Afghan Refugee Dilemma

In the last ten weeks almost 52,000 Afghans living in Pakistan have packed up their belongings and crossed the border into Afghanistan. There are two possible reasons for the exodus - 1) the Pakistan military is running operations against militants in the vicinity of refugee camps, 2) the Pakistan government has decided to conduct a repatriation campaign for Afghan refugees, and 3) time is running out for the validity of ID cards for registered refugees in Pakistan. A big problem for the refugees arriving in Afghanistan is the lack of an Afghan government program to receive and resettle refugees and diminished international humanitarian aid for arriving refugees. Christine Roehrs of the Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN) has been looking into the current politics around the Afghan refugees in Pakistan and the fate that awaits the returnees in their home country of Afghanistan.

Read Christine's article in "The Refugee Dilemma: Afghans in Pakistan between expulsion and failing aid schemes", AAN, March 9, 2015.

USIP Report - Rule of Law (RoL)

The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) has published a report entitled Islamic Law, Customary Law and Afghan Informal Justice - dated March 6, 2015. The author of the report is Hamid Khan, deputy director of the Rule of Law Collaborative at the University of South Carolina. He previously served as a senior rule of law program officer with the Center for Governance, Law and Society at USIP.

"As Afghanistan's nascent democracy works to establish the rule of law across the country, it finds itself contending with the ways that Islamic law converges and diverges from the tribal norms that shape the settling of disputes outside Kabul. Based on surveys conducted in Afghanistan, this report examines the points of tension and agreement between Islamic and customary laws, looking into both of their pasts to suggest a way forward for the Afghan state, particularly in granting greater rights and protections to women". 

This could be a helpful reference for current or future Rule of Law advisors working in Essential Function 3 (RoL) at Resolute Support Headquarters in Afghanistan.

www.usip.org/publications/2015/03/06/islamic-law-customary-law-and-afghan-informal-justice

President Ghani to Visit U.S. - His 5 Tasks

President Ghani will soon visit the United States. He will meet with lots of folks to include President Obama. He is taking his Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abdullah Abdullah in an effort to show his partnership in the National Unity Government (NUG) is strong. The relationship between Afghanistan and the United States became strained because of the antics of the former President Karzai and his refusal to sign the Bilateral Security Agreement. Most observers expect Ghani to ask for a delay in the departure of  U.S. troops, advisors and enablers (air support, Intel assets, ISR, etc.). Tamim Asey outlines five tasks that should be accomplished by Ghani in his recent news article.

1. Rebuild Afghanistan's image & U.S. relations
2. Secure long-term security and economic assistance
3. Seek a stronger U.S. role in peace process
4. More U.S. involvement with Afghan regional neighbors
5. Secure U.S. assistance to help Afghanistan become trade, transit, energy hub

Tamin Asey is a Fulbright alumni and a Columbia University graduate. He is currently a Kabul-based researcher and writer. You can read his article in "Afghanistan" Five Tasks for Ghani's Crucial U.S. Visit", The Diplomat, March 9, 2015.

http://thediplomat.com/2015/03/afghanistan-five-tasks-for-ghanis-crucial-u-s-visit/

Peace Efforts with Pakistan Raise Questions

Many Afghans are welcoming the attempt by President Ghani to start peace talks with the Taliban. Some say he is taking the right approach by working with Pakistan to get the Taliban to the peace table. After all, it is the Pakistanis that support the Afghan Taliban with sanctuaries, intelligence, financing, and specialized equipment. However, many Afghans are leery of trusting the Pakistanis. They view the recent shift in Pakistan's position regarding the Afghan Taliban as merely a public relations ploy. Some think that President Ghani is giving way too much in return for very little from Pakistan. Read more in "Afghan Peace Efforts Reopen Wounds Over Pakistan", The New York Times, March 8, 2015.

HRW to be Sued by Afghan Warlord

The international organization "Human Rights Watch" (HRW) has been threatened by a strongman from northern Afghanistan. The Governor of Balkh province, Atta Mohammad Noor, has threatened to sue HRW over its latest report which accused him of controlling and funding local militias implicated in serious rights abuses. The HRW report profiles eight Afghan warlords suspected of human rights violations. Read more in "Afghan Warlord Threatens to Sue Human Rights Watch", Gandhara Blog, March 9, 2015.

Abandonment of COIN . . . But Wait . . .

We have seen the swift rise and fall of Western counterinsurgency (COIN) between 2004 and 2014 as practiced in Afghanistan, Iraq, and a few other places. While, at the same time, Islamic extremist groups and other insurgents, continue to wage hybrid and other forms of insurgent warfare in Afghanistan, Iraq, and many other places. So if COIN is discredited what type of warfare will replace it? Learn more in an article by Michael Evans entitled "The Shirt of Nessus: The Rise and Fall of Western Counterinsurgency", Quadrant Magazine, January 21, 2015.

PSOTEW Workshop (Apr 14-16, 2015)

The US Army Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute (PKSOI) will hold the 2015 Peace and Stability Operations Training and Education Workshop (PSOTEW) on April 14-16, 2015 at Fort McNair, National Defense University (NDU) in Washington, DC.

"This workshop brings together trainers, practitioners, planners, and educators from U.S. and international governmental and military organizations, non-governmental organizations, peace and stability training centers, and academic institutions to review training and education efforts in the milieu of stability and peace operations . . .".

http://pksoi.army.mil/conferences/psotew/

NYT's Opinion - No Cause to Delay Pullout

So is our withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan to be time-based or conditions-based? Military leaders now say that it is conditions-based but realists know that President Obama has a timeline. After all, he has his legacy to think of - getting America out of two wars during his presidency. General Campbell, the commander of the Resolute Support mission, says that he is not going to be hesitant in asking for more time if he needs it. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter says the same. President Ghani will soon visit the White House and most all observers think he will ask for a delay in the troop withdrawal timeline. However, not everyone agrees that Afghanistan needs more time. Read "No Cause to Delay the Afghan Pullout", The New York Times, March 9, 2015.

Afghan War News Snippets (Mar 10, 2015)

Kabul Governor. According to recent postings on Twitter the Kabul governor - Abdul Jabbar Taqwa - has resigned for personal reasons.

Marshal Fahim. The one year anniversary of the death of Marshal Mohammad Qasim Fahim has arrived. 

Afghan Turkmen. A story about Afghan Turkmen living on the Afghan-Turkmenistan border describes a desperate situation. It seems they are squeezed by the Taliban for taxes and the Afghan government can't do anything to stop it. In addition, attempts to leave their villages to seek medical care are denied by the Taliban. The Turkmenistan government is not quite helping the situation. Read more in "Turkmenistan Keeping Aloof From Afghan Turkmen", Gandhara Blog, March 9, 2015.

Peace Talks in March? There's lots of talk about peace talks with the Taliban. Supposedly China and Pakistan are assisting. Some reports deny there are any peace talks. Some reports say any dialogue is "unofficial". Read more in "Afghan Peace Talks Are Fraught with Stumbling Blocks", Gandhara Blog, March 9, 2015.

ISIS Spreading to Afghanistan. The head of  the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) warned that ISIS is spreading to Libya, Afghanistan, and Pakistan while testifying before the Senate defence committee. Read a news article in CBC News dated March 9, 2015.

The War is Boring  blog has an article about a the contract helicopter firms that worked in Afghanistan and how the rules were sometimes not followed. Read "A Columbian Merc Firm Was the Pentagon's Shadiest Afghanistan Contractor" March 9, 2015.

An article by Keith Nightingale provides us with information on the "secret file cabinets of the mind" that combat veterans take home with them. Read "Thoughts on coming home from combat: Some things you never leave behind", The Best Defense Blog, March 9, 2015.

It appears that the desertion case of Bowe Bergdahl may be coming to a conclusion. Read "Bowe Bergdahl's Legal Limbo", Foreign Policy,  March 9, 2015.

Explore Your Creativity

The Afghan War News Blog and the Afghan War News website are constantly striving to keep its blog, daily newsletter, and website factual, current, and relevant. If you have a link to a website or document you feel should be shared with the greater community then please send it to us. In addition, we are looking for individuals with some knowledge, experience, and expertise in Afghanistan on a wide range of topics to contribute blog posts and articles to our blog and add content to our website. And naturally, if you see errors, outdated information, or broken links please let us know.

staff@afghanwarnews.info

Daily Newsletter - Afghan War News

You can receive the Afghan War News Daily Newsletter each day. It should arrive in your e-mail inbox at 5:00 am Eastern Standard Time. It is easy to subscribe. Go to www.afghanwarnews.blogspot.com and submit your subscription request 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, forms to fill out, or passwords needed. It is also easy to unsubscribe. At the bottom of the newsletter click "unsubscribe" and you will be automatically unsubscribed.

First Flights for Afghan A-29 Pilots (March 5th, 2015)

(Photo of A-29 Moody AFB, GA Mar 5, 2015)

The flight training for Afghan pilots who will be flying the A-29 Super Tocano in Afghanistan in late December 2015 or early 2016 has just started. Eight students had their first flight in the A-29 on March 5, 2015 at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. The A-29 will be used by the AAF to provide critical air support to ground forces.

International Women's Day (Mar 8, 2015)

Sunday, March 8th, 2015 was celebrated around the world as International Women's Day (IWD). Afghanistan had its share of speeches and events as well. Various commentators provided us insight on these speeches, events, and the general situation of women in Afghanistan. Below are some of the dispatches that recently hit the Internet world.

The 2015 International Women of Courage Award Ceremony took place on March 6, 2015.  Every year women from across the globe are recognized by the Department of State. The ceremony was hosted by the Deputy Secretary of State Heather Higginbottom and Ambassador Catherine Russell at the Department of State in Washington, D.C. An Afghan female Air Force pilot, Captain Nilofar Rahmani, was one of eight international women recognized. She is awarded the presentation at the 11:00 minute mark of the video. (posted on YouTube.com by Department of State, videos is 30 minutes long).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpqqUhuLaYA

AAN -  Less Speeches and More Action on IWD. "One Day in a Year: Afghan views on International Women's Day", by Naheed Esar Malikzay of Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN), March 8, 2015. The writer would like to see less speeches and more action. Also provides a history of the origins of International Women's Day and comments on the current situation of women in Afghanistan.

Lela Gilbert writing for Fox News provides us with a short history of IWD and sums up the status of women in the Islamic world. Read "International Women's Day: Celebrating and remembering", Fox News, March 8, 2015.

National Action Plan. Elizabeth Weingarten and Lella Hilal write in The Weekly Wonk about women in Afghanistan and the United Nation's National Action Plan (NAP). See "Women and Men in Afghanistan Are Taking Action for Peace".

USAID News Report. Joanne Lewa worked on a six-month temporary assignment in Afghanistan for USAID. She writes women's leadership, women in the economy and politics, and education and health for women in Afghanistan. See "From Kenya to Kabul: Women as Decision-Makers, Entrepeneurs, and Leaders", USAID, March 6, 2015.

NATO Channel posted a short video on YouTube.com celebrating women International Women's Day by highlighting the essential role of women in defence and security from high level decision making to serving in the armed forces. Nice pictures and music compressed into 42 seconds published on March 7, 2015. Some text put on screen. www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-BymkxM-qo

EU Factsheet on Promoting Afghan Women Leaders. The European Union lists accomplishments made thus far for Afghan women but notes that more work needs to be done and Afghan women will need continued support and advocacy. The EU has announced new initiatives to specifically focus on offering training opportunities to Afghan women.

IFEX has published a news article entitled "How Afghanistan's female journalists are covering the stories no one else can" (March 6, 2015).

The Institute for War & Peace Reporting (IWPR) has posted comments by Shahla Farid, a law lecturer at Kabul University about IWD. (March 2015).

Margh Militia - Driven by Fear of IS

A new militia group formed in Mazar-e-Sharif has Afghan government officials worried. The members say they have formed up their group to fight off any possible attempt by the Islamic State (IS) to establish a foothold in the Mazar-e-Sharif area in northern Afghanistan. It appears that the group is non-sectarian as it has members who at Tajiks, Uzbeks, Pashtuns, and Hazaras. There are Sunni and Shiite Muslims among their fighters. Not much is known about who is funding or organizing the group (I am sure someone knows but just isn't saying). Read more in "Fear of the Islamic State spawns a renegade Afghan militia", The Washington Post, February 25, 2015.

Security Incidents Increase in Feb 2015

Tolo News has reported that there were 848 security incidents in Afghanistan in February 2015. This was a 22 percent increase over January 2015. Southern Helmand province suffered most of the incidents followed by Nangarhar and Kunar in the east, Herat in the west, Kandahar in the south. Read more in "22 Percent Increase in Security Incidents", Tolo News, March 8, 2015.

Paper - MODA Program

The United States Government Accountability Officer (GAO) has published a report for Congress entitled Building Partner Capacity: DoD Should Improve its Reporting to Congress on Challenges to Expanding Ministry of Defense Advisors Program, February 2015. The GAO report has found that the Department of Defense has expanded the Global Ministry of Defense Advisors (MODA) program more slowly than planned. The Ministry of Defense Advisors (MODA) program partners DoD civilian experts with foreign defense and security officials to build core competencies in key areas such as strategy and policy, human resources management, acquisition and logistics, and financial management. The program began in Afghanistan in July 2010, and Congress authorized the Secretary of Defense, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, to carry out a program to assign DoD civilian employees as advisors to the ministries of defense of foreign countries. You can read the GAO report here - "Building Partner Capacity" at the PKSOI website. Read a DoD MODA program overview.

Daily News Snippets (Mar 9, 2015)

The Fire and Disaster Police Directorate of the Ministry of Interior (MoI) received 54 new fire trucks. The trucks were financed by the Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan (CSTC-A). They will be deployed to fire stations in Kabul and the provinces.
www.eupol-afg.eu/node/548

Hazara Hostages. A few days back the Ministry of Defense issued press reports that a major operation was underway to rescue 30 Hazara hostages taken off two buses in Zabul province. Not a peep since on how the operation is going. Hmmmm.

Afghanistan's National Water Polo Team. So you have no doubt heard that Afghanistan's football, cricket and Taekwondo teams have done very well in the international sports arena. Perhaps you have also heard of the Afghan Women's Cycling Team as well? But did you know about the Afghan National Water Polo Team? Probably not. A U.S. Marine reservist is the coach. Read more in "Marines help coach Afghanistan's first water polo team", Marine Corps Times, March 8, 2015.

Afghan Prison Riot. A number of casualties has occurred during a prison riot and hostage situation in northern Afghanistan in the provincial capital of Shebirghan in Jawzjan province. Two police officers were killed after taken hostage.  Read more in a news report by Stars & Stripes, March 8, 2015.

Some Army officers with Fort Bragg ties are heading to or departing Afghanistan. One of them is MG Jeffrey S. Buchanan - he will become the deputy chief of staff for operations of the Resolute Support mission. (Fayetteville Observer, March 8, 2015).

New Zealand awarded military medals to two former Afghan interpreters who worked with NZ forces in Afghanistan. The men and their families were among dozens of Afghan interpreters who were allowed to resettle in NZ in recognition of their service. (TVNZ.co News, March 8, 2015).

Sufi Order Attacked. Unknown gunmen attacked a Sufi Muslim center in Kabul, Afghanistan on Sunday night killing at least five and possibly 11 people. This is the first time that a Sufi spiritual center has been attacked in Afghanistan. Read more in "Afghanistan's ancient Sufi order shocked by deadly attack", LA Times, March 8, 2015.

Guest Bloggers Wanted

The Afghan War News Blog and the Afghan War News website are constantly striving to keep its blog, daily newsletter, and website factual, current, and relevant. If you have a link to a website or document you feel should be shared with the greater community then please send it to us. In addition, we are looking for individuals with some knowledge, experience, and expertise in Afghanistan on a wide range of topics to contribute blog posts and articles to our blog and add content to our website. And naturally, if you see errors, outdated information, or broken links please let us know.

staff@afghanwarnews.info

Start Your Day with Afghan News

You can receive the Afghan War News Daily Newsletter each day. It should arrive in your e-mail inbox at 5:00 am Eastern Standard Time. It is easy to subscribe. Go to www.afghanwarnews.blogspot.com and submit your subscription request 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, forms to fill out, or passwords needed. It is also easy to unsubscribe. At the bottom of the newsletter click "unsubscribe" and you will be automatically unsubscribed.

March 8th - International Women's Day

March 8th is International Women's Day. Things have improved dramatically for women in Afghanistan. Women are members of parliament, they now have access to education, there are many more medical clinics, and there are possibilities that a few women may be appointed to cabinet positions. The country's First Lady, Rula Ghani, is taking a very visible role promoting the cause of Afghan women. While great progress has been made for women in Afghanistan much more work needs to be done. In recognition of this special day Afghan War News presents some informational resources and stories about women in Afghanistan.

Informational Resources about Women in Afghanistan

Afghan War News Resource Page on Women in Afghanistan
www.afghanwarnews.info/women/women.htm

NATO Article - "Women's Struggle"
www.returntohope.com/inDepth/WomensStruggle

Recent News Stories about Women in Afghanistan

"Nilofar Rahmani receives International Women of Courage award 2015". 2nd Lieutenant Rahmani, a female pilot in the Afghan Air Force, has received an award from First Lady Michelle Obama. Read more in a Khaama Press news article on March 7, 2015.

"Female ALP Commander Helps ANA in Helmand Operation", Tolo News, March 6, 2015. The Sistani village in Marja district in southern Helmand has been cleared of militants with the help of a female Afghan Local Police (ALP) commander as part of the "Zulfiqar" operation. Read news article here.

A report by the GSMA organization advances the argument that providing more access to mobile communications to women of developing nations will improve their lot in society. They have published a report that says as much - entitled "Bridging the gender gap: Mobile access and usage in low- and middle-income nations". See the report at the link below.

www.gsma.com/connectedwomen/gender-gap/

An Australian news article profiles Australian Army Colonel Amanda Fielding who attended the graduation of close to 200 Afghan female policewomen from the International Police Training Academy in Sivas, Turkey. The class is only the second group of Afghan females to graduate from the academy and this brings the total number of females in the Afghan Woman's Police Corps of the Afghan National Police to over 3,000.