Afghanistan Security situation, European Asylum Support Office, June 2019

Table of contents

Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………3
Contents………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..4
Disclaimer…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….10
Glossary and Abbreviations……………………………………………………………………………………………………11
Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………15
Methodology ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………15
Sources ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………16
Structure and use of the report…………………………………………………………………………………………..17
Map…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….19
1. General description of the security situation in Afghanistan …………………………………………………..20
1.1 Conflict background……………………………………………………………………………………………………..20
1.1.1 Overview of recent conflicts in Afghanistan ……………………………………………………………..20
1.1.2 Political landscape…………………………………………………………………………………………………21
1.1.3 Peace talks……………………………………………………………………………………………………………23
1.1.4 International context……………………………………………………………………………………………..24
1.2 Actors in the conflict…………………………………………………………………………………………………….25
1.2.1 Pro-government forces…………………………………………………………………………………………..25
1.2.2 Anti-Government Elements (AGEs)………………………………………………………………………….31
1.3 Recent security trends and armed confrontations……………………………………………………………40
1.3.1 Armed clashes and assaults ……………………………………………………………………………………41
1.3.2 Improvised Explosive Devices …………………………………………………………………………………43
1.3.3 High-profile attacks……………………………………………………………………………………………….44
1.3.4 Targeted killings and conflict-related abduction ……………………………………………………….45
1.3.5 Aerial attacks and bombings…………………………………………………………………………………..45
1.3.6 Search operations …………………………………………………………………………………………………46
1.4 Impact of the violence on the civilian population…………………………………………………………….47
1.4.1 Civilian casualties ………………………………………………………………………………………………….47
1.4.2 State ability to secure law and order……………………………………………………………………….48
1.4.3 Socio-economic conditions …………………………………………………………………………………….49
1.4.4 Refugees, IDPs, returnees………………………………………………………………………………………50
1.4.5 Children ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….53
1.5 Geographical Overview ………………………………………………………………………………………………..54
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1.5.1 Urban-rural divide …………………………………………………………………………………………………54
1.5.2 Regional differences………………………………………………………………………………………………57
1.5.3 Government versus Taliban control …………………………………………………………………………60
1.6 Mobility………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………64
2. Regional description of the security situation in Afghanistan………………………………………………….67
2.1 Kabul city ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………67
2.1.1 General description of the city………………………………………………………………………………..67
2.1.2 Conflict background and actors in Kabul city…………………………………………………………….69
2.1.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population …………………………………….69
2.2 Badakhshan ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..75
2.2.1 General description of the province ………………………………………………………………………..75
2.2.2 Conflict background and actors in Badakhshan…………………………………………………………76
2.2.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population …………………………………….79
2.3 Badghis……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….82
2.3.1 General description of the province ………………………………………………………………………..82
2.3.2 Conflict background and actors in Badghis……………………………………………………………….83
2.3.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population …………………………………….85
2.4 Baghlan ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………89
2.4.1 General description of the province ………………………………………………………………………..89
2.4.2 Conflict background and actors in Baghlan……………………………………………………………….90
2.4.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population …………………………………….92
2.5 Balkh ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….96
2.5.1 General description of the province ………………………………………………………………………..96
2.5.2 Conflict background and actors in Balkh…………………………………………………………………..97
2.5.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population …………………………………….99
2.6 Bamyan…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….102
2.6.1 General description of the province ………………………………………………………………………102
2.6.2 Conflict background and actors in Bamyan……………………………………………………………..103
2.6.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population …………………………………..105
2.7 Daykundi…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..107
2.7.1 General description of the province ………………………………………………………………………107
2.7.2 Conflict background and actors in Daykundi …………………………………………………………..108
2.7.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population …………………………………..110
2.8 Farah………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..112
2.8.1 General description of the province ………………………………………………………………………112
2.8.2 Conflict background and actors in Farah…………………………………………………………………113
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2.8.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population …………………………………..115
2.9 Faryab ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………119
2.9.1 General description of the province ………………………………………………………………………119
2.9.2 Conflict background and actors in Faryab……………………………………………………………….121
2.9.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population …………………………………..124
2.10 Ghazni…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….127
2.10.1 General description of the province …………………………………………………………………….127
2.10.2 Conflict background and actors in Ghazni……………………………………………………………..128
2.10.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population …………………………………131
2.11 Ghor……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….135
2.11.1 General description of the province …………………………………………………………………….135
2.11.2 Conflict background and actors in Ghor………………………………………………………………..136
2.11.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population …………………………………138
2.12 Helmand …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………141
2.12.1 General description of the province …………………………………………………………………….141
2.12.2 Conflict background and actors in Helmand………………………………………………………….143
2.12.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population …………………………………146
2.13 Herat………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………149
2.13.1 General description of the province …………………………………………………………………….149
2.13.2 Conflict background and actors in Herat……………………………………………………………….150
2.13.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population …………………………………153
2.14 Jawzjan……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………156
2.14.1 General description of the province …………………………………………………………………….156
2.14.2 Conflict background and actors in Jawzjan……………………………………………………………157
2.14.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population …………………………………160
2.15 Kabul Province …………………………………………………………………………………………………………162
2.15.1 General description of the province …………………………………………………………………….162
2.15.2 Conflict background and actors in Kabul province………………………………………………….163
2.15.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population …………………………………165
2.16 Kandahar…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………168
2.16.1 General description of the province …………………………………………………………………….168
2.16.2 Conflict background and actors in Kandahar…………………………………………………………170
2.16.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population …………………………………172
2.17 Kapisa……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..175
2.17.1 General description of the province …………………………………………………………………….175
2.17.2 Conflict background and actors in Kapisa ……………………………………………………………..176
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2.17.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population …………………………………177
2.18 Khost………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………180
2.18.1 General description of the province …………………………………………………………………….180
2.18.2 Conflict background and actors in Khost ………………………………………………………………181
2.18.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population …………………………………184
2.19 Kunar………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………186
2.19.1 General description of the province …………………………………………………………………….186
2.19.2 Conflict background and actors in Kunar………………………………………………………………187
2.19.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population …………………………………189
2.20 Kunduz……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………193
2.20.1 General description of the province …………………………………………………………………….193
2.20.2 Conflict background and actors in Kunduz…………………………………………………………….194
2.20.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population …………………………………196
2.21 Laghman …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………201
2.21.1 General description of the province …………………………………………………………………….201
2.21.2 Conflict background and actors in Laghman………………………………………………………….202
2.21.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population …………………………………203
2.22 Logar………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………206
2.22.1 General description of the province …………………………………………………………………….206
2.22.2 Conflict background and actors in Logar……………………………………………………………….207
2.22.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population …………………………………208
2.23 Nangarhar……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….211
2.23.1 General description of the province …………………………………………………………………….211
2.23.2 Conflict background and actors in Nangarhar ……………………………………………………….212
2.23.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population …………………………………215
2.24 Nimroz ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………219
2.24.1 General description of the province …………………………………………………………………….219
2.24.2 Conflict background and actors in Nimroz…………………………………………………………….221
2.24.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population …………………………………222
2.25 Nuristan ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….225
2.25.1 General description of the province …………………………………………………………………….225
2.25.2 Conflict background and actors in Nuristan…………………………………………………………..226
2.25.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population …………………………………228
2.26 Paktika ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………231
2.26.1 General description of the province …………………………………………………………………….231
2.26.2 Conflict background and actors in Paktika…………………………………………………………….232
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2.26.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population …………………………………235
2.27 Paktya …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….238
2.27.1 General description of the province …………………………………………………………………….238
2.27.2 Conflict background and actors in Paktya……………………………………………………………..239
2.27.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population …………………………………241
2.28 Panjsher………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….244
2.28.1 General description of the province …………………………………………………………………….244
2.28.2 Conflict background and actors in Panjsher…………………………………………………………..245
2.28.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population …………………………………246
2.29 Parwan……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………248
2.29.1 General description of the province …………………………………………………………………….248
2.29.2 Conflict background and actors in Parwan ……………………………………………………………249
2.29.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population …………………………………250
2.30 Samangan ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….253
2.30.1 General description of the province …………………………………………………………………….253
2.30.2 Conflict background and actors in Samangan………………………………………………………..254
2.30.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population …………………………………255
2.31 Sar-e Pul………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….257
2.31.1 General description of the province …………………………………………………………………….257
2.31.2 Conflict background and actors in Sar-e Pul ………………………………………………………….258
2.31.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population …………………………………260
2.32 Takhar…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….263
2.32.1 General description of the province …………………………………………………………………….263
2.32.2 Conflict background and actors in Takhar……………………………………………………………..264
2.32.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population …………………………………267
2.33 Uruzgan…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..270
2.33.1 General description of the province …………………………………………………………………….270
2.33.2 Conflict background and actors in Uruzgan …………………………………………………………..271
2.33.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population …………………………………272
2.34 Wardak …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..275
2.34.1 General description of the province …………………………………………………………………….275
2.34.2 Conflict background and actors in Wardak……………………………………………………………276
2.34.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population …………………………………277
2.35 Zabul ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………281
2.35.1 General description of the province …………………………………………………………………….281
2.35.2 Conflict background and actors in Zabul……………………………………………………………….282
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2.35.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population …………………………………284
Annex 1: Bibliography ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….286
Annex 2: Terms of Reference………………………………………………………………………………………………..387

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