EASO: Afghanistan

244 Pages·2016·24.36 MB·English

European Asylum Support Office
EASO Country of
Origin Information
Report
Afghanistan
Security Situation
November 2016
SUPPORT IS OUR MISSION

European Asylum Support Office
EASO
EASO Country of
Origin Information
Report
Afghanistan
Security Situation
November 2016
SUPPORT IS OUR MISSION
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Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2016
More information on the European Union is available on the Internet (http://europa.eu).
Print ISBN 978-92-9494-247-0 doi:10.2847/96753 BZ-04-16-848-EN-C
PDF ISBN 978-92-9494-246-3 doi:10.2847/50006 BZ-04-16-848-EN-N
© European Asylum Support Office, 2016
Cover photo: The IED threat by Al Jazeera English, published under Creative Commons
licence CC-BY-SA
Neither EASO nor any person acting on its behalf may be held responsible for the use
which may be made of the information contained herein.
EASO Country of Origin Information Report: Afghanistan – Security Situation — 3
Acknowledgments
EASO would like to acknowledge the following national asylum and migration departments as the authors of this
report:
Austria, Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum, Country of Origin Information Department
Belgium, Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons, Cedoca (Center for
Documentation and Research)
France, French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless persons (OFPRA), Information, Documentation
and Research Division
Hungary, Office of Immigration and Nationality, Documentation Centre
Poland, Office for Foreigners, COI Unit
The following national departments contributed by doing supportive research:
Greece, Greek Asylum Service, COI Unit
Slovakia, Migration Office, Department of Documentation and Foreign Cooperation
Furthermore, the following cooperated for reviewing and commenting on the report:
Austria, Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum, Country of Origin Information Department (General
description of the security situation in Afghanistan)
Canada, Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board
EASO, Information and Analysis Unit, COI Sector
Finnish Immigration Service, Country Information Service
Ireland, Legal Aid Board Library, Research & Information Unit, Refugee Documentation Centre
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), RSD Section
2.1.7 Logar 72
2.2 Central Highlands 78
2.2.1 Bamyan 78
2.2.2 Daikundi (Dai Kundi) 81
2.3 South 85
2.3.1 Kandahar 85
2.3.2 Helmand 90
2.3.3 Nimroz 98
2.3.4 Uruzgan 102
2.3.5 Zabul 106
2.4 South-East 111
2.4.1 Ghazni 111
2.4.2 Paktya 117
2.4.3 Khost 121
2.4.4 Paktika 125
2.5 East 130
2.5.1 Laghman 130
2.5.2 Nangarhar 133
2.5.3 Kunar 137
2.5.4 Nuristan 140
2.6 North-East 142
2.6.1 Baghlan 142
2.6.2 Kunduz 147
2.6.3 Takhar 153
2.6.4 Badakhshan 157
2.7 North 161
2.7.1 Faryab 161
2.7.2 Jawzjan 170
2.7.3 Balkh 176
2.7.4 Samangan 181
2.7.5 Sar-e Pul 184
2.8 West 189
2.8.1 Herat 189
2.8.2 Badghis 193
2.8.3 Farah 197
2.8.4 Ghor 201
Annex 1: Bibliography 205
Anonymous sources 205
Public sources 205
Annex 2: Terms of Reference 322
EASO Country of Origin Information Report: Afghanistan – Security Situation — 5
Contents
Acknowledgments �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������3
Disclaimer ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������7
Glossary and Abbreviations ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������9
Introduction ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������14
Map of Afghanistan �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������16
1. General description of the security situation in Afghanistan ����������������������������������������������������������������������17
1.1. Overview of recent conflicts in Afghanistan ..............................................................................................17
1.2. Actors in the conflict ..................................................................................................................................19
1.2.1. Pro-Government Forces (PGF) () ......................................................................................................19
1.2.2. Anti-Government Elements (AGEs) .................................................................................................21
1.3. Recent security trends and armed confrontations....................................................................................26
1.3.1. Armed clashes and assaults .............................................................................................................26
1.3.2. Improvised Explosive Devices ..........................................................................................................27
1.3.3. High-profile attacks ..........................................................................................................................27
1.3.4. Targeted killings and conflict-related abduction .............................................................................27
1.3.5. Aerial attacks and bombings ............................................................................................................28
1.4. State ability to secure law and order .........................................................................................................28
1.4.1. Security Forces .................................................................................................................................28
1.4.2. Justice ...............................................................................................................................................29
1.4.3. Detention..........................................................................................................................................29
1.5. Impact of the violence on the civilian population .....................................................................................30
1.5.1. Socio-economic life ..........................................................................................................................30
1.5.2. Refugees, IDPs and returnees ..........................................................................................................31
1.5.3. Children ............................................................................................................................................33
1.5.4. Health facilities .................................................................................................................................34
1.6. Geographical overview of the security situation .......................................................................................34
1.6.1. Urban/rural divide ............................................................................................................................34
1.6.2. Regional differences .........................................................................................................................35
2. Regional description of the security situation in Afghanistan ��������������������������������������������������������������������39
2.1. Centre .........................................................................................................................................................39
2.1.1. Kabul City ..........................................................................................................................................39
2.1.2. Kabul Province ..................................................................................................................................43
2.1.3. Kapisa ...............................................................................................................................................47
2.1.4. Panjshir .............................................................................................................................................51
2.1.5. Parwan ..............................................................................................................................................53
2.1.6. Wardak .............................................................................................................................................57
2.1.7. Logar ..................................................................................................................................................61
2.2. Central Highlands .......................................................................................................................................66
2.2.1. Bamyan .............................................................................................................................................66
2.2.2. Daikundi (Dai Kundi) .........................................................................................................................69
6 — EASO Country of Origin Information Report: Afghanistan – Security Situation
2.3. South ..........................................................................................................................................................72
2.3.1. Kandahar ..........................................................................................................................................72
2.3.2. Helmand ...........................................................................................................................................76
2.3.3. Nimroz ..............................................................................................................................................83
2.3.4. Uruzgan ............................................................................................................................................86
2.3.5. Zabul .................................................................................................................................................90
2.4. South-East ..................................................................................................................................................93
2.4.1. Ghazni ...............................................................................................................................................93
2.4.2. Paktya ...............................................................................................................................................98
2.4.3. Khost ...............................................................................................................................................101
2.4.4. Paktika ............................................................................................................................................105
2.5. East ...........................................................................................................................................................109
2.5.1. Laghman .........................................................................................................................................109
2.5.2. Nangarhar .......................................................................................................................................112
2.5.3. Kunar ..............................................................................................................................................116
2.5.4. Nuristan ..........................................................................................................................................118
2.6. North-East ................................................................................................................................................120
2.6.1. Baghlan ...........................................................................................................................................120
2.6.2. Kunduz ............................................................................................................................................124
2.6.3. Takhar .............................................................................................................................................129
2.6.4. Badakhshan ....................................................................................................................................132
2.7. North ........................................................................................................................................................136
2.7.1. Faryab..............................................................................................................................................136
2.7.2. Jawzjan ............................................................................................................................................143
2.7.3. Balkh ...............................................................................................................................................149
2.7.4. Samangan .......................................................................................................................................153
2.7.5. Sar-e Pul ..........................................................................................................................................156
2.8. West ..........................................................................................................................................................160
2.8.1. Herat ...............................................................................................................................................160
2.8.2. Badghis ...........................................................................................................................................164
2.8.3. Farah ...............................................................................................................................................167
2.8.4. Ghor ................................................................................................................................................171
Annex 1: Bibliography ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������175
Anonymous sources ..........................................................................................................................................175
Public sources ....................................................................................................................................................175
Annex 2: Terms of Reference ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������237
EASO Country of Origin Information Report: Afghanistan – Security Situation — 7
Disclaimer
This report was written according to the EASO COI Report Methodology (2012) (1). The report is based on carefully
selected sources of information. All sources used are referenced. As much as possible, and unless otherwise stated,
all information presented, except for undisputed or obvious facts, has been cross-checked.
The information contained in this report has been researched, evaluated and analysed with utmost care. However,
this document does not claim to be exhaustive. If a particular event, person or organisation is not mentioned in
the report, this does not mean that the event has not taken place or that the person or organisation does not exist.
Furthermore, this report is not conclusive as to the determination or merit of any particular claim to refugee status
or asylum. Terminology used should not be regarded as indicative of a particular legal position. Refugee, risk and
similar terminology are used as generic terminology and not as legally defined in the EU asylum acquis and the
Geneva Convention.
Neither EASO nor any person acting on its behalf may be held responsible for the use that may be made of the
information contained in this report.
Reproduction is authorised, provided the source is acknowledged.
The target users are asylum caseworkers, COI researchers, policymakers, and decisionmaking authorities.
The drafting of this report was finalised in August 2016. Any event taking place after this date is not included in this
report. More information on the reference period for this report can be found in the methodology section of the
introduction.
(1) The EASO methodology is largely based on the Common EU Guidelines for processing Country of Origin Information (COI), 2008, and can be downloaded
from the EASO website: http://www.easo.eu.