Taliban "Killing their Own" in Bid to Win Back Control of Sangin
31 January 2011
, The Independent, 31 January 2011
EXCERPT: "Taliban gunmen have begun assassinating their own rank and file in a desperate bid to stop a remote mountain valley sliding from their grasp, as well as bringing in new commanders to oversee their fightback in Sangin, Afghanistan's most violent district, The Independent can reveal. They are also attacking tribal...
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Theories of Conflict Resolution and Their Applicability to Afghanistan
31 January 2011
Peace Offerings: Theories of Conflict Resolution and Their Applicability to Afghanistan, Afghanistan Analyst Network, January 2011
EXCERPT: "AAN's new discussion paper by Matt Waldman and Thomas Ruttig takes a more theoretical approach to the current debate about reconciliation, often too narrowly described just as ?talking to the Taleban?. It looks into various theories of conflict resolution and which insights they may offer for...
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Losses at Kabul Bank Could Total $900 Million
31 January 2011
, The New York Times, 30 January 2011
EXCERPT: "Fraud and mismanagement at Afghanistan's largest bank have resulted in potential losses of as much as $900 million ? three times previous estimates ? heightening concerns that the bank could collapse and trigger a broad financial panic in Afghanistan, according to American, European and Afghan officials. The extent of these losses make it...
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Suicide Bomber Kills Deputy Governor of Kandahar
31 January 2011
, The Canadian Press, 29 January 2011
EXCERPT: "A suicide bomber riding a motorcycle packed with explosives rammed into a car carrying the deputy governor of Afghanistan's southern Kandahar province on Saturday, killing him and wounding three of his bodyguards, the Interior Ministry said. [...] The attacker struck as the official, Abdul Latif Ashna, was being driven to work in the provincial...
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Afghanistan Signs Pact with UN to Prevent Recruitment of Child Soldiers
31 January 2011
Afghanistan Signs Pact with UN to Prevent Recruitment of Child Soldiers, UN News Centre, 30 January 2011
EXCERPT: "The United Nations and the Government of Afghanistan today signed an agreement in which the country made a commitment to protect children affected by armed conflict and to prevent the recruitment of minors into the national armed forces. 'Today we come together to undertake a big step for a better future for the...
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Human Security Indicators Project: Provincial Quarterly Reports
28 January 2011
[pdf], Cooperation for Peace and Unity (CPAU), January 2011
EXCERPT: "The Human Security Indicators Project was implemented by Cooperation for Peace and Unity (CPAU). Data collection was carried out in 9 districts in 3 provinces in Afghanistan from January ? March 2010. The sites include, Kabul Province: Kabul City, Kalakan and Surobi; Kunduz Province: Kunduz city,...
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Lack of Trainers Puts US Afghan Exit Strategy at Risk: Report
28 January 2011
Lack of Trainers Puts US Afghan Exit Strategy at Risk, Report Says, CNN, 28 January 2011
EXCERPT: "A new report questions whether the centerpiece of the Obama administration's exit strategy for Afghanistan -- a training program for Afghan security forces -- can deliver as promised. The United States says that it will gradually hand off responsibilities to Afghanistan security forces as it draws down U.S. troops between this summer...
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Kapisa Locals Claim Police Harassment but Praise Afghan Army
28 January 2011
Afghans Complain of Police Harassment, Institute for War and Peace Reporting, 28 January 2011
EXCERPT: "Zubair, 17, sits among the men and boys lounging by the wall of the mosque, cradling his arm, thickly wrapped in bandages. The cause of his injury, he says, was a police beating two weeks ago. 'I was coming home from the bazaar, riding my bicycle,' he said. 'The police stopped me and for no reason, they searched me and...
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Afghanistan, Pakistan Form Joint Commission to Facilitate Peace Talks
28 January 2011
Afghanistan Endgame: Body Formed to Pave Way for Taliban Talks, The Express Tribune, 28 January 2011
EXCERPT: "Pakistan and Afghanistan have established a joint commission to work out modalities for direct negotiations with the Taliban in a bid to accelerate the Afghan-Taliban reconciliation process. Headed by the Pakistani and Afghan foreign ministers, the bilateral commission will comprise top military and intelligence officials from...
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Suicide Bomber Targets Head of Blackwater at Kabul Supermarket, Kills Eight
28 January 2011
, The New York Times, 28 January 2011
EXCERPT: "An explosion on Friday afternoon in a Kabul supermarket frequented by foreigners killed at least eight people, including at least three foreign women, according to Gen. Ayoub Salangi, the Kabul Province police chief. A Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying that a suicide bomber had carried it out and...
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