Afghanistan Conflict Monitor

IDPs In Northwest Battle Cold, Diseases And Hunger

'IDPs In Northwest Battle Cold, Diseases And Hunger', IRIN News, 26 February 2009

EXCERPT: "Freezing temperatures, hunger and sickness are unrelenting inside an old tent where Dadullah’s family has been living near Qala-e-Nau, the capital of the northwestern Afghan province of Badghis. The family abandoned their home in Moqur District because of recurrent armed conflict between insurgent groups and pro-government forces and prevalent food insecurity. A provincial official said about 400 families (around 2,000 individuals) had been displaced across the province over the past two months. Most of the displaced have set up tents or sought shelter in dilapidated houses in the outskirts of the provincial capital. Due to below zero temperatures and lack of access to safe drinking water, many internally displaced persons (IDPs), particularly children, are prone to diseases such as diarrhoea and pneumonia. Provincial government authorities said they had few resources at their disposal to mitigate the suffering of IDPs and that non-government aid agencies had little presence in the province."

To continue reading the article, click here.

See also:
'USAID affiliate warns of widespread hunger', EurasiaNet, 27 February 2009
'Angry Bajaur IDPs block road', The News, 22 February 2009

Related posts:
'Amnesty warns of food shortages in camps', 19 February 2009
'Little to eat for IDPs in makeshift Kabul camp', 5 January 2009
'Afghanistan: Invest in people', 10 July 2008
'Food insecurity prompts hundreds to leave their homes', 29 April 2008

Afghanistan Still Largest Opium Poppy Producer: US

 'Afghanistan Still Largest Opium Poppy Producer: US', AFP, 27 February 2009

EXCERPT: "Afghanistan remained the largest opium poppy producer, which increasingly fuels the Islamist insurgency there, despite a 19-percent drop in cultivation last year, the US government said Friday. The report, which evaluates anti-drug efforts country by country, said: 'Opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan declined in 2008 by 19 percent, after two years of record highs.' The 2009 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report cited the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which said opium poppy cultivation declined from 193,000 hectares (477,000 acres) in 2007 to 157,300 hectares (388,700 acres) in 2008. The fall resulted from 'a combination of poor weather conditions, decreased opium prices relative to other crops, and improved governance and security in key provinces,' the report added. The report said 'cultivation was largely confined to five contiguous provinces in the south of the country near the borders with Pakistan and Iran.'"

To continue reading the article, click here.
To continue reading the "2009 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report - Volume I: Drug and Chemical Control" report, click here [pdf].

See also:
'Factbox: Global narcotics activity in 2008 - US report', Reuters UK, 27 February 2009
'Stop the Afghan drug trade, stop terrorism', Forbes, 26 February 2009
'Afghanistan: US escalates the illegal drug industry', Global Research, 25 February 2009

Related posts:
'2008 opium crop was second biggest: UN report', 20 February 2009
'Afghan opium poppy production expected to fall: UN', 2 February 2009
'Afghanistan's opium poppies: No quick fixes', 19 June 2008
'NATO urged to do more for Afghan drugs problem', 13 May 2008
'Economic incentives and development initiatives to reduce opium production', 5 February 2008

Up To 15,000 Taliban In Afghanistan: Minister

'Up To 15,000 Taliban In Afghanistan: Minister', Herald Sun, 27 February 2009

EXCERPT: "Afghanistan's interior minister has revealed 10,000 to 15,000 Taliban are still fighting in the nation, offering a rare estimate on the insurgency which the new US administration has vowed to tackle. Minister Hanif Atmar dismissed the strength of the insurgents, saying that a wave of high-profile attacks showed the desperation of the Taliban movement which was ousted from power in a US-led offensive in 2001. Mr Atmar, in Washington for a three-way dialogue with the US and Pakistan on a new 'war on terror' strategy, said that Taliban insurgents were still operating in up to 17 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces. Afghan authorities rarely give hard figures for the number of Taliban, saying that it is hard to define the movement. Mr Atmar said most of the insurgents were foreigners operating with Al-Qaeda or Central Asian extremist groups. He said many Afghans were recruited for economic reasons and that he did not consider them dye-in-the-wool Taliban."

To continue reading the article, click here.

See also:
'"Secret" Taliban talks under way', Haber27, 27 February 2009
'Resurgent Taliban creates alarm, says MP', Adnkronos International, 27 February 2009
'Taliban not the only problem in Afghanistan', Today's Zaman, 27 February 2009
'Will the Taliban take over Pashtun areas of Afghanistan?', Asharq Alawsat, 27 February 2009
'Troop shortages mean Taliban retake ground in Helmand', The Telegraph, 26 February 2009

Related posts:
'From mujahideen heroes to Taliban terrorists', 16 February 2009
'Afghanistan says foreign fighters coming from Iraq', 4 February 2009
'Iraqi ambassador: Al-Qaida leaving Iraq for Afghanistan', 24 July 2008
'The return of the Taliban', 27 January 2009
'US fighting the "wrong war"', 27 May 2008

Protests Over "Mosque Raid"

'Protests Over "Mosque Raid"', Al Jazeera, 27 February 2009

EXCERPT: "Hundreds of protesters have clashed with police in southern Afghanistan amid claims international forces opened fire inside a mosque and copies of the Quran were ripped up. Rocks were thrown at police and at least three demonstrators were wounded by gunfire after about 500 people demonstrated in Ghazni on Friday, said Mohammad Zaman, the province's police chief. The protest came a day after Polish troops were accused of shooting their weapons inside the mosque in Dhi Khodaidad village and beating local residents. One of the protesters told the Associated Press that he was in the mosque when troops entered and opened fire, although no-one was injured. Government officials will meet with Polish forces on Saturday to find out if they were involved, he said."

To continue reading the article, click here.

See also:
'Amnesty urges prosecution of troops for Afghan abuses', Reuters India, 27 February 2009
'Afghanistan's defense minister warns against US pullback', Los Angeles Times, 27 February 2009
'Afghanistan troop surge costly', Global Post, 26 February 2009
'Growing public hostility to troops may hurt US surge plans', The Washington Post, 22 February 2009

Related posts:
'Afghan insurgency inspiring new fighters: Analysts', 13 January 2009
'"Foreign forces fuel Afghan extremism"', 23 December 2008
'Afghanistan say to decide how long NATO troops stay', 20 May 2008
'Polish soldiers charged with murdering Afghan civilians', 15 November 2007
'Majority of Afghans want NATO troops to stay: Poll', 18 October 2007

Canada's Afghan Mission Costs $11.3 Billion

'Canadian Afghan Mission Costs $11.3 Billion', Toronto Star, 26 February 2009

EXCERPT: "Canadians can expect a $11.3-billion price tag once the government wraps up its decade-long effort in Afghanistan, the Department of National Defence says. In a newly released accounting, the federal government said that DND estimates a 10-year price tag of $9-billion while other departments including the international development agency, foreign affairs and veteran's affairs will be on the hook for $2.3-billion. The estimated costs do not include the costs of disability and healthcare for veterans once the mission is finished, something that parliamentary budget officer Kevin Page factored in when he calculated total costs in 2011 at $18.1-billion. Page's report, released in the final days of last fall's federal election, suggested up to 7,000 Canadian soldiers who have passed through the war torn country could make disability or healthcare claims. This is the first time that the federal government has released a total estimated cost of the Afghan effort, which Canada has been engaged in since 2001."

To continue reading the article, click here.

See also:
'Canada's top diplomat to visit Middle East', AFP, 26 February 2009
'Cost of the Afghanistan mission 2001-2011', National Defence Canada, 25 February 2009
'Canada joins US call for help in Afghanistan', The National Post, 25 February 2009

Related posts:
'Afghanistan mission to cost $28 billion, group says', 8 October 2008
'Cost of Afghan mission being kept secret', 17 September 2008
'Afghanistan spending to top $1-billion in 2008', 21 April 2008
'Overwhelmed, overstretched: The Canadians in Afghanistan', 17 April 2008

Tribal Engagement In Afghanistan

Darin J. Blatt et al, 'Tribal Engagement In Afghanistan', Special Warfare, January - February 2009, Volume 22 Issue 1, p.18-26

EXCERPT: "There is an ongoing discussion about the merits of engagement activities — activities between coalition military forces and foreign civilian personnel — as a means of obtaining information, influencing behavior and building an indigenous base of support for coalition and government objectives. During a recent rotation to Operation Enduring Freedom, Special Forces A-detachments 3321 and 3315 developed models in the Paktia and Paktika provinces of what can be accomplished in terms of tribal engagement by working within the existing tribal power structure in Afghanistan. An examination of the detachments’ understanding of the operational environment and subsequent methods of engagement can provide a model for others to use throughout Afghanistan. Southeastern Paktia lies between the Tora Bora mountain ranges and Nangahar Province to the north and Khowst Province to the south. To the east lies Pakistan and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, including the Shia-controlled Kurram Agency and the city of Parachinar."

To continue reading the article, click here [pdf].

See also:
'Afghan defense minister explains auxiliary security force', The Washington Independent, 26 February 2009
'Of missing weapons and secret airbases', Khaleej Times, 25 February 2009
'Can militias contain the Taliban?', BBC News, 21 February 2009
'Can US find right answer for Afghanistan?', The Dallas Morning Herald, 20 February 2009

Related posts:
'Afghan militia gears up to fight the Taliban', 18 February 2009
'Mobilizing Afghan militias: Civil defense forces vs. "tribal militias"', 16 February 2009
'Enlisting tribes against militants carries risks', 24 November 2008
'US: Tribal leaders still in charge', 28 February 2008

Kabul Wants "Afghanization" Of War Effort

'Kabul Wants Obama To Promote "Afghanization" Of War Effort', EurasiaNet, 26 February 2009

EXCERPT: "Afghanistan's foreign minister, Rangeen Dadfar Spanta, has asked the United States to give more assistance to Afghan institutions in order to press the fight against terrorism and the drug trade. And conjuring up bad memories of an American quagmire from four decades ago, Spanta also has called for the 'Afghanization' of security operations. Spanta made the comments during an appearance at the Center for American Progress, a Washington think tank, on February 26. Spanta was in Washington as part of a large delegation from Afghanistan, which, along with another delegation from Pakistan, engaged with top US officials in a comprehensive review of American strategy toward that region. Spanta said he was satisfied with the level of input that his government has had in the policy review, and said that the officials he has spoken to have been receptive to his ideas."

To continue reading the article, click here.

See also:
'Afghan review to ensure there is no further attack on US: White House', The Economic Times, 26 February 2009
'Pakistan wants drones on table in US-Afghan review', AFP, 26 February 2009
'The shift from Baghdad to Kabul', Al Jazeera, 26 February 2009
'A strategy for Afghanistan - Kissinger', The Washington Post, 26 February 2009
'Afghan DM: Nation in fight for its survival', Army Times, 26 February 2009

Related posts:
'Afghanistan seeking SOFA terms?', 24 February 2009
'Bottom-up approach needed in Afghanistan: Report', 17 February 2009
'Afghans to join US-led review of war policy', 16 February 2009
'Afghans wary of Taliban, US', 1 December 2008
'Afghan leader complains US, NATO aren't succeeding', 26 November 2008

Taliban Say Want Peace With Afghans

'Taliban Say Want Peace With Afghans, NATO Troops Out', Reuters India, 26 February 2009

EXCERPT: "The Taliban are willing to work with all Afghan groups to achieve peace, but the problems of Afghanistan can only be solved if foreign troops withdraw from the country, a senior insurgent leader said. The Taliban have made a strong come-back in the last three years, extending the scale and scope of their insurgency across the south and east and up to the fringes of the Afghan capital. U.S. officials admit they are not winning the war but, they say, neither are the Taliban. A stalemate has been reached with insurgents unable to overcome NATO's military might and foreign troops unable to stop Taliban roadside and suicide bombs. Repeated calls from Afghan President Hamid Karzai for talks with the Taliban have been rejected by the militants, but the statement from the senior Taliban commander signals a slightly softer stance towards the government while maintaining the customary hard line against the international troop presence."

To continue reading the article, click here.

See also:
'Taliban kill "US spy" as "gift to Obama"', AFP, 26 February 2009
'Taliban alliance only against US, says Maulvi Nazir', Daily Times, 26 February 2009
'Pakistan will be the next target for Taliban: Kissinger', The Hindu, 26 February 2009
'Australian DM warns of Taliban escalation', The Sydney Morning Herald, 25 February 2009

Related posts:
'Coordinated Kabul assault shows Taliban strength', 11 February 2009
'NATO figures show surge in violence', 2 February 2009
'Taliban fill NATO's big gaps in Afghan south', 22 January 2009
'Taliban want to expel foreign troops, not win power', 21 January 2009
'"The Taliban now holds a permanent presence in 72% of Afghanistan"', 8 December 2008

Afghan President Considers April Election

'Afghan President Considers April Election', VOA News, 25 February 2009

EXCERPT: "Afghan President Hamid Karzai is considering holding presidential elections in April, four months earlier than an election date set by the country's Independent Election Commission. Afghanistan's constitution requires that the presidential election be held by April 21, one month before Mr. Karzai's five-year term expires. Last month, Afghan election chief, Azizullah Lodin, said the commission decided to reschedule the vote for August to give incoming U.S. forces time to stabilize the country. But opposition leaders have insisted that Mr. Karzai step down when his term expires in May and install a caretaker government."

To continue reading the article, click here.

See also:
'Karzai prepares ground for snap election gamble', Financial Times, 25 February 2009
'Afghans brave poor security to register vote', Reuters UK, 25 February 2009
'NATO confident of Afghan election reinforcements', Reuters India, 23 February 2009

Related posts:
'NATO to back Afghani polls', 19 February 2009
'Taliban strategy aims to cut NATO logistics, undermine elections', 5 February 2009
'Afghanistan at critical point, elections at risk: IISS', 27 January 2009
'Afghans to Karzai: You failed us', 22 October 2008
'Afghanistan's readiness to vote debated', 25 July 2008

The High Price Of Education In Afghanistan

 'The High Price Of Education In Afghanistan', Embassy, 25 February 2009

EXCERPT: "A bounty was announced in Afghanistan last year; terrorists promised to pay $500 for the killing of a teacher—double the money if it was a female teacher. In the war-torn Central Asian country, all aspects of a functioning education system are a constant target of terrorism, and teaching children is a risky job. Afghanistan's schools have crumbled under 30 years of war, and during Taliban rule, schools were shut down and women banned from taking up studies. A generation of Afghans was being deprived of its literacy and, as a result, its independence. Since 2001, many efforts have been made to re-build the country's educational institutions. One of the top priorities of Canada's mission is to build, expand or repair 50 schools in Kandahar by 2011. While there have been success stories and more girls are indeed making it into classrooms, the challenges of security, capacity and overcoming an overly rigid and patriarchal culture continue to undermine such efforts, and it is devoted Afghans who pay the ultimate price for pushing such advancements"

To continue reading the article, click here.

See also:
'Minister: US shortchanging Afghan development', Wired.com, 25 February 2009
'Afghanistan: Build infrastructure, not bases', FPIF, 23 February 2009

Related posts:
'Taliban forces students out of schools into madrasas', 17 February 2009
'In Afghanistan, education under attack', 22 December 2008
'Attacks deprive 300,000 students of education', 22 September 2008
'The general situation of children in Afghanistan', 21 April 2008