Intense security for Afghanistan elders' meeting (15.11.2011)

(Quelle:BBC)

Security forces are on high alert in the Afghan capital, Kabul, ahead of a traditional assembly of elders and leaders, due to begin on Wednesday. The Taliban have threatened to attack the gathering, or loya jirga.

Afghanistan clash 'kills dozens of Taliban' in Paktika (10.11.2011)

(Quelle:BBC)

More than 60 Taliban fighters have been killed in an attack on a Nato outpost in Afghanistan's eastern province of Paktika, local officials say.

Haqqanis will not talk Afghan peace alone - commander (25.10.2011)

(Quelle:Reuters AlertNet)

The Afghan Haqqani militant group will not take part individually in any peace talks with the United States and negotiations must be led by the Taliban, a senior commander told Reuters.

Opposition grows to next stage of U.S. military presence in Afghanistan (25.10.2011)

(Quelle:RFE/RL)

The proposed agreement … is intended to update the current security agreement signed in 2005, and would outline the U.S. military role in Afghanistan after 2014.

U.S. officials deliver warning in Pakistan over extremists (21.10.2011)

(Quelle:New York Times)

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton; David H. Petraeus, the new director of the Central Intelligence Agency; and Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, planned to push their Pakistani counterparts to make a definitive choice between fighting terrorists or supporting them.

EU provides EUR15 million towards construction of a police staff college / training academy (20.10.2011)

(Quelle:Reliefweb)

The European Union Special Representative and Head of Delegation to Afghanistan, Mr. Vygaudas Ušackas and International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Senior Operations Officer and current Officer-in-Charge, Mr. Jose Ivan Davalos today signed a contract worth EUR 15 million to build a Police Staff College in Kabul and a Regional Police Training Centre, with a special section for women, in Bamiyan province.

France begins withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan (19.10.2011)

(Quelle:BBC)

France is set to pull out nearly 200 troops from Afghanistan in a few hours, kickstarting withdrawals announced three months ago by Paris. Another 200 soldiers are due to return home before Christmas as part of Nato's plan to end combat mission by 2014.

NATO assessment emphasizes setbacks for Taliban (15.10.2011)

(Quelle:New York Times)

Despite a sharp increase in assassinations and a continuing flood of civilian casualties, NATO officials said Saturday that they had reversed the momentum of the Taliban insurgency as enemy attacks were falling for the first time in years.

Security Council extends mandate of international force in Afghanistan (12.10.2011)

(Quelle:UN News)

The Security Council today extended the authorization of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan for another year, welcoming the agreement between the country and troop-contributing States to gradually transfer key security responsibilities to the Afghan Government by the end of 2014.

Afghan opium production 'rises by 61%' compared with 2010 (11.10.2011)

(Quelle:BBC)

Opium production in Afghanistan rose by 61% this year compared with 2010, according to a UN report. The increase has been attributed to rising opium prices that have driven farmers to expand cultivation of the illicit opium poppy by 7% in 2011.

Afghanistan envoy highlights errors of British strategy (11.10.2011)

(Quelle:The Guardian)

One of Britain's most senior diplomats has delivered a stinging critique of the government's approach to Afghanistan in the past and damped down expectations of the state of the country when UK combat troops pull out in three years.

Systematic torture in Afghan detention facilities – UN report (10.10.2011)

(Quelle:UN News)

A new United Nations report released today cites evidence of the “systematic” torture and mistreatment of detainees in Afghan detention facilities, including of children, and provides recommendations which it hopes will spur the necessary reforms.

Hamid Karzai admits Afghanistan 'security failure' (07.10.2011)

(Quelle:BBC)

President Hamid Karzai has said his government and Nato have failed to provide Afghans with security, 10 years after the Taliban were overthrown. Speaking to the BBC, Mr Karzai also accused Pakistan of supporting the insurgency, saying sanctuaries there still needed to be tackled.

A leader’s death exposes disarray in the Afghan peace process (03.10.2011)

(Quelle:New York Times)

In the two weeks since the leader of Afghanistan’s peace process was assassinated, an intense power struggle has opened among the nation’s ethnic groups — and within them — as well as among other powerful factions here, laying bare a crisis that is buffeting President Hamid Karzai from every side.

Karzai reviewing Taliban peace strategy: spokesman (02.10.2011)

(Quelle:Reliefweb)

Hamid Karzai is reviewing his strategy for making peace with the Taliban and will address the nation on next steps "very soon," according to a spokesman for the Afghan president. … "All peace talks with the Taliban are suspended. The president will review the peace and reconciliation strategy," Siamak Herawi, a spokesman for Karzai, told AFP.

Afghan president questions future of peace talks (28.09.2011)

(Quelle:Reuters AlertNet)

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, long a staunch advocate of peace talks with the Taliban, on Wednesday questioned whether the insurgent group was able to seek a political settlement and blamed Pakistan for fomenting instability.

UN report shows grim Afghan situation (28.09.2011)

(Quelle:BBC)

There has been a 39% rise in violent incidents in Afghanistan so far this year compared with the same period last year, a UN report says. In the past three months alone, there have been 7,000 violent incidents in the country, says the report by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

Pessimism fills Kabul during mourning for slain Peace Council Chief (21.09.2011)

(Quelle:New York Times)

President Hamid Karzai landed at Kabul International Airport as dusk fell here Wednesday and faced a country even more fearful and divided than the one he had left just three days ago. … By Wednesday it was apparent that the killing threatened to splinter the already fragile alliances between Afghanistan’s ethnic groups, leaving a sense of desolation about the country’s future.

U.S. blames Pakistan-based group for attack on embassy in Kabul (14.09.2011)

(Quelle:New York Times)

Raising the death toll sharply, American and Afghan officials said Wednesday that the complexity and execution of the siege of the American Embassy and NATO’s headquarters in Kabul bore the hallmarks of a militant group based in Pakistan that has become one of the American military’s most implacable foes.

Washington backs opening Taliban office in Qatar: report (13.09.2011)

(Quelle:The Daily Star)

The U.S. has endorsed plans for the Taliban to open political headquarters in the Gulf state of Qatar by the end of the year, British newspaper The Times reported Monday. The move is aimed to allow the West to begin formal peace talks with the Taliban, Western diplomats told the paper.

Ban Ki-moon maps UN role in Afghan peace talks (09.09.2011)

(Quelle:Reliefweb)

The United Nations can help facilitate peace talks in Afghanistan, UN chief Ban Ki-moon said, urging the international community not to abandon the nation as troops pull out. … He said the UN could provide technical assistance and political advice to the administration of President Hamid Karzai to conduct negotiations with Taliban-led insurgents, which Western officials say are tentatively underway.

Afghanistan rejects UN allegations of torture in jails (07.09.2011)

(Quelle:BBC)

The Afghan government has rejected allegations of torture in its prisons, calling them politically motivated.

The allegations, which appear in an as-yet unpublished UN report, suggest that in some prisons detainees have been beaten and given electric shocks. They prompted Nato to suspend prisoner transfers to some facilities.

Norway suspends aid to Afghanistan over corruption - report (06.09.2011)

(Quelle:Reliefweb)

Norway has frozen $55 million in aid to Afghanistan until the scandal surrounding the collapse of corruption-ridden Kabul Bank is resolved. … The IMF has also said it will withhold financial aid to Afghanistan until the issue is resolved.

UK memo welcomes Karzai plan to step down in 2014 (30.08.2011)

(Quelle:Reuters AlertNet)

British officials believe Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s decision to step down at the end of his second term in 2014 greatly improves his country’s political prospects, a confidential memo accidentally disclosed by a minister showed.

With poll results now finalized, UN urges Afghan lawmakers to get to work (23.08.2011)

(Quelle:UN News)

The United Nations today stressed the need for Afghan lawmakers get down to business now that the country’s electoral authorities have finalized the results of last year’s parliamentary elections.

Attack on British Council compound in Kabul kills 12 (19.08.2011)

(Quelle:BBC)

Gunmen have stormed the British Council office in the Afghan capital, Kabul, killing at least 12 people and taking over the compound for hours.

Hamid Karzai bid to end Afghan election dispute (10.08.2011)

(Quelle:BBC)

The Afghan president has issued a decree saying the courts do not have the power to decide disputed results from last year's parliamentary polls. Hamid Karzai's ruling also dissolved Afghanistan's special election tribunal which had accused 62 MPs of winning their seats through electoral fraud. It said the Independent Election Commission (IEC) will now have a final say in deciding results. The move is aimed at ending months of uncertainty over parliament's fate.

Taliban hint at interest in negotiated settlement (03.08.2011)

(Quelle:New York Times)

The Taliban have begun to send signals that they are interested in a negotiated settlement, potentially offering an opening for the West and the Afghan government, several Western officials said.

US urges Pakistani role in Afghan peace process (02.08.2011)

(Quelle:VOA News)

The United States is calling on Pakistan to play a vital role in the peace process in neighboring Afghanistan, where foreign forces have begun the process of withdrawal. Officials from all three countries met Tuesday in Islamabad for a fourth round of high-level talks focusing on a resolution to the 10-year conflict in Afghanistan.

Talks on long-term Afghan-U.S. partnership stalled (29.07.2011)

(Quelle:Washington Post)

Negotiations to set the terms of the U.S. partnership with Afghanistan in the decade after 2014 are faltering as the two countries struggle to bridge the gap between their demands, according to U.S. and Afghan officials.