the conditions are not quite right for a successful reintegration program. Read more in "With More Troops in Afghanistan, Focus on Reintegration, Not Reconciliation", The National Interest, July 12, 2017.
India Should be Wary of U.S. Afghan Policy. India has become the most reliable regional partner for Afghanistan but the United States will likely demand more of India. But . . . India should be aware of "What Trump's Afghanistan Policy Means for India", The Diplomat, July 15, 2017.
China in Afghanistan - Not in a Big Way Yet. Vinay Kaura, an assistant professor at Sardar Patel University (India), has contributed a column to the Middle East Institute about China's participation in the Afghan conflict. He says that China has a vested interest in a stable Afghanistan. China has it's own security problems (its western province borders Afghanistan and Pakistan), regional stability (especially the Pakistan-India dilemna), and economic objectives ("One Belt, One Road", "China-Pakistan Economic Corridor", and mining concessions in Afghanistan). However, thus far it has managed to stay above the fray in Afghanistan. Read more in "China Makes Diplomatic Play in Afghanistan", Middle East Institute, July 12, 2017.
More Troops for Afghanistan? Why? Dan Depetris writes that investing more time, money, and lives in a country where corruption, violence and patronage determine who wins and who loses is fruitless. Read his thoughts in "Commentary: Steve Bannon is Right on Afghanistan", Reuters, July 9, 2017.
Obtaining Political Stability for Afghanistan. The United States Institute for Peace (USIP) has published a 20-page report by Alex Thier and Scott Worden entitled Political Stability in Afghanistan: A 2020 Vision and Roadmap, July 10, 2017.
Afghanistan, Logistics, and the Tyranny of Geography. Maintaining and logistically re-supplying a military force in a remote, land-locked country surrounded by nations not so friendly to the U.S. poses a daunting challenge. While Pakistan supports the Haqqani Network and other Taliban insurgent groups by providing sanctuaries and other means of support it also allows the U.S. to fly over its territory, use its seaports, and ground lines of communication to supply its troops and feed the war machine in Afghanistan. The U.S. is not on friendly terms with Iran and our relationship with Russia is problematic. Barnett R. Rubin, Director of the Afghanistan Regional Project, provides the details of this topic in "Afghanistan and Considerations of Supply", War on the Rocks, July 11, 2017.
Security News on Afghanistan
Ex-Special Forces Officer appointed as Deputy Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia. Dr. Joseph Felter - former U.S. Special Forces (SF) and Foreign Area Officer (FAO) has a new job. He was a former commander of West Point's Combating Terrorism Center and the Counterinsurgency Advisory and Assistance Team (CAAT) in Afghanistan. Read more in "Joseph Felter Appointed as Deputy Secretary of Defense", SOF News, July 14, 2017.
Two U.S. Service Members Wounded on July 7th. According to a statement by a spokesman for Resolute Support two service members were wounded in Nangarhar province and medically evacuated out of theater for treatment.
A Contracting Option? The White House political advisors (in this case Bannon and Kushner) are exploring options for the Trump administration to navigate a way out of the morass in Afghanistan. Two successful businessmen from the DynCorp and Blackwater era provided their insight and made some recommendations on utilizing contractors on a larger scale in Afghanistan. Read "Trump Aides Recruited Businessmen to Devise Options for Afghanistan", The New York Times, July 10, 2017.
New Afghan Strategy? Not Quite Yet. The re-vamped Afghan war strategy review by the Department of Defense isn't quite ready for prime time. SecDef Jim Mattis says it is underway and wouldn't provide a finish date as indicated in a recent statement - "You know me, I don't give timelines". Got to love "Chaos". See "Jim Mattis: New Afghanistan strategy isn't finished yet", Washington Examiner, July 15, 2017.
Retaking Nawa District (Helmand)? It appears that units of the 215th ANA Corps are on an offensive to re-capture a district in southwestern Afghanistan from the Taliban.
Taliban Threatening Kunduz . . . Again. In 2015 the Taliban took and held Kunduz city in northern Afghanistan for two weeks. In 2016 they once again attack Kunduz - taking hold for a short time parts of the city. This fighting season (2017) the Taliban have once again attempted (and may still continue to attempt) to take the provincial capital. However, recent improvements on the Afghan security forces to work together and leadership difficulties of the Taliban have contributed to a less than successful effort. Read more in "New Taleban Attacks in Kunduz: Less coordinated, still well-placed to threaten the city", Afghanistan Analysts Network, July 9, 2017.
Videos on Afghanistan
Video on UH-60s for AAF. The Deputy Commander of the Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan (CSTC-A), MG Neil Thurgood, does a good job in explaining the need for an increase in the number of rotary-wing aircraft for the Afghan Air Force (AAF). Of concern is the move to supply the Afghan Air Force (an organization with poor maintenance skills) with the very complicated and maintenance-intensive UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter. What is good for the politicians and businessmen (Sirkorsky) of Connecticut isn't necessaryily good for the Afghan Air Force. Watch the 3-minute long video produced by Resolute Support Headquarters published on July 10, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwzl0xufym0
Video Explanation of CSTC-A. This one-minute long video by Resolute Support Headquarters published on July 11, 2017 explains the role of the Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan (CSTC-A). Major General Richard Kaiser - the Commanding General of CSTC-A - provides an explanation of how CSTC-A helps the Afghan security institutions.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=beDcww9UyoE
Peace Process and Participation of Women. Resolute Support has released a video (July 13, 2017) featuring Maria Bashar - an activist for human rights who believes that a peace and reconciliation process cannot be successful if half of the population is left out of it.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKRcwcVLX5w
Afghan War Blog Snippets
Role of Elders in Afghan Society. A short article posted on the website of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) provides insight in the role that the community elders play in resolving disputes at the local level. (UNAMA, July 13,2017).
UNOCHA Report on Afghanistan. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has published Issue 65 (1-30 June 2017) of the Afghanistan Humanitarian Bulletin.
Afghan Fiction. A excerpt from a book about war in Afghanistan. "Crossing the River No Name", The New Yorker, Jun 12, 2017.
Pakistan and Afghan Border Security. Pakistan is building a fence along part of its porous border with Afghanistan. The nearly 2,600-kilometer border is largely unguarded making it impossible to control illegeal cross-border movement. Of course, the demarcation of the border is disputed by Pakistan and Afghanistan - so there's that. Read more in "Pakistan Takes Unilateral Steps Toward Afghan Border Security", Voice of America, July 15, 2017.
Assistance Needed by Afghans Fleeing IS-K Fighting. Afghans leaving the areas where fighting is continuing between the government security forces and fighters of the Islamic State - Khorsan find that government assistance is not abundant. Read "Afghan Families Displaced by IS Claim Lack of Assistance", Voice of America, July 14, 2017.
Afghanistan's Opium Industry. The Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN) has published an article about the world's leading producer of opium (that would be Afghanistan). Read "AAN Q&A: An established industry - Basic facts about Afghanistan's opium-driven economy", AAN, July 11, 2017.
Afghan Girls Robotics Team. Twice rejected for U.S. visas, the all-girls finally arrived in Washington, D.C. early on Saturday (15 Jul) morning to compete in an international robotics competition. The U.S. State Department had to undergo an 'intervention' to realize the young ladies were not terrorists. We shall see if they all get back on the plane to return home! See "Allowed in by Trump, Afghan girls robotics team lands in DC", AP News, July 15, 2017.
Social Media and the Taliban. The use of information operations (IO) in a counterinsurgency conflict is paramount to gaining the populations support for both the insurgents and counterinsurgents. Initially the Taliban restricted its IO efforts to speeches in villages, night letters, and meetings. However, over the past 16 years of the current stage in the Afghan conflict the Taliban have become more savy. Read "Taliban Propaganda Meets the Digital Age", Gandhara, July 10, 2017. Read more about the importance of social media in the Afghan conflict.
Stay Abreast of the Afghan War News!
You can receive the Afghan War Blog Weekly Newsletter by email. It should arrive in your e-mail inbox at 0500 U.S. East coast time or just after lunch (1330) in Kabul every Sunday. It is easy to subscribe. To submit your subscription request go to www.afghanwarnews.blogspot.com and enter your email in the "Follow by Email" dialogue box at the top of the right hand column. The only info needed is your email. No personal data, no forms to fill out, and no passwords needed. You will receive a confirmation email asking you if you want to subscribe. Just confirm and you are done. It is also easy to unsubscribe. At the bottom of the newsletter click "unsubscribe" and you will be automatically unsubscribed.
Sunday, July 9, 2017
Afghan War Blog Weekly Newsletter - July 9, 2017
Welcome to the Afghan War Blog Weekly Newsletter. Articles are posted online on the blog and sent out via email newsletter on Sunday morning. We welcome comments, ideas for stories, contributions, and guest writers! Visit our website at www.afghanwarnews.info, follow us on Twitter at @AfghanWarBlog, and on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/afghan-war-news.
Commentary on Pakistan's Role in Afghanistan
Pakistan has been in the news the past few weeks. Afghanistan conflict observers are noting the 4,000 increase in U.S. personnel and a few more thousand from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the strategy review being undertaken by the U.S. Department of Defense (with a little help from the White House?). A question many raise is what will be the outcome of this increase in troop levels. Certainly it will help in the train, advise, and assist effort and in an incremental fashion raise the effectiveness of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) . . . but . . .
The primary factors of the Taliban's effectiveness against the ANDSF is not the lack of advisors. It has more to do with a corrupt and ineffective Afghan government (at all levels), security institutions with inept and corrupt senior leadership, and insurgents with support from and sanctuary in Pakistan. Many observers look to this last point (Pakistan) as the primary factor in the continuance of this long conflict. Listed below is some recent analysis and commentary on the Pakistan issue from the past week.
"Pakistan's Proxy Strategy". Daniel Markey - Academic Director, Global Policy Program at the John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies - provides his perspective in "Pakistan's Proxy Strategy Principal Cause of Mistrust for U.S.", The Cipher Brief, July 6, 2017.
Pakistan - Key to Winning in Afghanistan. The Afghan Taliban leadership lives in the Pakistani cities of Quetta and Peshawar. Financial incentives from the United States to Pakistan have done little to change Pakistan's support of the Taliban. The incentive-based approach is not working. Read more in an article by Husain Haqqani, director for South and Central Asia at the Hudson Institute in Washington. He was also Pakistan's ambassador to the United States from 2008 to 2011. "To Win Afghanistan, Get Tough on Pakistan", The New York Times, July 6, 2017.
One-Time Ally. Pakistan, at one time, was a key ally in the fight against the Soviet occupation and later - after 9/11 - in the fight against terrorism. But . . . the times have changed. Amid accusations that Pakistan is supporting the Taliban the country is moving closer to China and Russia. Read more in "Once a US ally, Pakistan Now Looks to China, Russia", Voice of America, July 8, 2017.
Pakistan as a Counter-Terrorist Ally? Hmmmm. Bennett Seftel writes about the misgivings Afghan War observers have about Pakistan. Read more in "Murky U.S.-Pakistan Relationship Defined by Afghan War", The Cipher Brief, July 6, 2017.
Pakistan - Not an Ally. Robert Cassidy, a retired U.S. Army officer with four tours in Afghanistan, provides his perspective of the Afghan conflict. Pakistan comes under his scrutiny in this article. Read "DoD Report: Pakistan is Reason for Afghanistan Stalemate", Real Clear Defense, July 3,2017.
U.S. Army Casualty in Helmand Province - July 3, 2017
Task Force Southeast Advising Mission
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| A convoy of the 203rd Afghan National Army Corps readies for an operation in southeast Afghanistan. (Photo 203rd PAO, May 25, 2017) |
Task Force Southeast is a subordinate command of Resolute Support Headquarters based in Kabul. The forces (203rd and 303rd) it advises is responsible for the security of an area the size of South Carolina in southeastern Afghanistan.
The 203rd Corps is comprised of four brigades with a total of 34 kandaks (battalions). It has over 20,000 personnel assigned in the provinces of Wardak, Logar, Khost, Paktiya, Paktika, Ghazni, and Bamyan.
The 303rd Police Zone Headquarters oversees the activities and operations of the Afghan National Police (ANP), Afghan Border Police (ABP), Afghan National Civil Order Police (ANCOP), and Afghan Local Police (ALP). The Police Zone has over 25,000 personnel assigned.
Read more about the mission of Task Force Southeast in "Task Force Southeast - Who We TAA, 203rd Corps and 303rd Police Zone", DVIDS, July 3, 2017.
Commentary on Afghanistan
Haidari on Peace in Afghanistan. The Director-General of Policy & Strategy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan has wrote an opinion peace outlining the path to peace in Afghanistan. He enumerates four key points to achieve Afghan stability. Read "For Peace in Afghanistan, Listen to Afghans", The Diplomat, June 28, 2017.
Diplomatic Effort Needed. The U.S. needs the increase in military advisors but it also needs to employ it's diplomatic tools to put pressure on Pakistan to stop supporting insurgents and on the National Unity Government (NUG) to institute reforms, curb corruption, and work together to govern Afghanistan. See "Deadly Afghanistan: Trump's Imbroglio", Huffington Post, July 7, 2017.
Security News about Afghanistan
AAF Pilot prepares a resupply airdrop from a C-208
(photo Tech Sgt Veronica Pierce, June 28, 2017)
(photo Tech Sgt Veronica Pierce, June 28, 2017)
AAF Training Up on Airdrops. Afghan Air Force crews are learning how to resupply air drops from their Cessna 208 aircraft. Read more in "Afghan Air Force delivers first operational airdrop", DVIDS, June 28, 2017.
Update on Marines in Helmand. The U.S. Marines arrived in Helmand province a few months back - replacing a U.S. Army element (Task Force Forge) in the 'train, advise, and assist' mission. There are high expectations that the Marines return to this dangerous province will set things right with the 215th ANA Corps and 505 Police Zone HQs. That sentiment, of course, deserves a big "Hmmmm". It is highly unlikely that any progress will be made at all. Unless, of course, the Marines trot out the worn story line of how the Afghan Army and police conducted combined operations to mount a multi-day operation to launch a resupply convoy to a beleaguered district center that has been surrounded by Taliban fighters for months. So, what is the latest update? Read "Amid possible surge, Marines help Afghans 'shape the battlefield'", Marine Corps Times, July 3, 2017.
U.S. Senator Worries on 'Diplomatic Vacuum'. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is worried that key State Department posts are unfilled at a time when the U.S. needs a 'whole-of-government' approach to the 16-year long conflict in Afghanistan. See "Elizabeth Warren, back from first trip to Afghanistan, says, 'I'm not there on a troop increase'", The Washington Post, July 6, 2017.
Inside Story on U.S. Troop Increase. Despite President Trump saying that SECDEF Mattis will decide troop level increases for Afghanistan it appears that it is not necessarily so. Read "Memo Reveals Trump Isn't Telling the Full Story on Afghan Troop Levels", Task & Purpose, July 6, 2017.
U.S. Senators Visit Afghanistan. Five United States Senators recently visited Afghanistan. One (Sen Warren) said that 'political patience' in the U.S. on Afghanistan is wearing thin. Sen McCain decries the lack of an overall strategy. Other senators want something done about the sanctuaries the Taliban enjoy in Pakistan. Read more in "US still has no path to peace in Afghanistan, bipartisan senators say", The Guardian, July 4, 2017.
Lithuania Forces Rotating. The Lithuanian Armed Forces are rotating their personnel in Afghanistan. The personnel are assigned to Kabul and to Train, Advise, Assist Command - West (TAAC-West) in Herat (western Afghanistan). See "Lithuania troops to leave for multinational operations areas in Afghanistan and Iraq", The Baltic Times, July 4, 2017.
Conventional Troops in TAA at Tactical Level. For the past few years the only U.S. troops advising at the tactical level were special operations forces (and the aviation advisors with the AAF). But with the decrease in security and a resilient Taliban U.S. conventional troops are finding themselves in the tactical fight. Read more in "Death of U.S. soldier in Afghanistan highlights the evolving role of conventional combat troops there", The Washington Post, July 5, 2017.
Turkey Taking a Leading Role in Afghanistan. Turkey has been contributing to overall effort to stabilize Afghanistan ever since 2002. It maintains a sizable contingent of military forces in the Kabul region and heads up Train, Advise, and Assist Command - Capitol. Read more in "Is Turkey's Erdogan seeking a leading role in Afghanistan?", Deutsche Welle, July 7, 2017.
Casualty Reporting by RS HQs. Resolute Support HQs in Afghanistan will no longer issue an initial statement within hours of a US combat death. Instead, deaths will be announced by DoD 24 hours after family members have been notified. The policy change is intended to prevent the accidental release of a fallen US service member's name before Next of Kin (NOK) notification. See "The War in Afghanistan Just Got Harder to Follow in Real Time", BuzzFeed News, July 5, 2017.
Villagers Armed in Tora Bora Region. The National Directorate of Security (NDS) has armed local villagers in a remote district of eastern Afghanistan's Tora Bora mountains. The local militia group has been formed to aid in the fight against Islamic State fighters. 300 villagers from the Pachiragam district have been armed and equipped (and presumably will be paid salaries as well). The district is within the 201st Afghan National Army Corps area of responsibility but it has not been successful in defending the area against Taliban or Islamic State influence or control. Read more in "Afghan Government Arms Villages to Fight IS in Tora Bora", Voice of America, July 7, 2017.
Report on Security - Afghanistan and Central Asia. Ivan Safranchuk has authored a 42-page report entitled Afghanistan and Its Central Asian Neighbors: Toward Dividing Insecurity, Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), June 2017.
Videos & Podcasts about Afghanistan
RSM: for the Future of Afghanistan. SHAPE NATO has just published (July 5, 2017) a one-minute long video that explains the transition of the international participation in the Afghan conflict as completing the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) at the end of 2014 with the new, follow-on, NATO-led mission called Resolute support launched on January 1, 2015.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReuwMhgY1Q0
Bagram FAST Team. A video by Senior Airman Joshua Crawley of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan depicts the duties and responsibilities of a "Fly Away Security Team" that defends aircraft at less secure airfields.
www.dvidshub.net/video/536526/bagram-fast-team
Podcast - Ben Jones on Afghanistan. Ben Jones is a contributor to a new book called Our Latest, Longest War: Losing Hearts and Minds in Afghanistan and provides some info on the book. He wrote a chapter on the transition from U.S. lead in security to Afghan lead in security. Listen to "In the Moment . . . Lessons from Afghanistan", SDPB.org, July 6, 2017.
Afghan War News Snippets
U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan? None. Despite having over 8,400 U.S. troops engaged in the Afghan conflict supporting a corrupt and dysfunctional Afghan government the Trump administration has yet to nominate a U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan over six months into its time in office. See "Lack of US Ambassador to Afghanistan Draws Criticism", Voice of America, July 7, 2017.
China's Silk Road - More Than an "Economic Highway". China is making quite an ado about its "Silk Road" connecting China with the rest of the Eurasia continent in an economic belt. Afghanistan is playing a small part in the overall plan. Slowly, and under the radar, China is positioning naval and ground forces at strategic locations around the world. There are current plans to position elements of the People's Liberation Army Marine Corps (PLAMC) in Djibouti and Pakistan. Could we see some Chinese military in Afghanistan at some point in the future? Sounds far-fetched but . . . Read more in "The Muscle Behind China's New Silk Road Is Over the Horizon", Reconnecting Asia, June 26, 2017.
Norwegian Refugee Council. The NRC is busy in Afghanistan helping Afghans to learn a livelihood so they can support their families. Read "New hope for young Afghans", Norwegian Refugee Council, July 7, 2017.
Afghan Procurement Reform. The Afghan government is changing how it conducts its procurement process. Read more in an article by The Diplomat, July 8, 2017.
Afghanistan's 'Hill of Widows'. Read about "Zanabad" - the city of women that is home to a cluster of women who have eked out independence after being widowed. Read "Afghanistan's 'hill of widows' live in a world apart", Daily Mail, June 22, 2017.
Keep Up on the News About Afghanistan!
You can receive the Afghan War Blog Weekly Newsletter by email. It should arrive in your e-mail inbox at 0500 U.S. East coast time or just after lunch (1330) in Kabul every Sunday. It is easy to subscribe. To submit your subscription request go to www.afghanwarnews.blogspot.com and enter your email in the "Follow by Email" dialogue box at the top of the right hand column. The only info needed is your email. No personal data, no forms to fill out, and no passwords needed. You will receive a confirmation email asking you if you want to subscribe. Just confirm and you are done. It is also easy to unsubscribe. At the bottom of the newsletter click "unsubscribe" and you will be automatically unsubscribed.
Sunday, July 2, 2017
Afghan War Blog Weekly Newsletter - 2 July 2017
Welcome to the Afghan War Blog Weekly Newsletter. Articles are posted online on the blog and sent out via email newsletter on Sunday morning. We welcome comments, ideas for stories, contributions, and guest writers! Visit our website at www.afghanwarnews.info, follow us on Twitter at @AfghanWarBlog, and on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/afghan-war-news.
Taliban Update
www.afghanistan-analysts.org/publication/aan-papers/ideology-in-the-afghan-taliban-a-new-aan-report/
Taliban vs IS-K in Nuristan. The remote province of Nuristan in eastern Afghanistan is the stage for fighting between the Islamic State - Khorasan and Taliban elements. See "Afghan Governor Says Taliban Fighting IS in Eastern Province", Gandhara, June 28, 2017.
NATO Troop Increase for Afghanistan
NATO to Up Troop Levels. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has stated during a recent news conference that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization will increase its troop levels for the 'train, advise, and assist' mission in Afghanistan. The U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis has completed a trip to Europe where he consulted with NATO allies on the requirement for more advisors in Afghanistan. Naturally, the Europeans will be dong the "Train, Advise, and Assist" mission and will not be involved in any combat role. Although . . . it is quite possible some of its special operations forces (SOF) units could get a little close to the frontlines. Read "NATO agrees on Afghanistan troop increase", Stars & Stripes, June 29, 2017. See also "European allies and Washington tiptoe around new troops for 'Resolute Support'", Jane's 360, June 30, 2017.
Commentary
Importance of Educating Afghanistan's Youth. Rahmatullah Arman writes that widespread illiteracy undercuts security and development in "Educating Afghanistan's Youth Is the Only True Solution to Terrorism", Defense One, June 27, 2017.
9 Priorities for Peace. A recently held workshop brought together 23 experts from the Afghan government, media, and other organizations to explore the challenges, priorities, and opportunities for building peace in Afghanistan. Read the report entitled "Nine Priorities for Peace in Afghanistan", Conciliation Resources, June 2017.
Afghan Conflict Options - Losing or Not Losing. James Dobbins, a former Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, comments on the options for the new administration in "Trump's Options for Afghanistan: Losing or Not Losing", RAND Corporation, June 23, 2017.
U.S. Military Can't Fix Mess Alone. James Cunningham, a former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, Israel, and the United Nations - and currently a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council - weighs in on the Afghan problem. "There is no guarantee that America can 'win' in Afghanistan, but it is quite clear that it can lose". read "I Was U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan. The Military Can't Fix This Mess Alone", The National Interest, June 29, 2017.
Avoiding Perpetual War in Afghanistan. Daniel L. Davis, a retired U.S. Army officer, provides his thoughts on how to avoid 'the long stay' in Afghanistan in "A New Afghanistan Strategy Must Avoid Perpetual War", The National Interest, June 28, 2017.
Haidari on Peace in Afghanistan. The Director-General of Policy & Strategy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan has wrote an opinion peace outlining the path to peace in Afghanistan. He enumerates four key points to achieve Afghan stability. Read "For Peace in Afghanistan, Listen to Afghans", The Diplomat, June 28, 2017.
Security News 20170702
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| Afghan Special Security Force (ASSF) - Photo by Lt Cmdr Kathryn Gray, RS HQs, June 26, 2017 |
Advisor Training in Kabul. The Security Force Assistance (SFA) framework utilized by Resolute Support Headquarters to conduct the 'Train, Advise, and Assist' mission in Afghanistan is complicated and comprehensive. Those officers and NCOs who are designated to serve in key or high-level advisor roles may find themselves undergoing "Key Leader Training" at Camp RS prior to their Afghan deployment. This four-day training event ensures they are knowledgeable of the Afghan training mission. Read more in "Resolute Support trains its people, improving advisor training", DVIDS, June 26, 2017.
A Wasteful War. The U.S. has spent millions and millions of dollars supporting a corrupt government and inept military in Afghanistan. There seems to be no end to the wasteful practices of the U.S. military and the corruption of the Afghan government and its security institutions. Read more in "War and waste: Cautionary tales as U.S. ponders Afghan boost", PBS Newshour, June 25, 2017.
RS Cdr Visits AAF. General John Nicholson, commander of Resolute Support, visited facilities of the Afghan Air Force. (DVIDS, June 23, 2017).
NATO to Support ANDSF 4-Year Roadmap. The MoD is quite happy with NATO's decision to send more advisors to Afghanistan. It seems NATO is firmly behind (if not the author?) of the MoD's 4-year Roadmap to professionalize the ANA. Some big changes in store. The Afghan Air Force will increase in size, the Afghan National Army Special Operations Command will double in size, and the Afghan National Civil Order Police (ANCOP) will be transferred from the MoI to the MoD. Read "NATO's Support Crucial for MoD's Four-Year Plan: Waziri", Tolo News, July 1, 2017.
ALP Volunteers. Apparently working in the Afghan Local Police (ALP) is a good deal. In late June more than 700 Afghan citizens in Nangarhar attempted to join the police unit but there were not quite that many positions available. Some of those turned away from the ALP were picked up for service in an 'ad hoc' private militia force funded by the National Directorate of Security (NDS). Read more in "Resounding Afghan Pride in Nangarhar", DVIDS, June 27, 2017.
Failure of ANDSF. The Afghan National Defense and Security Forces are not quite up to the job of defeating the Taliban and other insurgents. In fact, the Afghan government controls less territory in 2017 than it did in 2016 - currently estimated at 60%. Read more in "Decoding Afghan Security Forces' Failures", The Diplomat, June 23, 2017.
Report: Lessons Learned from Stabilization Initiatives in Afghanistan. RAND Corporation, 2017. 44-page document provides a systematic review of existing research.
www.rand.org/pubs/working_papers/WR1191.html
UK's SAS and SBS to Afghanistan. A recent news report indicates the the UK is uplifting its total number of personnel assigned to Kabul and elsewhere in Afghanistan. Read "SAS and SBS sent to help Afghan Army", The Times, June 29, 2017.
Gen Dunford Visits Afghanistan. The U.S. Joint Chiefs Chairman, General Joe Dunford, made an unannounced visit to discuss the future strategy for Afghanistan and the game plan for a likely U.S. troop increase. (Gandhara, June 26, 2017).
Afghan War News Snippets
Key Leader Training for RS HQs Advisors. The Resolute Support Headquarters conducts a 4-day training course for those military personnel who are assigned to be advisors to the MoD or MoI. One day the 'newcomer's briefing day' - learning the aspects of living and working in Afghanistan on Camp RS in Kabul. A second day is Guardian Angel training - ensuring that you are aware of and know how to respond to an insider threat or green-on-blue incident. Two days is spent on learning how RS HQs conducts its Security Force Assistance (SFA) mission and how the RS HQs staff works within the 8 Essential Functions framework. Read more in "Resolute Support trains its people, improving advisor training", U.S. Central Command, June 26, 2017.
Logistics Advising in Afghanistan. The current coalition mission in Afghanistan is to train, advise, and assist (TAA) the Afghan police and military. From a logistics standpoint, creating a self-sustaining afghan military is an important step forward to ensure the Afghans can independently secure their borders and provide for internal security. A logistics advisor, to be effective, must understand that the Western military logistics framework and culture is not a good fit for Afghanistan's military or culture. Read more in "Moving forward with logistics advising in Afghanistan", Army.mil, May 1, 2017.
Report: Islamic State in Afghanistan. Abdul Basit has penned a 21-page article entitled "IS Penetration in Afghanistan-Pakistan: Assessment, Impact and Implications", Perspectives on Terrorism, Volume 11, No 3, June 2017. IS is now competing with al-Qaeda and the Taliban over recruitment, resources, and the loyalties of local militant groups. This has complicated the militant landscape, contributed to the Sunni-Shia conflict, and adds complexity to the effort of the Afghan government and its coalition partners.
Air Force Cross Awarded. An airman was awarded the Air Force Cross for heroism during the 2002 Operation Anaconda that took place in the Takur Gar area of Afghanistan. TSgt Keary Miller provided critical medical care to 10 wounded U.S. service members under dangerous conditions. Read more in "Survival on Takur Gar", Air Force Magazine, August 2017.
Bowe Bergdahl Trial Update. Bergdahl's long, drawn-out trial is proceeding ahead. A military judge made a key ruling saying that prosecutors can try the soldier on the charge of endangering his comrades by walking off his post in Afghanistan in 2009. See "Bowe Bergdahl case: Judge lets rare misbehavior charge proceed", Army Times, June 30, 2107.
BBC Podcast on Silk Road. This 40-minute long podcast is entitled "Silk Routes: Two Thousand Years of Trading". The economic highway from China, across Central Asia and Afghanistan, to Iran.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p056srhv
China's Silk Road in Afghanistan is a Bumpy Ride. The Chinese have made some important steps forward in providing investments in some key sectors of the Afghan - most notable is the mining sector. However, the return on investment is disappointing due to the deteriorating security situation. Read more in "Difficult Trek on Silk Road in Afghanistan", Asia Sentinel, June 29, 2017.
Afghans Fighting for Assad in Syria. Iran, over the past several years, has pressed into service citizens of Afghanistan to fight for the Assad regime in Syria. There are an estimated 8,000 to 12,000 Afghans fighting in the Syrian conflict. Read "How Iran Recruited Afghan Refugees to Fight Assad's War", The New York Times, June 30, 2017.
General Dunford Visits Afghanistan. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs (and former ISAF commander) visited Kabul and Helmand province to gain ground truth on the Afghan conflict. See "Dunford arrives in Afghanistan as Marines work to rekindle relations in Helmand", Military Times, June 26,2017.
Video of Guardian Angel Training. Australian troops in Afghanistan are conducting the train, advise, and assist mission. This entails advisors and trainers visiting Afghan police and Army installations and garrisons. With the constant threat of insurgent attacks as well as the insider threat the need exists for a force protection element to accompany the advisors on their missions. Watch a short video about Australian soldiers assigned the "Guardian Angel" task of keeping their fellow Aussie soldiers safe in Guardian Angels Protecting Australian Soldiers in Afghanistan, Perth Now, June 27, 2017.
Keep Up to Date on Afghan News!
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Sunday, June 25, 2017
Afghan War Blog Weekly Newsletter - 20170625
Welcome to the Afghan War Blog Weekly Newsletter. Articles are posted online on the blog and sent out via email newsletter on Sunday morning. We welcome comments, ideas for stories, contributions, and guest writers! Visit our website at www.afghanwarnews.info, follow us on Twitter at @AfghanWarBlog, and on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/afghan-war-news.
DoD 1225 Report on Afghanistan - June 2017
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has published its bi-annual report on the situation in Afghanistan. The U.S. Congress requires the DoD to submit a report twice a year on how things are going in the 16-year long conflict. The report is entitled Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan. The current 102-page report was published in June 2017.
Topics include "Strategy and Objectives", "Threat Assessment", "Overview of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces", "Ministry of Defense and Afghan National Army", "Ministry of Interior and Afghan National Police", "Financing the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces", "Indicators of Effectiveness for the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Interior", and "Acronyms".
www.defense.gov/Portals/1/Documents/Enhancing-Security-and-Stability-in-Afghanistan-June-2017.pdf
Building Partner Capacity within the Afghan Security Ministries
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| MG Richard Kaiser, cdr CSTC-A, meets with Acting Minister of MoD Photo credit: RS HQs, May 2017 |
The U.S. and NATO have embraced the concept of training up indigenous forces to achieve objectives and goals in line with their strategic, national, or organizational interests. Essentially this means conducting "Train, Advise, and Assist" (TAA) missions in Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, and elsewhere so that host nations (using local or indigenous forces) can defeat ISIS, al Qaeda, the Taliban, or other adversaries on the battlefield. The United States refers to this mission set as Building Partner Capacity or BPC.
For the past 16 years the United States, NATO, and other partner nations have been slowly developing, training, equipping, and fielding the Afghan National Defense Security Forces (ANDSF) and the Afghan Security Institutions (ASI). Although this effort has made some progress, it has not been a resounding success. While the quantity is there (the end strength according to personnel rosters) the quality is lacking - except in the Afghan Special Security Forces (ASSF).
Currently the Resolute Support HQs based in Kabul is conducting the Train, Advise, and Assist mission on three levels. A major advisory effort is taking place at the security ministries - the Ministry of Defense (MoD) and Ministry of Interior (MoI). There are advisors conducting TAA at the regional ANA Corps level. The Afghan Air Force and Afghan SOF are receiving TAA at the tactical level.
A recently published paper in Joint Force Quarterly examines one critical component of the Building Partner Capacity mission set. It takes a close look at the building of institutional capacity in host-nation ministries (Afghanistan is presented as an example). The authors then offer a scientifically and historically sound methodology for military advisors working at the ministerial level. The aim of the paper is to show the way military leaders and staff can improve how they plan and execute the Train, Advise, and Sssist missions - and, in addition, how we can rethink the role of the military advisor.
You can read or download the 8-page paper below:
"Learning to Fish in Murky Waters: The Missing Link in Capacity-Building", Joint Force Quarterly 86, 3rd Quarter, July 2017.
http://ndupress.ndu.edu/JFQ/Joint-Force-Quarterly-86/Article/1223974/learning-to-fish-in-murky-waters-the-missing-link-in-capacity-building/
Breakaway Taliban Faction Aided by NDS
A breakaway Taliban faction is being helped by the Afghan National Directorate of Security (NDS). The NDS is Afghanistan's version of the U.S. FBI and CIA combined. The faction supported by the NDS and the main stream Taliban have recently clashed causing casualties on both sides. Infighting among Taliban factions is not a new occurrence; however, the NDS provided support to a Taliban faction is not a commonplace event. In recent days the NDS has been supporting the 'Renouncers' - with weapons, safe passage, intelligence support, and medical support. This seems to happen most in Helmand province which the Afghan government has great difficulty in controlling. Read more in a news report entitled "Afghan Government Quietly Aids Breakaway Taliban Faction", The New York Times, June 19, 2017.
Commentary on Afghanistan
Pakistan's Anxieties? C. Christine Fair once again identifies Pakistan as the major problem facing Afghanistan in solving its security issues in "Pakistan's Anxieties Are Incurable, So Stop Trying to Cure Them", War on the Rocks, June 21, 2017.
An Alternative Option to Surging Troops. Daniel L. Davis, a senior fellow at Defense Priorities, presents his opinion on the expected 'mini-surge' of 3-5K additional troops to Afghanistan. Instead of more troops the U.S. should put pressure on Kabul to make good progress in reducing corruption and engage in a regional diplomatic effort to reduce the Pakistan support to the insurgency. Read his article "Instead of sending more soldiers to Afghanistan, Trump should do this", Washington Examiner, June 21, 2017.
US Strategy Needs China's Support. The new U.S. administration will soon roll out its 'Afghan strategy'; however, it faces a difficult task of getting Pakistan and Afghanistan talking again. China can help. Daud Khattak writes "Whatever the New US Strategy in Afghanistan, It Can't Succeed Without China", The Diplomat, June 21, 2017.
Anthony Cordesman on Afghanistan. Cordesman - of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) - offers his perspective and some recommendations about the stability and security of Afghanistan in "One-Size-Fits-All Approach Fails in Afghanistan", The Cipher Brief, June 23, 2017.
U.S. Media Absent on Afghanistan. Pete Metzger, a former Marine officer, feels that the U.S. media is pre-ocuppied with news about Russia and they not covering the Afghan conflict properly in "The Media Miss the Mark on Afghanistan", National Review, June 23, 2017.
Trump's Plan for Afghanistan - a Break from the Past Admin. Peter Bergen, a CNN national security analyst, comments on the new plan for Afghanistan in "Trump's emerging plan for Afghanistan breaks with Obama approach", CNN, June 21, 2017.
Confronting Pakistan. Javid Ahmad writes that the Trump administration should consider new pressure points that increase the pain for Pakistan in "America Must Confront Pakistan's Support of Afghan-Based Terrorism", The National Interest, June 20, 2017.
What is Success? Luke Coffey, of The Heritage Foundation, says that ". . . we need to start measuring success by achievements on the ground and not by unrealistic expectations". Thus far, achievements on the ground have been fleeting. Read more in "What Does America Consider Success in Afghanistan", June 2, 2017.
Security News
Roadside Bomb in Helmand. A roadside landmine on the Lashkargah - Kandahar highway killed 6 policemen on Tuesday, June 20, 2107.
ISIS in Afghanistan - Still Big Problem. Despite the efforts of the U.S. and Afghan forces to defeat the Islamic State - Khorasan group in eastern Afghanistan the insurgent group remains as a big problem. Read "Pentagon: Islamic State Problem Not Getting Better in Afghanistan", Voice of America, June 22, 2017.
Tora Bora Mountains - Changing Hands. A week ago the Islamic State - Khorasan moved its troops into the mountains along the Afghan - Pakistan border area in southern Nangarhar province. In that process they fought and displaced Taliban groups who fled elsewhere. The Afghan government was quick to respond by sending in the ANA. So in about two weeks the region went from Taliban control, to IS-K control, to (supposedly) Afghan government control. It will be interesting to see who will end up owning the ground once the news cycle has shifted its spotlight. See "Afghan Forces Recapture Tora Bora Hideout From IS", Radio Free Europe, June 21, 2017.
Ramazan and the Fight for Kunduz. The fighting continues even during Ramazan; especially in Kunduz. Read "Ramadan on the Afghan frontline: after heavy fighting, hunger and boredom", The Guardian, June 22, 2017.
Nicholson Tours AAF. General Nicholson conducted a tour of some Afghan Air Force (AAF) facilities, looked over some AAF aircraft, met some AAF personnel and pronounced that great progress has been made. Read a press release by Resolute Support HQs that puts a warm glow in your heart about how well our U.S. taxpayers money is being spent. (RS HQs, June 22, 2017).
UN: Security Getting Worse in Afghanistan. A new quarterly report by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) states that the security situation is getting worse. See "Security Situation Worsening in Afghanistan, UN, Pentagon Warn", Radio Free Europe, June 22, 2017. You can read UNAMA's 14-page report on the UNAMA website.
ANA's Camouflage Uniforms. So it seems that the Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan (CSTC-A) is part of the reason the U.S. is spending more for ANA uniforms than needed. It appears, according to a report by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) that CSTC-A went with a proprietary camouflage pattern rather than a camouflage pattern that the U.S. government already owned. This increased the costs per uniform significantly; which means U.S. taxpayers spent @28 million more than necessary for ANA uniforms. View an interactive report by SIGAR at https://sigar.mil/interactive-reports/ana-uniform-procurement/index.html. Read the 19-page document.
New Afghan Govt Security Plan. The Afghan's have developed a new approach to achieving stability in the country. It has four key elements - improve leadership, create unity of effort, diminish corruption, and increase the size of Afghan special operations forces. Read more in "Pentagon: Afghanistan developing new plan vs. Taliban", Stars & Stripes, June 20, 2017.
Peace Talks - But no Women at Table. Heather Barr, a senior researcher with Human Rights Watch, notes that there was very little participation by Afghan women in the latest reconciliation meetings - called the "Kabul Process". Read more in "Women Excluded Again from Afghanistan's Peace Talks", Human Rights Watch, June 6, 2017.
CSTC-A Helps with Blood Bank. A recent truck bomb in Kabul that claimed up to 150 lives and wounded over 300 Afghans significantly depleted the stores of the Kabul blood bank. Read "CSTC-A resupplies life to Afghan Central Blood Bank in Kabul", RS HQs, June 22, 2017.
Car Bomb in Lashkargah. At least 29 people were killed and over 50 others wounded in a car bomb blast in Helmand province on Thursday, June 22, 2017 Some of those killed and injured were ANA soldiers in line to receive pay at the New Kabul Bank Branch in Lashkargah. This is the third time since 2014 that this bank has been attacked while soldiers were lined up to collect pay. Hmmm - lesson observed; not learned. (Tolo News).
Governance News
https://areu.org.af/archives/publication/1608
AREU Report. The Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU) has published a new report entitled Subnational Governance in Afghanistan. This 68-page report was published in July 2017 and covers the state of affairs in Afghanistan and the future of district and village representation.
www.refworld.org/docid/5948e86e4.html
Election Dates Announced. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has announced the dates for parliamentary and district council elections. The date is set for July 7, 2018. Read more in "IEC Announces Election Date: July Next Year", Tolo News, June 23, 2017.
Videos on Afghanistan
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ux6iZPV7evU
Afghan War News Snippets
Afghan Interpreter Has New Life in U.S. An Afghan who worked for the U.S. military as an interpreter finds that life in the United States can be sometimes difficult. See "Afghan Refugee Makes Tough Transition to US", Voice of America, June 21, 2017.
RS Cdr Visits Command School. General John Nicholson, Resolute Support Mission commander, recently visited the Afghan National Army's new Command School on June 19, 2017. Read "General Nicholson brings message of unity to ANA New Commando School", DVIDS, June 20, 2017.
Special Rep for Afg-Pak Eliminated. The Special Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan office at the U.S. State Department is being disbanded. The functions of that office will be assumed by the office handling Central and South Asian Affairs. Read more in a news report by the Washington Post, June 22, 2017.
Taliban Won't Stop Fighting Until . . . The Taliban have said that they will continue to fight until the last foreign troops depart Afghanistan. (Stars and Stripes, June 23, 2017).
Afghan Silk Road. China's attempt to include Afghanistan and Pakistan in its economic sphere of influence depends in part on the stabilization of Afghanistan and also Pakistan. Read more in "Fear and loathing on the Afghan Silk Road", Asia Times, June 21, 2017.
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