European Asylum Support OfficeAfghanistan
Security situation

Country of Origin Information Report

September 2020
SUPPORT IS OUR MISSION

[Month] 2019

European Asylum Support OfficeAfghanistan
Security situation

Country of Origin Information Report

September 2020

More information on the European Union is available on the Internet (http://europa.eu).

PDF ISDN: 978-92-9485-651-7 doi:10.2847/251142

BZ-02-20-566-EN-N© European Asylum Support Office (EASO) 2020
Reproduction is authorised, provided the source is acknowledged, unless otherwise stated.
For third-party materials reproduced in this publication, reference is made to the copyrights
statements of the respective third parties.

Cover photo: © Al Jazeera English, Sangin, Helmand, 4 November 2012, url CC BY-SA 2.0
The IED Threat. The bomb disposal team of the Afghan Army 215 Corps neutralises an IED in
Sangin, Helmand. With roadside bombs the largest threat in Afghanistan, the few teams thathave been trained are being relied heavily on to keep the roads safe for troops and civilians.

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Acknowledgements
EASO would like to acknowledge the following national asylum and migration departments as the codrafters of this report:
Belgium, Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons, Cedoca(Centre for Documentation and Research)
France, Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless persons (OFPRA), Information,
Documentation and Research Division (DIDR)
Poland, Department of Refugee and Asylum Proceedings
The following national asylum and migration departments reviewed this report:
Germany, Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF)
Slovakia, Migration Office, Department of Documentation and Foreign Cooperation
The following external organisation reviewed parts of this report:
ACCORD – Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation
It must be noted that the review carried out by the mentioned departments, experts or organisations
contributes to the overall quality of the report, but it does not necessarily imply their formal
endorsement of the final report, which is the full responsibility of EASO.

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Contents
Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................. 4Contents .................................................................................................................................................. 5
Disclaimer .............................................................................................................................................. 10
Glossary and abbreviations ................................................................................................................... 11
Introduction........................................................................................................................................... 14
Methodology..................................................................................................................................... 14
Sources .............................................................................................................................................. 15
Structure and use of the report ........................................................................................................ 17
Map ....................................................................................................................................................... 18
1. General description of the security situation in Afghanistan............................................................ 19
1.1 Background of the conflict .......................................................................................................... 19
1.1.1 Overview of recent conflicts in Afghanistan ........................................................................ 19
1.1.2 Political landscape ............................................................................................................... 20
1.1.3 Peace talks ........................................................................................................................... 22
1.1.4 International context ........................................................................................................... 25
1.2 Actors in the conflict ................................................................................................................... 28
1.2.1 Pro-government forces ........................................................................................................ 28
1.2.2 Anti-Government Elements ................................................................................................. 30
1.3 Recent security trends and armed confrontations ..................................................................... 30
1.3.1 Armed clashes and assaults ................................................................................................. 31
1.3.2 Improvised Explosive Devices .............................................................................................. 32
1.3.3 High-profile attacks .............................................................................................................. 33
1.3.4 Targeted killings and conflict-related abduction.................................................................. 34
1.3.5 Aerial attacks and bombings ................................................................................................ 36
1.3.6 Search operations ................................................................................................................ 37
1.3.7 Explosive remnants of war................................................................................................... 37
1.4 Impact of the violence on the civilian population ...................................................................... 38
1.4.1 Civilian casualties ................................................................................................................. 38
1.4.2 State ability to secure law and order ................................................................................... 41
1.4.3 Socio-economic conditions .................................................................................................. 43
1.4.4 Refugees, IDPs, returnees .................................................................................................... 44
1.4.5 Children................................................................................................................................ 47
1.5 Geographical overview ............................................................................................................... 49

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1.5.1 Urban-rural divide................................................................................................................ 49
1.5.2 Regional differences ............................................................................................................ 50
1.5.3 Government versus Taliban control ..................................................................................... 51
1.6 Mobility ....................................................................................................................................... 52
2. Regional description of the security situation in Afghanistan .......................................................... 55
2.1 Kabul City .................................................................................................................................... 55
2.1.1 General description of the city ............................................................................................ 55
2.1.2 Conflict background and actors in Kabul City ...................................................................... 56
2.1.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population ............................................ 60
2.2 Badakhshan ................................................................................................................................. 67
2.2.1 General description of the province .................................................................................... 67
2.2.2 Conflict background and actors in Badakhshan................................................................... 68
2.2.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population ............................................ 70
2.3 Badghis ........................................................................................................................................ 74
2.3.1 General description of the province .................................................................................... 74
2.3.2 Conflict background and actors in Badghis.......................................................................... 75
2.3.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population ............................................ 77
2.4 Baghlan........................................................................................................................................ 79
2.4.1 General description of the province .................................................................................... 79
2.4.2 Conflict background and actors in Baghlan ......................................................................... 81
2.4.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population ............................................ 82
2.5 Balkh............................................................................................................................................ 90
2.5.1 General description of the province .................................................................................... 90
2.5.2 Conflict background and actors in Balkh ............................................................................. 91
2.5.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population ............................................ 92
2.6 Bamyan ..................................................................................................................................... 101
2.6.1 General description of the province .................................................................................. 101
2.6.2 Conflict background and actors in Bamyan ....................................................................... 102
2.6.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population .......................................... 104
2.7 Daykundi ................................................................................................................................... 107
2.7.1 General description of the province .................................................................................. 107
2.7.2 Conflict background and actors in Daykundi ..................................................................... 109
2.7.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population .......................................... 111
2.8 Farah ......................................................................................................................................... 115
2.8.1 General description of the province .................................................................................. 115
2.8.2 Conflict background and actors in Farah ........................................................................... 116
2.8.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population .......................................... 117

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2.9 Faryab........................................................................................................................................ 120
2.9.1 General description of the province .................................................................................. 120
2.9.2 Conflict background and actors in Faryab ......................................................................... 122
2.9.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population .......................................... 124
2.10 Ghazni ..................................................................................................................................... 130
2.10.1 General description of the province ................................................................................ 130
2.10.2 Conflict background and actors in Ghazni ....................................................................... 131
2.10.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population ........................................ 133
2.11 Ghor ........................................................................................................................................ 136
2.11.1 General description of the province ................................................................................ 136
2.11.2 Conflict background and actors in Ghor .......................................................................... 137
2.11.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population ........................................ 139
2.12 Helmand .................................................................................................................................. 142
2.12.1 General description of the province ................................................................................ 142
2.12.2 Conflict background and actors in Helmand.................................................................... 144
2.12.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population ........................................ 145
2.13 Herat ....................................................................................................................................... 148
2.13.1 General description of the province ................................................................................ 148
2.13.2 Conflict background and actors in Herat ......................................................................... 149
2.13.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population ........................................ 151
2.14 Jawzjan .................................................................................................................................... 154
2.14.1 General description of the province ................................................................................ 154
2.14.2 Conflict background and actors in Jawzjan ...................................................................... 155
2.14.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population ........................................ 158
2.15 Kabul province ........................................................................................................................ 162
2.15.1 General description of the province ................................................................................ 162
2.15.2 Conflict background and actors in Kabul ......................................................................... 163
2.15.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population ........................................ 166
2.16 Kandahar ................................................................................................................................. 172
2.16.1 General description of the province ................................................................................ 172
2.16.2 Conflict background and actors in Kandahar ................................................................... 174
2.16.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population ........................................ 175
2.17 Kapisa ...................................................................................................................................... 178
2.17.1 General description of the province ................................................................................ 178
2.17.2 Conflict background and actors in Kapisa ........................................................................ 179
2.17.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population ........................................ 181
2.18 Khost ....................................................................................................................................... 185

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2.18.1 General description of the province ................................................................................ 185
2.18.2 Conflict background and actors in Khost ......................................................................... 187
2.18.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population ........................................ 189
2.19 Kunar ....................................................................................................................................... 192
2.19.1 General description of the province ................................................................................ 192
2.19.2 Conflict background and actors in Kunar ......................................................................... 193
2.19.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population ........................................ 196
2.20 Kunduz .................................................................................................................................... 200
2.20.1 General description of the province ................................................................................ 200
2.20.2 Conflict background and actors in Kunduz ...................................................................... 201
2.20.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population ........................................ 203
2.21 Laghman .................................................................................................................................. 211
2.21.1 General description of the province ................................................................................ 211
2.21.2 Conflict background and actors in Laghman ................................................................... 212
2.21.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population ........................................ 213
2.22 Logar........................................................................................................................................ 215
2.22.1 General description of the province ................................................................................ 215
2.22.2 Conflict background and actors in Logar ......................................................................... 217
2.22.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population ........................................ 221
2.23 Nangarhar ............................................................................................................................... 227
2.23.1 General description of the province ................................................................................ 227
2.23.2 Conflict background and actors in Nangarhar ................................................................. 228
2.23.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population ........................................ 232
2.24 Nimroz ..................................................................................................................................... 237
2.24.1 General description of the province ................................................................................ 237
2.24.2 Conflict background and actors in Nimroz....................................................................... 239
2.24.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population ........................................ 239
2.25 Nuristan................................................................................................................................... 242
2.25.1 General description of the province ................................................................................ 242
2.25.2 Conflict background and actors in Nuristan .................................................................... 244
2.25.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population ........................................ 246
2.26 Paktika ..................................................................................................................................... 250
2.26.1 General description of the province ................................................................................ 250
2.26.2 Conflict background and actors in Paktika....................................................................... 252
2.26.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population ........................................ 254
2.27 Paktya ...................................................................................................................................... 258
2.27.1 General description of the province ................................................................................ 258

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2.27.2 Conflict background and actors in Paktya........................................................................ 260
2.27.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population ........................................ 262
2.28 Panjsher .................................................................................................................................. 266
2.28.1 General description of the province ................................................................................ 266
2.28.2 Conflict background and actors in Panjsher .................................................................... 267
2.28.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population ........................................ 269
2.29 Parwan .................................................................................................................................... 271
2.29.1 General description of the province ................................................................................ 271
2.29.2 Conflict background and actors in Parwan ...................................................................... 272
2.29.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population ........................................ 274
2.30 Samangan ................................................................................................................................ 279
2.30.1 General description of the province ................................................................................ 279
2.30.2 Conflict background and actors in Samangan ................................................................. 280
2.30.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population ........................................ 281
2.31 Sar-e Pul .................................................................................................................................. 285
2.31.1 General description of the province ................................................................................ 285
2.31.2 Conflict background and actors in Sar-e Pul .................................................................... 286
2.31.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population ........................................ 287
2.32 Takhar ..................................................................................................................................... 291
2.32.1 General description of the province ................................................................................ 291
2.32.2 Conflict background and actors in Takhar ....................................................................... 292
2.32.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population ........................................ 294
2.33 Uruzgan ................................................................................................................................... 300
2.33.1 General description of the province ................................................................................ 300
2.33.2 Conflict background and actors in Uruzgan ..................................................................... 301
2.33.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population ........................................ 302
2.34 Wardak .................................................................................................................................... 304
2.34.1 General description of the province ................................................................................ 304
2.34.2 Conflict background and actors in Wardak ...................................................................... 306
2.34.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population ........................................ 310
2.35 Zabul........................................................................................................................................ 316
2.35.1 General description of the province ................................................................................ 316
2.35.2 Conflict background and actors in Zabul ......................................................................... 317
2.35.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population ........................................ 318
Annex 1: Bibliography ......................................................................................................................... 321
Annex 2: Terms of Reference .............................................................................................................. 445
Annex 3: Addenda and Corrigenda ..................................................................................................... 447

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Disclaimer
This report was written according to the EASO COI Report Methodology (2019).1 The report is basedon carefully selected sources of information. All sources used are referenced. To the extent possible
and unless otherwise stated, all information presented, except for undisputed or obvious facts, hasbeen 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 ororganisation is not mentioned in the report, this does not mean that the event has not taken place orthat the person or organisation does not exist.
Furthermore, this report is not conclusive as to the determination or merit of any particular application
for international protection. 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 in the legal sense as
applied in the EU Asylum Acquis, the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1967 Protocol relating to the
Status of Refugees.
Neither EASO nor any person acting on its behalf may be held responsible for the use which may bemade of the information contained in this report.
The target users are asylum caseworkers, COI researchers, policymakers, and decision-making
authorities.
The drafting process (including reviewing) for this report was finalised on 31 July 2020. Any event
taking place after this period 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.
Addenda and Corrigenda: On 9 October 2020, this report was re-published in order to correct somefactual errors and to add some relevant information which was missing in the original version. The listof corrections and additions made can be found in Annex 3.

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.europa.eu.

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION

Glossary and abbreviations
AAN

Afghanistan Analysts Network

ACC

Afghan Citizen Card

AGEs

Anti-Government Elements are individuals and armed groups involved
in armed conflict with, or armed opposition against, the governmentof Afghanistan and/or international military forces. Examples of suchgroups include the Taliban, the Haqqani Network, Islamic Movementof Uzbekistan, Islamic Jihad Union, Lashkari Tayyiba, Jaysh
Muhammed and groups identifying themselves as IslamicState/‘Daesh’.2

ALCS

Afghanistan Living Conditions Survey

ANASOC

Afghan National Army Special Operations Command

ANSF/ANDSF

Afghan National Security Forces/Afghan National Defense And
Security Forces, an umbrella term which includes:3
ABF (Afghan Border Force);
ALP (Afghan Local Police);
ANA (Afghan National Army);
AAF (Afghan Air Force);
ANP (Afghan National Police);
ANCOF (Afghan National Civil Order Force);
ASF (Afghan Special Forces);
ANA TF (Afghan National Army Territorial Force);
NDS (National Directorate of Security)

AQ

Al Qaeda

Attrition

Attrition is unplanned and planned total losses, including Dropped
from Rolls, Killed in Action, Separation, and Other losses[disappearance/captured, disability, death (not in action), retirement,
exempted (i.e. AWOL or permanent medical), or transfer to the
ANA/ANP]4

AWOL

Absent Without Leave5

Civilian

UNAMA refers to international law for a definition of ‘civilians’:
persons who are not members of military/paramilitary forces ormembers of organised armed groups with continuous combat function
and are protected against direct attacks unless and for such time as
they directly participate in hostilities.6

2 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2018, 24 February 2019, url, pp. 59, 61
3 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2018, 24 February 2019, url, p. 61
4 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan, December 2018, url, p. 42
5 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan, December 2018, url, p. 43
6 UNAMA Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2018, 24 February 2019, url, p. 62

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EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATIONCTCUS Combating Terrorism Center

DFR

Dropped from Rolls personnel are those soldiers and police who leave
the organisation prior to the end of their contract for reasons that
include desertion or being absent without leave for over a month.7

Eid ul-Fitr‘Festival of breaking the fast’ that marks the end of the fasting monthof Ramadan

ETIM

East Turkestan Islamic Movement

FATA

Federally Administered Tribal Areas

GIRoA

Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

Ground engagements

Ground engagements include kinetic ground operations, stand-off
attacks, crossfire and armed clashes between parties to the conflict.
Ground engagements include attacks or operations in which smallarms, heavy weapons and/or area weapons systems, i.e. mortars androckets are fired.8

HIG

Hezb-e Islami/Gulbuddin Hekmatyar

IEC

Independent Election Commission

IED

Improvised Explosive Device. A bomb constructed and deployed inways other than in conventional military action. IEDs can broadly be
divided into four categories:
Command-Operated IEDs – Radio or remote-controlled IEDs operated
from a distance that can enable operators to detonate a pre-placed
device at the precise time a target moves into the target area.
Magnetic-IEDs are IEDs attached by a magnetic or other device and area sub-category of command-operated IEDs.
Victim-Operated IEDs – These detonate when a person or vehicle
triggers the initiator or switch which could be a pressure plate (PP-IED)or pressure release mechanism, trip wire or another device, resulting
in an explosion.
Other IEDs – This category includes command-wired IEDs and timedIEDs and IEDs where the trigger/switch type for detonation could not
be determined.
Suicide IEDs – Separately from data on IEDs, UNAMA documents
civilian casualties resulting from complex and suicide attacks. Suicide
IEDs are generally either Body-Borne IEDs (BB-IEDs) or Suicide VehicleBorne IEDs (SVB-IEDs). Body-Borne IEDs refer to situations where asuicide bomber wears an explosive vest or belt while Suicide VehicleBorne IEDs is defined as the detonation of a vehicle rigged with
explosives by a driver or passenger inside the vehicle, or thedetonation of a BB-IED by the driver or a passenger while inside thevehicle.9

IEHCA

Islamic Emirate High Council of Afghanistan

7 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan, December 2018, url, p. 43
8 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2018, 24 February 2019, url, p. 63
9 UNAMA, Afghanistan, Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, Special Report - Increasing Harm to Afghan Civilians fromthe Deliberate and Indiscriminate Use of Improvised Explosive Devices, October 2018, url, p. 10

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION

IMFInternational Military Forces

IMU

Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan

IS, ISKP

Islamic State, also called ISIS, ISIL or Daesh. Islamic State in Afghanistan
is referred to as Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP).

Khost Protection ForceA ‘campaign force’ that was established after 2001 under international(CIA/US special forces) control. There are long-standing allegations
against the Khost Protection Force of extrajudicial killings, torture,
beating and unlawful detentions.10

KIA

Killed in Action11

LeJ

Lashkar-e-Jhangvi

LeT

Lashkar-e-Tayyiba

Loya Paktia‘Greater Paktya’, an area encompassing the provinces of Paktya,
Paktika and KhostNUG

National Unity Government

NSIA

National Statistics and Information Authority (formerly Central
Statistics Organisation, CSO)

ODI

Overseas Development Institute

OFS

Operation Freedom’s Sentinel

PGF

Pro-Government Forces. Afghan National Security Forces and otherforces and groups that act in military or paramilitary counterinsurgency operations and are directly or indirectly under the controlof the government of Afghanistan12

PRT

Provincial Reconstruction TeamRed Unit/Red Brigade

In 2015, the Taliban established a ‘special forces’ unit named Red Unit
or Red Brigade (‘sra qet’a’ in Pashto). They are better equipped andtrained and are generally used as a ‘rapid reaction force’.13

RS

Resolute Support; a NATO-led mission

SIGAR

Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction

TAAC

Train, Advise, and Assist Command

TTP

Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan

UNAMA

United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan

USDOD

United States Department of Defense

USDOS

United States Department of StateUshrAn Islamic tax (normally 10 %) on certain products, for example
agricultural products.

10 Clark, K., Khost Protection Force Accused of Fresh Killings: Six men shot dead in Zurmat, AAN, 21 January 2019, url
11 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan, December 2018, url, p. 32
12 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of civilians in armed conflict Annual Report 2018, 24 February 2019, url, p. 64
13 Times (The), Helmand teeters after Taliban storm in with British tactics, 21 August 2016, url

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Introduction
This report was co-drafted by EASO Country of Origin Information (COI) sector and specialists from the
COI units and asylum offices listed in the Acknowledgements section.
The report aims to provide information on the security situation in Afghanistan, which is relevant for
the assessment of international protection status determination, including refugee status andsubsidiary protection, and in particular for use in EASO’s country guidance development on
Afghanistan. The terms of reference can be found in Annex 2.

Methodology
This report is an update of the EASO COI report Afghanistan Security Situation first published in January
2015 and updated annually.14
For the assessment of the need for international protection, the terms of reference for this report havebeen developed with a focus on the key elements from Article 15(c) of the Qualification Directive (QD).
Based on various sources consulted by EASO15, these key elements can be broken down into topics
and/or indicators. Examples include: parties to the conflict; intensity level of the violence; nature of
the violence; regional spreading of the violence; targets of the violence; risk of collateral damage; useof arms and tactics; possibility to reach areas – security of transport (roads and airports); and indirect
effects of the violence/conflict.
Based upon a study of all the mentioned sources, a list of elements and indicators was drafted, which
served as a basis for the terms of reference (see Annex 2). In order to make a well-informed
assessment of the fear of persecution or risk of serious harm, information is needed on these securityrelated elements and indicators on a regional, provincial or even district level in the country of origin.
EU+ countries’16 COI specialists, policy and decision experts and UNHCR gave input on the terms ofreference.
The information gathered is a result of research using public, specialised paper-based and electronicsources. The reference period for the description of latest trends and illustrative incidents is from
1 March 2019 until 30 June 2020. Some additional information was added during the finalisation ofthis report in response to feedback received during the quality control process, until 31 July 2020.
This report is produced in line with the EASO COI Report Methodology (2019)17 and the EASO COI
Writing and Referencing Style Guide (2019).18 In order to ensure that the drafters respected the EASOCOI Report Methodology, a review was carried out by COI specialists from the countries andorganisations listed as reviewers in the Acknowledgements section. All comments made by thereviewers were taken into consideration and most of them were implemented in the final draft of thisreport.

14 EASO COI reports are available via EASO’s website: url
15 The elements, topics and indicators were identified by various sources that have a different position in the legal hierarchy

and provide different levels of detail: The Qualification Directive (Recitals and articles); Case law from the Court of Justice of
the EU in Luxembourg; National State Practice (National legislation; National case law; National policy and first instancedecision practice); Case law from the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg; Opinions of experts, academics andspecialised organisations; See the following EASO publications: EASO, Article 15(c) Qualification Directive (2011/95/EU) A
judicial analysis, December 2014, url; The Implementation of Article 15(c) QD in EU Member States, July 2015, url
16 EU+ countries are the EU Member States plus the associated countries Norway and Switzerland.
17 EASO, EASO Country of Origin Information (COI) Report Methodology, June 2019, url
18 EASO, Writing and Referencing Guide for EASO Country of Origin Information (COI) Reports, June 2019, url

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Sources
For data on civilian casualties, the two main sources used in this report are the United Nations
Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and NATO Resolute Support (RS) mission/ Special
Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR). In addition, to illustrate examples ofincidents which caused civilian casualties in some provinces, information from The New York Times’
Afghan War Casualty Report was used. The Afghan War Casualty Report is a weekly and monthly
bulletin compiling ‘all significant security incidents confirmed by New York Times reporters throughout
Afghanistan’. As New York Times clarifies ‘the report includes government claims of insurgent casualty
figures, but in most cases these cannot be independently verified by The Times. Similarly, the reports
do not include Taliban claims for their attacks on the government unless they can be verified.’19
Information from Voice of Jihad,20 the Taliban’s official website, was also used in the report mainly toillustrate examples of incidents causing civilian casualties in some provinces.
UNAMA:
This report relies extensively on data and information provided by UNAMA in their reports on
Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict in Afghanistan. UNAMA uses a robust methodology to verify
reported incidents by corroborating and cross-checking incidents, conducting on-site investigations,and consulting a broad range of credible and reliable sources. For verification of each incident involving
a civilian casualty, UNAMA requires at least three different and independent sources. Unverified
incidents are not included in its reporting.21 According to analysts, this stringent verification standard
also means ‘there may be many more casualties than UNAMA is able to confirm.’22
For data on violent incidents, publicly available curated datasets from the Armed Conflict Location andEvent Data Project (ACLED) have been used.
ACLED:
ACLED is a project collecting, analysing and mapping information on crisis and conflict in Africa, southand south-east Asia and Middle East and provides datasets on conflict incidents.23 Its methodology
applied for coding and monitoring of the data is explained in details in its Codebook.24 As ACLED points
out, the reader should, however, be aware of some limitations in the data. These limitations are:‘the first is that most of the data is gathered based on publicly available, secondary reports.
This means that the data is in part a reflection of the coverage and reporting priorities of media
and international organisations. One of the effects of this is that it may under-estimate thevolume of events of non-strategic importance (for example, low-level communal conflict, or
events in very isolated areas). We work to address this possibility by triangulating data sources
to include humanitarian and international organisation reports, rather than media alone; andby conducting ground-truthing exercises in which we present data to local organisations andpartners to assess its validity among people working directly in conflict-affected contexts.’25
Therefore, ACLED's figures in this report are to be considered as an estimate and indication of trends
in violence over a given period of time.

19 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report, n.d., url
20 Voice of Jihad, [English], n.d., url
21 UNAMA’s full description of their methodology can be found at: UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed

Conflict Annual Report 2018, 24 February 2019, url, pp. i-ii
22 Bjelica, J. and Ruttig, T., UNAMA Mid-Year Report 2017: Number of civilian casualties still at “record level”, 18 July 2017,url
23 ACLED, About Acled, n.d., url
24 ACLED methodology, see ACLED Codebook url
25 ACLED, Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) Guide for Media Users, January 2015, url, pp. 9-10

16 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATIONFor Afghanistan, ACLED covers political violence and protest spanning from January 2017 to thepresent. Each week, ACLED researches and reviews about 60 sources in English and Dari/Farsi on
political violence in Afghanistan and collects the information into a database.26
ACLED codes security incidents as follows:
•

•

•

•
•
•

Battles: violent clashes between at least two armed groups. Battles can occur between armed
and organised state, non-state, and external groups, and in any combination therein. Subevents of battles are armed clashes, government regains territory and non-state actor
overtakes territory. The sub-event type ‘Armed clash’ occurs when ‘armed, organized groups
engage in a battle, and no reports indicate a change in territorial control’.
Violence against civilians: ‘violent events where an organised armed group deliberately inflicts
violence upon unarmed non-combatants. “Violence against civilians” includes attempts at
inflicting harm (e.g. beating, shooting, torture, rape, mutilation, etc.) or forcibly disappearing(e.g. kidnapping and disappearances) civilian actors. The following sub-event types areassociated with the “Violence against civilians” event type: “Sexual violence”, “Attack”, and“Abduction/forced disappearance”.’
Explosions/remote violence: events where an explosion, bomb or other explosive device wasused to engage in conflict. They include one-sided violent events in which the tool for engaging
in conflict creates asymmetry by taking away the ability of the target to engage or defend
themselves and their location. They include air/drone strikes, suicide bombs,
shelling/artillery/missile attack, remote explosive/landmine/IED, grenade, chemical weapon.
Riots: are a violent demonstration, often involving a spontaneous action by unorganised,unaffiliated members of society. They include violent demonstration, mob violence.
Protests: public demonstration in which the participants do not engage in violence, thoughviolence may be used against them. It includes peaceful protests, protest with intervention,
excessive force against protesters.
Strategic developments: information regarding the activities of violent groups that is not itself
recorded as political violence, yet it may trigger future events or contribute to political
dynamics within and across states. It includes agreements, change to group/activity, nonviolent transfer of territory, arrests.27

Data on violent incidents reported in Chapter 2 of this report is based on EASO analysis of ACLED publicdata extracted on 7 July 2020. For the purpose of this report, only the following types of events were
included as violent incidents in the analysis of the security situation in Afghanistan: battles,
explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians. The ACLED data, and maps derived fromsuch data, used in this report refer to the timeframe between 1 March 2019 and 30 June 2020.
On territorial control by the Taliban in Afghanistan, information collected and presented in a map by
the Long War Journal (LWJ) was used in this report, alongside additional sources researched to theextent possible to corroborate the LWJ findings.
LWJ:
The LWJ is a project by the non-profit policy institute the Foundation for Defense of Democracies(FDD).28 The LWJ’s Mapping Taliban Control in Afghanistan is based on open-source information, suchas press reports and information provided by government agencies and the Taliban. The LWJ classifies
the level of control as follows:‘“Unconfirmed” district […] has some level of claim-of-control made by the Taliban, but either
has not yet been—or cannot be— independently verified by LWJ research. A “Contested”
district may mean that the government may be in control of the district center, but little else,
and the Taliban controls large areas or all of the areas outside of the district center. A
26 ACLED, Methodology and Coding Decisions around the Conflict in Afghanistan, (Version 3) March 2020, url
27 ACLED, Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) Codebook, October 2017, url, pp. 7-14
28 LWJ, About us, n.d. url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 17“Controlled” district may mean the Taliban is openly administering a district, providing services
and security, and also running the local courts.’29
On internal displacement, the main source used is the ‘Internal Displacement due to Conflict’ datacollection by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA). The UNOCHA datareported in the displacement sections was extracted on the ‘accessed date’ indicated in the
Bibliography.

Structure and use of the report
This report is not meant to be read as a whole. In the first part a general description is given on the
security situation in Afghanistan including a geographical overview, which is then explained in greater
detail in the second part, holding a regional description of geographic subdivisions (Kabul City and 34
provinces).
Provinces and districts
The provincial chapters in this report are organised alphabetically and have the following structure: ageneral description of the province contains information on the geography and population; the conflictbackground takes a longer term look at the security situation in a province, including the armed actors
active in the province. A section on recent trends in the security situation describes the nature of theviolence, targets, locations, and casualties within the timeframe from 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020.
Finally, conflict-induced displacements are described in a separate section. Recent security incidents
described in sub-sections should be read as illustrations of trends in the security situation and not as
an exhaustive list of incidents.
Both the general and regional sections provide information from various sources on the relevant
elements and indicators. Information on an indicator as such should never be taken as conclusive but
as indicative for protection assessment and is to be read together with all other indicators andinformation on the region (or province, district).
There are a number of provinces and districts for which the administrative boundaries are unclear. For
example, it is unclear whether the district of Gizab belongs to Uruzgan or Daykundi province.30 Nor is
it clear whether the district of Gormach belongs to Badghis or Faryab province.31
The Managing Director at Alcis, a company providing geographic information services with many yearsof experience in Afghanistan, contacted by OFPRA’s Information, Documentation and Research
Division, stated in an e-mail in August 2017 that‘there is not one unified agreed district and province boundary dataset currently in use. There
are various ‘official’ versions. […] The boundaries within these different datasets have changed
over time. Some districts have been passed across to other provinces for administrative
purposes. Some new districts have been created over time. Some areas within Afghanistan are
still referred to as districts by locals of the area, even though they have never had boundaries
created for them and never been treated as a district.’32
In absence of an official list of districts, EASO chooses in principal to follow the administrative divisionsof the provinces used by UNOCHA, as they produce very clear maps and use the same divisionsystematically in all their publications.33

29 More information on the methodology used by LWJ can be found at: LWJ, Mapping Taliban Control in Afghanistan,

Methodology, n.d., url
30 Norway, Landinfo, Respons. Afghanistan: Gizab-distriktet, 11 December 2014, url
31 Bjelica, J., How Neglect and Remoteness Bred Insurgency and a Poppy Boom: The story of Badghis, 22 February 2017, url
32 Brittan, R., Managing Director Alcis, e-mail to OFPRA, 16 August 201733 All relevant maps on Afghanistan by UNOCHA can be found at: UNOCHA, Maps/Infographics – Afghanistan, n.d., url

18 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

Map

Map 1: Afghanistan - administrative divisions, source: UNOCHA34

34 UNOCHA, Afghanistan - administrative divisions, January 2014, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 19

1. General description of the security
situation in Afghanistan
1.1 Background of the conflict
1.1.1 Overview of recent conflicts in Afghanistan
The so-called Saur Revolution on 27 April 1978 brought the Afghan communists to power.35 In 1979,
the government of the former Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan to support the communist Afghan
government headed by Babrak Karmal. The invasion was followed by a decade of armed conflict
between the Afghan government, supported by Soviet troops, and armed opposition groups, often
referred to as the ‘mujahideen’. These groups were divided into several different factions, but they allparticipated in a nation-wide armed uprising that lasted until the government finally collapsed in 1992,
following the Soviet withdrawal in 1989.36
After this collapse, a period generally referred to as ‘Civil War’ saw different mujahidin groups who
had formed new alliances and fronts fighting for control of Afghanistan.37 War between the competing
mujahidin factions and militias was characterised by severe human rights breaches.38 This led to theemergence in 1994 of a group called the Taliban, who brought stability in areas under their control,
which won them support from segments of the population.39 They gradually gained more control andconquered Kabul in 1996. By 2001, the Taliban controlled most of the Afghan territory. But by the endof the year, as a consequence of the 11 September attacks in the US, they were ousted by a US-led
military operation.40 The US gave its support to the mujahideen front opposing the Taliban, at thattime known as Northern Alliance or Northern Coalition.41
On 22 December 2001, based on the Bonn Agreement, an Afghan interim government was formed,
led by Hamid Karzai42, a Pashtun, who also won the first presidential elections in October 2004.43 The
Taliban had reorganised and increased their presence substantially by 2006 in Wardak, Logar, Zabul
and Uruzgan provinces and began expanding along the western edge of Kabul province.44 Other antigovernment elements (AGEs) operating in Afghanistan included Hezb-e Islami/Gulbuddin Hekmatyar(HIG), the Haqqani Network45 and Al Qaeda affiliates, including Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP),
Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU).46 This
35 Clark, K., An April Day that Changed Afghanistan 2: Afghans remember the ‘Saur Revolution’, AAN, 27 April 2018, last

updated 9 March 2020, url
36 Barfield, T., A Cultural and Political History, 2010, p. 234; BBC News, Afghanistan profile – Timeline, updated on: 9
September 2019, url; Ipsos/ICRC, Our world. Views from the field. Summary report: Afghanistan, Colombia, Democratic
Republic of Congo, Georgia, Haiti, Lebanon, Liberia and the Philippines. Opinion Survey, June 2009, url, p. 10; Oxfam
International, The Cost of War, Afghan Experiences of Conflict, 1978-2009, November 2009, url, pp. 7-9.
37 BBC News, Afghanistan profile – Timeline, updated on: 9 September 2019, url; HRW, Afghanistan: Crisis of Impunity, July
2001, url, pp. 13-17; International Crisis Group, The Insurgency in Afghanistan’s Heartland, 17 June 2011, url, p. 3
38 Oxfam International, The Cost of War, Afghan Experiences of Conflict, 1978-2009, November 2009, url, p. 10
39 Giustozzi, A. and Ibrahimi, N., Thirty Years of Conflict: Drivers of anti-Government Mobilisation in Afghanistan, 19782011, January 2012, url, p. 22.
40 CFR, The Taliban in Afghanistan, 4 July 2014, url
41 International Crisis Group, The Insurgency in Afghanistan’s Heartland, 17 June 2011, url, p. 5
42 Oxfam International, The Cost of War, Afghan Experiences of Conflict, 1978-2009, November 2009, url, p. 13; UNAMA,
Eighth Anniversary Today of 2001 Afghan Interim Authority, 22 December 2009, url
43 Guardian (The), The Afghan interim government: who's who, 6 December 2001, url; NYT, Election of Karzai Is Declared
Official, 4 November 2004, url
44 International Crisis Group, The Insurgency in Afghanistan’s Heartland, 17 June 2011, url, p. 7
45 International Crisis Group, The Insurgency in Afghanistan’s Heartland, 17 June 2011, url, pp. 14-15
46 UN Secretary-General, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, 18 June
2014, url, p. 6.

20 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

insurgency was characterised by mainly asymmetric warfare: AGEs used roadside and suicide bombs
and complex47 attacks, intimidation of civilians and targeted killings to destabilise the country. Thiswas countered by searches, clearance operations and bombings by the Afghan National Security Forces(ANSF) and international military forces.48 According to the United Nations Assistance Mission to
Afghanistan (UNAMA), the security situation deteriorated after 2005. The conflict deepened
throughout 2007 and 2008, directly affecting around a third of the country.49
From 2010 onwards, the Taliban-led insurgency spread into all regions of Afghanistan.50 By the end of
2014, a transition of security responsibility from international troops to the ANSF was completed. The
support for the further development of the ANSF continued ‘under a new, smaller non-combat NATOled mission (“Resolute Support”)’.51 After the 2014 international military withdrawal, the Taliban have
rapidly expanded their presence countrywide.52 A 2017 report by UN Secretary General noted that the
Taliban had been able to control larger parts of the country and the emergence of Islamic State in Iraq
and the Levant - Khorasan Province (ISKP) added ‘a new, dangerous dimension’ to the situation.53 In
2018, fighting intensified particularly in the east, south-east and in some areas within the south. The
Taliban ‘made territorial gains in sparsely populated areas, and advanced their positions in areas that
had not seen fighting in years’.54 Human Rights Watch noted that although the Taliban claimed totarget government and foreign military facilities only, their indiscriminate use of force killed andinjured hundreds of civilians.55
On 29 February 2020, after more than 18 years of conflict, the US and the Taliban signed an ‘agreement
for bringing peace’ to Afghanistan (for more details on the so-called Doha agreement see 1.1.3 Peace
Talks).56 During the ‘reduction in violence’ (RiV) week, from 22 to 28 February 2020, a drop in security
incidents was recorded between the pro-government forces and the Taliban.57 However, after the RiV
ended with the signature of the Doha agreement, the Taliban stated that ‘the war would continue’ notagainst foreign troops, but against the Afghan government.58 The Taliban’s Military Commission
reportedly sought assurances from the main Taliban leadership that fighting will continue regardlessof the agreement.59 Violence resumed immediately after the RiV ended.60

1.1.2 Political landscapeThe disputed 2014 presidential election resulted in a political compromise which led to theestablishment of the National Unity Government (NUG), under the presidency of Ashraf Ghani and
Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah. Divisions within the government, particularly between Ghani and
Abdullah and their camps, severely compromised the NUG’s effectiveness.61 According to AAN, in
January 2017, ‘its complex power-sharing arrangements [have] paralysed governance in
47 See Glossary
48 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of civilians in armed conflict Midyear Report 2014, July 2014, url, pp. 5, 9, 21
49 UNAMA, Afghanistan, Annual Report On Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, 2008, url, p. 1
50 UN, Report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in Afghanistan, 15 May 2015, url, p. 2
51 NATO, Inteqal: Transition to Afghan lead, updated on: 7 January 2015, url
52 International Crisis Group, Afghanistan: Growing Challenges, 30 April 2017, url
53 UN, Special report on the strategic review of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, 10 August 2017, url,p. 3
54 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, Annual Report 2018, 24 February 2019, url, p. 8
55 HRW, World Report 2019 - Afghanistan, 17 January 2019, url
56 BBC News, Afghan conflict: US and Taliban sign deal to end 18-year war, 29 February 2020, url
57 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, First Quarter Report: 1 January- 31 March 2020, June
2020, p. 3; AAN, Voices from the Districts, the Violence Mapped (1): What has happened since the reduction in violence
ended? 21 March 2020, url
58 AAN, Voices from the Districts, the Violence Mapped (1): What has happened since the reduction in violence ended? 21
March 2020, url
59 UNSC, Eleventh report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team submitted pursuant to resolution 2501
(2019) concerning the Taliban, S/2020/415, 27 May 2020, url, para. 4
60 Ruttig, T., From Doha to Peace? Obstacles rising in the way of intra-Afghan talks, 3 March 2020, url
61 Foreign Policy, NUG One Year On: Struggling to Govern, 29 September 2015, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 21

Afghanistan.’62 A series of violent events in Kabul in May-June 2017 caused a political crisis, resulting
in a ‘significant shift in the political climate’ marked by a rift between President Ghani and key
members of the Jamiaat-e Islami party.63 The crisis also resulted in the consolidation of power within
the NUG64 and in the first eight months of 2017, the government made progress on high-levelappointments, which had previously been a source of tension.65
The Independent Election Commission (IEC) set a date for the next parliamentary and district council
elections in July 2018.66 However, as a result of security challenges and voter registration reforms thelong-delayed parliamentary elections were rescheduled again to October 2018.67 Parliamentaryelections were held in 32 provinces on 20-21 October 2018.68 Voting in Kandahar was delayed by aweek after the assassination of the provincial police chief in a Taliban-claimed attack two days before
the original date of the elections.69 Voting in Ghazni was postponed indefinitely due to security issues
and disagreements around constituencies.70
Although voter turnout in Kabul and other urban centres was reportedly high, technical andorganisational problems occurred at some of the roughly 4 900 polling stations across the country. In
some polling stations machines registering fingerprints and portrait photos aiming to prevent double
voting did not function properly while in others election staff had difficulties handling them.71
In December 2018, the IEC announced a three-month delay for the presidential election which was
originally scheduled for 20 April 2019.72 In March 2019, the elections were postponed again, due to‘problems with the voting process’.73 Presidential candidates included incumbent Ashraf Ghani, Chief
Executive Abdullah Abdullah, former national security adviser, Muhammad Hanif Atmar and also
Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.74 Interior Minister Amrullah Saleh, once a strong critic of the President stepped
down from his position to join Ghani's team as a candidate for the post of vice-president.75 Appointing
Saleh was an effort from the ethnic Pashtun Ghani to neutralise a political opponent and to get the
support of the Tajiks, among whom Saleh has a strong backing.76
On 28 September 2019, the presidential elections were finally held, with the lowest election turnout
recorded since the Taliban were ousted in 2001. In the immediate aftermath of the elections, both
frontrunners, incumbent Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, declared victory 77,
which resulted in the following five months of political impasse.78 After almost three months since theelections, and with delays due to allegations of fraud, irregularities, attacks and technical problems
with biometric devices used for voting79, on 22 December 2019, the IEC announced the preliminary
results showing 50.64 % of the votes (923 868) in favour of Ghani and 39.52 % of the votes (720 990)
62 AAN, What to Watch? Key issues to follow in Afghanistan in 2017, 27 January 2017, last updated 9 March 2020, url
63 UN Secretary-General, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, 15

September 2017, url, p. 2
64 UN Secretary-General, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, 15
September 2017, url, p. 2
65 UN Secretary-General, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, 15 June
2017, url, p. 2; UN Secretary-General, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security,
15 September 2017, url, p. 2
66 UN Secretary-General, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, 15
September 2017, url, p. 13
67 Al Jazeera, Afghanistan's elections: All you need to know, 19 October 2018, url
68 Tolo News, Ghazni Elections Could Be Held With Presidential Elections, 27 October 2018, url
69 CNN, Kandahar goes to the polls in Afghan parliamentary vote delayed by violence, 27 October 2018, url
70 Tolo News, Ghazni Elections Could Be Held With Presidential Elections, 27 October 2018, url
71 Diplomat (The), Afghan Parliamentary Elections Marred by Technical Troubles and Insecurity, 21 October 2018, url
72 France24, Afghan presidential election delayed until July 20, 30 December 2018, url
73 Reuters, Afghanistan presidential election postponed to September, 20 March 2019, url
74 Adili, A.Y., Afghanistan’s 2019 elections (2): Who is running to become the next president?, AAN, 11 February 2019, url
75 NYT, Afghan Presidential Race Takes Shape as Ghani’s Challengers Emerge, 18 January 2019, url
76 Reuters, Afghanistan's Ghani launches bid for second presidential term, 20 January 2019, url
77 BBC, Afghanistan presidential election: Rivals declare victory after record low turnout, 30 September 2019, url
78 Adili A. Y., End of post-election impasse? Ghani and Abdullah’s new power-sharing formula, AAN 20 May 2020, url
79 Reuters, Afghan election runoff likely amid thousands of complaints: officials, 23 December 2019, url

22 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

in favour of Abdullah Abdullah.80 This latter rejected the preliminary results, stating they were basedon fraud.81 The election turnover was estimated to be over 1.8 million82, with 31.5 % being composedof women.83
After three days since the announcement of the preliminary results, IEC said to have registered around16 500 complaints.84 The final results were announced in February 2020, confirming almost exactly the
preliminary outcome.85 Incumbent Muhammad Ashraf Ghani was declared the winner, with 50.64 %of votes. His rival Abdullah Abdullah, who was second with 39.52 % of votes86, rejected the results,
declaring himself the winner87; he announced his intention to form an alternative, ‘inclusive’
government, and in the following weeks started appointing some provincial governors.88 On
9 March 2020, both Ghani and Abdullah held separate inauguration ceremonies taking the oath of
office as the president of Afghanistan.89
After months of tension, on 17 May 2020, President Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, finally signed a
power-sharing agreement.90 Under agreement, Abdullah is to lead the peace negotiations, becoming
the leader of the High Council of National Reconciliation with executive authorities; in addition he has
the right to appoint 50 % of the cabinet91, including for some key ministries, while provincial governors
will be appointed based on ‘a rule agreed upon by the two sides’. However, as of 13 June 2020, AAN’s
researcher Ali Yawar Adili and co-Director Thomas Ruttig observed that it was not clear yet whether
such a rule had been put in place, noting that a cabinet had yet to be fully formed.92

1.1.3 Peace talks
After the collapse of the Doha peace talks in June 2013, talks did not resume before the new president,
Ashraf Ghani, was inaugurated in September 2014.93 In January 2015, the Taliban stated that its
preconditions for entering peace talks were the end of foreign military presence, the establishment of
an Islamic government and the implementation of sharia.94 After the death of Mullah Omar was
revealed in July 2015, a power struggle broke out within the Taliban which, at least in part, prevented
further progress in the peace talks.95
In January 2016, the US, Afghanistan, Pakistan and China formed a Quadrilateral Coordination Groupto take forward the peace talks. However, the Taliban refused to engage with this process.96 In

80 BBC, Afghanistan presidential election: Ghani set for second term after initial results, 22 Decemer 2019, url; TKG, Thepreliminary results of the Afghanistan presidential elections announced, 22 December 2019, url
81 Reuters, Afghanistan's Ghani claims narrow win in preliminary presidential vote results, 22 December 2019, url
82 Reuters, Afghan election runoff likely amid thousands of complaints: officials, 23 December 2019, url
83 UN Security Council, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security A/74/753–
S/2020/210, 17 March 2020, url, p. 2
84 Adili A. Y., Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (28): ECC starts final, decisive phase of complaints procedure, AAN, 20 January
2020, url
85 Ruttig T., Afghanistan’s 2019 Elections (30): Final results… and parallel governments?, AAN, 19 February 2020, url
86 IEC, Afghanistan 2019, Presidential election, n.d., url
87 Ruttig T., Afghanistan’s 2019 Elections (30): Final results… and parallel governments?, AAN, 19 February 2020, url;
Reuters, Ghani named winner of disputed Afghan poll, rival also claims victory, 18 February 2020, url
88 UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security A/74/753–S/2020/210, 17
March 2020, url p. 3; Tolonews, Abdullah-Loyal governor installed in Sar-e Pul, 22 February 2020, url
89 NYT, Ghani Takes the Oath of Afghan President. His Rival Does, Too, 9 March 2020, url
90 A Adili A. Y., End of post-election impasse? Ghani and Abdullah’s new power-sharing formula, AAN 20 May 2020, url
91 A Adili A. Y., End of post-election impasse? Ghani and Abdullah’s new power-sharing formula, AAN 20 May 2020, url;
Tolonews, Ghani and Abdullah Sign Agreement to Break Political Deadloc, 17 May 2020, url
92 Adili A. Y., Ruttig T., Between Professionalism and Accommodation: The slow progress on the new cabinet, AAN, 13 June
2020, url
93 Farrell, T. and Semple, M., Ready for Peace? The Afghan Taliban after a decade of War, January 2017, url, p. 3
94 UN Secretary-General, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, 27 February
2015, url, p. 3
95 Farrell, T. and Semple, M., Ready for Peace? The Afghan Taliban after a decade of War, January 2017, url, p. 4
96 Farrell, T. and Semple, M., Ready for Peace? The Afghan Taliban after a decade of War, January 2017, url, p. 3

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 23

September 2016, the government signed a peace deal with Hezb-e Islami/Gulbuddin Hekmatyar (HIG).
Describing HIG as a ‘fading insurgent group’, Borhan Osman explained in 2016 the likely effect of thisdeal on the battlefield as ‘unlikely to significantly lower the current levels of violence’.97 In 2017,
President Ghani offered the Taliban a ’last chance’ for reconciliation at the ‘Kabul-process’, ‘aninternational conference aiming to set the stage for peace talks and restore security in Afghanistan’.98
However, according to a September 2017 report of the UN Secretary General ‘no discernible progresshas been made in fostering negotiations between the Government and the Taliban.’99
In February 2018 the Afghan government presented very ‘concrete proposals for peace talks with the
Taliban’ which, according to AAN, was ‘the most complete peace offer that has been publicly
announced since 2001’. Although President Ghani’s peace plan was offered ‘without any
preconditions’, it was made clear that issues as women’s rights or the basic values of the constitution
were not up for negotiation. While the proposal included the prospect of establishing a Taliban officein Kabul, the possibility of a ceasefire and also lifting the sanctions on those Taliban leaders who would
join the negotiation, the Taliban accused Ghani of ‘missing the point’ namely their key demand on thewithdrawal of foreign troops.100 In June 2018, ‘President Ghani called a unilateral halt to all offensive
government actions’ over the Muslim holiday of Eid ul-Fitr which the Taliban also joined.101 However,
the Taliban rejected the President’s idea of extending the ceasefire and continued to refuse official
negotiations with the Afghan government.102
International diplomatic efforts intensified towards peace with the appointment of Zalmay Khalilzad as
the US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation in September 2018103 and with Russia
hosting a meeting in November 2018 on the peace process that was attended by 11 countries and the
Taliban as well.104 Both tracks of negotiations continued in 2019. The Moscow meeting in the beginningof February 2019 brought together the Taliban delegation led by chief negotiator, Sher Mohammad
Abbas Stanekzai and senior Afghan politicians led by former President Hamid Karzai. The talks werescheduled just a week after the US and the Taliban finished six days of negotiations in Qatar.105
According to Thomas Ruttig, co-Director of AAN, while in Doha progress was being made in the formof an agreed draft framework, the negotiations so far did not involve the Afghan government, one of
the main three parties to the conflict, since their inclusion is blocked by the Taliban.106 The next roundof talks, the highest level negotiations yet, began on 25 February 2019 between the insurgent groupand the US involving Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban’s deputy leader.107
A consultative Loya Jirga – a gathering of Afghan politicians and tribal, ethnic and religious leaders was initially planned in Kabul in March 2019 with the goal of creating a framework for the Afghan
government to engage in peace negotiations with the Taliban. The Loya Jirga was eventually
postponed.108 In September 2019, US President Donald Trump declared the US-Taliban negotiations

97 Osman, B., Peace With Hekmatyar: What does it mean for battlefield and politics?, AAN, 29 September 2016, url
98 DW, Ashraf Ghani offers Taliban 'last chance' for peace, 6 June 2017, url
99 UN Secretary-General, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, 15

September 2017, url, p. 4
100 Ruttig, T. and Bjelica, J., Who shall cease the fire first? Afghanistan’s peace offer to the Taleban, AAN, 1 March 2018, last
updated 9 March 2020, url
101 Clark, K., The Eid Ceasefire: Allowing Afghans to imagine their country at peace, AAN, 19 June 2018, last updated 9
March 2020, url
102 Ruttig, T., Getting to the Steering Wheel: President Ghani’s new set of peace proposals, AAN, 4 December 2018, url
103 USDOS, Zalmay Khalilzad - Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, n.d., url
104 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, Annual Report 2018, 24 February 2019, url, p. 9105 NYT, In Moscow, Afghan Peace Talks Without the Afghan Government, 4 February 2019, url
106 Ruttig, T., “Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed”: First steps in Afghan peace negotiations, AAN, 4 February 2019,url
107 NYT, U.S. and Taliban Begin Highest-Level Talks Yet on Ending Afghan War, 25 February 2019, url
108 RFE/RL, Afghan Loya Jirga Aimed At Discussing Peace Talks Delayed, 3 March 2019, url

24 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION‘dead’109, after the Taliban killed a US soldier; however, the discussions between the two sides resumed
within weeks behind the scenes.110
On 29 February 2020, in Doha, the US and the Taliban signed the Agreement for Bringing Peace toAfghanistan.111 The main points outlined in the Doha agreement include guarantees by the Taliban on
not providing protection to groups, such as Al Qaeda, that pose a threat to the US and its allies;
guarantees by the US and their NATO allies to withdraw from Afghanistan; the question of ceasefire
and the intra-Afghan negotiations.112 However, the Afghan government was not involved in the deal,
with the Taliban later refusing to engage with their negotiating team, leading to questions about theviability of the agreement, which is described as a ‘negotiated political settlement’ rather than acomprehensive peace deal.113
Simultaneously with the Doha Agreement, the US signed a joint declaration114 with the government of
Afghanistan, as an attempt to involve the Afghan government in the discussions, enabling politicalsettlement and a permanent ceasefire, while also affirming continued support to the Afghan security
forces and refraining from intervention in domestic affairs.115
According to the Doha Agreement, all foreign military forces should withdraw from Afghanistan
through a phased approach over 135 days, while in exchange, there should be mechanisms to prevent
Afghanistan being used by group/individual security threats to the US and its allies (specifically the
Taliban and Al Qaeda).116 The Agreement also stipulates that the modalities for a permanent ceasefire
are to be negotiated in intra-Afghan negotiations, with a mutual release of prisoners proceeding suchnegotiations as a measure for confidence-building. Under the deal, the Afghan government is torelease up to 5 000 Taliban prisoners; in exchange for 1 000 Afghan soldiers and police officers held by
the Taliban. The prisoners release is described as a ‘core demand of the Taliban’ and a delicate issue
for the intra-Afghan talks.117 AAN observed that there are ‘few obligations’ placed on the Taliban in
the Agreement, adding that Taliban prisoner release deals also led to concerns of a return toviolence.118
As of mid-June 2020, the Afghan government said to have released 3 000 prisoners, while the Taliban
has freed 500. President Ghani also announced the decision to release additional 2 000 in order topave the way for peace talks with the group.119 However, at the time of finalising this report, there was

109 Ruttig T., US-Taleban Agreement Still in the Air: Disputes about a ‘ceasefire’ versus ‘reduction of violence’, AAN, 30

January 2020, last updated 9 April 2020 url
110 BBC News, Afghan conflict: US and Taliban sign deal to end 18-year war, 29 February 2020, url
111 The full text in English of the US-Taliban agreement, refered in this report as the ‘Doha agreement’ is available at: AAN,
Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan between the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognized by theUnited States as a state and is known as the Taliban and the United States of America, 29 February 2019, url; For a detailed
explanation of the Doha Agreement and stipulations, see: UNSC, Eleventh report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions
Monitoring Team submitted pursuant to resolution 2501 (2019) concerning the Taliban, S/2020/415, 27 May 2020, url
112 BBC News, Afghan conflict: US and Taliban sign deal to end 18-year war, 29 February 2020, url; Ruttig, T., From Doha to
Peace? Obstacles rising in the way of intra-Afghan talks, 3 March 2020, url; Zeino E., Peace versus Democracy? Afghanistan
between Government Crisis and a U.S. Peace Deal with the Taliban, Pajhow, 6 April 2020, url
113 US, CRS, Afghanistan: Background and U.S. Policy: In Brief, 1 May 2020, url, pp. 3-4; see also for further details on thedeal’s provisions: Ruttig, T., From Doha to Peace? Obstacles rising in the way of intra-Afghan talks, 3 March 2020, url
114 The full text (in English, Dari, Pashtu) of the Joint Declaration between the US and the Afghanistan government isavailable at: AAN, Joint Declaration between the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the United States of America for
Bringing Peace to Afghanistan, 29 February 2020 url
115 Ruttig, T., From Doha to Peace? Obstacles rising in the way of intra-Afghan talks, 3 March 2020, url
116 Ruttig, T., From Doha to Peace? Obstacles rising in the way of intra-Afghan talks, AAN, 3 March 2020, url
117 Zeino E., Peace versus Democracy? Afghanistan between Government Crisis and a U.S. Peace Deal with the Taliban,
Pajhow, 6 April 2020, url
118 Afghanistan Times, More violence feared as freed Taliban inmates may return to the battlefield, 14 June 2020, url
119 RFE/RL, Afghan President Says Taliban Prisoner Release To Be Completed Soon, 11 June 2020, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 25

reluctance among both Afghan and Western officials about releasing hundreds of Taliban prisoners
considered as ‘too dangerous’.120
According to the Security Council, reporting in May 2020,‘the Taliban remain internally disciplined enough to be a formidable fighting force, there aredivisions within the group, which make compromise with its adversaries difficult, and its
messaging remains hard-line. The group also appears well prepared for the 2020 fighting
season and raising the tempo of its attacks on Afghan government targets while trying to avoid
provoking the United States. Differences in interpretation of the agreement could lead toperiodic crises in its implementation. Hard-line Taliban believe that they can and will stillachieve their aims by force.’121
At the time of drafting this report, there was little clarity as to the scope of the intra-Afghan
negotiations. Five political groups put forward proposals, with the main themes being: ‘structural
framework, phases of the negotiation process and institutional arrangements’.122 In mid-June 2020,
the Taliban and the Afghan government finally agreed on Doha as the venue for their first session ofhigh-level ‘intra-Afghan dialogue’, but held off confirmation pending disagreements over prisoner
releases.123 At the beginning of July 2020, Abdullah Abdullah announced an official visit to Pakistan aspart of the efforts to initiate the intra-Afghan talks, described as ‘imminent’.124

1.1.4 International context
In 2017, the US decided to slow down its troop withdrawal and, in August 2017, President Donald
Trump promised to deploy more American troops to Afghanistan to continue to train Afghan forces.125
However, in late December 2018, media reported that President Trump decided to withdraw around
7 000 troops from Afghanistan, about half of the remaining US force there.126 As of December 2018,
there were an estimated 14 000 US troops in Afghanistan.127 Around 8 500 of them were part of the
Resolute Support (RS) Mission, a 17 000-strong international NATO force tasked to train and advise
the Afghan military.128 As of June 2020, the RS troops in Afghanistan were around 16 000, 8 000 ofwhich were US troops.129 The total number of US troops present in the country at the moment of the
Doha Agreement, in February 2020, was estimated to be between 12 000 and 13 000.130
As part of the bilateral agreement signed between the US and the Taliban on 29 February 2020, theUS agreed to reduce their troops from over 12 000 to 8 600 within 135 days (by mid-July 2020); NATOand other coalition forces would also reduce their presence proportionally; with the commitment of a
total withdrawal of all US and NATO troops within 14 months (by April 2021), depending on ‘action on
the obligations’ by the Taliban.131 On 18 June 2020, the US stated they had fulfilled their commitment
120 Reuters, West reluctant for 'dangerous' Taliban prisoners to be freed: sources, 18 June 2020, url; France24, Afghanistansays will not release 600 'too dangerous' Taliban, 8 July 2020, url
121 UNSC, Eleventh report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team submitted pursuant to resolution 2501
(2019) concerning the Taliban, S/2020/415, 27 May 2020, url, p. 3
122 Adili A. Y., Hossaini K., Looking ahead to Intra-Afghan Negotiations: A scrutiny of different political groups’ plans forpeace, AAN, 30 April 2020, url
123 Reuters, Afghan government, Taliban agree to Doha as venue for first peace talks, 15 June 2020, url; VOA, Prisoner
Release Delays May Jeopardize Start of Intra-Afghan Negotiations, 6 July 2020, url
124 Tribune, Afghanistan's Abdullah Abdullah to visit Pakistan soon, 5 July 2020, url
125 NYT, Trump Outlines New Afghanistan War Strategy with Few Details, 21 August 2017, url; NYT, U.S. Says It Has 11,000
Troops in Afghanistan, More Than Formerly Disclosed, 30 August 2017, url
126 RFE/RL, What Would A U.S. Troop Reduction In Afghanistan Mean?, 21 December 2018, url
127 CNN, US military ordered to begin planning to withdraw about half the troops in Afghanistan, 21 December 2018, url
128 NATO, Resolute Support Mission RSM: Key Facts and Figures, February 2019, url, p. 2
129 NATO, Resolute Support Mission RSM: Key Facts and Figures, June 2020, url, p. 1
130 Ruttig, T., From Doha to Peace? Obstacles rising in the way of intra-Afghan talks, AAN, 3 March 2020, url
131 Zeino E., Peace versus Democracy? Afghanistan between Government Crisis and a U.S. Peace Deal with the Taliban,
Pajhow, 6 April 2020, url; Ruttig, T., From Doha to Peace? Obstacles rising in the way of intra-Afghan talks, AAN, 3 March
2020, url

26 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

under the Doha Agreement of reducing their troops in Afghanistan to 8 600. As for the timeframe set
for the full withdrawal of all US and foreign troops, US General Frank McKenzie, who oversees US
forces in the region, said it was an ‘aspirational’ commitment.132
In June 2020, NATO said they would reduce their troops from around 16 000 to around 12 000 during
the course of the following months, in a ‘step-by-step and conditions-based process, reflecting the
progress seen on the ground’. At the same time, NATO Allies and Resolute Support Mission confirmed
their financial support to the Afghan security forces until the end of 2020.133
In 2016-2017, Afghanistan’s relations with Pakistan were tense134 and remained tenuous in 2018.135
Both countries have been blaming each other for sheltering terrorists136 and escalating border tensions
resulted in Pakistan building a fence on the border to prevent the movement of militants.137 USDOD
noted that even though Pakistani military operations disrupted some militant safe havens, certain
groups, such as the Taliban and the Haqqani Network enjoyed freedom of movement in Pakistan.138
Following Imran Khan’s inauguration as Prime Minister of Pakistan in August 2018, the two countries
continued efforts to improve their relations.139 As part of a ‘confidence-building measure’ and showingthat Pakistan opted for a constructive role in the Afghan peace talks, Islamabad released Mullah Abdul
Ghani Baradar who had been imprisoned since 2010. Mullah Baradar was appointed as a new leader
for the Taliban's political office in Qatar, effectively making him the chief negotiator on behalf of theinsurgent group for the peace talks with the US.140 However, in January 2019, President Ghani
suggested that Pakistan was a safe haven for militants and their cross-border activities by saying thatthe ‘keys to war are in Islamabad, Quetta, [and] Rawalpindi.’141
During the US-Taliban negotiations, Pakistan played a key role helping to bring the Taliban to thetable.142 In January 2019, during a visit to Pakistan, US Senator Lindsay Graham openly acknowledged
Pakistan's efforts to help the Afghan peace process.143 Pakistan’s foreign minister Shah Mehmood
Qureshi took part at the signing of the agreement in Doha, ‘warmly congratulating both sides’.144
Signs of improvement in the relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan reportedly came with thevisit by Pakistan’s military and intelligence chiefs to Kabul on 9 June 2020, which was described as an
ice breaker for the relations between the two countries.145 The visit occurred within the context of
intra-Afghan peace dialogue which was set to start in mid-June.146 At the beginning of July 2020,
Abdullah Abdullah announced an official visit to Pakistan as part of the efforts to initiate the intraAfghan talks.147
In 2017, there were several accounts of both Russia and Iran actively supporting the Taliban. 148
Although Russia denied organising talks between Taliban representatives and an Afghan delegation
132 AP, US has hit agreed troop-cut target of 8,600 in Afghanistan, 18 June 2010, url
133 NATO, NATO-Afghanistan relations, June 2020, url, p. 2
134 UN Secretary-General, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, 3 March

2017, url, p. 4
135 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan, December 2018, url, p. 23
136 Daily Pakistan, Pakistan desires peace, stability in Afghanistan: Khawaja Asif, 2 September 2017, url
137 Dawn, Pakistan holds 'keys to war', says Afghan president, 31 January 2019, url
138 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan, December 2018, url, p. 24
139 UN Secretary-General, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, 7 December
2018, url, p. 7
140 RFE/RL, 'Hopeful Moment': How An 'Afghan-Led, Afghan-Owned' Peace Process Might Look, 29 January 2019, url
141 Dawn, Pakistan holds 'keys to war', says Afghan president, 31 January 2019, url
142 Afzal M., Will the Afghan peace process be Pakistan’s road to redemption?, Brookings, 25 June 2020, url
143 VOA, Taliban, US Open Afghan Peace Talks in Qatar, 21 January 2019, url
144 Afzal M., Will the Afghan peace process be Pakistan’s road to redemption?, Brookings, 25 June 2020, url
145 Tribune, Afghanistan's Abdullah Abdullah to visit Pakistan soon, 5 July 2020, url
146 AA, Pakistan's military, intelligence chiefs visit Kabul, 9 June 2020, url
147 Tribune, Afghanistan's Abdullah Abdullah to visit Pakistan soon, 5 July 2020, url
148 Business Insider, Russia appears to now be helping out the Taliban, 27 January 2017 url; Washington Post (The), Russia issending weapons to Taliban, top U.S. general confirms, 24 April 2017 url; Wall Street Journal (The), Iran Backs Taliban With
Cash and Arms, 11 June 2015 url; VOA, Afghan Lawmakers to Investigate Growing Ties Between Taliban, Russia and Iran, 5

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 27

led by Hamid Karzai, Moscow hosted meetings on the peace process in November 2018 and February
2019 and according to RFE/RL it is ‘highly unlikely such a high-profile event would be allowed to takeplace in Moscow without the Kremlin's blessing’.149 Interviewed by the Washington Post, Carter
Malkasian, a former senior adviser to American military commanders in Afghanistan, observed that
Russia had cultivated relations with certain Taliban elements, mainly in northern Afghanistan, since
the beginning of 2015. Russia’s interest in keeping relations with the Taliban was partly due to theirconcerns over the threat posed by Islamic State groups in the region, but also because of their desire
to see the US withdraw from Afghanistan.150
At the end of June 2020, the New York Times revealed that Russian military intelligence unit offeredbounties to militias linked to the Taliban for killing US and coalition forces in Afghanistan. US
intelligence officials told the New York Times that the White House had already been briefed about
the intelligence and the US National Security Council had discussed this issue at an interagency
meeting in late March 2020.151 Following this revelation, both Russia and the Taliban denied theexistence of the bounty program. US President Trump and his aides denied being ever briefed on theintelligence.152
USDOD reported that Iran continued to pursue economic ties with the Afghan government, throughtrade, border security, and investment in shared railroad infrastructure; while at the same time
continuing to provide support to the Taliban.153 Tehran viewed the Taliban as a useful tool to resist US
influence on its border. Providing military equipment to them was seen as putting enough pressure on
the United States without the risk of military retaliation.154 Iran has tried to strengthen its relationshipwith some Taliban factions also through economic, diplomatic, and security activities. However,following the US-Taliban agreement in Doha, in Tehran there are fears that some of most extreme
elements of the Taliban – mostly Sunni who are not well disposed towards predominantly Shia Iran –can take power in a new central government which might result from infra-Afghan talks.155
In an article analysing the latest developments in Afghanistan, in the light of the US-Taliban agreement
and its impact on the democratic achievements of the country, Dr Ellinoir Zeino, noted that
‘Afghanistan remains politically, militarily and financially dependent on foreign allies and vulnerable
to external conflicts of power and interests.’156

December 2016 url; RFE/RL, Afghan Governor Accuses Iran Of Supporting Taliban, 31 July 2017, url; Giustozzi, A.,
Afghanistan: Taliban’s organization and structure, 23 August 2017, url, p. 9. Some observers are more sceptical about
Russia’s direct involvement. See: Atlantic (The), Is Russia Really Arming the Taliban?, 25 August 2017, url
149 RFE/RL, 'Intra-Afghan' Talks Under Way In Moscow Amid Continuing Violence, 5 February 2019, url; Al Jazeera, Taliban:
Russia meeting 'not about direct talks' with Kabul, 9 November 2018, url
150 Washington Post (The), Russian bounties to Taliban-linked militants resulted in deaths of U.S. troops, according tointelligence assessments, 28 June 2020, url
150 Zeino E., Peace versus Democracy? Afghanistan between Government Crisis and a U.S. Peace Deal with the Taliban,
Pajhow, 6 April 2020, url
151 NYT, Russia Secretly Offered Afghan Militants Bounties to Kill U.S. Troops, Intelligence Says, 26 June 2020, updated 1 July
2020, url; NYT, Trump Got Written Briefing in February on Possible Russian Bounties, Officials Say, 29 June 2020, url; NYT,
Suspicions of Russian Bounties Were Bolstered by Data on Financial Transfers, 30 June 2020, updated 3 July 2020, url
152 Washington Post (The), Russian bounties to Taliban-linked militants resulted in deaths of U.S. troops, according tointelligence assessments, 28 June 2020, url
153 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan, December 2019, url, p. 24
154 USIP, Iran and Afghanistan’s Long, Complicated History, 14 June 2018, url
155 Foreign Affairs, What Iran Wants in Afghanistan, 8 July 2020, url
156 Zeino E, Peace versus Democracy? Afghanistan between Government Crisis and a U.S. Peace Deal with the Taliban,
Pajhwok Afghan News, 6 April 2020, url

28 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

1.2 Actors in the conflict
1.2.1 Pro-government forces
Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF)
The Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) or Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF)
are comprised of the Afghan National Army (including the Afghan Border Force, Afghan Air Force
Afghan Territorial Army, Afghan National Civil Order Force), Afghan National Police (including Afghan
Local Police), and the National Directorate of Security (including the Afghan Special Force).157 For more
information on the Afghan security institutions, including their mandate and structure, integrity, andthe main reported cases of violations perpetrated by these security forces, see EASO COI ReportAfghanistan, State Structure and Security Forces, August 2020.

Pro-government militias
UNAMA defines pro-government armed group as follows:‘An organized armed non-State actor engaged in conflict in support of the Government anddistinct from Afghan national security forces and criminal groups. Pro-Government armed
groups do not include the Afghan Local Police, which fall under the command and control of
the Ministry of Interior. These armed groups have no legal basis under the laws of Afghanistan
and are not within the formal military structures of the Government of Afghanistan. In somecases, armed groups receive direct/indirect support of Government of Afghanistan or otherStates. This definition includes, but is not limited to, the following groups: “national uprising
movements”, local militias (ethnically, clan- or otherwise-based), and civil defence forces andparamilitary groups.’158
A specific local security structure that has existed in Afghan society for hundreds of years is the arbaki,
community or tribal armies.159 From the beginning of the insurgency, different paramilitary initiatives
have been developed and formalised to support the Afghan government and assist the formal armed
forces of Afghanistan. The government and international military forces have also relied on militiasthat are not part of any formal government entity, for conducting searches, night raids or executions.
The formalised paramilitary initiatives have all ceased except for the ALP, now operating within theofficial security structures. The ‘term [arbaki] is now used for the ALP in many parts of the country.’160
In 2015, the government developed a National Uprising Support Strategy to cover areas in Afghanistan
where ANSF presence was limited. The NDS reportedly hired village or tribal elders to ‘propose“national uprising” group members, who NDS subsequently vets’. The strength of these armed groups
varied from 22 to 500 fighters, commanded by NDS or ANP.161 The Afghan government, NDS and CIA
are known to arm strongmen to fight the Taliban and other militants, but some militia leaders use their
new power to fight local turf wars. According to the LA Times, various militias and personal armed
groups also battle amongst themselves over political influence.162
Reuters indicated that in the past years, more than 30 000 villagers were paid and armed by thegovernment with the support of international forces to fight as militia groups against the Taliban acrossthe country. Although the government disbanded militia groups and stopped paying them, many
maintained their fight against the Taliban and ISKP. ‘The Taliban consider pro-government militia
157 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, Annual Report 2018, 24 February 2019, url, p. 62
158 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 91
159 Seraj, A., Opinion: The Arbaki can secure Afghanistan better than the US, 5 November 2014, url; HRW, Just Don’t Call It a

Militia, September 2011, url, pp. 13-14.
160 HRW, Just Don’t Call It a Militia, 12 September 2011, url; Habib, E., The Morphing of the Andar Uprising: transition to
Afghan Local Police, AAN, 2 April 2013, url
161 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2015, February 2016, url, pp. 65-66
162 LA Times, Afghanistan tries to clean up its militias, 31 October 2016, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 29

forces a big threat because they have strong intelligence networks, often both sides know each other’sfamilies.’163
AAN’s co-Director Kate Clark described the Khost Protection Force as a ‘campaign force’ that wasestablished after 2001 under international (CIA/US special forces) control. Similar militias include theKandahar Strike Force and Paktika’s Afghan Security Guards. There are longstanding allegations against
the Khost Protection Force of extrajudicial killings, torture, beating and unlawful detentions.164
UNAMA added that the Khost Protection Force functions outside of the regular military command andcontrol structures.165 In April 2020, Kate Clark noted:‘Despite the many pitfalls associated with local defence forces … when they work, they work
extremely well, producing determined fighters with local knowledge who protect the civilians
in their areas and often stand their ground more than regular troops because they have
nowhere else to retreat to.’166

International military forces
UNAMA explains the scope of the term ‘International Military Forces’ as follows:‘“International military forces” include all foreign troops forming part of the NATO-led
Resolute Support Mission as well as US Forces-Afghanistan who, in addition toparticipating in the Resolute Support Mission, are also engaged in counterterrorism
operations as part of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. The term also encompasses Special
Operations Forces and foreign agencies.’167
From 2010, there was a gradual transition of security responsibilities from international forces to
ANSF.168 On 31 December 2014, ISAF’s mandate expired and on 1 January 2015, this led to thetransition from NATO’s ISAF combat mission to a new non-combat mission, Resolute Support, with afocus on training, advising and assisting ANSF.169 According to NATO, in February 2020, the total
Resolute Support Mission strength was 15 937, with the goal to train, advise and assist the Afghan
security forces.170 In total, 38 countries contribute to RS with the US, Germany and the UK as the largest
contributors.171
In March 2020, Stars and Stripes reported that the US troops have started to move out from theirbases in Helmand (Bost Airfield), Laghman (Gamberi base) and Herat province.172 On 1 July 2020,
USDOD indicated that nearly 13 000 US military personnel were serving in Afghanistan as part of the
US Operation Freedom’s Sentinel (OFS) mission during the reporting period173, around 8 000 of themwere assigned to the NATO RS mission.174 The USDOD added that by mid-July 2020, the number of US
military personnel would reduce to 8 600 personnel in Afghanistan.175

163 Reuters, Taliban kill 14 pro-government militia in Afghanistan: Officials, 28 August 2019, url
164 Clark, K., Khost Protection Force Accused of Fresh Killings: Six men shot dead in Zurmat, AAN, 21 January 2019, url
165 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 57
166 VOA, 26 pro-government Afghans killed in fighting, 21 April 2020, url
167 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2015, February 2016, url, p. 80
168 NATO, Inteqal: Transition to Afghan lead, updated on: 7 January 2015, url
169 NATO, Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, updated on: 27 February 2015, url; UN Secretary-General, Report of theSecretary-General on children and armed conflict in Afghanistan, 15 May 2015, url, p. 2.; UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of
Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 83
170 NATO, Resolute Support Mission RSM: Key Facts and Figures, 18 June 2020, url, p. 2
171 NATO, Resolute Support Mission RSM: Key Facts and Figures, 18 June 2020, url, p. 1
172 Stars and Stripes, US troops have left bases in Helmand, Laghman provinces, officials say, 13 March 2020, url
173 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan, June 2020, 1 July 2020, url, p. 10, footnote 3
174 NATO, Resolute Support Mission RSM: Key Facts and Figures, 18 June 2020, url, p. 2
175 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan, June 2020, 1 July 2020, url, p. 10, footnote 3

30 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

1.2.2 Anti-Government Elements
Information on the main Anti-Government Elements (AGEs) in Afghanistan, primarily the Taliban andIslamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), including their modus operandi, structure, activities andtargeted attacks can be found in EASO COI Report Afghanistan, Anti-Government Elements (AGEs),
August 2020.

1.3 Recent security trends and armed confrontations
According to ACLED data, between 1 March 2019 and 30 June 2020 there were 15 287 security
incidents recorded in Afghanistan, of whom 10 127 were coded as battles, 4 587 remote violence and573 incidents of violence against civilians.

Figure 1. Afghanistan - Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians
from 1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, based on ACLED data176

According to several UN reports, issued between June 2019 and June 2020, the security situation in
Afghanistan remained volatile during the mentioned period.177 In their annual report released in
February 2020, UNAMA indicated that:‘there were significant fluctuations in violence throughout the year [2019], coinciding withgains and setbacks made during negotiations between the Taliban and the United States ofAmerica in Doha. The first half of the year was characterized by an intense campaign ofairstrikes by international military forces and search operations by Afghan forces, particularly
by the National Directorate of Security Special Forces.’178
On 29 February 2020, the US and the Taliban signed an agreement for bringing peace to Afghanistan.179
After signing the deal, the Taliban almost immediately resumed180 and intensified attacks against
ANDSF.181 The group carried out more than 4 500 attacks in 45 days across Afghanistan.182 According
176 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, Afghanistan, 8 July 2020, url
177 UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for the international peace and security, A/73/902–S/2019/493,

14 June 2019, url; UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for the international peace and security,
A/74/348–S/2019/703, 3 September 2019, url, p. 5; UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for theinternational peace and security, A/74/582–S/2019/935, 10 December 2019, url, p. 5; UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan
and its implications for the international peace and security, A/74/753–S/2020/210, 17 March 2020, url, p. 5; UNSG, The
situation in Afghanistan and its implications for the international peace and security, A/74/897–S/2020/549, 17 June 2020,
url, p. 5
178 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, pp. 5-6
179 BBC, Afghan conflict: US and Taliban sign deal to end 18-year war, 29 February 2020, url
180 UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for the international peace and security, A/74/897–S/2020/549,
17 June 2020, url, p. 5
181 OFS, Lead inspector general report to the United States Congress, 19 May 2020, url, p. 11; UNAMA, Afghanistan
Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 3
182 Reuters, Taliban step up attacks on Afghan forces since signing U.S. deal: data, 1 May 2020, url; 1TV News, Taliban
mounted more than 4,500 attacks in 45 days since signing US deal: report, 5 May 2020, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 31

to the US, the Taliban have not launched any attacks on international forces since the deal was madein February; however, they have increased their attacks on Afghan government forces183, with sources
reporting over 76 attacks in 24 provinces within a week of signing the agreement.184 The US also
resumed ‘defensive’ air strikes185, the first of which came five days after the deal.186 AFP stated thatsince the US-Taliban agreement, Taliban attacks have been less frequent in cities but have continued
to target Afghan government forces in rural areas; for example, a Taliban attack killed 11 progovernment militiamen in June 2020.187
As indicated by the UN Security Council, on 19 March 2020, the Afghan acting Minister of Defence
announced an ‘active defence posture’ in response to the Taliban attacks. ‘The day after high-profile
attacks ‘high-profile attacks on 12 May targeting a hospital in Kabul and a funeral in Nangarhar,
Mr Ghani announced that the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces would return to an“offensive posture”, with a resumption of operations against the Taliban.’188
Between 24-26 May 2020, a three-day ceasefire was declared between the Taliban and thegovernment on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr (Islamic holiday).189 After the brief ceasefire, sources citedby Long War Journal (LWJ) indicated that the Taliban increased their attacks again in June 2020,
stepping up assaults on government forces.190 Tolonews cited the Afghan government claiming ‘theTaliban initiated on average 30 attacks on the Afghan security forces each day after the Eid-ul-Fitr
ceasefire.’191 Within the first week of June, according to the MoI, 222 attacks were carried out in 29
provinces by the Taliban.192 In June 2020, Tolonews quoted Afghan officials stating that ANDSF and the
Taliban were fighting each other in Takhar, Jawzjan, Paktia, Helmand, Khost, Ghor, Kunduz, Badghis,
Kandahar, Samangan, Faryab, Ghazni, Logar, Herat and Badakhshan provinces of Afghanistan.193
Widespread fighting between the ANSF and AGEs over the control of the Afghan highways was also
reported in June 2020. The source indicated that as a result of [continued] fighting between the Talibanand AGEs, insecurity has significantly increased on the highways, including on the Kabul-Logar-Paktia,
Kabul-Baghlan, Baghlan-Kunduz, Pul-e Khumri-Samangan, Kabul -Jalalabad and Kabul-Kandahar
highways.194

1.3.1 Armed clashes and assaults
In 2019, UNAMA observed the lowest number of civilian casualties caused by ground engagements
since 2013. During the period between 1 January to 31 December 2019, ground engagements in
Afghanistan reportedly caused 3 057 civilian casualties, including 763 killed and 2 294 injured, which
represents 10 % decrease compare to 2018. However, ground engagement remained the second
leading cause of civilian casualties after suicide and non-suicide IEDs attacks, which represents 29 % of
all attacks.195 During the first six months of 2020, between 1 January to 30 June 2020, ground
183 Reuters, Taliban Militants Kill Afghan Regional Police Chief in Latest Attack, in RFE/RL/Gandhara 8 May 2020, url
184 NYT, Taliban ramp up attacks on Afghans after Trump says “no violence”, 6 March 2020, url; Reuters, U.S. Forces

conduct airstrikes on Taliban in Afghanistan, 5 June 2020, url
185 Military Times, US resumes airstrikes against Taliban to halt attack on Afghan forces, 4 March 2020, url; See also:
Reuters, U.S. Forces conduct airstrikes on Taliban in Afghanistan, 5 June 2020, url
186 Military Times, US resumes airstrikes against Taliban to halt attack on Afghan forces, 4 March 2020, url
187 AFP, Bomb Blamed on Taliban Kills 11 Pro-govt Afghan Militiamen, in RFE/RL/Gandhara, 6 June 2020, url; AFP, Attack
blamed on Taliban kills seven Afghan policemen, in New International, 14 June 2020, url
188 UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for the international peace and security, A/74/897–S/2020/549,
17 June 2020, url, p. 5
189 Gandhara, Afghanistan’s mass release of Taliban prisoners revives peace process, but seen as “big gamble”, 28 May
2020, url; NYT, Afghans sides agree to rare cease-fire during Eid al-Fitr, 24 May 2020, url; BBC, Afghanistan: Taliban
announce three-day Eid ceasefire with government, 24 May 2020, url
190 Roggio, B., Taliban ramps up attacks after ending unilateral ceasefire, 16 June 2020, url
191 Tolonews, After ceasefire, Taliban average “30 attacks per day”: sources, 4 June 2020, url
192 Tolonews, 171 Govt forces killed in a week in Taliban attacks: officials, 15 June 2020, url
193 Tolonews, ANDSF fighting Taliban in 15 provinces amid peace efforts, 26 June 2020, url
194 Tolonews, Fierce widespread fighting surges to control highways, 7 July 2020, url
195 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 68

32 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

engagements remained the leading cause of civilian casualties, which represented 35 % of total civilian
casualties (1 195 civilians casualties including 336 deaths and 859 injured).196
During the last quarter of 2019, Anti-Government Elements (AGEs) carried out 8 204 attacks in
Afghanistan.197 In May, June and July 2020, several armed clashes took place between the Afghan
government forces and AGEs, for example in Kunduz198, Paktia and Paktika199, Ghor200, Khost201,
Kapisa202, Kandahar203, Kapisa204 and Laghman.205

1.3.2 Improvised Explosive Devices
Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) are unconventional explosive weapons that can take any form andcan be activated in different ways, targeting soldiers and civilians alike.206 IEDs can be operated by thevictim (Victim Operated IEDs) or by the attacker (Command-Operated IEDs). Command-Operated IEDs
are radio or remote-controlled allowing operators to detonate a pre-placed device at a specific time.
Victim-Operated IEDs on the other hand detonate when a person or vehicle triggers the initiator or
switch (pressure plate or pressure release mechanism, trip wire or another device). Another category
is suicide IEDs where either the attacker wears an explosive vest or belt or a vehicle is rigged with
explosives by a driver or passenger inside.207
Although pressure plate IEDs are typically used by AGEs to target security forces, they are planted on
public roads routinely used by civilians. Accordingly, their use is inherently indiscriminate as the‘effects cannot be directed against a specific target.’208
UNAMA indicated a surge in harm to civilians from non-suicide IED attacks during the period from
1 January to 31 December 2019, which caused 2 258 civilian casualties including 507 deaths and 1 751
injured. Attacks caused by these devices represented a 24 % increase compared to 2018. 22 % of
overall civilian casualties were caused by Non-suicide IEDs, which is more than suicide attacks,
including complex attacks as the second leading cause of civilian casualties behind groundengagements. The Taliban and Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP) reportedly increased their
non-suicide IEDs attacks in 2019. ‘Civilian casualties attributed to the Taliban from this tactic increased
by 21 % whereas those attributed to ISKP increased by 183 %’. Magnetic IEDs and remote controlledIED attacks reportedly increased in 2019, which caused 48 % and 38 % more civilian casualties
compared to 2018. In 2019, civilian casualties including 275 deaths and 375 injured were reportedly
caused by pressure-plate IEDs, which is 14 % decrease compared to 2018. 96 % of these casualties
were attributed to the Taliban, which represented 265 deaths and 356 injured.209
According to UNAMA, during the period of 1 January to 30 June 2020, IEDs attacks were the leading
cause of the civilian casualties by AGEs, which resulted in 688 civilian casualties including 217 deaths
and 471 injured. The widespread use of pressure-plate IEDs (operating as improvised anti-personal

196 UNAMA, Protection of civilians in armed conflict, midyear report: 1 January – 30 June 2020, 27 July 2020, url, p. 5
197 SIGAR, Quarterly report to the United States Congress, 30 April 2020, url, p. 68; OFS, Lead Inspector General Report to

the United States Congress, 1 October – 31 December 2019, 5 February 2020, url, p. 12
198 Tolonews, “3 police, 5 Taliban killed” in Kunduz clashes, 15 May 2020, url
199 TKG, Clashes in Paktia and Paktika leave 35 Taliban fighters killed, 17 May 2020, url
200 Ariana News, Nine police killed in Ghor, Kandahar clashes, 13 June 2020, url
201 Afghanistan Times, Armed conflict in Khost leaves eight dead, 13 June 2020, url
202 Khaama Press, Taliban militants suffer heavy casualties in Kapisa clashes, 15 June 2020, url
203 Ariana News, Taliban killed, wounded in Kandahar clashes, 17 June 2020, url
204 Ariana News, Clashes underway in Kapisa, 16 Taliban militants killed, 19 June 2020, url
205 Khaama Press, 22 Taliban militants killed, wounded on Kabul-Jalalabad highway, 7 July 2020, url
206 NATO, Improvised explosive devices, 12 December 2018, url
207 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, Special Report - Increasing Harm to Afghan Civilians fromthe Deliberate and Indiscriminate Use of Improvised Explosive Devices, October 2018, url, p. 10
208 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, Special Report - Increasing Harm to Afghan Civilians fromthe Deliberate and Indiscriminate Use of Improvised Explosive Devices, October 2018, url, p. 8
209 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, pp. 41-42

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 33

mines) by the Taliban caused around half of the civilian casualties (45 %) from IEDs that represented
50 % increase compared to the same period in 2019.210
On 31 July 2019, a bus hit an IED on the highway between Kandahar and Herat, killing at least 34
civilians and wounding other 17211, and on 4 January 2020, one civilian was killed when an IED attached
to a vehicle exploded in 10th Police District of Mazar-e Sharif City, in Balk province.212 Recently, on
8 July 2020, a police vehicle was hit by an IED in Golaye (square) Jamhuriat in PD 11 of Kabul City.213
In February 2020, the Taliban published a magazine titled Haqiqat (fact), in which it was indicated thatan IED could be planted by the Taliban fighters on a public road to target the enemy as long as civilians
are informed in advance.214

1.3.3 High-profile attacks
During the period from 1 January to 31 December 2019, UNAMA documented 2 832 civilian casualties
including 817 deaths and 2 015 injured, which involved deliberate targeting of civilians, with a 31 %decrease compared to 2018.215
According to UNAMA, in 2019, suicide attacks, including complex attacks by the Taliban caused 1 499
civilian casualties, including 165 deaths and 1 334 injured, which represents 133 % increase compared
to 2018.216 During the period of 1 January to 30 June 2020, UNAMA documented 342 civilian deaths
and 428 injured caused by deliberate attacks on civilians, which represented 21 % of the overall civilian
casualties.217
Recent security incidents with high-profile attacks in 2019 and 2020 include:
•
•

•
•

On 13 June 2019, a suicide attacker, which targeted a police vehicle in Police District 6 ofJalalabad City, killed five civilians and four local police officers, and wounded at least 12
people, including three children and three police officers.218
On 12 July 2019, nine people were killed, and twelve others wounded after a child was used
to carry out a suicide attack in a wedding party in Pachiragam district of Nangarhar province.
Reportedly, a pro-government militia commander was the target and ISKP group claimed the
responsibility for the attack.219
On 27 July 2019, two civilians were killed including a woman and 30 others were wounded
when a motorcycle bomb targeted a Khost Provincial Force convoy in the eastern part of Khost
City.220
On 1 September 2019, a suicide bomber targeted a security news conference in Kunduz City
killing 10 security forces, including the Kunduz police spokesman and five civilians. According
to the source, the mentioned conference was organised following a Taliban’s attack on Kunduz
City from multiple directions, killing 10 security forces.221

210 UNAMA, Protection of civilians in armed conflict, midyear report: 1 January – 30 June 2020, 27 July 2020, url, p. 9
211 Al Jazeera, Dozens of civilians killed as the bus hit a roadside bomb, 31 July 2019, url
212 Khaama Press, IED claims one death in northern Balkh province, 4 January 2020, url
213 Tolonews, Blast hits police vehicle in Kabul city, 8 July 2020, url
214 Voice of Jihad,‫[ مجله حقیقت‬informal translation: ‘Haqiqat (truth) magasine’], 22 February 2020, url, p. 39

215 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 44
216 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 38
217 UNAMA, Protection of civilians in armed conflict, midyear report: 1 January – 30 June 2020, 27 July 2020, url, pp. 4 and

12218 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 7-13, 13 June 2019, url
219 BBC, Afghanistan war: child used in suicide attack, 12 July 2019, url
220 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 25-1 Aug. 1, 1 August 2019, url
221 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 26 September 2019, url

34 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

•
•

•

•

•
•
•

On 11 September 2019, a religious scholar, Mullah Mohammad Agha, who owned a madrasa(koranic school) in the Bakhto-Tangi village of Shawalikot district in Kandahar province, waskilled by the Taliban.222
On 18 October 2019, sixty-two people have been killed and dozens injured by a bomb
explosion during Friday prayers at a mosque in Haska Mina district of Nangarhar province.223
Another source also reported on the incident indicating that a suicide bomber killed at least
73 civilians including the only doctor of Jowdara village, his two brothers and his two songs,
and two of the mentioned village’s teachers.224
On 25 October 2019, two civilians and three members of the National Directorate of Security
Special forces unit were killed when a suicide bomber targeted a convoy of the agency in
Jalalabad City. The source also noted that six agents and 15 civilians were wounded in theincident.225
On 7 November 2019, Taliban fighters shot and killed four members of the Paktia province
judiciary, including three judges and a staff member of the secretariat of the Paktia court, in
Mohammad Agha district, while the victims were on their way to Kabul in a private vehicle.
During the year 2019, UNAMA documented 17 deliberate attacks against members of the
judiciary causing 20 deaths and 11 injured.226
On 5 March 2020, religious scholar Maulvi Noor Pacha Hammad was killed in PD5 of Kabul
City.227
On 22 June 2020, five employees of the Attorney General’s Office (AGO), who were also partof the US-Taliban agreement implementation team, were killed in Deh Sabz area of Kabul
province.228
On 27 June 2020, two employees of Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission(AIHRC), Fatima Khalil, a donor liaison officer, and Jawid Folad, a driver, were killed after theirvehicle was hit by an IED in Butkhak square in Police District 12 of Kabul.229

1.3.4 Targeted killings and conflict-related abduction
During the period of 1 January to 31 December 2019, UNAMA documented 218 incidents of conflictrelated abductions that affected 1 006 civilians and caused 50 civilian deaths and five injured. During
the aforementioned period, there was a 46 % decrease in the number of civilians abducted compared
to 2018, however, the number of abductees who were killed remained at the same level as in 2018.
All the abduction-related incidents were attributed to the AGEs including majority to the Taliban – withthe exception of three abduction incidents, which were attributed to pro-government armed groups.
These incidents included the abduction of humanitarian workers, deminers, and healthcare workers.230
During the first quarter of 2020, UNAMA reported ‘an increase in civilian deaths from intentionaltargeting of civilians’ compared to 2019.231
During the period of 1 January to 30 June 2020, UNAMA documented 28 verified incidents of
abduction of civilians that caused 68 civilian casualties including 40 deaths and 28 injured, which
represented a five-time increase compared to the same period in 2019. UNAMA expressed its worry

222 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 26 September 2019, url
223 BBC, Afghanistan mosque bombing kills 62 people, 18 October 2019, url
224 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 31 October 2019, url
225 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 31 October 2019, url
226 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 44
227 Pajhwok Afghan News, Religious scholar shot dead in Kabul, 21 March 2020, url
228 1TV, Five AGO killed in an attack on Kabul outskirts, 22 June 2020, url
229 AIHRC, Killing of two AIHRC employees in Kabul, 27 June 2020, url
230 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 49
231 UNAMA, Protection of civilians in armed conflict, first quarter report: 1 January – 31 March 2020, April 2020, url, p. 5

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 35

about the increase in abductions of civilians by the Taliban that resulted in ill treatment and summary
executions.232
During the second half of 2019, several incidents of targeted killings and conflict-related abductions
were carried out across the country, mainly by the Taliban, including the killing of a teacher, students,
an Imam (religious scholar), protestors, government employees, members of the ANDSF and theirrelatives, a pro-government village elder, a human rights activist, civilians accused of cooperating withthe government or NATO forces.233
Recent incidents of targeted killings and conflict-related abduction include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

On 2 January 2020, an employee of Radio Samoun was killed in Lashkargah City of Helmand
province.234 Following the incident, the body of the victim was found and it was discovered hehad been tortured and shot several times.235
On 1 February 2020, Kabul Now (local media) reported that women, including young girls,
were exchanged for weapons in parts of Ghor province, and the widespread use of weapons
has increasingly caused deaths amongst women in the province.236
On 18 February 2020, Abdul Rahim Azimi, head of primary court in Injil district in Heratprovince was killed in an ambush by unknown gunmen in Shaidaee village of Injil district.237
On 3 March 2020, the Taliban shot and killed a former soldier who was travelling by public
transportation in the village of Takht-e Pol in Obe district in Herat province.238
On 4 March 2020, the Taliban killed a civilian accused of theft in the village of Mosaferan in
Obe district in Herat province.239
On 5 March 2020, a tribal leader was reportedly killed by the Taliban in Toti-Chi village of
Golran district in Herat province.240
On 6 March 2020, the Taliban reportedly kidnapped and later killed one civilian in the villageof Daryaban in Obe district in Herat province.241
On 7 April 2020, the Taliban kidnapped and killed an Afghan territorial army member on theway in the village of Qarchaghi of Qadis district in Badghis province.242
On 9 April 2020, the Taliban kidnapped and killed five employees of the Afghanistan central
bank on the way between Islam Qala border pass and Herat City.243
On 10 April 2020, the imam and sermon of Hazrat Ali mosque in Farah province was killed byunknown gunmen.244

232 UNAMA, Protection of civilians in armed conflict, midyear report: 1 January – 30 June 2020, 27 July 2020, url, p. 12
233 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 7-13, 13 June 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 21-27, 27 June

2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: Aug. 16-22, 22 August 2019, url; Reporterly, Taliban shot killed three residents
of Samangan, 27 August 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: August 2-8, 8 August 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War
Casualty Report: September 2019, 26 September 2019, url; AIHRC, on the martyr of the Acting Head of Ghor Provincial
Office of the AIHRC, 5 September 2019, url; HRW, Taliban linked to murder of Afghan rights defender, 6 September 2019,
url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 31 October 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: Aug. 23-29,
29 August 2019, url; Reporterly, Taliban shot killed three residents of Samangan, 27 August 2019, url; HRW, Taliban linked
to murder of Afghan rights defender, 6 September 2019, url; Reporterly, Taliban shot killed three residents of Samangan, 27
August 2019, url; HRW, Taliban linked to murder of Afghan rights defender, 6 September 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War
Casualty Report: November 2019, 2 December 2019, url
234 Khaama Press, Media staff killed in Afghanistan’s southern province Helmand, 2 January 2020, url; 1 TV, Afghan media
worker killed in Afghanistan, 2 January 2020, url; NYT, Afghan war casualty report: January 2020, 2 January 2020, url
235 NYT, Afghan war casualty report: January 2020, 2 January 2020, url
236 Kabul Now, Women exchanged for weapons in parts of Ghor, 1 February 2020, url
237 Tolonews, Unknown gunmen kill head of a primary court in Herat, 18 February 2020, url
238 NYT, Afghan war casualty report: March 2020, 26 March 2020, url
239 NYT, Afghan war casualty report: March 2020, 26 March 2020, url
240 NYT, Afghan war casualty report: March 2020, 26 March 2020, url
241 NYT, Afghan war casualty report: March 2020, 26 March 2020, url
242 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report, April 2020, 30 April 2020, url
243 NYT, Afghan war casualty report: April 2020, 30 April 2020, url
244 Pajhwok Afghan News, religious scholar gunned down in Farah, 10 April 2020, url36 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

•
•
•
•
•

•
•

On 15 April 2020, four youths were reportedly wounded in Gharghai district in Laghman
province after the Taliban opened fire on individuals playing cricket.245
On 16 April 2020, the Taliban fighters shot and killed an Afghan police officer on his way towork in the village of Tagob-Esmail in Qala-i Naw City in Badghis province.246
On 27 April 2020, a Taliban sniper shot and killed two police officers and wounded another inthe village of Mirza-Ali in Qadis district in Badghis province. The police were targeted when
they were bringing water from a well.247
On 30 April 2020, unknown gunmen reportedly killed a provincial court judge in Police District
12 of Herat City.248
On 7 May 2020, the Taliban reportedly destroyed, in an attack in Kamanj area, a bridge on
Harirod river that connected Herat with Ghor provinces. The source also indicating that the
Taliban set fire to a telecommunication tower in Kamanj belonging to Etisalat telecom firmand cited Qurban Ali stating ‘the Taliban have warned all telecom companies in Ghor province
they will destroy their telecom towers unless they shut them off at night.’249
On 6 June 2020, the Taliban kidnapped and killed a civilian man in Shaidan village in Dow Lina
district in Ghor province.250
On 1 July 2020, Kabul Now cited Muhibullah Muhib, spokesman for Farah police chief, statingthat a schoolteacher named Hamidullah Rahmani was killed by the Taliban in Dehak village ofFarah City.251

1.3.5 Aerial attacks and bombings
According to UNAMA, 219 air strikes were carried out by pro-government forces in 2019, which caused
1 045 civilian casualties, including 700 deaths and 345 injured, with a 3 % increase compared to 2018.
The source also indicated that 10 % of the overall casualties in 2019 were caused by the air strikes.252
While SIGAR cited RS (Resolute Support) indicating that 2 % of the civilian casualties were caused byair strikes in 2019.253
According to UNAMA, during the first half of 2020, civilian casualties caused by air strikes represented
9 % of the overall civilian casualties. UNAMA indicated that there has been 43 % decrease in overall
civilian casualties by air strikes during the mentioned period, due to an important reduction in activity
by the international military forces following the signing of the US-Taliban agreement in February
2020.254 At the same time, UNAMA expressed concerns over the increase in civilian casualties causedby Afghan Air Force, noting that during the first six months of 2020 the number of civilian casualties
caused by Afghan Force’s airstrikes tripled compared to the same period in 2019. More than half ofcivilian casualties caused by all pro-government forces’ airstrikes during this period were women andchildren, with 65 % of civilian casualties from airstrikes caused by Afghan Air Force alone. Numerous
airstrikes by Afghan Air Force hit residential buildings, for examples: on 20 May in Maradyan districtof Jawzjan province, two airstrikes hit two homes killing six civilians, including three children, one
woman and two men; on the same day in Khan Abad district of Kunduz province, an airstrike hit ahome killing three civilians (two women and one man) and injuring five (four children and one woman);

245 Khaama Press, Taliban militants open fire on youths who were playing cricket, 15 April 2020, url
246 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report, April 2020, 30 April 2020, url
247 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report, April 2020, 30 April 2020, url
248 NYT, Afghan war casualty report: April 2020, 30 April 2020, url
249 Salaam Times, An insult to Islam: Taliban attack in Ghor forces hundreds to flee during Ramadan, 7 May 2020, url
250 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 2020, 2 July 2020, url
251 Kabul Now, School teacher shot dead by Taliban in Farah province, 1 July 2020, url
252 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 59
253 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 April 2020 , url, p. 68
254 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of civilians in armed conflict, midyear report: 1 January – 30 June 2020, 27 July 2020,

url, p. 4 and 16

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 37

on 24 June in Balkh district of Balkh province, an airstrike hit a home killing four civilians (two children,
one woman and one man) and injuring five others, including two children.255
On 6 May 2019, between 30 and 45 civilian workers were killed, including children, in clashes and air
strikes by foreign troops on drug production factories in Gulistan and Bakwa districts of Farahprovince.256 On 1 September 2019, 13 civilians were killed in an air strike in retaliation to the Taliban’s
attack on Gorziwan district of Faryab province.257 During the same period and in the same district of
Faryab province, 12 civilians were killed in a US air strike on three residential houses while backing theAfghan forces who were fighting the Taliban in the area.258

1.3.6 Search operations
In February 2020, UNAMA noted:‘search operations are a military tactic used in Afghanistan by Pro-Government Forces tocapture or kill persons they believe to be Anti-Government Element targets, usually involving
entering and searching homes or other civilian structures, and often carried out at night. Oftenreferred to as “night raids”.’259
According to UNAMA search operations, which are also referred as ‘night raids’ caused 2 % morecivilian casualties in 2019 compared to 2018. UNAMA indicated that during the period between
1 January and 31 December 2019, night raids caused 360 civilian casualties, including 278 deaths and
82 injured, mainly by NDS, Khost Protection Force and Paktika-based ‘Shaheen Forces’.260 During thefirst quarter of 2020, UNAMA documented an important decrease in civilian casualties from search
operations by ANSF.261
On 24 August 2019, one civilian was killed and four others were wounded, including two women andtwo children when Afghan and foreign forces carried out a night raid in the Babos area of Pul-e Alam
district in Logar province.262 Similarly, on 11 August 2019, at least 11 civilians were reportedly killed ina night raid carried out by NDS Special Forces in the Kolalgo area of Zurmat district in Paktia province.263

1.3.7 Explosive remnants of war
According to UNAMA, Explosive Remnants of War refer to UXO (unexploded ordnance)) and AXO(abandoned explosive ordnance). During the period between 1 January and 31 December 2019,
UNAMA documented 520 civilian casualties, including 149 deaths and 371 injured caused by explosive
remnants of war, with a 6 % increase compared to 2018. UNAMA also indicated that‘children continued to be disproportionately harmed by explosive remnants of war which
represent a significant contributing factor to child disability. In 2019, children accounted foralmost 78 per cent of all civilian casualties from explosive remnants of war, with 403 childcasualties (113 killed and 290 injured) including 360 boys. Children who survive encounters

255 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of civilians in armed conflict, midyear report: 1 January – 30 June 2020, 27 July 2020,

url, p. 16
256 Pajhwok Afghan News, dozens of civilians, forces killed in Farah, 6 May 2019, url; UNAMA, protection of civilians inarmed conflicts, special report: airstrike on alleged drug-process facilities, 5 May 2019, url
257 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 26 September 2019, url
258 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 26 September 2019, url
259 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 91
260 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 64
261 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of civilians in armed conflict, first quarter report: 1 January – 31 March 2020, April
2020, url, p. 5
262 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: Aug. 23-29, 29 August 2019, url
263 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: August 9-15, 15 August 2019, url38 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

with explosive remnants of war live with lasting detrimental impact on their quality of life due
to loss of limbs or eyesight, other serious injuries, and psychological trauma.’264
During the period of 1 January to 30 June 2020, explosive remnants of war caused 6 % of the overall
civilian casualties. UNAMA documented verified 218 civilian casualties including 59 deaths and 159
injured (‘80 % of whom were children’) from explosive remnants of war during the mentioned
period.265
In February 2020, Tolonews cited Abdul Jalil Sediqq, head of Mine Action Coordination, stating that in2019 in Afghanistan ‘more than 110 civilians have been killed and at least 130 others have beenwounded over the past year due to mines and other explosive materials originating from the Soviet
invasion-era.’266 On 9 June 2019, one child was reportedly killed, and seven others were wounded
when an unexploded mortar shell, which children were playing with, exploded in the Charada area ofWayez district in Ghazni province.267 In a similar incident in Laghman province, on 15 April 2019, sevenchildren aged under 15 were killed while playing with unexploded mortar shell.268

1.4 Impact of the violence on the civilian population
1.4.1 Civilian casualties
Year

CivilianskilledCivilians
injuredTotal civilian
casualties

2020 1Q – 2Q

1 282

2 176

3 458

2019

3 403

6 989

10 392

2018

3 804

7 189

10 993

2017

3 440

7 019

10 459

2016

3 527

7 925

11 452

2015

3 565

7 470

11 035

2014

3 701

6 834

10 535

2013

2 969

5 669

8 638

2012

2 769

4 821

7 590

2011

3 133

4 709

7 842

2010

2 794

4 368

7 162

2009

2 412

3 557

5 969

Figure 2. Source: UNAMA Protection of civilians in armed conflict

In 2019, UNAMA documented 10 392 civilian casualties, including 3 403 deaths and 6 989 injured as aresult of the armed conflict, with a 5 % decrease compared to 2018. This decrease was due to the
reduction in civilian casualties caused by the Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), while civilian
casualties caused by other actors increased, notably by the Taliban and International military forces.269

264 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 30-3; 89
265 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of civilians in armed conflict, midyear report: 1 January – 30 June 2020, 27 July 2020,

url, p. 4; 7
266 Tolonews, 100 of civilian casualties caused by unexploded ordnance in 2019, 20 February 2020, url
267 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 7-13, 13 June 2019, url
268 Salaam Times, Unexploded mortar shell kills 7 children in Laghman 15 April 2019, url
269 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 5

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 39

The third quarter of 2019 was ‘particularly violent’, registering ‘the highest number of civilian
casualties of any quarter since UNAMA began systematic documentation in 2009’. The main factors ofsuch as a spike in civilian casualties were suicide and non-suicide IED attacks by AGEs, primarily by the
Taliban, along with election-related violence. In the first half of 2019, the number of civilian casualties
attributed to pro-government forces was higher than the one caused by AGEs; this is ‘a trend that
UNAMA had not documented before 2019’.270
According to UNAMA, in 2019, Anti-Government Elements (AGEs), were responsible for 62 % of civilian
casualties including 47 % caused by the Taliban and 12 % by ISKP and the remaining 3 % toundetermined and other AGEs. IEDs used by AGEs in both suicide and non-suicide attacks remained
the leading cause of civilian casualties in 2019 at 42 %.271 UNAMA indicated that 10 % of the overall
civilian casualties in 2019 were caused by air strikes, with majority (72 %) attributed to international
military forces. According to UNAMA, 28 % of the civilian casualties in 2019 were caused by progovernment forces, including 16 % by ANSF, around 8 % by international military forces, nearly 2 % bypro-government armed groups, and just under 3 % by undetermined or multiple pro-government
forces.272
Pro-government armed groups caused 184 civilian casualties including 102 deaths and 82 injured in 57
incidents and were responsible for seven conflict-related abductions throughout 2019. This represents
a 2 % increase in civilian casualties caused by pro-government armed groups compared to 2018 anddoubled compared to 2017. Civilian casualties caused by pro-government armed groups occurred
mainly in the context of ground engagements (40 %) and search operations (34 %). The majority ofthese casualties were caused by Khost Protection Force and Shaheen Forces in Paktia, Paktika andGhazni provinces, while the remaining civilian casualties mainly occurred in Takhar and Baghlan
provinces.273 In 2019, UNAMA verified 12 incidents involving 25 civilian deaths as a result of operations
by Khost Protection Force. This shows a significant decrease compared to 2018.274 The majority ofcivilian deaths attributed to the Khost Protection Force were caused by intentional shooting, mostly
during search operations.275 In 2019, UNAMA attributed 559 civilian casualties including 227 deaths
and 786 injured to international military forces.276
In 2019, AGEs were the continuing cause of the majority of civilian casualties through indiscriminate
and deliberate targeting of civilians, in violation of international humanitarian law. In its annual reporton civilian protection, UNAMA documented 10 392 civilian casualties in 2019277; of those, 6 447 civilian
casualties (1 668 killed and 4 779 injured) were attributed to AGEs278, in particular 76 % to the Taliban,
19 % to ISIL-KP, and 5 % to undetermined AGEs.279
As a reaction to the figures released by UNAMA in their 2020 annual report, the Taliban published astatement on their official website, Voice of Jihad, rejecting the UNAMA reporting as ‘completely
discriminatory’. Citing data by their special commission mandated to collect, register and prevent
civilian casualties, the Taliban claimed that 83 % of all civilian casualties in 2019 were caused by the
US and Afghan government forces, contrary to what stated by UNAMA.280
SIGAR cited RS (Resolute Support) reporting 1 268 civilian casualties in Afghanistan during the firstquarter (1 January – 31 March) of 2020, with 32 % decrease compared to the last quarter (1 October -270 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, pp. 5-6
271 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 6
272 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, pp. 8, 10
273 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 56
274 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p 57-58
275 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 57
276 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 53
277 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, pp. 5-6
278 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 32
279 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020,, url, p. 33
280 Voice of Jihad, Reaction by spokesman of Islamic Emirate towards civilian casualty report by UNAMA, 23 February 2020,

url

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31 December) of 2019. RS reportedly attributed 88 % of the civilian casualties to AGEs, including the
Taliban that caused 37 %, ISKP 10 %, and unknown insurgents 41 %. According to SIGAR RS attributed
another 7 % to pro-government forces, including 6 % to ANDSF and 1 % to International military forces,and 5 % to other or unknown forces.281
Between 25 and 29 June 2020, AIHRC reported several security incidents in different provinces of
Afghanistan that resulted in civilian casualties including the recent attack [29 June 2020] in old Bazar
of Sangin district in Helmand province where in a rocket attack 27 civilians have been killed and 35
injured.282
During the first quarter of 2020, the conflict in Afghanistan continued to be one of the deadliest in theworld for civilians.283 Between 1 January and 30 June 2020, UNAMA documented 3 458 civilian
casualties including 1 282 deaths and 2 176 injured, with a 13 % decrease compared to the same
period in 2019.284 This overall decrease was due to the significant drop in civilian casualties caused byair strikes by international forces and reduced activity by ISKP.285 At the same time, during the firstquarter of 2020, UNAMA stated to be ‘gravely concerned with the acceleration in violence observedin March 2020, mainly by the Taliban against Afghan national security forces, and the consequent
increase in the number of civilian casualties and harm caused, particularly in the northern and northeastern regions’.286 According to SIGAR, during the second quarter of 2020, civilian casualties increasedby nearly 60 % compared to the first quarter of the year, and by 18 % compared to the same period in
2019.287
Following the signing of the US-Taliban agreement in Doha, various sources reported a spike in violence
and civilian casualties.288 Despite periods of reduction in violence, during the first six months of 2020,
violence has continued, with civilians bearing the brunt.289 A report by the co-Director of the
Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN), Kate Clark, concluded that ‘the only civilians to have benefitted
from the US-Taleban deal appear to be those living in Taleban-controlled areas’ where the US andAfghan forces took a ‘defensive stance’ and stopped air strikes and night raids; while elsewhere many
civilians have seen renewed attacks by the Taliban, among fear of ‘possible intensifying conflict’.290
UNAMA reported that, during the first six months of 2020, pro-government forces were responsiblefor 28 % of all civilian casualties and remained responsible for more child deaths than AGEs.291
International military forces were responsible for 3 % of overall civilian casualties.292 During the same
period, AGEs continued to be responsible for the majority of civilian casualties, with a total 58 %; ofwhich 43 % were attributed to the Taliban, 9 % to ISIL-KP and 6 % to undetermined AGEs.293

281 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 April 2020 , url, p. 69
282 AIHRC, Civilian casualties in the cattle market in Sangin district of Helmand province and in some other provinces of thecountry, 30 June 2020, url
283 UNAMA, Afghanistan, Protection of civilians in armed conflict, first quarter report: 1 January – 31 March 2020, April
2020, url, p. 1
284 UNAMA, Afghanistan, Protection of civilians in armed conflict, midyear report: 1 January – 30 June 2020, 27 July 2020,
url, p. 3
285 UNAMA, Afghanistan, Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Midyear Report: 1 January - 30 June 2020, 27 July 2020,
url, pp. 3-4
286 UNAMA, Afghanistan, Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, First Quarter Report: 1 January- 31 March 2020, June
2020, url, pp. 1, 3
287 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 July 2020, url, p. 65
288 AAN, Voices from the Districts, the Violence Mapped (1): What has happened since the reduction in violence ended?, 21
March 2020, url; Washington Post (The), Afghanistan’s civilian casualties rise following U.S.-Taliban peace deal, 19 March
2020, url; NYT, Afghan Deaths Pile Up in Uncertainty Over U.S. Deal With Taliban, 27 June 2020, url
289 UNAMA, Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Midyear Report: 1 January - 30 June 2020, 27 July 2020, url, p. 3
290 Clark, K., Voices from the Districts, the Violence Mapped (2): Assessing the conflict a month after the US-Taleban
agreement, AAN, 8 April 2020, url
291 UNAMA, Protection of civilians in armed conflict, midyear report: 1 January – 30 June 2020, 27 July 2020, url, p. 14
292 UNAMA, Protection of civilians in armed conflict, midyear report: 1 January – 30 June 2020, 27 July 2020, url, p. 7
293 UNAMA, Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Midyear Report: 1 January - 30 June 2020, 27 July 2020, url, p. 8

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 41

Commenting on this latest reporting by UNAMA during an interview with EASO, on 27 July 2020, coDirector at the AAN Kate Clark noted that ‘government forces do not always discriminate in theirtargeting, as seen in the recent UNAMA Protection of Civilians midyear report which detailed civilian
casualties resulting from indirect fire and air strikes. The ANSF have never taken civilian casualties
seriously. They have never done proper investigations and compensation. There is rarely any
disciplinary action.’294

1.4.2 State ability to secure law and orderMore detailed information on the state structure and governance in Afghanistan, including on state
judiciary, its capacity, integrity, effectiveness in prosecution can be found in EASO COI ReportAfghanistan, State Structure and Security Forces, August 2020.
The World Justice Project’s (WJP) Rule of Law Index 2020 ranks Afghanistan 122 out of 128 countries295,
allocating it to the last place in the ‘order and security’ factor.296 In its report for the first quarter of
2020, UNAMA noted ‘an increase in civilian deaths from intentional targeting of civilians’, as compared
to 2019, referring particularly to March 2020 mass-shooting incidents by ISKP and targeted killings,
abductions, and planting of IEDs by the Taliban.297 Commenting on the deaths of at least 23 civilians
during a market festival in Sangin district, Helmand province, on 29 June 2020, the spokesman for the
National Security Council (NSC) said that 24 civilians were killed or injured daily starting from22 February 2020.298 The Asia Foundation 2019 survey revealed that 74.5 % of Afghans often feared
for their personal safety, which is a 3 % increase from 2018 and the highest rate since the start of thesurvey.299
UNAMA reported that judiciary sector employees remained targeted in 2019, as 13 judges, three
judicial staff, and 19 prosecutors were killed during the year, noting that ‘no case of an attack against
the judiciary was ever sufficiently investigated to indict the crime.’ In the situation of ‘poor security
and direct threats to judges’, female judges, in particular, were reported to feel reluctant ‘to work inremote districts.300 According to the Government and Media Joint Committee, referred to by the UN
Secretary General, 116 cases of violence against journalists and media workers, in which 10 persons
were killed and 21 injured, were reported in 2019.301 For the period from 1 January to 30 June 2020,
UNAMA reported on attacks by AGEs on religious leaders (18 incidents), healthcare personnel (13incidents), judiciary members (11 incidents), civil society activists (9 incidents), NGOs’ staff (8incidents), and journalists (3 incidents).302 As reported in local media, the recent cases of violence
toward media workers, human rights defenders, including AIHRC, and NGO employees comprise—but
are not limited to—assassinations by unknown armed men303, IED blasts targeting vehicles304, andkilling of family members.305 In February 2020, as reported by the UN General Assembly Security
294 Clark K., AAN, online video interview with EASO, 27 July 2020
295 WJP, Rule of Law Index 2020, n.d., url, p. 6
296 WJP, Rule of Law Index 2020, n.d., url, pp. 26, 33
297 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, First Quarter Report, April 2020, url, pp. 4-5
298 Tolonews, ’24 Civilians Killed or Wounded Everyday’: NSC, 30 June 2020, url
299 Asia Foundation (The), Afghanistan in 2019: A Survey of the Afghan People, 2 December 2019, url, p. 57, 59
300 UNAMA, Afghanistan’s Fight Against Corruption Crucial for Peace and Prosperity, June 2020, url, pp. 40-41
301 UN General Assembly Security Council, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace andsecurity, Report of the Secretary General [A/74/753–S/220/210], 17 March 2020, url, pp. 9-10
302 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, Midyear Report: 1 January – 30 June 2020, url, p. 10
303 Tolonews, Wahid Muzhda, Political Analyst, Assassinated In Kabul, 20 November 2019, url; Tolonews, Seven Members
Of One Family Murdered In Kabul, 27 May 2019, url
304 Tolonews, Journalist, Studio Technician Killed in Kabul Blast, 6 Wounded, 30 May 2020 (edited 31 May 2020), url;
Tolonews, Families of Slain Human Rights Workers Call for Justice, url; Tolonews, Two Human Rights Workers Killed in
Kabul, 27 June 2020, url
305 Tolonews, Families of Slain Human Rights Workers Call for Justice, url; Tolonews, Two Human Rights Workers Killed in
Kabul, 27 June 2020, url42 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

Council, the Afghan cabinet endorsed the regulation prepared by the Government and Media Joint
Committee to protect journalists and media workers. The Council reported also on the arrest of eightout of 18 persons suspected in threatening AIHRC human rights defenders involved ‘in researching of
the practice of bacha bazi’ in Logar province.306
Following the explosion in a Sikh temple in Shorbazar area of Kabul in March 2020, ‘Sikhs and Hindus’
accused the government of negligence, as reported by local media.307 Similarly, the explosion in Wazir
Akbar Khan mosque in Kabul at the beginning of June 2020 was reported to cause ‘strong anger and apublic outcry over the fragile security situation in the country’.308
During 2019 and up till the first months of 2020, the city of Kabul faced an increase in criminality309,
which started occurring even in relatively safe central areas310, turning the city into ‘one of the mostdangerous places for businessmen, foreigners, local officials and ordinary people’.311 As noted by
Foschini, the rise in criminal incidents ‘reflects a geographic expansion as well as new forms ofcriminality, including more violent crime and an increase in drug related crimes’.312 Crime cases
reported by media comprised kidnapping of adults313 and children314, robberies and burglaries315,
murder316, gunfire317, and accidental killing during a gunfight between criminal groups.318 Foschininoted on extortion schemes (bajgiri) practiced by organised crime groups, which target ‘a range ofbusinesses from petrol stations to factories’ and the ability of crime groups to recruit new members
because of unemployment or underemployment among the young men.319 According to Foschini,
Kabul police faced corruption and a lack of staff to investigate criminal cases. Moreover, Foschinireported on tight relations between criminals and the police in some of the neighbourhoods, which
prevented legal prosecution.320
Besides Kabul, the cities of Jalalabad, Herat, and Mazar-e Sharif were reported to face the ‘similar
spikes in criminal activity.’ Kunduz was reported to face a deterioration in security situation ‘due to alack of governance, a resurgent Taliban and an increasing crime rate’, while police were reported to
be unable to stop robberies and extortions in the city.321 Following a land-related conflict, the local
media reported that residents of Balkh province ‘accuse[d] security organs of their failure to control

306 UN, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, Report of the Secretary

General A/74/753–S/220/210, 17 March 2020, url, p. 10
307 Tolonews, 25 Killed in Attack at Dharamshala, Sikh Temple in Kabul, 25 March 2020, url
308 Tolonews, Burial Held for Imam Killed by Blast, Public Outcry Continues, 4 June 2020, url
309 Foschini, F., Kabul’s Expanding Crime Scene (Part 1): The roots of today’s underworld, AAN, 11 February 2020, last
updated on 9 March 2020, url; NYT, They Fight Suicide Bombers. But Can Afghan Police Fight Crime? 8 February 2020, url;
Tolonews, Kabul Residents Call on Security Forces to Crackdown on Crime, 22 February 2020, url
310 Foschini, F., Kabul’s Expanding Crime Scene (Part 2): Criminal activities and the police response, AAN, 21 February 2020,
updated 9 March 2020, url
311 Bakhtiari, D., Kabul Accommodate the Richest and the Poorest – Never Feel Secure, Daily Outlook Afghanistan, 22 March
2020, url
312 Foschini, F., Kabul’s Expanding Crime Scene (Part 2): Criminal activities and the police response, AAN, 21 February 2020,
last updated 9 March 2020, url
313 Ariana News, Kidnapping Gang Arrested in Kabul, Businessman Rescued, 26 December 2019, url
314 Inside Over, Child Kidnapping in Kabul on the Rise, 11 July 2019, url; Tolonews, Eight-Year-Old Boy Abducted, Killed in
Kabul, 16 March 2020, url
315 Foschini, F., Kabul’s Expanding Crime Scene (Part 2): Criminal activities and the police response, AAN, 21 February 2020,
updated 9 March 2020, url; Tolonews, Kabul Residents Call on Security Forces to Crackdown on Crime, 22 February 2020,
url; Tolonews, Crimes in Kabul's 'Most Secure Areas' Alarm Residents, 24 May 2020, url
316 Tolonews, Seven Members Of One Family Murdered In Kabul, 27 May 2019, url; NYT, They Fight Suicide Bombers. But
Can Afghan Police Fight Crime? 8 February 2020, url; Tolonews, 2 Killed in Kabul Amid Rising Crime in City, 20 March 2020,
url
317 Tolonews, Nine Men ‘Mysteriously’ Killed in Kabul, 16 February 2020, url
318 Tolonews, Crimes in Kabul's 'Most Secure Areas' Alarm Residents, 24 May 2020, url
319 Foschini, F., Kabul’s Expanding Crime Scene (Part 2): Criminal activities and the police response, AAN, 21 February 2020,
updated 9 March 2020, url
320 NYT, They Fight Suicide Bombers. But Can Afghan Police Fight Crime? 8 February 2020, url
321 Latifi, A. M., Ehsan, E., Surviving Kunduz: Crime and violence swamp neglected Afghan city once hailed as model ofgovernance, The New Arab, 2 August 2019, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 43

the situation’.322 The 2019 Asia Foundation survey founded that 38 % of Afghans named
criminals/thieves as ‘a threat to the local area’, which is a 50 % increase compared with 2018.323
According to the 2019 Asia Foundation survey, 57.5 % of respondents trusted the Afghan National
Army (ANA): 53 % believed that it helped to improve security and 52 % said that was protecting
civilians; almost 60 % stated ANA was ‘honest and fair’.324

1.4.3 Socio-economic conditions
In 2019, the Afghan economy remained largely dependent on international grants325, which—besides
covering nearly half of the government budget—financed around 75 % of total public expenditure andnearly 90 % of security expenditure as of 2019.326 The country has one of the world’s lowest
employment-to-population ratios327 and 21 % of the country’s working population are considered
underemployed.328 The World Bank characterised 80 % of employment in Afghanistan as ‘vulnerable
and insecure’ and consisting of self-employment, day labour or unpaid work.329 UNICEF estimated thenumber of children engaged in child labour at 60 000 in 2017330 and reported that 30 % of children in
Afghanistan were engaged in child labour as of 2019.331
In 2019, UNOCHA estimated that over 80 % of Afghans lived on less than the internationally applied
poverty line (USD 1.90 per day).332 Noting that the deterioration in welfare became more widespread
across the country, the World Bank reported that rural poverty had consistently higher than urban
poverty333; as of 2019, 82 % of the rural population was defined as poor.334 The ongoing conflict anddisplacement, high levels of unemployment and lack of income, and natural disasters were named by
UNOCHA among the key drivers of acute food insecurity.335 According to the data by the Afghanistan
Joint Market Monitoring Initiative (JMMI) collected in June 2020 to assess the impact of COVID-19 on
the Afghan market, there was a decrease in the demand for food and non-food commodities accessed
by JMMI336, which revealed that in the purchasing power of Afghan households had diminished.337
The literacy rate was reported to increase to the figures of 43 % for adults and to 65 % for the youth
as of 2018338; however, it remained disproportionately high among girls, particularly in rural areas.339
According to Afghanistan Living Conditions Survey (ALCS) of 2016-17, which remains the most recent
data at the time of the writing, most housing in Afghanistan consisted of irregular, detached, or semi322 Pajhwok Afghan News, Increasing crime insidents worry Balkh dwellers, 26 October 2019, url
323 Asia Foundation (The), Afghanistan in 2019: A Survey of the Afghan People, 2 December 2019, url, p. 18
324 Asia Foundation (The), Afghanistan in 2019: A Survey of the Afghan People, 2 December 2019, url, p. 18
325 OECD, Boosting Private Sector Development and Entrepreneurship in Afghanistan, 2019, url, p. 13; World Bank,

Afghanistan Development Update: Navigating a Sea of Uncertainty, January 2020, url, p. 30
326 World Bank, Afghanistan Development Update: Navigating a Sea of Uncertainty, January 2020, url, p. 30
327 The proportion of a country’s working-age population that is employed, see ILO, Indicator description: Employment-topopulation ratio, n.d., url
328 World Bank (The), No Household Left Behind : Afghanistan Targeting the Ultra Poor Impact Evaluation, 10 June 2019, url,
p. 8
329 World Bank, Afghanistan Development Update, 28 October 2018, url, p. 29
330 UNICEF and Samuel Hall, Evaluation of “Improving Street-working Children’s Access to Education and Livelihood Support
for their Families” Kabul, Afghanistan, September 2017, url, p. 6
331 UNICEF, Preserving hope in Afghanistan – Protecting Children in the world’s most lethal conflict, December 2019, url,
p. 21
332 UNOCHA, Humanitarian Needs Overview – Afghanistan, December 2019, url, pp. 9, 16
333 World Bank, Hunger before the Drought: Food Insecurity in Afghanistan, 1 June 2019, url, p. 1
334 World Bank, Afghanistan Development Update: Building Confidence Amid Uncertainty, June 2019, url, pp. i, 5
335 UNOCHA, Humanitarian Needs Overview – Afghanistan, December 2019, url, p. 22
336 REACH, Afghanistan Joint Monitoring Initiative (JMMI), url, p. 1
337 REACH, Supporting the humanitarian response to COVID-19 – Updates on Ongoing Research on the Impact of COVID-19
in Crisis-Affected Countries, 4 August 2020, url
338 World Bank, Afghanistan Development Update: Navigating a Sea of Uncertainty, January 2020, url, p. 26
339 CEDAW, Concluding observation on the third periodic report of Afghanistan [CEDAW/C/AFG/CO/3], 10 March 2020, url,
p. 12

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detached houses or regular detached houses.340 The survey found that the large majority (72 %) of
Afghanistan’s urban population lived in slums or inadequate housing while an average urbanhousehold size was estimated at 7.3 persons.341 The 2020 BTI report found that most Afghans lacked
a safe water supply, adequate sanitation, and hygiene, and the vast majority of the Afghan population
had limited access to electricity, especially in rural areas.342 Analysing the conditions for 2019, UNOCHA
reported that only 67 % of the population had access to at least basic (improved) drinking water
services, with huge disparities between urban (96 %) and rural (57 %) population groups.343

1.4.4 Refugees, IDPs, returnees
Afghanistan remains the second largest country of origin of refugees in the world, with 2.7 million
refugees in the first half of 2019.344 The majority of registered Afghan refugees are hosted by Pakistan(1.4 million) and Iran (951 100).345
Protracted international displacement has defined Afghanistan’s history for long.346 Reportedly a thirdof the population were displaced, in the years following the Soviet invasion of 1979. Of the millions
that fled to Iran and Pakistan, some returned to Afghanistan in the early 1990s. Afghanistan’s civil war
and the advent of the Taliban reignited a new exodus to neighbouring countries.347 The ousting of the
Taliban in 2001 coincided with the beginning of a massive wave of returns to Afghans. Between 2001
and 2015, UNHCR assisted 4.8 million Afghans to return and many more are believed to have returned
without official assistance.348
According to UNHCR, the return of over 5.2 million Afghan refugees since 2002 assisted by the agency
has been ‘the largest voluntary repatriation programme in UNHCR’s history’.349 While voluntary
repatriation has decreased in recent years due to deteriorating security situation and a continued lackof capacity to absorb returnees, Afghan refugees have continued to return.350
In 2016 there was a spike in returns351, with about 1 million documented and undocumented Afghans
returned to Afghanistan. Over 610 000 people returned from Pakistan and Iran in 2017.352 During
2018, a total of 805 850 returns were registered from Iran and Pakistan, of which 773 125 were from
Iran.353 In 2019, about 500 000 undocumented Afghans returned from Iran (about 485 000) andPakistan (about 18 800).354 In 2020 (between 1 January and 4 July 2020), IOM recorded a total of363 963 returns to Afghanistan, over 362 000 of which from Iran, and over 1 880 from Pakistan.355

340 Afghanistan, NSIA (CSO), Afghanistan Living Conditions Survey 2016-17, 23 September 2018, url, pp. 210-214; see also

Afghanistan, State of Afghan Cities 2015, Volume One, 2015, url, p. 86-87
341 Afghanistan NSIA (CSO), Afghanistan Living Conditions Survey 2016-17, 23 September 2018, url, pp. XXXIII, 26
342 Bertelsmann Stiftung, BTI 2020 Country Report — Afghanistan, 2020, 29 April 2020, url, p. 9343 UNOCHA, Humanitarian Needs Overview – Afghanistan, December 2019, url, pp. 14-15
344 UNHCR, Mid-Year Trends 2019, 10 March 2020, url, p. 6; IOM, World Migration Report 2020, 27 November 2019, url, p.
39
345 UNHCR, Mid-Year Trends 2019, 10 March 2020, url, p. 6
346 World Bank, Fragility and population movement in Afghanistan, 3 October 2016, url, p. 1
347 Middle East Research and Information Project, Afghanistan's Refugee Crisis, 24 September 2001, url
348 World Bank, Fragility and population movement in Afghanistan, 3 October 2016, url, p. 1
349 UNHCR, The Afghanistan Situation: Strengthening International Solidarity & Achieving Solutions, 6 July 2019, url
350 UNHCR, Afghanistan; Priority Areas of Return and Reintegration: A synopsis; January 2020, January 2020, url
351 UNHCR, Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees 2018-2019, October 2018, url, p. 6
352 UNHCR and IOM, Returns to Afghanistan in 2017: Joint IOM-UNHCR Summary Report, 28 February 2018, url, p. 4353 IOM, Return of Undocumented Afghans – Weekly Situation Report, (January-December 2018 – 1-5 January 2019), 5
January 2019, url
354 IOM, Return of Undocumented Afghans – Weekly Situation Report, IOM, Return of Undocumented Afghans – Weekly
Situation Report, (15-28 December 2019), 28 December 2019, url; IOM, Return of Undocumented Afghans – Weekly
Situation Report, (29 Dec 2019 – 4 Jan 2020), 4 January 2020, url;
355 IOM, Return of Undocumented Afghans – Weekly Situation Report, 15-28 December 2019, (28 June – 4 July 2020), 4 July
2020, url

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As of 1 April 2020, the World Bank reported that the returns of an estimated 1.7 million documented
and undocumented Afghan refugees during 2016-2017 remains a pressure on Afghanistan’s economy
and institutions, stating that both ‘internal displacement and large-scale return […] pose risks towelfare for the displaced and for host communities’ within a difficult economic and security context.356

Internal displacements
According to estimations by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre’s (IDMC) 2020 Global
Report, Afghanistan rates fifth among the ten countries with the highest number of IDPs due to conflictand violence, and first for the highest number of people still displaced as a result of natural disasters.
As of 31 December 2019, a total of around 4.2 million people were displaced in Afghanistan; of whicharound 3 million were displaced by conflict and violence and around 1.2 million by natural disaster,
especially drought and floods.357
During 2019, due to escalating fighting between the government forces and the Taliban as well as
attacks by other armed groups, the number of new IDPs caused by conflict and violence increased toaround 461 000, bringing the total number of conflict-induced displacement to around 3 million, thehighest figure on record for the country.358 Throughout 2020, both ongoing conflict and natural
disasters have continued to drive displacement and humanitarian needs, and many remain displaced
as conflict and poverty prevent them from returning to their areas of origin. Due to conflict in theirareas of origin, about 111 000 of the 245 000 people displaced in the Western provinces in 2018-19
mainly because of drought, were still displaced as of April 2020.359
Displaced people often live in precarious situation due to inadequate shelter, condition of foodinsecurity, insufficient access to sanitation and health facilities, as well as a lack of protection.360
Vulnerability forces people, including IDPs, to resort to negative coping mechanism such as
early/forced marriages, child labour and begging. UN OCHA noted that this situation has been
exacerbated by COVID19. Insecure housing is a main source of vulnerability for many Afghans,particularly IDPs, returnees and women and the risk of eviction is considered ‘especially real’ forreturnees and those unable to pay their rent due to COVID-19.361

Deportations and voluntary returns
In 2019, about 505 000 undocumented Afghans returned from Iran (485 000 circa) and Pakistan(19 800 circa).362 Out of the around 485 000 who returned from Iran, about 273 000 were deported.
Among those returning from Pakistan, about 2 600 were deported.363 Between 1 January and
4 July 2020, IOM recorded about 103 000 deportations from Iran, and 77 from Pakistan.364
Forced deportations of Afghan refugees by Iranian authorities have long been reported.365 In the firstquarter of 2020, according to media sources Iranian officials were forcibly deporting refugees on a

356 World Bank, Afghanistan Overview, last updated 1 April 2020, url
357 IDMC, 2020 Global Report on Internal Displacement, 28 April 2020, url, pp. 11-12, 102
358 IDMC, 2020 Global Report on Internal Displacement, 28 April 2020, url, pp. 49-50
359 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Snapshot of Population Movements - January to March 2020, 21 April 2020, url
360 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Conflict Induced Displacements (as of 26 April 2020), Actual displacements between 1 January

2020 and 18 April 2020, url
361 UNOCHA, COVID-19 and the Afghanistan Response HRP Revision – June 2020, 8 June 2020, url, p. 6
362 IOM, Return of Undocumented Afghans – Weekly Situation Report, (15-28 December 2019), 28 December 2019, url;
IOM, Return of Undocumented Afghans – Weekly Situation Report, (29 Dec 2019 – 4 Jan 2020), 4 January 2020, url
363 IOM, Return of Undocumented Afghans – Weekly Situation Report, (29 Dec 2019 – 4 Jan 2020), 4 January 2020, url; IOM,
Return of Undocumented Afghans – Weekly Situation Report, (15-28 December 2019), 28 December 2019, url;
364 IOM, Return of Undocumented Afghans – Weekly Situation Report, 15-28 December 2019, (28 June – 4 July 2020), 4 July
2020, url
365 HRW, Unwelcome Guests: Iran’s Violation of Afghan Refugee and Migrant Rights, 20 November 2013, url; VOA, IranContinues Deporting Undocumented Afghan Refugees, 21 May 2017, url; Aman F. Afghan migrants: Unwanted in Iran andat home, Atlantic council, 15 May 2020, url

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daily basis366, and following the new US sanctions they threatened more deportations.367 In May 2020,
Afghan authorities said they were investigating reports of Iranian border guards beating, torturing andthen forcing into a river up to 70 Afghan nationals who illegally crossed into Iran. Authorities in theprovince of Herat said they had retrieved 12 bodies from the Harirud River.368 On 3 May 2020, theAfghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) issued a press release confirming thatsuch incident occurred on 1 May 2020 in Karez-e-Elyas village of Gulran district in Herat.369
In 2018, there was a massive increase of returns from Iran, compared to 2017, mostly driven by thepolitical and economic issues of the country.370 In May 2018, US President Donald Trump decided towithdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers and to reimpose sanctions on
Tehran. As a result, Iran’s currency weakened and unemployment rose.371 Since Afghans mostly workin Iran’s informal economy, the demand for their work declined drastically.372 The imposition of new
US sanctions in January 2020373, following an escalation of tension between the US and Iran374,
reportedly triggered more returns to Afghanistan, due to the rise of living and healthcare costs, scarcity
of jobs and rising hostility from local population towards undocumented Afghans.375
As of 14 March 2020, spontaneous returns from Iran have reached new record totals due to fears over
the COVID-19 outbreak. Reporting data by the Border Monitoring Team of the Directorate of Refugees
and Repatriation (DoRR), IOM estimated that over 53 069 undocumented Afghans returned from Iran,showing a 171 % increase from the previous week (19 562).376
Pakistan hosted over 1.4 million registered Afghan refugees, as of 18 March 2020.377 However, theactual number of Afghan refugees in the country might be higher than the official numbers, according
to the Executive Director of the Society for Human Rights & Prisoners Aid (SHARP), Liaqat Banori,interviewed during a fact-finding mission by the Belgian COI unit Cedoca in February 2020.378
In 2016 there was a spike in returns379, with a total of 620 000 Afghans returned from Pakistan.380
Human Rights Watch stated that, in response to several deadly security incidents and deteriorating
political relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Pakistani authorities ‘mounted a concerted
campaign to drive Afghans out of the country’ in 2016.381 Between August 2017 and February 2018,
the Pakistani government, in close collaboration with the government of Afghanistan and with the

366 FP, Why Iran Is Deporting Scores of Afghan Refugees, 13 January 2020, url; IOM, Return of Undocumented Afghans –Weekly Situation Report, (24- 30 May 2020), 30 May 2020, url
367 New Humanitarian (The), US-Iran tensions push Afghans home to conflict, 6 February 2020, url
368 RFE/RL, HRW Calls For Investigation Into 'Shocking' Allegation Of Iranian Border Guards Drowning Afghan Migrants, 4
May 2020, url; NYT, Afghanistan Investigating Claims Migrants Were Killed by Iranian Guards, 2 May 2020, url
369 AIHRC, Press Release: Reported Abuse and Drowning of Afghan Refugees Aiming to Cross the Border to Iran, 3 May
2020, url
370 IOM, Return of Undocumented Afghans, Weekly Situation Report, (Jan-Dec 2018/1-5 Jan 2019), 5 January 2019, url, p. 1
371 RFE/RL, Things Are So Bad In Iran That Afghan Migrants Are Going Home, 1 August 2018, url
372 IOM, Return of Undocumented Afghans, Weekly Situation Report, (Jan-Dec 2018/1-5 Jan 2019), 5 January 2019, url, p. 1
373 CNBS, US slaps new sanctions on Iran following strikes on US targets, 10 January 2020, url
374 In January 2020, Iranian general Qassim Suleimani, considered as Iran's most powerful military commander, was killed
by a US drone in Iraq; which resulted in an escalation of tension between the US and Iran. BBC, Qasem Soleimani: US kills
top Iranian general in Baghdad air strike, 3 January 2020, url
375 New Humanitarian (The), US-Iran tensions push Afghans home to conflict, 6 February 2020, url; New Humanitarian(The), On the move: Conflict, refugee returns fuel Afghanistan displacement, 20 January 2020, url; Aman F. Afghan
migrants: Unwanted in Iran and at home, Atlantic council, 15 May 2020, url
376 IOM, Return of undocumented Afghans, Weekly situation report (8-14 March 2020), 14 March 2020, url
377 UNHCR, Operational Portal Refugee Situation- Statistics Afghan refugees in Pakistan, last updated: 18 March 2020, url;
UNHCR, Pakistan - Afghan Refugee Info-graphic Update, Monthly Update (February 2020), 18 March 2020, url
378 During the interview with Belgian Cedoca in February 2020, Liaqat Banori stated that there is no proper and reliable data
available on the population of Afghan refugees in Pakistan. According to his opinion, the actual number of Afghan refugees
could be higher than the numbers given by UNHCR and the Government of Pakistan. For more information, see EASO COI
Report Pakistan: Situation of Afghan Refugees, May 2020, url, p. 17
379 UNHCR, Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees 2018-2019, October 2018, url, p. 6
380 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Humanitarian Dashboard (as of 31 Dec 2016), 22 March 2017, url
381 HRW, Pakistan Coercion, UN Complicity 13 February 2017. url, p. 1

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 47

support of IOM and UNHCR, carried out a country-wide exercise to identify undocumented Afghans.
Some 880 000 previously undocumented Afghan nationals were identified during the exercise.382 The
goal of the documentation exercise was to provide undocumented Afghans with identification
credentials that will allow legalise and regularise their stay in Pakistan for a limited period of time.383
UNHCR reported that a total of 13 584 Afghans returned from Pakistan in 2018, noting that this was
76 % lower compared to the number of refugees who returned from Pakistan in 2017.384
In June 2019, UNHCR, Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed on a 12-point joint declaration, in conclusionof the 30th Tripartite Commission Meeting reaffirming the commitment by the three parties ‘to upholdthe principle of voluntary repatriation, in safety and dignity, under the Tripartite Agreement’.385 (Formore information see Sections 2.3.2 Return of registered Afghan refugees and 2.3.3 Return of
unregistered Afghan refugees in EASO COI Report, Pakistan: Situation of Afghan refugees, May 2020).
As a precautionary measure linked to the outbreak of COVID-19A, UNHCR temporarily suspended thereturn of registered Afghan refugees from Pakistan, Iran and other countries as of 4 March 2020.386 As
of 30 April 2020, voluntary repatriation from Iran was resumed by UNHCR upon request by the Iranian
Bureau for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants Affairs.387
In a press briefing held in April 2020, UNHCR’ spokesperson Babar Baloch stated that the outbreak of
COVID-19 and the lockdown of economic activities have left many Afghan refugees in Iran and Pakistanwith an inability to meet even their most basic needs, and that Afghans continue to return from both
Iran and Pakistan despite persistent risks and insecurity in Afghanistan. UNHCR’ spokesperson further
warned that ‘a dramatic increase’ in returns could risk creating overwhelming pressure on medical andsocial services in Afghanistan, in a context of rising poverty levels and ‘hundreds of thousands ofpeople’ already living in displacement sites.388 In their 2020 Humanitarian Needs Overview released in
December 2019, UNOCHA stated that ‘the return of hundreds of thousands of citizens of Afghanistanfrom Iran, Pakistan, Turkey and Europe each year, combined with the loss of remittances which arevital to the survival of their families at home, is having a de-stabilising impact on peace, prosperity andsecurity in Afghanistan.’389

1.4.5 Children
With 48 % of its population being younger than 15 years, Afghanistan is one of the four countries in
the world with the highest proportion of persons under the age of 15.390 In June 2020, UN General
Assembly Security Council reported that Afghanistan remained ‘the deadliest conflict for children’391,
noting that 3 410 grave violations against 3 245 children were verified in 2019.392 Save The Children
listed Afghanistan as one of the ten worst conflict-affected countries to be a child, underlining that
Afghanistan had the biggest figures for killed and injured children.393
According to UNAMA, children accounted for 30 % of all civilian casualties in Afghanistan in 2019,
which was a 2 % increase from 2018. In 2019, UNAMA documented 3 149 child casualties (874 deaths

382 UNHCR, Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees 2018-2019, October 2018, url, p. 13
383 IOM, UN Migration Agency Supports Pakistan’s Documented of Undocumented Afghans, 24 May 2018, url
384 UNHCR, Afghanistan, Voluntary Repatriation Update, January 2019, url, p. 1
385 UNHCR, Conclusions of the 30th Tripartite Commission meeting between the Government of the Islamic Republic of

Afghanistan and Pakistan and UNHCR, 18 June 2019, url
386 UNHCR, Afghanistan Border Monitoring update, 21 April 2020, url
387 UNHCR, Afghanistan Border Monitoring update - COVID-19 Response (31 May-6 June 2020), 9 June 2020, url, p. 1
388 UNHCR, Coronavirus – Now is not the time to forget Afghanistan and its neighbours, 14 April 2020, url
389 UNOCHA, 2020 Afghanistan Humanitarian Needs Overview - Humanitarian Programme Cycle 2020, 17 December 2019,url, p. 28
390 Afghanistan, NSIA (CSO), Afghanistan Living Conditions Survey 2016-2017: Highlights Report, 2018, url, p. 5
391 UNSG, Children and armed conflict, Report of the Secretary General, A/74/845-S/2020/525, 9 June 2020, url, p. 3
392 UNSG, Children and armed conflict, Report of the Secretary General, A/74/845-S/2020/525, 9 June 2020, url, p. 5
393 Save The Children, 2020: Gender Matters, n.d., url, p. 12

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and 2 275 injured)394, which was a 3 % increase compared to 2018.395 While AGEs were responsible forthe majority of child casualties in 2019 (1 535 casualties), which was a 14 % increase compared to2018, child casualties attributed to PGFs revealed a 2 % decrease (1 032 casualties). With the figure of
39 % or 1 213 casualties (270 killed and 943 injured), the leading cause for child casualties in 2019 wereground engagements between AGEs and PGFs. The indirect fire caused ‘the vast majority of thesecasualties’, followed by non-suicide IED attacks by AGEs, which displayed an 11 % increase compared
to 2018.396 Suicide and complex attacks affecting children increased by 67 % compared to 2018397,
causing 460 child casualties (61 killed and 399 injured). The Taliban was responsible for 352 (a 324 %increase from 2018) and ISKP for 92 child casualties (a 39 % decrease compared to 2018) of this type.398
Although there was a decrease in child casualties from air strikes in 2019399, the year still revealed ‘thesecond highest number of child casualties from air strikes over the last decade’, after record-high levels
were documented by UNAMA in 2018. PGFs were responsible for 341 child casualties from air strikes:
69 % were attributed to international military forces, 27 % to the Afghan Air Force, and 4 % toundetermined PGFs.400 Even with a 5 % decrease from 2018, ‘children continued to comprise themajority of casualties’ (almost 78 % or 403 casualties) from explosive remnants of war andlandmines.401 Furthermore, UNAMA reported on 39 child casualties, more than twice as many as in2018, resulted from ‘cross-border incidents in Kunar, Zabul and Khost provinces’ and attributed to
Pakistani Military Forces.402
In July 2020, UNAMA reported that 1 067 child casualties (340 killed and 727 injured) were
documented for the first half of 2020: ground engagements were reported as the leading cause ofchild casualties, followed by IEDs and explosive remnants of war.403
According to a survey conducted by Save The Children in April 2019 in selected districts of Kabul, Balkh,
Faryab and Sar-e Pul provinces, children lived ‘in fear of explosives, gun violence and the sound of
attack helicopters on their way to and at school’ as well as going to the market or playing outside. 404
As noted by UNAMA, children injured by explosive remnants of war ‘live with lasting detrimental
impact on their quality of life due to loss of limbs or eyesight, other serious injuries, and psychologicaltrauma’.405 In its 2019 report, UNOCHA found that conflict and natural disasters destroyed ‘normal
structures that protect children at national, local and community level’, leading to ‘a high risk ofseparation of children from their families, psychosocial distress, recruitment into the armed forces andarmed groups (particularly for boys), exploitation of boys and girls through child labour, early andforced marriages (especially for girls), denial of education opportunities, and sexual exploitation’.406
In June 2020, UN Secretary General reported that the ANA used six schools for military purposes while
one school was used by the government and pro-government forces.407 UNAMA verified 70 cases that
affected ‘access to education’ in 2019: these incidents included targeted attacks on schools, targetingof educational personnel, including killing, injury, and abduction, and threats against education
facilities and staff. The eastern and central regions displayed the majority of incidents (18 each) and394 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 21
395 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 9
396 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, pp. 21-22
397 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 21
398 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, pp. 22-23
399 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 21
400 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 23
401 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 22
402 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, pp. 21-22
403 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, Midyear Report: 1 January – 30 June 2020, 27 July 2020,

url, p. 6
404 Save The Children, Many Afghan Children are Afraid to go Outside, New Survey by Save The Children Finds, 19 November
2019, url
405 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 31
406 UNOCHA, Humanitarian Needs Overview – Afghanistan, December 2019, url, p. 68
407 UN, Children and armed conflict, Report of the Secretary General [A/74/845-S/2020/525], 9 June 2020, url, p. 6

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 49

were followed by the north-eastern region (12 incidents). During the incidents, nine students were
killed and 29 injured.408
Noting that the numbers of child recruitment must be higher than documented, UNAMA reported on
the recruitment and use of 64 boys in 2019: 58 by the Taliban, 3 by the Afghan national security forces,and 3 by pro-government armed groups (Afghan Local Police and pro-government militias). The Taliban
was reported to use children to plant IEDs, transport explosives, assist in intelligence gathering, carryout suicide attacks, and participate in hostilities.409 In the period between 1 January and 30 June 2020,
UNAMA verified the recruitment of 23 children by the Taliban: 22 of them were recruited in the northeastern region and one in the eastern region. According to UNAMA, there was an increase in thenumber of reports received by the mission in the connection of recruitment and use of children by theAfghan national security forces across the country. While UNAMA was still working on the verificationof the reports, the children were allegedly used by Afghan National Police and Afghan Local Police as
bodyguards and drivers and were engaged in combat roles at checkpoints; cases of sexual exploitation,
including bacha bazi, were also reported.410
In 2019, documented cases of sexual violence were reported to affect 13 boys and five girls and were
attributed to the Taliban (14), Afghan National Police (3), and Afghan Local Police and pro-government
militia (1). Two boys were reported to be used as bacha bazi.411 AIHRC reported on sexual abuseoccurring in schools and other locations in Logar province.412
The Child Rights Protection Law was enacted by President Ghani in March 2019. Defining ‘a child as aperson who has not “completed” the age of 18’, the law aims to end recruitment and use of children
as well as the practice of bacha bazi, which is in line with the 2018 revised Penal Code.413 However, inMarch 2020, the ANN researcher Rohullah Sorush noted that the ratification of the legislation toprotect the rights of children by the Wolesi Jirga (House of People) remained blocked due to adisagreement over ‘the definition of a child’ as ‘a small group of MPs, mostly religious scholars and/orwith a jihadi background’ saw ‘the definition of a child as under-18’ as a contravention to the sharia.414

1.5 Geographical overview
1.5.1 Urban-rural divide
According to the Afghanistan National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA), around 71 % of the
population (23.4 million) is estimated to live in rural areas and 24.4 % (8 million) in urban areas in 20202021; 4.6 % (1.5 million) of the population is officially estimated to pursue a nomadic way of life.415
According to NSIA, urban areas display a higher population growth because of rural-urban migration.416
According to the researcher Antonio Giustozzi, Afghanistan’s history is characterised by a structuralurban-rural divide. While urban centres became hubs for administration, market-driven methods ofproduction, taxation, education, judiciary, and reforms, the rural population was left aside from these

408 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 27
409 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 24
410 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, Midyear Report: 1 January – 30 June 2020, 27 July 2020,

url, p. 20
411 UN, Children and armed conflict, Report of the Secretary General A/74/845-S/2020/525, 9 June 2020, url, pp. 5-6
412 UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, Report of the Secretary
General A/74/753–S/220/210, 17 March 2020, url, p. 10
413 UNAMA, Afghanistan – Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict 2019, February 2020, url, p. 23
414 Sorush, R., Child Rights Protection Law in Afghanistan: Can the parliamentary chaos be resolved, AAN, 18 March 2020,
url
415 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated population of Afghanistan, 1 June 2020, url, p. iii
416 Afghanistan, NSIA, Afghanistan Statistical Yearbook 2018-19, July 2019, url, p. 2

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developments, which caused a feeling of resentment in rural inhabitants.417 Several sources describe
the rural population as ‘more conservative’ and ‘traditional’ with many living ‘in absolute or nearabsolute poverty’418 and facing realities of war ‘as a part of daily life’419 in contrast with urban dwellers,
who are ‘more liberal’, have more opportunities to gain income and include a class of urban elites andpersons engaged in ‘family politics’.420
Asia Foundation 2019 Survey found that 79 % of urban respondents and 73 % of rural interviewees
indicated insecurity/crime as a reason for pessimism about the direction in which the country is going.
Pessimism due to concerns with the economy was mentioned by 52 % of urban respondents comparedwith 38 % of those living in rural areas. At the same time, rural respondents cited lack of infrastructure
and/or services twice as often as urban interviewees (8 % compared to 4 %). Foreign intervention wasseen as a reason for pessimism by 8 % of rural and 3 % of urban respondents.421
In 2015, the Taliban set as an objective to ‘capture and hold towns and provincial capitals’.422 Following
attempts of capturing provincial centres like Kunduz City, Lashkargah in Helmand, Pul-e Khumri in
Baghlan, Farah City, Tarinkot in Uruzgan, and Maimana in Faryab in 2015, 2016 and 2017423, in August
2018 Taliban insurgents carried out a large-scale attack on Ghazni City.424 As reported by the UN
Secretary General in February 2019, ‘the Taliban succeeded in temporarily capturing 21 district
administrative centres throughout the year, the second highest level since the security transition to
the Afghan forces at the end of 2014.’425 At the end of August and beginning of September 2019, theTaliban conducted large-scale offensives against provincial capitals of Kunduz, Pul-e Khurmi, andFarah.426
According to the 2019 Asia Foundation survey, feeling fear of the Taliban and ISIL was expressed by
93 % and 95 % of the respondents.427 Almost 69 % of the respondents said that the Taliban posed athreat in their local area; rural inhabitants (almost 76 %) saw a threat in the Taliban twice often thanrespondents living in urban areas (around 37 %).428

1.5.2 Regional differences
According to the June 2020 report by the UN Secretary General, the southern region saw the highest
number of incidents between February and May 2020; second highest figures were documented by
UNAMA in eastern and northern regions. Overall, the incidents taken place in these three regions
accounted for 59 % of all incidents.429 In the course of offensives against provincial capitals of theprovinces of Kunduz, Pul-e Khurmi, and Farah, conducted by the Taliban in August-September 2019,

417 Giustozzi, A. and Ibrahimi, N., Thirty Years of Conflict: drivers of anti-Government Mobilisation in Afghanistan, 1978-

2011, January 2012, url, pp. 7-8
418 Asey, T., The Price of Inequality: The Dangerous Rural-Urban Divide in Afghanistan, Global Security Review, last updated
9 June 2019, url
419 Feroz, E., Let’s face the truth, rural Afghanistan has been lost, TRT World, 16 April 2019, url
420 Asey, T., The Price of Inequality: The Dangerous Rural-Urban Divide in Afghanistan, Global Security Review, last updated
9 June 2019, url
421 Asia Foundation (The), Afghanistan in 2019: A Survey of the Afghan People, 2 December 2019, url, p. 43
422 BBC News, Why are the Taliban resurgent in Afghanistan?, 5 January 2016, url
423 Ali, O., The Taleban Assault on Kunduz city: Déjà vu, but why?, AAN, 12 October 2016, url; LWJ, Taliban threatens
another provincial capital in the Afghan north, 21 October 2016, url; LWJ, Taliban Assaults Provincial Capital in southeastern
Afghanistan, 22 May 2017, url
424 UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, Report of the SecretaryGeneral A/73/624-S/2018/1092, 7 December 2018, url, p. 6
425 UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, Report of the SecretaryGeneral A/73/777-S/2019/193, 28 February 2019, url, p. 6
426 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, pp. 36-37
427 Asia Foundation (The), Afghanistan in 2019: A Survey of the Afghan People, 2 December 2019, url, pp. 18, 57
428 Asia Foundation (The), Afghanistan in 2019: A Survey of the Afghan People, 2 December 2019, url, pp. 19, 62
429 UN General Assembly, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, Report of
the Secretary-General [A/74/897-S/2020/549], 17 June 2020, url, p. 5

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 51

the attack on Kunduz ‘had the largest impact on civilians’, causing 99 casualties (20 killed and 79
injured), 55 of which were attributed to the Taliban and 44 to the Afghan national security forces.430
While the fighting was reported to decrease at the end of 2019 and the beginning of 2020 ‘in line withseasonal trends during the winter months’, the provinces of Kandahar, Helmand, Nangahar, and Balkhwere the most active conflict areas between November 2019 and February 2020.431 During the period
between March and June 2020, ‘the highest amount of conflict activity’ was reported in the provincesof Kandahar, Helmand, Wardak, and Balkh.432
As reported by UNAMA, ISKP maintained its presence in some areas in the eastern provinces of
Nangarhar and Kunar. Following the start of a military operation in Achin district, Nangarhar province,in November 2019, ISKP fighters in the eastern region were reported to surrender. Civilian casualties
resulting from ISKP attacks were documented in Kabul, Ghazni, Herat, Laghman, and Khost
provinces.433 USDOS reported that ISKP resumed ‘terrorist attacks against ANDSF and Coalition Forces’in February 2020; moreover, in spring 2020 the group conducted several large-scale attacks in Kabul.434
In communication with EASO in 2019, a military analyst specialising in Afghanistan-related issues notedthat the Taliban and ISKP pursued different strategies. While the Taliban fighters focused their attacks
mostly against security forces and/or Afghan government employees, trying to avoid ‘collateral
damage’ among the civilian population, ISKP targeted also Shias and non-cooperating civilians, aiming
to reach high numbers of civilian casualties, which allowed for a high number of ‘collateral damage’.435
As found in a research study on ISKP’s ‘Kabul cell’ published by the United States Institute of Peace(USIP) in June 2020, the two groups had also different recruitment systems. While the Taliban recruited‘typically’ unemployed, madrasa-educated young Pashtuns from rural communities, ISKP had cells inurban centres and recruited men and women from middle-class families, with many university
students of non-Pashtun origin, predominantly from Kabul City and the surrounding urban centres of
Parwan, Kapisa, and Panjsher provinces.436 According to the research, ‘with the exception of a minority
made up of original Kabulis and a number of Uzbeks from Jawzjan, Takhar, and Faryab provinces in the
far north of the country, the membership of ISKP’s Kabul cell is composed of youth from the areas ofmuqawamat (anti-Taliban resistance)’, who have either settled in Kabul or visit it regularly.437
In 2019, the provinces of Badakhshan, Badghis, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Kunduz, Laghman, andNangarhar were ‘the main provinces of origin and displacement for conflict-affected communities’.438

1.5.3 Government versus Taliban control
As stated by the AAN co-Director Kate Clark in May 2017, many assessments of territorial control in
Afghanistan were made in recent years. Besides the disagreement over figures, there were also
debates over the definition of the word ‘control’; moreover, assertions were made about the meaningof ‘loss of government control’, partly linked to deliberate withdrawals to areas deemed to be of morestrategical importance.439 As noted by ANN expert Thomas Ruttig, there are different counts of the
430 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, pp. 35
431 UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, Report of the Secretary-

General A/74/753-S/2020/210, 17 March 2020, url, p. 5
432 UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, Report of the SecretaryGeneral [A/74/897-S/2020/549], 17 June 2020, url, p. 5
433 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, pp. 36-37
434 USDOS, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan, June 2020, url, p. 18
435 Military analyst, confidential communication, 14 January 2019, in EASO, Afghanistan – Security Situation, June 2019, url,
p. 58
436 Osman, B., Bourgeois Jihad: Why Young, Middle-Class Afghans Join the Islamic State, USIP, Peaceworks No 62, 1 June
2020, url, pp. 2, 11. The research is based on 65 interviews with current and former ISKP members, their families, andfriends, conducted in Kabul city, the surrounding provinces, and the provinces of Nangahar and Kunar in November 2019.
437 Osman, B., Bourgeois Jihad: Why Young, Middle-Class Afghans Join the Islamic State, USIP, Peaceworks No 62, 1 June
2020, url, p. 12
438 UNOCHA, Humanitarian Needs Overview – Afghanistan, December 2019, url, p. 67
439 Clark, K., Looking at the ‚Nicholson plan‘: A bid to tilt the Afghan war in the government‘s favour, AAN, 24 May 2017, url

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number of districts, ranging from 379 to 407440, which has to be considered when analysing
assessments by different sources.
As reported by UN Secretary General, on 31 December 2019, the Taliban allegedly captured Darzab
district in Jawzjan province after the withdrawal of the ANDSF. The Taliban also took the control overArghandab district, Zabul province, while the ANDSF recaptured Guzargahi Nur district in Baghlan
province, which was held by the Taliban since September 2019.441 In June 2020, the UN Secretary
General reported that neither PGFs nor AGEs ‘achieved any significant territorial gains’ between Marchand June 2020. In March 2020, the Taliban recaptured Yamgan district, Badakhshan province, while in
April the ANDSF overtook the districts of Khamyab and Qarqin in Jowzjan province, held by the Taliban
for around two years.442 In June 2020, USDOS reported that the Afghan government maintained its
control in ‘Kabul, provincial capitals, major population centres, most district centres, and most portionsof major ground lines of communications (GLOCs)’, while the Taliban threatened district centres andcontested ‘several positions of main GLOCs’.443 According to the Afghan authorities, ‘the Taliban
carried out 422 attacks in 32 provinces’ during the third week of June, killing almost 300 Afghan
security personnel, making the week the ‘deadliest’ in the course of the conflict.444
An assessment of the Long War Journal (LWJ) mapping Taliban control in Afghanistan in a frequently
updated map and based on open-source information, considered 133 districts of Afghanistan (33 %)to be under the control of GoA or have undetermined status, 189 districts (47 %) to be contested, 75
districts (19 %) to be held by the Taliban; one district was assessed as ‘unconfirmable Taliban claim ofcontrol’.445 According to the population figures, 15 million people were living in areas controlled by
GoA or having undetermined status, while 13 million Afghans found themselves in contested areas
and 4.5 million in the Taliban-controlled areas.446

1.6 Mobility
According to UNAMA report for 2019, Afghan people’s movement was restricted by ‘threats on majorroads and highways’, including Taliban-organised abductions, which created a climate of fear.447
Highway 1, or Ring Road, which is the most important highway and connects Kabul, Mazar-e Sharif,
Herat, and Kandahar448 was reported to be partly destroyed and contaminated with IEDs by the Taliban
during the offensive on Ghazni City in August 2018.449 The Taliban blocked the parts of the roadbetween Baghlan and Balkh during the attacks on Kunduz in 2015 and 2018.450 Following the August
2019 offensives on Dasht-e Archi district, Kunduz province, and Pul-e Khurmi district, Baghlan province,
the Taliban was reported to having blocked roads to Highway 1 in the direction to Kabul for more than
two weeks.451 In July 2020, local media reported that several parts of the Baghlan-Balkh Highway,
440 Ruttig, T., The Afghanistan Election Conundrum (12): Good news and bad news about district numbers, AAN, 16 August

2018, url
441 UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, Report of the Secretary
General [A/74/753–S/220/210], 17 March 2020, url, p. 6
442 UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, Report of the SecretaryGeneral [A/74/897-S/2020/549], 17 June 2020, url, p. 5
443 USDOS, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan, June 2020, url, p. 18
444 France 24, Taliban killed 291 Afghan security personnel in past week: govt, 23 June 2020, url
445 LWJ, Mapping Taliban Control in Afghanistan, n.d., url. The source, however, does not specify when and which
information of the aforementioned map was last updated.
446 LWJ, Mapping Taliban Control in Afghanistan, n.d., url. The source, however, does not specify when and which
information of the aforementioned map was last updated.
447 UNAMA, Afghanistan. Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 50
448 Diplomat (The), Kabul's Plan to Realize Afghanistan’s Geographic Dividend, 5 December 2017, url
449 UN News, ‘No safe way’ into battle-scarred Afghan city of Ghazni to deliver aid as traumatized children search forparents, 17 August 2018, url
450 Hewad, G., The 2015 insurgency in the North (4): Surrounding the cities in Baghlan, AAN, 21 October 2015, url; Ali, O.,
Taleban in the North: Gaining ground along the Ring Road in Baghlan, AAN, 15 August 2016, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 14
ANA soldiers killed in Kunduz attack, 26 April 2018, url
451 USDOS, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2019 - Afghanistan, 11 March 2020, url

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connecting Kabul with northern and north-eastern provinces, were blocked due to the Talibaninitiated clashes.452
In 2019 and the first part of 2020, the incidents affecting mobility comprised clashes between PGFs
and AGEs453, checkpoints454, abductions455, and killings.456 IEDs planted on roads and highways werereported to cause casualties among civilians457, military458, and police.459 Travellers were reported to
face ‘taxes’460 charged along main roads, which became a source of revenue for the Taliban.461
According to USDOS, drivers, including taxi, truck and bus drivers, reported on checkpoints ‘operated
by security forces and insurgent groups, who extorted money and goods from travellers’.462 The local
media specified that the cases of extortion at checkpoints established by ‘Taliban insurgents as well as
government forces’ became frequent on the Kandahar-Kabul, Kandahar-Herat, and Kabul-Torkham
Highways463; cases of extortion were reported also, for instance, on the highway connecting Mazar-e
Sharif, Balkh province, and Dar-e Suf district, Samangan province464, and the Baghlan-Balkh Highway.465
According to the Asia Foundation 2019 survey, almost 80 % of Afghans reported ‘some or lot of fear
when travelling from one part of the country to another’. Some or lot of fear when travelling wasparticularly expressed by interviewees of Uruzgan (89 %), Faryab (87 %), Sar-e Pul, Khost, and Ghazni(86 % each), and Kabul (85 %). Among women, 34 % reported a lot of fear when travelling; this figure
was higher in Ghazni (66 %), Panjshir (57 %), and Bamyan (48 %).466 Referring to the 2018 WOA
Assessment, UNOCHA reported that 61 % of displaced households in Hilmand, Uruzgan, Zabul. Khost,and Paktia said that women felt ‘less safe when travelling to or at specific locations’ or could ‘besubject/vulnerable to violence’.467
Afghanistan's major population centres can be reached either by land or by air.468 In more remoteareas, road conditions are often bad and the roads ‘are regularly closed due to flooding, landslides,
snow or avalanches in high altitude areas’. As noted by UNOCHA, such provinces as Baghlan, Kunar,
Logar, Maidan Wardak, Nuristan, Panjshir, Samangan, and Sar-e Pul ‘have no functioning airstips andair traffic is regularly interrupted by poor weather’.469
According to the airport map produced by the Austrian Country of Origin Information unit in March
2019, scheduled passenger services to domestic and international destinations exist from Kabul, Herat,
Kandahar, and Mazar-e Sharif while domestic airports with scheduled passenger function in theprovinces of Farah, Helmand, Nimroz, and Uruzgan.470

452 Tolonews, Taliban Attacks Stop Traffic on Northern Highway: Sources, 6 July 2020, url
453 AA, Taliban, Afghan forces clash in Balkh province, 18 March 2020, url
454 Tolonews, Taliban Attacks Stop Traffic on Northern Highway: Sources, 6 July 2020, url
455 Al-Jazeera, What peace means for Afghanistan’s Hazara people, 18 September 2019, url; NYT, A Country Where Driving

Makes You a Target, 26 December 2019, url; Afghanistan Times, Danesh Calls for Security Along Daikundi-Uruzgan Road, 22June 2020, url
456 NYT, A Country Where Driving Makes You a Target, 26 December 2019, url
457 RFE/RL, Dozens killed as Bus Hits Roadside Bomb In Western Afghanistan, 31 July 2019, url; Tolonews, Nine Civilians
Killed in Kandahar Roadside Mine Blast, 3 June 2020, url; Afghanistan Times, 6 Civilians Killed by Paktika Roadside Bomb, 20
April 2020, url; Tolonews, Six Civilians Killed in Mine Blast in Jawzjan, 24 June 2020, url
458 GardaWorld, Afghanistan: Multiple IED attacks in Khost and Daikundi provinces April 21, 22 April 2020, url
459 Tolonews, 3 Police Killed in Herat Roadside Mine Blast, 5 July 2020, url
460 USDOS, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2019 - Afghanistan, 11 March 2020, url
461 Salaam Times, Afghan forces move to secure highways against Taliban's 'customs tax' extortion, 14 December 2018, url
462 USDOS, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2019 - Afghanistan, 11 March 2020, url
463 Tolonews, Drivers Outraged Over Extortion on Highways, 17 January 2020, url
464 Pajhwok Afghan News, Security forces, Taliban extort money on Mazar-Dara-i-Suf road, 9 December 2019, url
465 Tolonews, Taliban Attacks Stop Traffic on Northern Highway: Sources, 6 July 2020, url
466 Asia Foundation (The), Afghanistan in 2019: A Survey of the Afghan People, 2 December 2019, url, p. 63
467 UNOCHA, Humanitarian Needs Overview – Afghanistan, December 2019, url, p. 69
468 EASO, Afghanistan – Security Situation, June 2019, url, p. 65
469 UNOCHA, Humanitarian Needs Overview – Afghanistan, December 2019, url, p. 11
470 Austria, BFA-Staatendokumentation, Afghanistan - Airports [Map], 25 March 2019, available upon request at url(accessed by EASO on 25 March 2019)

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Hamid Karzai International Airport (KBL), known as Khwaja Rawash Airport471, is located at a distanceof 16 kilometres from Kabul city centre.472 In November 2019, a suicide car blast near the airport
caused civilian casualties.473 Kandahar Airport, named Ahmad Shah Baba International Airport andserving as the country’s second main airport, is situated 16 kilometres south-east of Kandahar City.474
Herat International Airport (HEA) is situated 18 kilometres south of Herat City.475 Mazar-e-Sharif
International Airport (MZR), or Mawlana Jalaluddin Muhammad Balkhi International Airport, is located
8 kilometres from Mazar-e-Sharif.476 In January 2019, an air corridor connecting Mazar-e Sharif andEurope via Turkey was opened for cargo flights.477

471 Sweden, Lifos, Lifosrapport: Inrikesflyg, I Afghanistan (version 3.1), 2 July 2019, url, p. 4472 Hamid Karzai International Airport, Hamid Karzai International Airport, n.d., url, (accessed 10 July 2020)
473 Washington Post (The), 12 killed in Kabul suicide blast, including children, 13 November 2019, url
474 Ahmad Shah Baba International Airport, n.d., url (accessed 10 July 2020)
475 Afghanistan, Civil Aviation Authority, Aeronautical Information Publication, Aerodrom (AD) Part 3, Edition 89-2020, 21

May 2020, url, p. 100
476 Afghanistan, Civil Aviation Authority, Aeronautical Information Publication, 21 May 2020, url, p. 241
477 Pajhwok Afghan News, Mazar-i-Sharif-Turkey-Europe air corridor formally opens, 9 January 2019, url

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2. Regional description of the security
situation in Afghanistan
2.1 Kabul City
2.1.1 General description of the city
Kabul City is the capital of Afghanistan and of Kabul province, of which it is a separate district alongside
14 others.478 Surrounded by mountains, the city is located at 1 800 metres above sea level.479 Kabul
City expanded from 12 districts or city wards to 22 urban districts480, which coincide with Kabul’s 22
Police Districts (PDs).481 According to estimates for 2020-21 by Afghanistan’s NSIA, Kabul City has apopulation of 4 434 550.482 However, exact population figures are disputed and estimates range from
3.5 million up to a possible 6.5 million inhabitants in 2020.483
Kabul is by far Afghanistan’s most populous and influential city, characterised by an unprecedented
demographic and urban growth.484 Massive returnee populations, IDPs and economic migrants havespurred this rapid growth485, but the city’s infrastructure has not followed at the same pace.486
According to AAN analyst Fabrizio Foschini, the Afghan capital’s ‘rapid and uncontrolled urbanisation
has created new economic and security challenges inside the city’, with ‘the residual urban social fabricthat helped to preserve a certain social order, guaranteeing some degrees of security, now
disappearing fast’.487 As described by several sources, the main problems currently afflicting theAfghan capital are inadequate housing and sanitation, overstretched basic services and resources,
unemployment, land grabbing, poverty, traffic and limited accessibility, severe air pollution andcriminality.488
Kabul City is laid out as a circle consisting of three concentric rings: the first one includes Shahr-e Kohna,
the old city, Shahr-e Naw, the new city, as well as Shash Darak and Wazir Akbar Khan, where many
foreign embassies, international organisations and offices are located. The second ring consists ofneighbourhoods developed in the 1950s-1980s to host the growing urban population, like Taimani,
Qala-e Fatullah, Kart-e Se, Kart-e Chahar, Kart-e Naw and the microraions (Soviet-style residential
478 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Kabul Province - District Atlas, April 2014, url
479 REACH, Area Based Community Profile: Kabul, Afghanistan, December 2017, url, p. 3
480 Foschini, F., Kabul and the Challenge of Dwindling Foreign Aid, USIP, 10 April 2017, url, p. 10
481 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Kabul Informal Settlements, 4 January 2016, url; Foschini, F., Kabul Unpacked - A Geographical

Guide to a Metropolis in the Making, AAN, 19 March 2019, url, p. 4
482 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21, June 2020, url, p. 8
483 Foschini, F., Kabul Unpacked - A Geographical Guide to a Metropolis in the Making, AAN, 19 March 2019, url, p. 1; IGC,
Urbanisation in Fragile Societies: Thinking about Kabul, 4 December 2019, url; City Mayors Statistics, The World’s Largest
Cities and Urban Areas in 2020, url
484 Foschini, F., Kabul Unpacked - A Geographical Guide to a Metropolis in the Making, AAN, 19 March 2019, url, p. 1; IGC,
Urbanisation in Fragile Societies: Thinking about Kabul, 4 December 2019, url; Foschini, F., Kabul’s Expanding Crime Scene(Part 1): The Roots of Today’s Underworld, AAN, 11 February 2020, url
485 Metcalfe, V. et al., Sanctuary in the City? Urban Displacement and Vulnerability in Kabul, June 2012, url, p. 5; APPRO,
Migration and Urban Development in Kabul: Classification or Accommodation?, October 2012, url, pp. 6-8; Foschini, F.,
Kabul’s Expanding Crime Scene (Part 1): The Roots of Today’s Underworld, AAN, 11 February 2020, url
486 Ruttig, T., Alltag in Kabul. Referat von Thomas Ruttig (AAN) am 12. April 2017, 20 June 2017, url; NRC and ACAPS,
Displacement and Access in Afghanistan: Scenarios, June 2019, url, p. 11
487 Foschini, F., Kabul’s Expanding Crime Scene (Part 1): The Roots of Today’s Underworld, AAN, 11 February 2020, url
488 Foschini, F., Kabul Unpacked - A Geographical Guide to a Metropolis in the Making, AAN, 19 March 2019, url, p. 1; Al
Jazeera, Life in the City: Tackling Kabul's Urban Challenges, 11 July 2019, url; Migrationsverket - Finnish Immigration Service,
Afghanistan: Fact-Finding Mission to Kabul in April 2019 - Situation of Returnees in Kabul, 15 October 2019, url, pp. 1, 3, 78; DW, Kabul - Where Breathing Can Kill You, 6 December 2019, url; NYT, They Fight Suicide Bombers. But Can Afghan Police
Fight Crime?, 8 February 2020, url

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districts). The outer, growing ring of the city expanded rapidly after 2001, mainly housing Afghans who
have migrated to the capital since then and some high-profile residential compounds.489 Kabul City
hosts an airport served by international and domestic scheduled passenger flights.490
Kabul is an ethnically diverse city, with communities from almost all Afghan ethnicities. Pashtuns,
Tajiks, Hazaras, Uzbeks, Turkmen, Baluch, Sikhs and Hindus all reside there, with no group clearly
dominating.491 According to Foschini, central Kabul is ‘cosmopolitan’ and more mixed than in the past,with the constant movement of residents having a disruptive effect on social networks.492 Districts in
Kabul’s outskirts are ethnically more homogenous.493 As people tend to move to areas where they
already have family or into particular districts as part of a larger group with the same ethnicity,
different city neighbourhoods have become associated with different ethnic groups.494 In these
densely populated areas, a sort of ‘village society’ has emerged, whose dwellers know each other andhave more direct connections with their province of origin than with central Kabul.495
Because of its high concentration of government buildings, international organisations, diplomaticcompounds and national and international security forces, the capital has a distinct security outlook.496
In the wake of several attacks in January 2018, the approval of a new security plan for the Afghan capital
was announced497 and the Kabul Enhanced Security Zone (ESZ) was established.498 New and improved
security measures have been implemented since then -including: additional temporary checkpoints,
access surveillance, additional road blockades and increased patrolling, increased reconnaissance andintelligence activities.499 Kabul’s new security measures were reported to have exacerbated the city’s
traffic problems500 and caused protests among residents501. In June 2020, the implementation of a new
security plan for Kabul City was reportedly ordered by President Ghani.502

2.1.2 Conflict background and actors in Kabul City
Although the Afghan capital is under government control503, Kabul remains a target for AGEs who
continue to carry out attacks in the city.504 According to AAN analyst Thomas Ruttig, suicide andcomplex attacks in urban centres like Kabul ‘do not directly change the balance of power on the

489 Foschini, F., Kabul and the Challenge of Dwindling Foreign Aid, USIP, April 2017, url, p. 6; Foschini, F., Kabul Unpacked - A

Geographical Guide to a Metropolis in the Making, AAN, 19 March 2019, url, pp. 5-27
490 Hamid Karzai International Airport [website], n.d., url
491 Pajhwok Afghan News, Elections 2019: Kabul Province Background Profile, n.d., url; Foschini, F., Kabul and the Challengeof Dwindling Foreign Aid, USIP, 10 April 2017, url, p. 6; Foschini, F., Kabul Unpacked - A Geographical Guide to a Metropolis
in the Making, AAN, 19 March 2019, url, pp. 5-27
492 Foschini, F., Kabul Unpacked - A Geographical Guide to a Metropolis in the Making, AAN, 19 March 2019, url, p. 3
493 Foschini, F., Kabul and the Challenge of Dwindling Foreign Aid, USIP, 10 April 2017, url, pp. 6, 58
494 APPRO, Migration and Urban Development in Kabul: Classification or Accommodation?, October 2012, url, p. 8; IGC,
Urbanisation in Fragile Societies: Thinking about Kabul, 4 December 2019, url
495 Foschini, F., Kabul and the Challenge of Dwindling Foreign Aid, USIP, April 2017, url, p. 7; Foschini, F., Kabul Unpacked - A
Geographical Guide to a Metropolis in the Making, AAN, 19 March 2019, url, p. 3
496 Foschini, F., Kabul and the Challenge of Dwindling Foreign Aid, USIP, 10 April 2017, url, p. 5; Osman, B., A Black Week in
Kabul (2): Who Are the Most Likely Perpetrators?, AAN, 7 June 2017, url
497 RFE/RL, New Security Plan In Kabul After Deadly Attacks, 7 February 2018, url
498 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan - June 2018, 3 July 2018, url, pp. 1, 15, 43, 46-47
499 EFE, Kabul Implements New Security Plan Following Repeated Assaults on City, 18 February 2018, url; Safer Edge, Safer
Edge Insights: New Security Measures in Kabul, 20 February 2018, url; USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in
Afghanistan - December 2018, 20 December 2018, url, p. 36
500 Frontier Post (The), Kabul’s New Security Plan Irks Residents, 23 February 2018, url; Tolonews, WAK Residents Bear The
Brunt Of Tightened Security, 5 March 2018, url
501 South China Monitoring Post, Life Inside Kabul’s Fortified Green Zone for Foreigners, 19 March 2019, url; NYT, After
Bombing, Afghans Demand That Foreigners Leave Their Neighbourhood, 4 September 2019, url
502 Tolonews, [Twitter], posted on: 30 June 2020, url
503 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan - June 2020, 1 July 2020, url, pp. 2, 18
504 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan - December 2019, 23 January 2020, url, p. 16; Ruttig, T., First
Breakthrough Toward Peace? A Look at the Seven Day ‘Reduction of Violence’, AAN, 17 February 2020, url; UNAMA,
Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict - Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, pp. 36-37, 84-85, 94

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 57

battlefield, but do have propaganda impacts’.505 USDOD describes the objectives of militant groups
conducting suicide attacks in Kabul as attracting international media attention, creating the perceptionof widespread insecurity and undermining the Afghan government’s legitimacy as well as the
population’s confidence in the Afghan security forces.506
Several sources have reported on an infiltration of the Taliban in Kabul City, withinformation/intelligence networks supporting the movement.507 According to USDOD, the Taliban
have continued to prioritise attacks in Kabul in 2019, although their ground movements in the capital
have been reduced.508 The Taliban strategy in the third quarter of 2019 was described as a mixture of‘fight and talk’, combining several high-profile attacks in Kabul City with continuous peace negotiations
for a US troop withdrawal.509 According to analysts interviewed by Landinfo in October 2019, theTaliban’s capacity has not diminished and their rhetoric has not changed, indicating that the insurgencegroup could turn back to large suicide attacks in Kabul to show its strength.510
According to 2019 United Nations Department for Safety and Security (UNDSS) figures cited by
UNAMA, ISKP security-related incidents have decreased in Kabul.511 Continued ANDSF pressure andseveral raids on ISKP hideouts in the capital region have reportedly disrupted the militant group’s
activities and ability to conduct high-profile attacks in Kabul.512 However, at the same time, ISKP isreported to remain active and threatening, maintaining an operational capacity in the capital.513 In
June 2020, USDOD suggested the militants might be moving to smaller groups in urban areas, which
are harder to locate and identify.514 After a six-month period of no ISKP-claimed assaults in Kabul atthe end of 2019 and in the first months of 2020, several attacks have been attributed to the groupagain since March 2020 (see below).515 According to researcher Amira Jadoon, ISKP’s interest in Kabul
can be related to various factors: the capital being the most densely populated region in the country,
providing opportunities to strike both state and civilian targets and located close to ISKP’s strongholds
in the east.516
ISKP is reported to have maintained an active cell in Kabul.517 According to analyst Borhan Osman,
ISKP’s Kabul cell is an ‘almost entirely Afghan phenomenon’, recruiting urban youth from diverse socio-

505 Ruttig, T., Five Questions to Make Sense of the New Peak in Urban Attacks and a Violent Week in Kabul, AAN, 5 February

2018, url
506 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan - December 2019, 23 January 2020, url, p. 16
507 Giustozzi, A., Afghanistan: Taliban’s Intelligence and the Intimidation Campaign, Landinfo, 23 August 2017, url, p. 10;
Finland, FIS/Migrationsverket, Afghanistan: Fact-Finding Mission to Kabul in April 2019 - Situation of Returnees in Kabul, 15
October 2019, url, pp. 21-22; Sweden, Lifos/Migrationsverket, Säkerhetsläget i Afghanistan (Version 2.0), 7 April 2020, url,
p. 54
508 USDOD, Lead Inspector General (IC) for Overseas Contingency Operations, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel - Report to theUnited States Congress 1 April - 30 June 2019, 20 August 2019, url, p. 14
509 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan - December 2019, 23 January 2020, url, pp. 15, 25
510 Norway, Landinfo, Afghanistan: Sikkerhetssituasjon og konfliktmonster i 2019, 22 January 2020, url, p. 24
511 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict - Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 110
512 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan - December 2019, 23 January 2020, url, pp. 25-26; UNSC, Tenth
Report of the Secretary-General on the Threat Posed by ISIL (Da’esh) to International Peace and Security and the Range of
UN Efforts in Support of Member States in Countering the Threat, 4 February 2020, url, pp. 6-7; USDOD, Enhancing Security
and Stability in Afghanistan - June 2020, 1 July 2020, url, p. 9513 UNSG, The Situation in Afghanistan and Its Implications for International Peace and Security, A/73/990–S/2019/703, 3
September 2019, url, p. 6; UNSC, Tenth Report of the Secretary-General on the Threat Posed by ISIL (Da’esh) toInternational Peace and Security and the Range of UN Efforts in Support of Member States in Countering the Threat, 4February 2020, url, p. 7; Withington, S. & Ehsani, H., Islamic State Wilayat Khorasan: Phoney Caliphate or Bonafide
Province, AISS, 5 March 2020, url, p. 83; VoA, Pushed to the Brink Again, Islamic State’s Afghan Affiliate Claims Deadly
Attacks, 12 May 2020, url
514 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan - June 2020, 1 July 2020, url, p. 28
515 UNSG, The Situation in Afghanistan and Its Implications for International Peace and Security, A/74/897–S/2020/549, 17
June 2020, url, p. 6
516 Jadoon, M., Allied & Lethal: Islamic State Khorasan’s Network and Organisational Capacity in Afghanistan and Pakistan,
Combating Terrorism Center, 3 December 2018, url, p. 14
517 UNSC, Eight Report of the Secretary-General on the Threat Posed by ISIL (Da’esh) to International Peace and Security
and the Range of UN Efforts in Support of Member States in Countering the Threat, 1 February 2019, url, p. 7; USDOD, Lead

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economic backgrounds (often from middle class-families) in the capital and in the surrounding
provinces of Parwan, Panjsher and Kapisa. In contrast to the usually reported pattern of Pashtun
recruitment into Afghanistan’s militant extremist groups, a majority of Kabul’s ISKP cell’s members andsupporters reportedly come from predominantly Tajik areas.518 Osman points at the scarcity of reliable
information about the Kabul cell’s operational methods. Instructions to organise and carry out attacks
in the capital have reportedly often been relayed directly to small ISKP leadership circles in Nangarhar
province. According to senior Afghan security officials, all the ISKP-claimed attacks in the capitaldepended on the same supply and logistics chain from a single network, also used for attacks by the
Taliban (including the Haqqani Network), likely having the support of corrupt government security
figures. According to Osman, the Taliban’s limiting of attacks in urban areas in the months following
the Doha Agreement with the US on 29 February 2020 seems to have encouraged ISKP’s Kabul cell to
seize the opportunity to gain greater visibility and to cast itself as an alternative force to the Taliban.519
ISKP reportedly applies an effective recruitment strategy (often online, through social media)520 in thecapital, conducting outreach activities in religious and academic institutions, including Kabul
University.521 University professors recruiting for ISKP and first-grade students joining their ranks
reportedly give the militant’s group’s cell in the capital an elite character. Mid-career professionals,
business owners and well-educated urbanites are mostly recruited for logistical, financial orcommunication roles, often leading a double life.522 According to analyst Osman, the growing appealof ISKP’s Salafi-Jihadist ideology among urban Afghan youth may explain the militant group’s resilience.
The search for ideological ‘purity’, commitment to rigidly practicing Islamic Law, support for an antiShia sectarian agenda, strong in-group solidarity and egalitarian behaviour, enthusiasm for a global
jihad and the ‘fantasy of living under the caliphate’ are suggested as pull-factors attracting Kabul’s
youth to ISKP. A growing dissatisfaction with the current elite and the status quo of the Afghan politicalsystem is indicated as a push factor driving urban youth to search for a radical alternative.523
In March 2019, the Haqqani Network was described as ‘maintaining a significant terror network in
Kabul’.524 In recent years, the network is believed to be responsible for several complex attacks on
government and international targets in heavily populated areas of the city.525 In June 2020, the UN
Security Council reported on a ‘tactical accommodation’ between the Haqqani Network and ISKP in
Kabul, referring to a certain degree of ‘involvement, facilitation or technical assistance’ of the Haqqanis
in ISKP-claimed attacks in the capital.526
Attacks in Kabul City often remain unclaimed or are conducted by unidentified armed groups.527
Analysts highlight the challenge in assessing the credibility of claims or denials of involvement incertain attacks -referring to indications that diverse pro-ISKP groups claim attacks that have not been

Inspector General (IC) for Overseas Contingency Operations, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel - Report to the United States
Congress 1 October - 31 December 2019, 19 February 2020, url, p. 13
518 Osman, B., Bourgeois Jihad: Why Young, Middle-Class Afghans Join the Islamic State, USIP, June 2020, url, pp. 3-4, 11-14
519 Osman, B., Bourgeois Jihad: Why Young, Middle-Class Afghans Join the Islamic State, USIP, June 2020, url, pp. 9-10
520 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan - December 2019, 23 January 2020, url, p. 26
521 VoA, Afghan University Teacher, Students Among IS Operatives Arrested in Kabul, 8 July 2019, url
522 Washington Post (The), Afghanistan Claims the Islamic State Was ‘Obliterated’. But Fighters Who Got Away Could Stagea Resurgence, 9 February 2020, url; Withington, S. & Ehsani, H., Islamic State Wilayat Khorasan: Phoney Caliphate or
Bonafide Province, AISS, 5 March 2020, url, p. 86; Osman, B., Bourgeois Jihad: Why Young, Middle-Class Afghans Join theIslamic State, USIP, June 2020, url, pp. 11-14
523 Osman, B., Bourgeois Jihad: Why Young, Middle-Class Afghans Join the Islamic State, USIP, June 2020, url, pp. 4, 15-20
524 LWJ, UN: Al Qaeda Continues to View Afghanistan as a ‘Safe Haven’, 5 March 2019, url
525 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict - Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 85
526 UNSC, Eleventh Report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team Submitted Pursuant to Resolution 2501
(2019) Concerning the Taliban and Other Associated Individuals and Entities Constituting a Threat to the Peace, Stability
and Security of Afghanistan, 27 May 2020, url, pp. 18-19
527 UNSG, The Situation in Afghanistan and Its Implications for International Peace and Security, A/73/777–S/2019/193, 28
February 2019, url, pp. 6-7; UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Midyear Report 2020: 1 January 30 June 2020, 27 July 2020, url, pp. 10-11

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 59

carried out by them and the Taliban often denying their involvement in attacks causing high numbersof civilian casualties.528
In terms of the presence of government security forces, the responsibility for Kabul’s enhanced
security zone has been transferred to the Kabul Security Force (KSF). ANP forces maintain responsibility
for security within the city, with the special Crisis Response Unit (CRU 222)529 addressing (high-profile)attacks. The independent ANA division for the capital (111)530 secures the perimeter of the city. The
capital NDS corps ensures that intelligence sharing remains focused on the prevention of high-profile
attacks.531
According to AAN analyst Foschini, security concerns in Kabul are not limited to AGE attacks alone, but
include a significant rise in criminality. Foschini relates Kabul’s surging crime scene to growing
unemployment, combined with the increasing influence of heavily armed and politically connectedcriminal networks532, as well as the impact of changing patterns in the social behaviour of Kabul’s
youth. Foschini differentiates between targeted killings disguised as criminally-motivated attacks andcommon criminality in the city533: home raids and personally-driven murders534 in central city areasthat used to be considered relatively safe535, organised petty theft on public transport, armed
robberies536 and violent car-jackings, an increase in narco-trafficking and drug-related crimes537 inseveral city areas and kidnappings538 and extortion539 by organised criminal gangs.540 According to
UNHCR, kidnapping is a major concern for many Kabul citizens.541 Foreigners and wealthy Afghans areindicated as the main targets.542 Several sources report on an ineffective police response to Kabul’s
rapidly expanding crime scene.543 According to Foschini, there is ‘a modus vivendi between police andcriminals’ in many city neighbourhoods, with powerful and deeply-rooted (political) interests often
resulting in impunity.544 Mid-July 2020, the ‘Security Charter - Mobilizing the People in the Fight against
Crime’ program was launched by the Afghan government, intensifying operations against criminal
gangs and armed robbers in the capital region.545

528 Osman, B., A Black Week in Kabul (2): Who Are the Most Likely Perpetrators?, AAN, 7 June 2017, url; Ruttig, T., Five

Questions to Make Sense of the New Peak in Urban Attacks and a Violent Week in Kabul, AAN, 5 February 2018, url;
Norway, Landinfo, Afghanistan: Sikkerhetssituasjon og konfliktmonster i 2019, 22 January 2020, url, p. 23
529 SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, 30 April 2019, url, p. 99; USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability
in Afghanistan - June 2020, 1 July 2020, url, pp. 90-91
530 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan - June 2020, 1 July 2020, url, pp. 13, 58
531 USDOD, Lead Inspector General (IC) for Overseas Contingency Operations, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel - Report to theUnited States Congress 1 October - 31 December 2019, 19 February 2020, url, p. 11
532 Tolonews, Criminal Networks Have Political Support: Andarabi, 12 June 2020, url
533 Foschini, F., Kabul’s Expanding Crime Scene (Part 1): The Roots of Today’s Underworld, AAN, 11 February 2020, url
534 Tolonews, 4 Members of One Family Killed in Kabul, 19 January 2020, url
535 Tolonews, Crimes in Kabul's 'Most Secure Areas' Alarm Residents, 24 May 2020, url
536 Tolonews, University Professor Wounded as Armed Robbery Increases in Kabul, 8 January 2020, url; Khaama Press, KP
Reporter Traumatized after Being Robbed at Gunpoint close to Kabul Police Station, 24 March 2020, url
537 Tolonews, Interior Ministry Pledges Crackdown on Drug Dealers, 7 February 2020, url
538 Pajhwok Afghan News, 6-Member Gang of Kidnappers Busted in Kabul: NDS, 26 December 2019, url; Pajhwok AfghanNews, Girl Rescued, 2 Suspected Abductors Held in Kabul, 14 June 2020, url
539 Tolonews, Concerns Rise on ‘Increasing’ Threats to Business Community, 23 April 2019, url
540 Foschini, F., Kabul Unpacked - A Geographical Guide to a Metropolis in the Making, AAN, 19 March 2019, url, pp. 1, 5-13,
15-16, 19-20, 22, 26; Foschini, F., Kabul’s Expanding Crime Scene (Part 2): Criminal Activities and the Police Response, AAN,
21 February 2020, url
541 Finland, FIS/Migrationsverket, Afghanistan: Fact-Finding Mission to Kabul in April 2019 - Situation of Returnees in Kabul,
15 October 2019, url, p. 6
542 Norway, Landinfo, Afghanistan: Sikkerhetssituasjon og konfliktmonster i 2019, 22 January 2020, url, p. 26
543 NYT, They Fight Suicide Bombers. But Can Afghan Police Fight Crime?, 8 February 2020, url; Foschini, F., Kabul’s
Expanding Crime Scene (Part 2): Criminal Activities and the Police Response, AAN, 21 February 2020, url
544 Foschini, F., Kabul’s Expanding Crime Scene (Part 2): Criminal Activities & the Police Response, AAN, 21 February 2020,
url
545 Tolonews, Police Target Paghman Gang Accused of Robbing Kabul Residents, 17 July 2020, url

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2.1.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population
2.1.3.1 General
According to UNAMA, over half of all civilian casualties from suicide attacks in 2019 were counted in
15 such incidents in Kabul City.546 Afghan government departments and officials, the Afghan security
forces and high-profile international institutions, both military and civil, were reported as the main
targets for AGEs in Kabul City.547 UNAMA also expressed its concern on the targeting of judges andprosecutors, health care workers, aid workers and human rights defenders.548 Additionally, a patternof intimidation and violence faced by media workers and telecommunication companies wasreported.549
ACLED collected data on 142 violent events in Kabul City550 from 1 March 2019 to 30 June from reports
in open sources, of which 49 were coded as ‘battles’, 71 as ‘explosions/remote violence’ and 22 as‘violence against civilians’.551

Figure 3. Kabul City - Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians
from 1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, based on ACLED data552

After an increase in the first half of 2018553, the number of high-profile suicide and complex attacks in
Kabul started to decrease from the second half of 2018 and further into 2019.554 According to the UN
Secretary General, this can be attributed to successful interdiction efforts and enhanced security
measures by ANDSF forces in the capital.555 As in the whole of Afghanistan, violence in Kabul intensified
during the third quarter of 2019556, with several suicide and complex attacks in the city in the months

546 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict - Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 39
547 Finland, FIS/Migrationsverket, Afghanistan: Fact-Finding Mission to Kabul in April 2019 - Situation of Returnees in Kabul,

15 October 2019, url, p. 22; Norway, Landinfo, Afghanistan: Sikkerhetssituasjon og konfliktmonster i 2019, 22 January 2020,
url, pp. 12, 24; USDOS, Country Reports on Terrorism 2019, 24 June 2020, url, p. 150
548 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict - Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, pp. 7-8
549 HRW, Afghanistan’s Media Self-Censors to Survive - Press Freedom at Risk in Deadliest Country for Journalists, 10 April
2019, url; Tolonews, Afghanistan: Deadliest Nation for Journalists, 20 January 2020, url; UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of
Civilians in Armed Conflict - Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 45; Tolonews, 14 Cases of Violence against
Journalists Recorded This Year, 17 March 2020, url
550 ACLED does not differentiate between Kabul City and Kabul district.
551 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Kabul City; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
552 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, Afghanistan - Kabul City, url
553 Ruttig, T., Five Questions to Make Sense of the New Peak in Urban Attacks and a Violent Week in Kabul, AAN, 5 February
2018, url; UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict - Special Report - Increasing Harm to Afghan
Civilians from the Deliberate and Indiscriminate Use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED’s), October 2018, url, pp. 4-5
554 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan, December 2018, url, p. 25; UNSG, The Situation in Afghanistan
and Its Implications for International Peace and Security, 14 June 2019, url, pp. 5-6; USDOD, Enhancing Security andStability in Afghanistan - December 2019, 23 January 2020, url, p. 16
555 UNSG, The Situation in Afghanistan and Its Implications for International Peace and Security, A/73/902–S/2019/493, 14
June 2019, url, p. 5
556 NYT, Violence in Afghanistan Worsens as U.S.-Taliban Talks Plod On, 7 August 2019, url

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of July, August and September.557 In the last quarter of 2019558, as well as in the first months of 2020559
fewer attacks were carried out in the capital. Since the second quarter of 2020, violence has reportedly
increased again.560 In June 2020, Tolonews reported on 30 magnetic IED and roadside bomb blasts in
the Kabul City area between 20 March and 31 May 2020.561
Examples of suicide and complex attacks carried out in Kabul City during the reporting period included:
an ISKP-claimed suicide attack and subsequent siege targeting the Ministry of Communication in April
2019, causing more than seven casualties562; a Taliban-claimed suicide attack against NGO Counterpart
International in May 2019, killing 8 civilians and injuring 27563; a Taliban-claimed complex attack on thelogistics and engineering department of the Ministry of Defence in July 2019, causing a large impact
on surrounding houses, businesses and schools, resulting in 151 civilian casualties564; an unclaimed
attack near the gates of Kabul University, in July 2019, resulting in more than 40 casualties565; an ISKPclaimed suicide bombing of a bus with employees from the Ministry of Petroleum and Mines, also in
July 2019, killing at least 11 and wounding dozens566; a Taliban-claimed suicide bombing targeting theGreen Village compound in the east of the city in September 2019, resulting in at least 16 people killed
and injuring more than 100567; an unclaimed attack targeting the maternity ward of an MSF hospital in
the Hazara populated Dasht-e Barchi neighbourhood, in May 2020, killing 24 people and wounding
another 23568.
According to analyst Borhan Osman, ‘high-profile attacks have become less frequent as the insurgents
have shifted toward targeted assassinations’.569 An increase in targeted killings has been reported in
Kabul City570, with government officials referring to the rising fear of Kabul becoming like other Afghancities, such as Kandahar in the south, where a decrease in large-scale attacks has been replaced by asustained rise in targeted killings.571 Shootings by assassins riding on motorcycles, magnetic VBIEDs
and remote IEDs are described as the tactics most often used for targeted killings.572 In May 2019,
political advisor and former TV journalist Mina Mangal was assassinated by unknown assailants in
PD 8.573 In separate attacks in July and November 2019, four prosecutors and one judge were killed

557 USDOD, Lead Inspector General (IC) for Overseas Contingency Operations, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel - Report to theUnited States Congress 1 July - 30 September 2019, 20 November 2019, url, pp. 13-14; UNSG, The Situation in Afghanistan
and Its Implications for International Peace and Security, A/74/582–S/2019/935, 10 December 2019, url, p. 6
558 Norway, Landinfo, Afghanistan: Sikkerhetssituasjon og konfliktmonster i 2019, 22 January 2020, url, p. 25; USDOD, Lead
Inspector General (IC) for Overseas Contingency Operations, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel - Report to the United States
Congress 1 October - 31 December 2019, 19 February 2020, url, pp. 11-12
559 UNSG, The Situation in Afghanistan and Its Implications for International Peace and Security, A/74/753–S/2020/210, 17
March 2020, url, p. 6
560 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 2020, 4 June 2020 (updated 25 June 2020), url; UNSG, The Situation in
Afghanistan and Its Implications for International Peace and Security, A/74/897–S/2020/549, 17 June 2020, url, pp. 5-6;
Reporterly, EU Calls for Immediate Ceasefire as Violence Rises in Afghanistan, 30 June 2020, url
561 Tolonews, 30 Blasts in Kabul in Over 2 Months, 2 June 2020, url
562 Guardian (The), At Least Seven Dead as Attackers Storm Afghan Ministry Building, 20 April 2019, url
563 NYT, Taliban Attack Aid Group Office in Kabul, in Setback to U.S. Peace Talks, 8 May 2019, url; UNAMA, Afghanistan
Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict - Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 27
564 RFE/RL, Six Killed, More Than 115 Hurt As Powerful Blast Rocks Kabul, 1 July 2019, url; UNAMA, Afghanistan Protectionof Civilians in Armed Conflict - Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 27
565 NYT, Suicide Bombing at University Kills 10 As Violence Surges in Afghanistan, 19 July 2019, url
566 Pajhwok Afghan News, 5 Women, Child among 11 Killed in Kabul Attack, 25 July 2019, url
567 Guardian (The), Blast Hits Kabul after Briefing on US-Taliban Deal to Withdraw 5,000 Troops, 3 September 2019, url
568 NYT, From Maternity Ward to Cemetery, a Morning of Murder in Afghanistan, 12 May 2020, url; UNAMA, Afghanistan:Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict. Special Report: Attacks on Healthcare during the Covid-19 Pandemic, June 2020,
url, pp. 12-13
569 Osman, B., Intensifying Violence Dulls Afghans’ Hopes for Peace, International Crisis Group, 5 July 2019, url
570 Sarwary, B., [Twitter], posted on: 17 May 2020, url
571 NYT, American Aid Worker for U.N. Is Killed in Afghan Capital, 25 November 2019, url
572 NYT, American Aid Worker for U.N. Is Killed in Afghan Capital, 25 November 2019, url; UNAMA, Afghanistan Protectionof Civilians in Armed Conflict - Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 44
573 Al Jazeera, Afghan Parliament Advisor and Former Journalist Killed in Kabul, 11 May 2019, url

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and injured in different city districts.574 In August 2019575 and in May 2020576, an ISKP-claimed roadside
IED blast targeted two minibuses from private TV station Khurshid, resulting in 4 deaths and 10 people
injured. In October-November 2019, the district chief of Jaghatu district (Wardak province)577, a highschool principal578, an employee of the Ministry of Finance579, the Badghis provincial police chief580 and
an intelligence agent581 were gunned down in different areas of Kabul city. Also in November 2019, a
grenade attack targeted a UN vehicle in PD 9, killing a foreign UN worker and wounding several
civilians.582 In March 2020, a Logar provincial council member was killed by unknown gunmen in
PD 8583, the female mayor of Wardak province was attacked by unknown gunmen in PD 5584 and thefemale head of the NDS Gender Department died in a magnetic IED blast attached to her vehicle585. In
June 2020, the governor for Nuristan province survived an attack by unknown gunmen on his convoy586
and an AIHRC employee and her driver were killed in an IED explosion targeting their vehicle587.
Several attacks in Kabul City in 2019 and 2020 were directed against the Afghan security forces. For
example: a Taliban-claimed attack on a police checkpoint in PD 7 in May 2019, causing several ANP
casualties588; two attacks targeting the Marshal Fahim Military University in PD 5 in May 2019589 andin February 2020590, causing more than a dozen casualties each; a Taliban-claimed car bombing
targeting the police station of PD 6 in August 2019, killing at least 14 people and injuring 100 or
more591; a Taliban-claimed VBIED attack in September 2019 targeting an ANDSF checkpoint in a
fortified area near the Green Zone, killing at least 10 civilians, 2 foreign troop members and injuring
more than 40 people592; a Taliban-claimed suicide car bomb targeting the Chaharasyab Afghan Special
Forces base on the outskirts of the capital, also in September 2019, causing several ANA casualties593;
the shooting of several policemen by unidentified gunmen near Dehmazang Square in June 2020594;
and a roadside bomb targeting a police vehicle in PD 11 in July 2020.595 Afghan officials, cited by NYT,
pointed out that attacks on military targets in the city often result in a significant number of civilian
casualties.596
In contrast to previous years, UNAMA documented a 35 % decrease in civilian casualties fromsectarian-motivated attacks (mainly attributed to ISKP) in 2019.597 The single most deadly incident
documented by UNAMA in 2019 was an ISKP-claimed suicide attack on the Dubai City Wedding Hall in

574 Pajhwok Afghan News, Maidan Wardak Judge Gunned Down in Kabul, 2 July 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 1

Prosecutor Killed, Another Wounded in Kabul, 6 July 2019, url; RFE/RL, Two Federal Prosecutors Shot and Killed Near Kabul,
16 November 2019, url
575 Tolonews, Explosion Targets Media Workers in Kabul, Kills Two, 4 August 2019, url; UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of
Civilians in Armed Conflict - Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 45
576 RFE/RL, Islamic State Claims Blast That Killed Afghan Journalist, Technician, 31 May 2020, url
577 Pajhwok Afghan News, Jaghato District Chief Gunned Down in Kabul, 13 October 2019, url
578 Pajhwok Afghan News, School Principal Gunned Down in Kabul, 14 October 2019, url
579 Pajhwok Afghan News, Ministry Official Gunned Down in Kabul, 17 October 2019, url
580 Pajhwok Afghan News, Badghis Police Chief Gunned Down in Kabul, 24 October 2019, url
581 Pajhwok Afghan News, Intelligence Agent Gunned Down in front of Kardan University, 14 November 2019, url
582 Al Jazeera, Blast Targets UN Vehicle in Afghanistan Killing One Foreigner, 24 November 2019, url
583 Tolonews, Logar Provincial Council Member Killed in Kabul, 8 March 2020, url
584 Tolonews, Afghan Female Mayor Attacked in Kabul, 22 March 2020, url
585 Tolonews, Female Head of NDS Gender Dept Dies in Kabul, 31 March 2020, url
586 Tolonews, Nuristan Governor Survives Gunmen Attack in Kabul, 21 June 2020, url
587 NYT, Another Young Leader Taken. Afghans Ask: How Many More?, 29 June 2020, url; UNAMA, Afghanistan Protectionof Civilians in Armed Conflict Midyear Report 2020: 1 January - 30 June 2020, 27 July 2020, url, p. 11
588 Al Jazeera, Gunmen Target Policemen in Deadly Kabul Checkpoint Attack, 20 May 2019, url
589 Al Jazeera, Suicide Bomber Targets Afghan Military Training Centre in Kabul, 30 May 2019, url
590 Guardian (The), At Least 5 Dead in Suicide Attack on Kabul Military Academy, 11 February 2020, url
591 Pajhwok Afghan News, 14 Killed, 146 Wounded in Kabul Bombing, 7 August 2019, url
592 BBC News, Afghanistan Violence: Car Bomb Attack in Kabul Kills 10, 5 September 2019, url
593 Al Jazeera, Taliban Suicide Attack in Kabul Kills Afghan Troops, 12 September 2019, url
594 Tolonews, Gunmen Kill Policeman, Wound 2 More in Kabul, 22 June 2020, url
595 Tolonews, Blast Hits Police Vehicle in Kabul City, 8 July 2020, url,
596 NYT, Violence in Afghanistan Worsens as U.S.-Taliban Talks Plod On, 7 August 2019, url
597 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict - Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 47

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 63

PD 6 in August. The ceremony was mainly attended by Shi’a Muslims, resulting in 234 civilian
casualties.598 In March 2020, ISKP claimed another sectarian-motivated attack in the capital: twogunmen opened fire on a ceremony commemorating the murder of ethnic Hazara leader Abdul Ali
Mazari, causing more than a hundred civilian casualties.599 Since the second half of 2018, Hazara
residents in western Kabul have reportedly been seeking to arm themselves, taking over responsibility
for security in their areas.600
In 2019, UNAMA documented a 48 % decrease in civilian casualties from attacks targeting places ofworship and religious leaders.601 Several such attacks were reported in Kabul City. In May 2019, a
Taliban-attributed IED explosion inside the Al-Taqwa mosque killed 3 civilians, including well-known
religious leader Mauwlawi Rayhan, and wounded 34 people.602 Also in May 2019, unknown gunmen
shot and killed Mauwlawi Kamawal, a prominent religious and academic scholar who had called onanti-government forces to stop waging war.603 According to NYT reporters, these kinds of attacks on
religious leaders reflect an enduring Taliban strategy, targeting people with religious influence in orderto ‘exert their power far from the battlefield and mute those who could question their legitimacy’.604
At the end of March 2020, ISKP gunmen stormed a Sikh temple and housing complex in the Shorbazar
area, taking 80 people hostage605, killing 26 and injuring 11 more in an hours’ long siege. Referring tothis incident, UNAMA reported on an increase in civilian deaths from intentional targeting of civilians
during the first quarter of 2020, as compared to 2019.606 In May 2020, a prayer leader was shot by
unidentified gunmen in his mosque in PD 6.607 In June 2020, two explosions inside the Wazir Akbar
Khan mosque in the city’s Green Zone and inside the Sher Shah Suri mosque in Kart-e Char resulted in
the death of two prayer leaders and several civilians.608
A general low interest in voting was reported in Kabul for the presidential elections on
28 September 2019609, just over a fifth of registered voters actually voted in the capital.610 The
deadliest election-related incident recorded in Kabul was an unclaimed complex attack targeting vicepresidential candidate Amrullah Saleh’s office of the Green Trend political party in July 2019, causing
71 civilian casualties.611 The UN Secretary General reported a high tempo of small-scale attacks toprevent or disrupt the 2019 electoral process, with the highest number of security incidents on election
day in Kunduz and Kabul City.612 According to UNAMA, however, no mass-casualty incidents wererecorded on 28 September.613 The Taliban reportedly warned students and teachers not to work as

598 NYT, 63 Killed as Explosion Turns Kabul Wedding Into Carnage, 17 August 2019, url; UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of

Civilians in Armed Conflict - Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, pp. 20, 47-48
599 RFE/RL, Dozens Killed in Kabul Attack Claimed by Islamic State, 6 March 2020, url; UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of
Civilians in Armed Conflict First Quarter Report: 1 January - 31 March 2020, April 2020, url, p. 4
600 RFE/RL, Under Threat, Kabul’s Hazara Make Call to Arms, 20 September 2018, url; Finland, FIS/Migrationsverket,
Afghanistan: Fact-Finding Mission to Kabul in April 2019 - Situation of Returnees in Kabul, 15 October 2019, url, p. 24
601 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict - Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 46
602 NYT, Bombing at Afghan Mosque Kills Popular Religious Scholar, 24 May 2019, url; UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of
Civilians in Armed Conflict - Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 47
603 Pajhwok Afghan News, Defence Counsel Association Member Shot Dead in Kabul, 26 May 2019, url
604 NYT, Bombing at Afghan Mosque Kills Popular Religious Scholar, 24 May 2019, url
605 Al Jazeera, Gunmen Storm Sikh Religious Complex in Kabul, Many Feared Trapped, 25 March 2020, url
606 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict First Quarter Report: 1 January - 31 March 2020, April
2020, url, p. 4
607 Pajhwok Afghan News, Prayer Leader Gunned Down in Kabul, Say Police, 10 May 2020, url
608 Tolonews, Afghans on Mosque Attack: 'Security Too Weak', 12 June 2020, url
609 Adili, A. Y. et al., Afghanistan’s Election 2019 (10): What to Watch Out for on Election Day?, AAN, 26 September 2019, url
610 Adili, A. Y., Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (24): Disputed Recount, Threats Not to Accept the Results and Some Interesting
New Data, AAN, 21 November 2019, url
611 Guardian (The), Kabul Attack: 20 Killed, 50 Injured in Bombing and Gun Battle at Politician’s Office, 29 July 2019, url;
UNAMA, Afghanistan: Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict. Special Report: 2019 Election-Related Violence, October
2019, url, p. 3
612 UNSG, The Situation in Afghanistan and Its Implications for International Peace and Security, A/74/582–S/2019/935, 10
December 2019, url, p. 5
613 UNAMA, Afghanistan: Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict. Special Report: 2019 Election-Related Violence, October
2019, url, p. 1

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polling site staff through ‘night letters’ in some neighbourhoods in Kabul.614 In March 2020, several
ISKP-claimed rockets hit the sites where both President Ashraf Ghani and his rival Dr Abdullah Abdullah
took the oath of office as president.615
Since autumn 2018, ANDSF forces have begun a concerted effort to dismantle AGE groups active inand around the Kabul metropolitan area616 with a new Command of the Joint Forces established inJune 2020.617 Examples of such military operations included: the arrest of six ISKP media activists in
April 2019618; the arrest of six ISKP members, allegedly involved in kidnappings, transferring munition
and relocating of militants to Nangarhar, in June 2019619, the detainment of four ISKP operatives,
including a lecturer and graduates from Kabul university, in July 2019620; a raid on three ISKP cells in
PDs 8, 11 and 15 in August 2019, resulting in the arrest and killing of several ISKP members621; thearrest of nine ISKP sympathisers, providing financial support to the insurgence group, in February
2020622; several raids on ISKP and Haqqani hideouts in PDs 8 and 11 in May 2020, resulting in the arrestof three prominent ISKP figures, including a region leader, and the killing of several other militants623;
and the arrest of two ISKP-affiliates, allegedly planning attacks on a hospital and media outlet in thecity, in July 2020.624

2.1.3.2 Displacement
According to UNOCHA assessments, no conflict-induced displacement was reported from Kabul
district625 between 1 March 2019 and 30 June 2020, while during that same period Kabul district
received 4 062 conflict-induced IDPs. The IDPs arriving in Kabul district came from a range of different
provinces, such as Badakhshan, Baghlan, Bamyan, Balkh, Daykundi, Faryab, Ghazni, Jawzjan, Kapisa,
Kunar, Kunduz, Laghman, Logar, Nangarhar, Samangan, Sar-e Pul, Takhar and Wardak. The largest
group came from Kunar province (679) (mostly from Chapadara district) in the first half of 2019 andfrom Baghlan province (651) (mostly from Dahan-e Ghori district) throughout the whole reporting
period.626 Mid-March 2019, UNOCHA recorded a peak of 140 IDPs coming from Mardyan district inJawzjan province. In the beginning of June 2019, UNOCHA registered a peak of 133 IDPs coming from
Khwaja Umari district in Ghazni province, after the district was recaptured from AGEs.627 he IDPs who
have so far arrived in Kabul district in 2020 are from the provinces of Nangarhar, Kunduz, Logar andBaghlan, as well as a peak of 336 individuals from the region of the central highlands (provinces
Bamyan and Daykundi) in January and February 2020.628

614 Adili, A. Y. et al., Afghanistan’s Election 2019 (9): Presidential Poll Primer, AAN, 25 September 2019, url
615 NYT, Ghani Takes the Oath of Afghan President. His Rival Does, Too, 9 March 2020, url
616 NYT, In Chaotic Afghan Capital, Crackdown on Crime is Turning Heads, 16 January 2019, url; UNSC, Eleventh Report of

the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team Submitted Pursuant to Resolution 2501 (2019) Concerning the
Taliban and Other Associated Individuals and Entities Constituting a Threat to the Peace, Stability and Security ofAfghanistan, 27 May 2020, url, pp. 18-19; USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan - June 2020, 1 July 2020,
url, p. 1
617 Khaama Press, Command Joint Forces Established to Root Out Terror Cells, Criminal Gangs in Kabul, 4 June 2020, url
618 Khaama Press, 6 ISIS Media Activists Arrested in Kabul City, 4 April 2019, url
619 Tolonews, Afghan Forces Arrest Six Daesh Members in Kabul, 9 June 2019, url
620 VoA, Afghan University Teacher, Students Among IS Operatives Arrested in Kabul, 8 July 2019, url
621 Tolonews, Afghan Forces Raid Militants Hideouts in Kabul, 7 August 2019, url
622 Khaama Press, NDS Forces Arrest 9 ISIS Sympathisers from a Landmark Mall in Kabul City, 12 February 2020, url
623 BBC News, IS Regional Leader Sheikh Khorasani 'Arrested in Afghanistan', 11 May 2020, url; Tolonews, 'Key' Daesh
Leaders Arrested in Kabul: NDS, 11 May 2020, url
624 Tolonews, NDS Prevents Attacks Targeting Media Outlet, Hospital in Kabul, 7 July 2020, url
625 UNOCHA does not differentiate between Kabul City and Kabul district.
626 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Induced Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan
Conflict Induced Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
627 UNOCHA, Operational Coordination Team (OCT) - Kabul - Meeting Summary, 25 June 2019, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan
Conflict Induced Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url
628 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Induced Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 65

According to AAN analyst Foschini, ‘more than half of Kabul’s residents were not born there.’629 Basedon data from the first half of 2019, IOM ranked Kabul district at the sixth place of the top 25 districts
hosting most returnees and IDPs.630 The total number of IDPs in Kabul is not known, as movement toand within the city is fluid and many return regularly to their area of origin during more peacefulperiods.631 In February 2019, news agency Reuters reported that an estimated 100 000 displaced
people have joined Kabul’s urban sprawl.632 There are different categories of IDPs in the city: (1) those
fleeing armed conflict and insecurity, (2) returnees who could not return to their area of origin and live
in secondary displacement, (3) those displaced from rural areas because of natural disasters, localized
conflicts or a shortage of work, essential services and food, and (4) migratory groups/nomads such as
Kuchis and Jogis residing in the city because conflict disrupted their migration patterns and livelihood
or because of increasing impoverishment.633
IDPs in Kabul often settle in areas at the outskirts of the city, such as Bagrami and PDs 8, 12, 13, 16 and21634, often mingling with other vulnerable groups such as the urban poor, returnees and economic
migrants. The lack of adequate land and affordable housing in the urban area forces most new andprotracted IDPs in Kabul to reside in tents, mud brick and tarpaulin shelters in one of the more than
55 informal and illegal settlements around the city. These are often referred to as ‘(Kabul) Informal
Settlements’, ISETs or KIS, varying in size from dozens to hundreds of dwellings and including some ofthe poorest and most vulnerable households in the city.635 In August 2019, news agency Al Jazeera
reported on growing frustration among residents of Kabul’s IDP settlements, stemming from a steadily
deteriorating situation.636 The IDPs arriving and residing in Kabul reportedly add pressure on thecommunity, basic services and social infrastructure, strongly affecting the absorption capacity of thecity.637 Afghanistan’s capital has been facing a severe water shortage for some years now, seriously
affecting already vulnerable groups like displaced people.638 According to UNOCHA, this could be apotential source of future community tension.639
With limited job opportunities, few or no social protection nets, poor shelter/housing conditions,
impeded access to education and healthcare and the continuous fear of eviction, displaced families in
the KIS-sites face precarious living conditions and increased protection risks in their daily life. They areoften forced into secondary displacement and negative coping strategies like child labour, drug
use/addiction, early marriage and reducing quantity and quality of food.640 In May 2019, inhabitants

629 Foschini, F., Kabul’s Expanding Crime Scene (Part 1): The Roots of Today’s Underworld, AAN, 11 February 2020, url
630 IOM, Baseline Mobility Assessment: Summary Results Round 8 March-June 2019, 30 September 2019, url, pp. 2, 6
631 Metcalfe, V. et al., Sanctuary in the City? Urban Displacement and Vulnerability in Kabul, June 2012, url, p. 8; Foschini, F.,

Kabul Unpacked - A Geographical Guide to a Metropolis in the Making, AAN, 19 March 2019, url, p. 3; Foschini, F., Kabul’s
Expanding Crime Scene (Part 1): The Roots of Today’s Underworld, AAN, 11 February 2020, url
632 Reuters, Life in Kabul’s Squatter Camps Highlights Challenge for Any Afghan Peace, 15 February 2019, url
633 Metcalfe, V. et al., Sanctuary in the City? Urban Displacement and Vulnerability in Kabul, June 2012, url, p. 7
634 Protection Cluster Afghanistan, Central Region Update, May 2017, 17 June 2017, url, p. 1; EU Humanitarian Aid and Civil
Protection & ERM, IDP’s Needs Assessment in Kabul Province, 25 February 2019, url, p. 3
635 Metcalfe, V. et al., Sanctuary in the City? Urban Displacement and Vulnerability in Kabul, June 2012, url, pp. 7-8; Bjelica,J., Afghanistan’s Returning Refugees: Why Are So Many Still Landless?, AAN, 29 March 2016, url; NRC et al., Escaping War:
Where to Next? A Research Study on the Challenges of IDP Protection in Afghanistan, January 2018, url, pp. 25, 53;
Guardian (The), Pressure Builds in ‘Powderkeg’ Kabul as Refugees Return Home, 15 March 2018, url; NRC and IDMC, Stuckin the Mud: Urban Displacement and Tenure Security in Kabul’s Informal Settlements, 2019, url, p. 3
636 Al Jazeera, ‘Poor People’s Eid’: How Kabul IDPs Welcomed Muslim Celebration, 12 August 2019, url
637 UNHCR, UNHCR’s Support Towards the Implementation of the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees: Enhancing
Resilience and Co-Existence Through Greater Responsibility Sharing 2018-2019, October 2018, url, pp. 5, 21-22; UNOCHA,
Humanitarian Needs Overview Afghanistan 2019, November 2018, url, p. 15; IDMC, A Different Kind of Pressure. The
Cumulative Effects of Displacement and Return in Afghanistan, January 2020, url, p. 5
638 Kazemi, S. R., Blue Gold: The Quest for Household Water in Kabul City, AAN, 30 August 2018, url; New Humanitarian(The), As Afghanistan’s Capital Grows, Its Residents Scramble for Clean Water, 19 February 2019, url; Al Jazeera, War,
Drought, Diplomatic Rifts Deepen Afghanistan’s Water Crisis, 5 May 2019, url
639 UNOCHA, Humanitarian Needs Overview Afghanistan 2020, 17 December 2019, url, p. 43
640 Reuters, Life in Kabul’s Squatter Camps Highlights Challenge for Any Afghan Peace, 15 February 2019, url; NRC and
IDMC, Global Report on Internal Displacement - Grid 2019, May 2019, url, pp. 35, 94; NRC and IDMC, Stuck in the Mud:
Urban Displacement and Tenure Security in Kabul’s Informal Settlements, 2019, url, pp. 2-4, 10-12, 14-16; Al Jazeera, Life in66 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

from several of Kabul’s informal settlements reported on signs of change, with their living areas slowly
becoming more developed and organised. The Afghan Land Authority Arazi, in cooperation with UN
Habitat, has started a registration project of Kabul’s ISETs641, adding to a growing database of city areas
being formalised.642
Apart from internal displacement due to conflict, Kabul City sees large flows of Afghan refugees
returning from neighbouring countries (Pakistan and Iran) or from Turkey (after deportation from
Europe)643 putting further strain on the city’s services and its reintegration capacity.644 Many returnees
end up in the capital because of relatively higher security than in their regions of origin and becauseof expectations of more job opportunities, better support services and prospects of social
acceptance.645 Few tensions are reported, but an increased pressure on local resources, jobs, services,and facilities that feeds fear among both returnees and host communities is outlined by several
sources.646 Most returnees in Kabul City depend on relatives for accommodation and other in-kind
support.647 The importance of social networks is reported as vital for returnees. When originally notfrom Kabul and without a safety net or extended family in the capital, returnees face difficulties
supporting themselves, finding jobs or renting accommodation. Hazara returnees coming to Kabul cangenerally count on better support, through a range of sophisticated social networks within their wellorganised and cohesive community.648 Several sources report on the risk of recruitment of IDPs or
inhabitants of informal settlements in Kabul by AGEs649 and the possible radicalisation of returnees
and people deported from Europe.650

the City: Tackling Kabul's Urban Challenges, 11 July 2019, url; Finland, FIS/Migrationsverket, Afghanistan: Fact-Finding
Mission to Kabul in April 2019 - Situation of Returnees in Kabul, 15 October 2019, url, p. 8
641 According to an expert of Afghanistan, interviewed by the Finish Immigration Service while on Fact Finding Mission in
Kabul in April 2019. Finland, FIS/Migrationsverket, Afghanistan: Fact-Finding Mission to Kabul in April 2019 - Situation of
Returnees in Kabul, 15 October 2019, url, p. 14
642 Guardian (The), ‘There is Less Fear’: Restauration of Kabul Repairs the Ravages of War, 13 May 2019, url
643 IOM interviewed by the Finish Immigration Service while on Fact Finding Mission in Kabul in April 2019. Finland,
FIS/Migrationsverket, Afghanistan: Fact-Finding Mission to Kabul in April 2019 - Situation of Returnees in Kabul, 15 October
2019, url, p. 11; UNOCHA, Humanitarian Needs Overview Afghanistan 2020, 17 December 2019, url, p. 82
644 IOM and UNHCR, Returns to Afghanistan 2018 - Joint IOM-UNHCR Summary Report, 25 June 2019, url, p. 6; Foschini, F.,
Kabul’s Expanding Crime Scene (Part 1): The Roots of Today’s Underworld, AAN, 11 February 2020, url, p. 7; NYT, Freshfrom Iran’s Coronavirus Zone, Now Moving across Afghanistan, 26 March 2020, url
645 MMC, Distant Dreams. Understanding the Aspirations of Afghan Returnees, January 2019, url, p. 31; Asia Foundation(The), A Survey of the Afghan Returnees - 2018, 14 May 2019, url, p. 106; WBG and UNHCR, Living Conditions andSettlement Decisions of Recent Afghan Returnees, June 2019, url, pp. 6, 16, 22
646 Oxfam, Returning to Fragility. Exploring the Link Between Conflict and Returnees in Afghanistan, January 2018, url, pp.
23-24; Asia Foundation (The), A Survey of the Afghan Returnees - 2018, 14 May 2019, url, p. 97; WBG and UNHCR, Living
Conditions and Settlement Decisions of Recent Afghan Returnees, June 2019, url, p. 6
647 MMC, Distant Dreams. Understanding the Aspirations of Afghan Returnees, January 2019, url, pp. 33, 39-40
648 Sources cited by the Finnish Immigration Service. Finland, FIS/Migrationsverket, Afghanistan: Fact-Finding Mission to
Kabul in April 2019 - Situation of Returnees in Kabul, 15 October 2019, url, pp. 25-26
649 Guardian (The), ‘There is Less Fear’: Restauration of Kabul Repairs the Ravages of War, 13 May 2019, url; NRC and
ACAPS, Displacement and Access in Afghanistan: Scenarios, June 2019, url, p. 11; Al Jazeera, ‘Poor People’s Eid’: How Kabul
IDPs Welcomed Muslim Celebration, 12 August 2019, url
650 DW, Deported Afghans at Risk of Radicalization: Study, 26 November 2019, url

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2.2 Badakhshan
2.2.1 General description of the province

Map 2: Afghanistan – Badakhshan province, source: UNOCHA651

Badakhshan province is located in the north-eastern part of Afghanistan and has borders with Takhar
to the west, Panjshir to the south-west and Nuristan to the south and south-east and international
borders with Tajikistan, China, and Pakistan.652 Badakhshan province is divided into the following
administrative units: Arghanjkhwah, Argo, Baharak, Darayem, Darwaz (Marmay), Darwaz-e-Balla(Nesay), Eshkshmesh, Fayzabad, Jorm, Keshem, Khash, Khwahan, Kofab, Kohestan, Koran wa Munjan,
Raghestan, Shar-e-Buzorg, Shignan, Shaki, Shuhada, Tagab, Teshkan, Wakhan, Warduj, Yaftal-e-Sufla,
Yamgan (Girwan), Yawan, and Zebak.653 Most of the province is mountainous. The provincial capital is
Fayzabad.654
According to estimates for 2020-2021 by NSIA, formerly Central Statistics Organization), the province
has a population of 1 054 087, 77 154 of whom live in the provincial capital, Fayzabad.655 The main
ethnic groups in the province are Tajiks and Uzbeks.656
As of July 2020, scheduled passenger services between Fayzabad and Kabul were provided.657

651 UNOCHA, Afghanistan – Badakhshan Province- District Atlas, April 2014, url
652 UNOCHA, Reference Map Badakhshan Province, 19 February 2014, url
653 Afghanistan, IEC, Afghanistan 2019 Presidential Elections – Final results by Polling Stations: Province Badakhshan, 2020,

url; NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21, June 2020, url, pp. 26-27
654 Pajhwok Afghan News, Background profile of Badakhshan province, n.d., url
655 NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21, June 2020, url, p. 26
656 US, Naval Postgraduate School, Provincial Profile – Badakhshan, n.d., url; Ali O., Ruttig Th., Elections 2014 (22): Howdisenchantment with General Dostum split the Uzbek vote bank, AAN, 22 May 2014, url
657 KamAir, Route Map, n.d., url

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According to the 2018 UNODC Opium Survey, Badakhshan is a region for poppy cultivation in northern
Afghanistan.658 It is also a transit zone for drug trafficking.659 The province is rich in mineral resources.660
The drug trafficking combined with the presence of lapis lazuli and gold mines fuels, finances and adds
complexity to the security situation.661 For example the Taliban’s fight for control of Yamgan was linked
to the district’s proximity to Koran wa Munjan district, where a large lapis lazuli mine is located.662 They
managed to capture it in July 2019.663

2.2.2 Conflict background and actors in Badakhshan
Between 1996 and 2001, Badakhshan was among the few areas in Afghanistan remaining beyond
Taliban control. An AAN report published in 2017 highlighted that the Taliban had become increasingly
successful in Badakhshan since 2015, partly because of a changed recruitment policy which is –contrary to the Taliban strategy of the 1990s – more affirmative towards local non-Pashtuns, inparticular Tajiks. Another reason for the Taliban’s successes in Badakhshan were political dynamics
which have long been dominated by struggles between local powerbrokers.664
Due to the remoteness of the area, the Taliban have created bases for smuggling networks andfinancial operations in the north-east.665 As of 2 July 2020 an assessment by the Long War Journal
presented in a frequently updated map and based on open-source information, indicatedArghanjkhwah and Yamgan districts as ‘Taliban-controlled’, Fayzabad, Kofab, Shar-e-Buzorg, Wakhan,
Yaftal-e-Sufla and Yawan districts as ‘government-controlled’ and the remaining districts in
Badakhshan province as ‘contested’.666
Besides local Taliban fighters, Tajik, Uzbek, Uyghur667, and to a lesser extent Russian and Turkmen
nationals were reportedly fighting in several districts of the province in 2017668, and continued to bepresent in 2019 and 2020.669 According to a working paper by the NGO The Liaison Office and the Bonn
International Center for Conversion, published in June 2017, foreign fighters and their families settled
in Badakhshan as a result of a Pakistan Army operation in North Waziristan, Pakistan, in 2014. 670
Reportedly, they were likely to belong to smaller anti-government armed groups, such as the Islamic
Movement of Uzbekistan and Al Qaeda. Furthermore, foreign fighters such as the above mentioned
Uyghurs are embedded within local Taliban structures, fighting alongside Afghan AGEs.671 The same
658 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, p. 19
659 AREU, Evolving Terrain: Opium Poppy Cultivation in Balkh and Badakhshan Provinces in 2013, February 2014, url, p. 24;

UN Security Council, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant toresolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 27 May 2020, url, p. 15
660 Samuel Hall, Review of Country Strategy Badakhshan and Takhar, October 2010, url, p. 6
661 NYT, Captives or Defectors? Taliban Fighters Tell Conflicting Tales, 7 November 2019, url; NYT, A Desperate Battle, and a
Victory for Now, at a Remote Afghan Outpost, 26 September 2019, url
662 RFE/RL, Taliban Takes District Headquarters, Says It Will Not Negotiate With Afghan Government Team, 28 March 2020,
url
663 Ruttig, T. and Van Bijlert, M., et. al., Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (10): What to watch out for on election day, AAN, 26
September 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 5 September 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News,
Taliban capture lapis mine, 30 guards in Badakhshan, 16 July 2019, url
664 Ali, O., The Non-Pashtun Taleban of the North (1): A case study from Badakhshan, AAN, 3 January 2017, url
665 Washington Post (The), In Afghanistan's northeast, fears of a Taliban return, 19 October 2019, url
666 LWJ, Mapping Taliban Control in Afghanistan, n.d., url. The source, however, does not specify when and which
information of the aforementioned map was last updated.
667 RFE/RL/Gandhara, Taliban Increasing Presence In Remote Afghan Region Bordering China, 12 February 2018, url; Mielke,
K. and Miszak, N., Making sense of Daesh in Afghanistan: A social movement perspective, June 2017, url, p. 27
668 Mielke, K., Miszak, N., Making sense of Daesh in Afghanistan: A social movement perspective, June 2017, url, p. 27
669 NYT, A Desperate Battle, and a Victory for Now, at a Remote Afghan Outpost, 26 September 2019, url; Khaama Press, 2Chechen militants killed, wounded in Badakhshan artillery strikes, 25 March 2020, url; Tolonews, Badakhshan Governor
Claims Taliban Has Ties with Foreign Fighters, 10 April 2020, url
670 Mielke, K.,Miszak, N., Making sense of Daesh in Afghanistan: A social movement perspective, June 2017, url, p. 27
671 Callahan, T. and Marty, F.J., Tilting at Windmills: Dubious US claims of targeting Chinese Uyghur militants in Badakhshan,
AAN, 19 March 2018, url; Mielke, K., Miszak, N., Making sense of Daesh in Afghanistan: A social movement perspective,
June 2017, url, p. 27

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 69

source indicated that the Badakhshan Taliban are a comparatively heterogeneous movement,
facilitating ‘[…] a hybridization of the local insurgency in the name of the Taliban’.672 Afghanistan
Analysts Network however also stated that ‘[…] reliably identifying and tracking foreign fighters is
virtually impossible […].’ And ‘determining those fighters’ actual origins is equally difficult.’673 According
to information submitted to the UN Security Council for its June 2019 report, in Afghanistan Central
Asian groups were under the direct operational and financial control of the Taliban, with about 50
fighters of the Islamic Jihad Group in Takhar and Badakhshan provinces.674 According to the same
report Al Qaeda was trying to strengthen its presence in Badakhshan, in particular in Shighnan district.
Badakhshan was mentioned as one of the three provinces where most of the 240 officially reported Al
Qaeda fighters operating in Afghanistan were located.675 The June 2019 UN report also mentioned 400
foreign fighters for the Eastern Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), operating in Badakhshan676,
mainly in Warduj and Raghestan districts, with financing based in the latter.677 The ministry of Defense
confirmed the presence of ETIM in Afghanistan in December 2019 to the Afghan newspaper Etilaatroz,
without specifying a region or the number of members. According to the Etilaatroz article themovement seems to be active in the north-east and in Badakhshan in particular. Both the provincial
governor and the Taliban denied the independent presence of ETIM in Badakhshan or Afghanistan.
While the governor claimed that Uyghurs operate under the Taliban umbrella, the Taliban themselvesdismissed reports of ETIM activity in Afghanistan as propaganda, meant to cause distrust.678
A 2017 analysis of ISKP in Afghanistan indicates that ISKP presence was less intense in Badakhshan thanin nearby Kunduz and Takhar provinces.679 A researcher for the Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies(AISS) mentioned small pockets of ISKP emerging in Takhar and Badakhshan provinces in August
2019.680 Screenshots of ISKP tweets claiming the killing of a militia leader and former mayor in Fayzabadon 1 September 2019 and an attack on pro-government forces in Jorm district in May 2020 were sharedon Twitter.681
In terms of the presence of government security forces, Badakhshan province is under the
responsibility of the 217th ANA corps after ANA’s 20th Division, previously under the ANA 209th Corps,
was reassigned in April 2019 to become a new corps, the 217th Corps.682 The 217th Corps has its
headquarters in Kunduz.683 As of 30 April 2020, Badakhshan province was still included in the area of
responsibility of the Train Advise Assist Command – North (TAAC – North), which is part

672 Mielke, K., Miszak, N., Making sense of Daesh in Afghanistan: A social movement perspective, June 2017, url, p. 27
673 Callahan, T. and Marty, F.J., Tilting at Windmills: Dubious US claims of targeting Chinese Uyghur militants in Badakhshan,

AAN, 19 March 2018, url
674 UN Security Council, Letter dated 10 June 2019 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant
to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 13 June 2019, url, p. 18
675 UN Security Council, Letter dated 10 June 2019 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant
to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 13 June 2019, url, p. 9676 UN Security Council, Letter dated 10 June 2019 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant
to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 13 June 2019, url, p. 19
677 UN Security Council, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant toresolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 27 May 2020, url, p. 21‫ر‬678 Etilaatroz, ‫نتهدیدنعلیهنچین‬،‫نجویانناویغورندرنافغانستان؛نفعالیتنزیرنچتنطالبان‬‫نگ‬‫[ ج‬informal translation ’Uyghur fighters in
Afghanistan: activity under the umbrella of Taliban, threat to China’], 14 December 2019, url
679 Mielke, K., Miszak, N., Making sense of Daesh in Afghanistan: A social movement perspective, June 2017, url, p. 26
680 National (The), ISIS recruitment is growing in Afghanistan as US and Taliban work for peace, 8 August 2019, url
681 Dr Drexludddin Khan Spiveyzai (@RisboLensky), [Twitter], posted on 3 September 2019, url; FJ (@NatsecJeff), [Twitter],posted on 16 May 2020, url; Intelligensia (@OSINT_313), [Twitter], posted on 16 May 2020, url; Valle, R., [Twitter ], posted
on 16 May 2020, url
682 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 July 2019, url, p. 78
683 USDOD, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. Lead Inspector General Report To The United States Congress. April 1, 2019‒June
30, 2019, 16 August 2019, url, p. 5

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of NATO's Resolute Support Mission within Afghanistan. TAAC-North is led by German forces and has
its headquarters in Mazar-e Sharif, Balkh province.684
A November 2019 New York Times article points at the frequency of switching sides between the
Taliban, other anti-government armed groups and the Afghan security forces in the remote provinceof Badakhshan, causing old local rivalries to intertwine with new loyalties.685

2.2.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population
2.2.3.1 General
In 2019, UNAMA documented 106 civilian casualties (48 deaths and 58 injured) in Badakhshan. This
represents an increase of 68 % compared to 2018. Leading causes of casualties were air strikes,
followed by ground engagements and targeted/deliberate killings.686 Resolute Support recorded
between 26 and 75 civilian casualties in Badakhshan in the first half of 2020, reporting an increase incivilian casualties in the second quarter of 2020, compared to the first.687
ACLED collected data on 276 violent events in Badakhshan province between 1 March 2019 and
30 June 2020 from reports in open sources, 186 of which were coded as battles, 81 as
explosions/remote violence and 9 as violence against civilians.688 Warduj stood out as the district
where most incidents were reported with 54 violent events, followed by Jorm district with 40 violent
events. No violent events were registered by ACLED in Eshkshmesh, Kofab, Shignan, Shaki and Wakhan
districts.689

Figure 4. Badakhshan - Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians
from 1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, based on ACLED data690

ACLED coded 68 % of the violent incidents in Badakhshan province as ‘battles’, mostly ‘armed clashes’,
representing the most prevalent incident type in all of Badakhshan’s districts, with the exception of

684 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability In Afghanistan. December 2019, 23 January 2020, url, pp. 11-12; 50; USDOD,

Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. Lead Inspector General Report To The United States Congress. April 1, 2019‒June 30, 2019,16 August 2019, url, pp. 27-28
685 NYT, Captives or Defectors? Taliban Fighters Tell Conflicting Tales, 7 November 2019, url
686 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 94. No
UNAMA data on civilian casualties in Badakhshan province were available for the first half of 2020.
687 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 April 2020, url, p. 69; SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The UnitedStates Congress, 30 April 2020, url, p. 72
688 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Badakhshan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
689 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Badakhshan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians;
Geoprecision Code: 1 & 2; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020), url
690 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, Afghanistan – Badakhshan, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 71

Warduj, Jorm and Kohestan districts.691 The majority of those armed clashes were attacks by the
Taliban on Afghan security forces, including police, military or NDS personnel and members of progovernment militias or so-called Arbakis (the term ‘Arbaki’ is often used locally and by the Taliban inreference to members of the Afghan Local Police or other pro-government militias)692 or attacks on
military or police facilities such as checkpoints693, military bases694 and sometimes attacks onvehicles.695
Operations and attacks carried out by Afghan security forces against AGEs, such as the ones in thecontext of ‘Operation Pamir 207’ aimed at recapturing Warduj and Yamgan districts in the Summer of
2019696 or an operation in Jorm district in April 2020697 were also registered under armed clashes by
ACLED. Most of the security operations in Badakhshan were carried out in September 2019 and April
2020.698 Some of these operations were backed by air strikes, for example in Warduj and Nesay
districts in April 2020.699
During an attack in Arghanjkhwah district on 29 March 2019, the Taliban were able to capture the
district, before government forces recaptured it on 2 April 2019.700 The Taliban attacked the centre of
Jorm district on 14 April 2019701, the centre of Shuhada district on 19 June 2019, Nesay district on
13 October and 2 November 2019 and the centre of Warduj district on 18 September 2019.702 To put
pressure on Taliban supply networks and finances, the security forces increased their operations in
September and October 2019 in the north-east, with their main focus on Kunduz and Badakhshan.703
They were able to recapture three of Badakhshan’s districts, two of which, Warduj and Yamgan, having
been under Taliban control for about four years704, while Koran wa Munjan had been captured by the
Taliban on 22 July 2019.705 On 7 September 2019, the security forces were also able to clear parts of

691 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus; Afghanistan; Badakhshan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
692 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: February 2020, 6 February 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019,4 October 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 5 September 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty
Report: May 3-9, 9 May 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 26-May 2, 2 May 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War
Casualty Report: January 2020, 2 January 2020, url
693 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 5-11, 11 July 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 12-18, 18 July 2019,
url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 2020, 7 May 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 2020, 2 April
2020, url
694 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 2020, 2 April 2020, url; Xinhua, 2 soldiers, 14 militants killed in clashes in N.
Afghanistan, 22 May 2020, url
695 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 10-16, 16 May 2019, url
696 Ruttig, T. and Van Bijlert, M., et. al., Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (10): What to watch out for on election day, AAN, 26
September 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 5 September 2019, url; Clark K., A Maelstrom of
Militias: Takhar, a case study of strongmen co-opting the ALP, AAN, 14 November 2019, url
697 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 2020, 2 April 2020, url
698 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Badakhshan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
699 Afghanistan Times, Tens of rebels killed in Badakhshan, 11 April 2020, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 27 Taliban killed in
Badakhshan airstrikes: MoD, 11 April 2020, url
700 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 29-April 4, 4 April 2019, url; RFE/RL, Taliban Takes Control of District In
Northeast Afghanistan Following Deadly Clashes, 30 March 2019, url
701 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 12-18, 18 April 2019, url
702 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 14-20, 20 June 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: November 2019, 7
November 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 4 October 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty
Report: September 2019, 5 September 2019, url
703 NYT, A Desperate Battle, and a Victory for Now, at a Remote Afghan Outpost, 26 September 2019, url
704 Xinhua, Afghan fighting gets intensified amid reported progress in U.S.-Taliban talks, 7 September 2019, url;
RFE/RL/Gandhara, Taliban Capture Key Afghan Districts Bordering Central Asia, 10 September 2019, url; Pajhwok AfghanNews, Security forces retake Warduj district after 3 years, 7 September 2019, url; Tolonews, Yumgan District Under Afghan
Forces Control After Four Years, 9 September 2019, url
705 Khaama Press, Taliban militants capture Kuran wa Munjan district of Badakhshan province, 22 July 2019, url; Khaama
Press, Afghan forces recapture Kiran Wa Manjan district in Badakhshan province, 11 September 2019, url; Tolonews,

72 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

an important road leading to Tajikistan.706 However Badakhshan was one of the Taliban’s targets
during their attacks in the north in March 2020. After the week of reduction in violence, which a local
doctor said they used to prepare for their attacks707, the Taliban managed to take control again of
Yamgan district708 and of some villages in Jorm district, inflicting casualties on Afghan security forces
there.709
The majority of the 81 reported incidents of ‘explosions/remote violence’ registered by ACLED in
Badakhshan province between 1 March 2019 and 30 June 2020, were ‘air/drone strikes’710,
representing 18 % of all violent incidents in Badakhshan province. Air strikes were mainly carried out
in Warduj and Jorm districts. The majority of air strikes were carried out by Afghan forces, some were
attributed to NATO forces.711 While those air strikes inflicted losses among AGEs712, some also caused
civilian casualties, for example in Warduj district on 14 October 2019, when an air strike killed eightcivilians, including children.713 Incidents where the Taliban or unidentified armed groups used roadsidebombs and IEDs to target Afghan and international security forces or government officials714,
represented 9 % of all violent incidents registered by ACLED in Badakhshan province between
1 March 2019 and 30 June 2020.715 Some of these incidents caused civilian casualties, for example the
ISKP-claimed killing of militia leader and former mayor Nazir in Fayzabad district on
1 September 2019716 or in Kohestan district on 30 May 2020, when two shepherds were killed as aresult of a roadside bomb detonating in front of a checkpoint.717

Badakhshan’s Kiran Wa Manjan District Retaken: MoD, 11 September 2019, url; UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its
implications for international peace and security, A/74/582–S/2019/935, 10 December 2019, url, p. 6
706 NYT, A Desperate Battle, and a Victory for Now, at a Remote Afghan Outpost, 26 September 2019, url
707 Clark, K., Voices from the Districts, the Violence Mapped (2): Assessing the conflict a month after the US-Taleban
agreement, AAN, 8 April 2020, url
708 UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, A/74/897–S/2020/549, 17
June 2020, url, p. 5; USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability In Afghanistan. June 2020, 1 July 2020, url, pp. 2, 18, 27
709 NYT, Taliban Attack Afghanistan Amid Growing Coronavirus Threat, 28 March 2020, url; RFE/RL, Taliban Takes District
Headquarters, Says It Will Not Negotiate With Afghan Government Team, 28 March 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty
Report: April 2020, 2 April 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (23 March to 29 March 2020), 1
April 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (30 March – 5 April 2020), 9 April 2020, url;
Afghanistan Times, Rampant insecurity wreaks havoc in Badakhshan, 6 April 2020, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 2 bases fall
32 security personnel go missing, 28 March 2020, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Yamgan district falls to Taliban after fierce
fighting, 28 March 2020, url
710 These do not include air strikes carried out during operations categorised by ACLED under ‘battles’. For more
information on ACLED’s methodology, please consult the introduction.
711 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Badakhshan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
712 UN Security Council, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant toresolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 27 May 2020, url, p. 10; Khaama Press, Airstrikes
kill at least 40 Taliban militants in Badakhshan, 4 September 2019, url; Tolonews, 12 Taliban Including Commander Killed in
Badakhshan, 12 December 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 17 militants killed in Badakhshan airstrike, clash, 23 May 2020,
url
713 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 4 October 2019, url; Tolonews, Civilians Killed In An Airstrike In Warduj,
Badakhshan, 14 October 2019, url
714 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: November 2019, 7 November 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October
2019, 4 October 2019, url; Afghan War Casualty Report: July 12-18, 18 July 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report:
May 24-30, 30 May 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: January 2020, 2 January 2020, url; AP, Separate attacks kill
14 Afghan forces in Kabul, northeast, 6 June 2020, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Uprising commander, ex-mayor killed in
Faizabad blast, 1 September 2019, url
715 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Badakhshan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
716 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 5 September 2019, url
717 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 2020, 7 May 2020, url

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Nine incidents categorised by ACLED as ‘violence against civilians’ included the killing of MoI officials718,
the father of a police commander719 and a civilian accused of being a government spy720 by the Talibanor unidentified armed men. The Taliban killed four or five members of the same family in retaliationof the killing of two of their commanders721 or on suspicion of being government spies.722 Civilians
were also killed in an attack, carried out by unidentified armed men on a mosque in Argo district inDecember 2019.723 Four civilians were killed for unknown reasons in a Taliban-controlled area in
Arghanjkhwah district in June 2020.724 The Taliban accused government forces of killing civilians duringattacks in Warduj district in October 2019 and January 2020 and in Fayzabad district in February
2020.725 In addition to the incidents registered by ACLED, UNAMA documented the beating andabduction of thirteen civilians in Warduj district on 30 May 2020. Seven were released in the followingdays while the other six were only released by 26 June 2020.726
There were reports from the north-eastern region, including from Badakhshan province, about
electricity and mobile phone networks being interrupted before and during the presidential election
in September 2019.727 Due to conflict in Nesay district in January 2020 the main roads in some of the
district’s villages were closed to the public prompting the government to plan cash distribution forfood in those villages.728 Within the framework of its attacks on health care initiative, the World HealthOrganisation (WHO) registered the closure and reopening of a health facility in Badakhshan province
in 2019.729

2.2.3.2 Displacement
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 33 208 displaced byconflict from Badakhshan province, 97 % of whom were displaced within the province itself. The
largest displacement occurred in Jorm district, mainly in August and September 2019, when conflictand clashes were reported in the Khustak valley.730 A large group was displaced within Warduj districtin January 2020. Other large groups were displaced within Baharak district in August and September
2019, when military operations were carried out.731 UNOCHA reported displacement from Koran wa
Munjan district to other districts within Badahkshan province but also to other provinces such as
Parwan or Panjshir in July and August 2019, when the Taliban took control of the district centre732 andmilitary operations followed.733 In the last days of June 2020 UNOCHA noted the ‘most significant

718 Khaama Press, Taliban kills two MOI officials in Jurm district of Badakhshan, 14 November 2019, url
719 Pajhwok Afghan News, Badakhshan detective chief wounded, father killed, 3 October 2019, url
720 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: August 2-8, 8 August 2019, url
721 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 21-27, 27 June 2019, url
722 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban execute 5 civilians over cooperation with govt, 23 June 2019, url
723 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: December 2019, 5 December 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 4 worshippers killed in

Badakhshan gun attack, 12 December 2019, url
724 Ariana News, Taliban gunned down four civilians in Badakhshan: official, 2 June 2020, url; Pasbanan, Four member of afamily were killed in Badakhshan, 2 June 2020, url
725 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Badakhshan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
726 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection Of Civilians In Armed Conflict. midyear Report: 1 January – 30 June 2020, 27 July 2020,
url, p. 14
727 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Monthly Humanitarian Update (September 2019), 18 October 2019, url; Norway, Landinfo,
Afghanistan: Sikkerhetssituasjon og konfliktmønster i 2019, 22 January 2020, url, p. 10; NYT, To Disrupt Elections, Taliban
Turn to an Old Tactic: Destroying Cell Towers, 2 October 2019, url
728 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (6 January - 12 January 2019), 15 January 2020, url
729 WHO, Afghanistan. Attacks on Health Care in 2019 as of December 31, 2019, 31 December 2019 url
730 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (16 - 22 September 2019), 25 September 2019, url; UNOCHA,
Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (23 - 29 September 2019), 2 October 2019, url
731 Tolonews, Large-Scale Military Operations Launched In Badakhshan, 29 August 2019, url
732 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (29 July - 04 August 2019), 7 August 2019, url; UNOCHA,
Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (5 - 11 August 2019), 14 August 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban
capture Badakhshan’s Karan wa Menjan district, 22 July 2019, url
733 Tolonews, Large-Scale Military Operations Launched In Badakhshan, 29 August 2019, url

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displacement since March 2020’ in three north-eastern provinces, including Badakhshan.734 No
conflict-induced displacement was registered from over half of Badakhshan’s districts, including
Fayzabad.735
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 32 277 persons
displaced by conflict to Badakhshan province, all displaced within the province. While in Warduj andJorm, displacement occurred within the respective districts, Fayzabad hosted 22 % and Baharak 19 %IDPs from various districts within Badakhshan province.736

2.3 Badghis
2.3.1 General description of the province

Map 3: Afghanistan – Badghis province, source: UNOCHA737

The province of Badghis is located in northwestern Afghanistan738, alongside the border with
Turkmenistan.739 Badghis province is divided into the following administrative units: Ab Kamari,Murghab (Bala Murghab), Ghormach, Jawand, Muqur, Qadis, and Qala-i Naw. The provincial capital is734 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (22 June – 28 June 2020), 1 July 2020, url
735 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict

Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
736 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
737 UNOCHA, Afghanistan – Badghis Province- District Atlas, April 2014, url
738 Khaama Press, 29 Taliban militants killed, wounded in separate incidents in Badghis province, 14 April 2020, url
739 RFERL, Officials: 25 elite commandos killed in clashes with Taliban, 17 July 2019, url

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Qala-i Naw.740 The district of Ghormach reportedly became part of Faryab in 2017.741 In August 2018,
the Peshawar-based daily newspaper, the Frontier Post reported that Ghormach’s administrative affairs
would be shifted back to Badghis due to security reasons.742 The administrative status of the district
seems to be disputed. AAN cited sources claiming that the central government had already transferred
Ghormach to Faryab ‘temporarily’ in 2007, while the governor of Faryab did not consider Ghormach tobe part of Faryab in 2010.743 NSIA estimated the population of Badghis province for 2020-21 at
549 583.744 According to the Office of the President of Afghanistan, Badghis is inhabited mainly by
Tajiks, Pashtuns, Uzbeks, and Turkmens.745
The roads of Badghis have been reported to be in bad condition and mostly unsafe because of
insurgent and criminal activity.746 In January 2020, Wolesi Jirga (Lower House of the Afghan
Parliament), approved two presidential decrees on obtaining USD 100 million loan for the constructionof two roads: Kabul ring road, which will cost USD 70 million and the Armak-Qala-i Naw road in Badghisthat will cost USD 30 million.747 The population relies entirely on rainfall for agriculture and drinking
water and the food insecurity reached a crisis level. Drought748 and natural disasters made people in
Badghis province vulnerable to recruitment by insurgents and militants due to the famine.749
According to the UNODC Opium Survey, in 2018, opium poppy cultivation in Badghis province
decreased by more than two thirds compared to 2017, mainly driven by drought750, but also because
UNODC counted the district Ghormach, which is a major poppy cultivating district, as part of Faryab in
2018.751 According to AAN, in 2019, opium-poppy cultivation in the four western provinces including in
Badghis has decreased by 23 % compared to 2018.752 On 23 June 2019, Afghan security forces
reportedly seized a Taliban related truck loaded with drugs on the Herat-Torghondi Highway, whichcame from Bala Murghab district of Badghis province.753

2.3.2 Conflict background and actors in Badghis
According to the provincial profile of Badghis by AAN, Badghis was the first province of northern
Afghanistan to be seized by the Taliban in late 1996.754 After the fall of the Taliban, several influential
warlords ruled Badghis, among them Abdul Malik, Rashid Dostum, Juma Khan, and Ismail Khan.755 An
EU-funded Emergency Response Mechanism (ERM) household assessment report of November 2018indicated that the security situation has worsened in Badghis in 2018 due to fighting between

740 Afghanistan, IEC, Afghanistan 2019 Presidential Elections – Final results by Polling Stations: Province Badghis, 2020, url;

Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated population of Afghanistan 2020-21, 1 June 2020, url, p. 41
741 Ali, O., Ruttig, T., Battle for Faryab: Fighting intensifies on one of Afghanistan’s major frontlines, AAN, 12 March 2018,
url; UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, p. 15
742 Frontier Post (The), Ghormach falls to Taliban as ANA troops move to Maimana, 28 August 2018, url
743 Bjelica, J., How Neglect and Remoteness Bred Insurgency and a Poppy Boom: The story of Badghis, AAN, 22 February
2017, url
744 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated population of Afghanistan 2020-21, d.n., url, p. 5
745 Afghanistan, Office of the President, Provincial Profile Badghis, 1 February 2017, url
746 AREU, The Political Economy of Education and Health Service Delivery in Afghanistan, January 2016, url, pp. 44-46;
Bjelica, J., How Neglect and Remoteness Bred Insurgency and a Poppy Boom: The story of Badghis, AAN, 22 February 2017,url
747 Pajhwok Afghan News, Decrees on $100m loan for 2 projects approved, 6 January 2020, url
748 In 2019, Badghis was a drought-hit province (see: EEAS, Contribution from the European Union enhances resilience in
Badghis Province, 28 October 2019, url), which made people vulnerable to AGEs recruitment (see: National Geographic, In
Afghanistan, climate change complicates prospects for peace, 3 February 2020, url)
749 National Geographic, In Afghanistan, climate change complicates prospects for peace, 3 February 2020, url
750 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, p. 16
751 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, p. 17
752 AAN, New world drug report: opium production in Afghanistan remained the same in 2019, 25 June 2020, url
753 Salaam Times, Afghan border forces, police block Taliban drug trafficking route in Herat, 5 July 2019, url
754 Bjelica, J., How Neglect and Remoteness Bred Insurgency and a Poppy Boom: The story of Badghis, AAN, 22 February
2017, url
755 US, Naval Postgraduate School, Badghis Provincial Overview, n.d., url

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insurgents and government forces in Jawand and Qadis.756 Since 2014, Badghis province has been ahotbed of fighting between the Taliban, IMU and ANDSF.757 Since 2016, Badghis was amongst thewestern provinces witnessing clashes between Taliban factions each loyal to a different commander.758
In July 2019, Khaama Press reported that Badghis province was one of the ‘relatively volatile’ northwestern provinces of Afghanistan.759
In October 2019, UNAMA, indicated that the four western provinces of Afghanistan including Badghis,in the recent years have experienced a growing number of insurgent activities.760 According to
Etilaatroz, since March 2019, Taliban fighters continued their attacks on Bala Murghab district andextended their presence into Jawand, Ab Kamari, Muqur and Qadis districts, where intense clashes
continued between the group and Afghan forces. The source quoted Ziaulhaq Ferozkohi, politicalactivist in Badghis province, stating that [informal translation] the ‘Taliban control major territory in
Badghis province including and entirely Bala Murghab District and its capital. Residents left the district,and only military outposts remained. The government control only the capitals of Qadis, Ab Kamari
and Muqur Districts.’ According to the source, a security in-charge for Badghis, who did not want tobe named, stated that [informal translation] ‘Taliban have been collecting 500 AFG (around 5 Euros)
per month per family, and the group monopolised the pistachio farms’. The source also quoted
Sharifullah Chamtoo, Badghis chief police, stating [informal translation] ‘all districts of Badghis
province are under the government control.’761 While according to information contained in a LWJ
map, Ghormach, Muqur and Bala Murghab districts of Badghis province were under the Taliban
control, and Ab Kamari, Qala-i Naw, Qadis and Jawand districts were contested.762
In December 2019, Taliban issued a statement claiming that they have taken the control of Bala
Murghab district capital763 and in March 2020, a local news quoted Najmulddin Burhani the spokesman
for Badghis Governor stating that Rubat area of Qadis district was under the Taliban control.764 On
4 May 2020, Taliban reported that several of Mujahidin (Taliban fighters) were graduated from Saad
Ben Abi Weqaas military training camp in Badghis province. They claim that these fighters got trainedon military warfare in using light and heavy weapons including laser weapons. The group posted
several photos of the alleged fighters during the training.765
The International Public Policy (IPP) Review stated in January 2019, that the Islamic State of Khorasan
has cultivated its presence among other provinces of northern Afghanistan also in Badghis.766
Regarding the presence of ANDSF in Badghis province, the 3rd Regiment of Zafar 207th Corps of ANA(which is responsible for the western provinces of Afghanistan), is based in Badghis.767 As part of the756 ERM, Household Assessment Report, 1 November 2018, url, p. 1
757 RFE/RL, Afghanistan's New Northern Flash Points, n.d., url
758 Strategy Page, Afghanistan: Perpetual Pressure On Pakistan, 13 March 2018, url
759 Khaama Press, Airstrike kills 8 Taliban militants in Bala Murghab district of Badghis Province, 4 July 2019, url
760 UNAMA, Badghis leaders strategize on stronger measures to protect children in armed conflict, 5 October 2019, url‫[ بررسی اوضاع امنیتی غرب کشور؛ از افزایش تحرکات طالبان تا تلفات سنگین این گروه‬informaltranslation: ‘security assessment of the west of the country; from the increase of Taliban’s mobility to heavy losses of thegroup’], 30 August 2019, url
762 LWJ, Several Districts Change Hands as Fighting Rages in Northern Afghanistan, 6 July 2020, url; however the source
does not specify when and which information of the aforementioned map was last updated
761 Etilaatroz,

763 Voice of Jihad,‫[ د تېر کال فتوحاتو ته ځغلنده کتنه‬informal translation: ‘a quick look at last year’s victories’], 31

December 2019, url
764 SubheKabul,‫[ خودکشی یک دختر جوان در والیت بادغیس‬informal translation: ‘a young girl committed suicide in

Badghis Province’], 3 March 2020, url‫ کې لسګونه مجاهدین د سعد بن ابي وقاص له معسکر نه فارغ شول‬: ‫[ بادغیس‬informal translation’
Badghis: tens of Mujahidin (fighters) were graduated from Saad Ben Abi Weqaas military training camp in Badghis
province’], 4 May 2020, url
766 IPP Review, The Islamic State of Khorasan Expands in Afghanistan, 3 January 2019, url
767 Afghanistan, MoD, 207 Zafar Corps, n.d., url; USDoD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan, June 2020, 1 July
2020, url, pp. 58 - 59
765 Voice of Jihad,

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RS (Resolute Support) mission, Italian forces provide ‘functionality-based’ security assistance to ANA
207th Corps and ANP in the west of Afghanistan including Badghis.768

2.3.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population
2.3.3.1 General
In 2019, UNAMA documented 161 civilian casualties, including 77 killed and 84 injured in Badghis
province, which represents 104 % increase compared to 2018. The leading causes of casualties wereground engagements, air strikes and non-suicide IEDs.769 According to SIGAR, RS recorded between 26
and 50 civilian casualties in Badghis province during the first quarter of 2020770, and the mentioned
source recorded between 0 and 25 civilian casualties during the second quarter of 2020.771
According to ACLED data, between 1 March 2019 and 30 June 2020 there were 388 security incidents
recorded in Badghis province, of which 241 were coded as battles, 133 remote violence and 14
incidents of violence against civilians.

Figure 5. Badghis - Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians from
1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, based on ACLED data772

According to Etilaatroz, since August 2019, Badghis province continued to be besieged where all
supplying roads were shut down due to the continued armed clashes between the Taliban fighters andthe Afghan security forces.773 UNOCHA indicated in December 2019 that since one year AGEs blocked
main roads to Jawand district, which interrupted the transportation of essential needs to civilians livingin the area.774 In November 2019, another source reported that all roads to Jawand district have been
mined by the Taliban, which resulted in severe food and supply shortages in the area.775 In January
2020, a local news reported on the presence of the Taliban’s prison in Badghis province from which
the Afghan government forces rescued 55 ANA soldiers, four commandos, one police and two borderpolice personnel.776 In April 2020, NYT reported on the presence of a Taliban checkpoint established in
the village of Laman in Qala-i Naw City, the provincial capital, where the group shot and killed one
civilian driver who refused to stop his car at Taliban’s order.777 During the same period, Taliban
militants blocked the highway of Qadis-Qala-i Naw to carry out an attack against the Afghan forces.778
768 USDoD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan, June 2020, 1 July 2020, url, p. 14
769 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 94
770 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 April 2020 , url, p. 69
771 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 July 2020, url, p. 72
772 Filters applied: Central Asia & the Caucasus; Afghanistan; Badghis; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence;

Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, url‫[ بررسی اوضاع امنیتی غرب کشور؛ از افزایش تحرکات طالبان تا تلفات سنگین این گروه‬informaltranslation: ‘security assessment of the west of the country; from the increase of Taliban’s mobility to heavy losses of thegroup’,], 30 August 2019, url
774 UNOCHA, Afghanistan weekly humanitarian updated 25 November to 1 December 2019, 4 December 2019, url
775 Tolonews, Badghis: District with mined roads faces food shortage crisis, 14 November 2019, url
776 Salaam Times, Rescued Afghan soldiers speak of appalling torture, brutality in Taliban prison, 31 January 2020, url
777 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 2020, 30 April 2020, url
778 Afghanistan Times, At least 12 Taliban rebels killed in Badghis, 13 April 2020, url
773 Etilaatroz,

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On 20 May 2020, Salaam Times report that the Taliban blocked roads to the districts of Badghis andprevented local people, government and health workers to enter Bala Murghab, Jawand and Qadis
districts. The source also indicated that Taliban in Badghis province restarted to impose restrictions on
private telecommunication companies, telecom which is used by 70 % of Badghis population tomaintain the system only between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. in Badghis province and shut it down during thenight.779
Recent incidents that caused civilian casualties in Badghis province in 2019 and 2020 include: threecivilians killed, (including one woman) and three others injured (including two women and a girl) during
ground engagement between the Taliban and ANA in Ab Kamari district on 17 July 2019780; threecivilians killed on 19 July 2019 by an air strike hitting a house in the Du Juee area of Bala Murghab
district781; on 23 July 2019, a high school teacher was killed, and two other civilians wounded after arocket fired from an Afghan helicopter struck their shop in the Joy-e Ganj area of Bala Murghab
district782; on 20 July 2019, an Afghan air forces’ air strike, which hit a family’s house, killed five
civilians, all members of a single family, in the Akazi area of Bala Murghab district, which wasreportedly controlled by the Taliban783; on 27 July 2019 an air strike reportedly killed four civilians
including a tribal leader, following their meeting with the Taliban officials in Regi village of Jawand
district784; on 30 October 2019, a civilian driver was killed by the Taliban attack on a convoy of local
officials in the village of Qarchaghay in Qala-i Naw district785; on 7 November 2019, six civilians were
killed including three women and three children when the house of a Taliban commander was bombedby an air strike in the village of Maidah Qol in Aa Kamari district786; on 3 January 2020, one child was
killed in a roadside bomb explosion when he was looking for his sheep in the village of Na-KhodAmodah in Qadis district787; on 25 April 2020, a woman was killed, and a child was wounded after a
Taliban alleged mortar hit their house in the village of Kamengi Oliya in Qadis district788; on
25 May 2020, three children were killed after a bomb planted by the Taliban exploded in ChashmaDozdak village of Muqur district789; on 1 May 2020, the Taliban destroyed, in an explosion, a school in
Qadis district that was recently constructed.790

2.3.3.2 Displacement
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 29 359 persons
displaced from Badghis province, with 84 % displaced within the province itself (mainly in Bala
Murghab and Qala-i Naw districts), 14 % were displaced into Herat province and the remaining 2 %were displaced into Faryab and Ghor provinces.791
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 24 593 persons
displaced to Badghis province, with almost 99 % coming from within the province itself.792
Between 6 – 12 January 2020, the conflict reportedly continued between ANSF and AGEs in Badghis and an estimatednumber of 17 335 conflict affected IDPs were identified in ‘hard-to-reach’ areas in Badghis province.793 According to779 Salaam Times, Taliban’s blockade of districts in Badghis endangers thousands of lives, 20 May 2020, url
780 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 72
781 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 19-25, 25 July 2019, url
782 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 19-25, 25 July 2019, url
783 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 19-25, 25 July 2019, url
784 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 25-1 Aug. 1, 1 August 2019, url
785 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 31 October 2019, url
786 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: November 2019, 2 December 2019, url
787 NYT, Afghan Casualty Report: January 2020, (sic) 2 January 2020, url
788 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report, April 2020, 30 April 2020, url
789 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report, May 2020, 28 May 2020, url
790 Salaam Times, Enemies of education: Taliban blow up newly constructed school in Badghis, 13 May 2020, url
791 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict

Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
792 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
793 UNOCHA, Afghanistan, Weekly humanitarian update, 6 - 12 January 2020, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 79

UNOCHA, during the period between 28 April and 4 May 2020, security situation in Badghis remained unstable and theongoing conflict displaced 400 families (around 2 800 individuals) in Badghis and Ghor provinces. During the same period, inBadghis province, 294 people affected by flash flood received humanitarian assistance. 794

2.4 Baghlan
2.4.1 General description of the province

Map 4: Afghanistan – Baghlan province, source: UNOCHA795

Baghlan province is located in the north-eastern part of Afghanistan and has borders with Bamyan,
Samangan, Kunduz, Taljar, Panjshir, Parwan796 and Balkh.797 Baghlan province is divided into thefollowing administrative units: Andarab, Baghlan-e-Jadid (also known as Baghlan-e Markazi), Burka,
Dahana-e Ghuri, Deh Salah, Doshi, Fereng wa Gharu, Guzargah-e Nur, Khenjan, Khost wa Fereng,
Khwajahejran (Jalga), Nahrin, Pul-e Hesar, Pul-e Khumri, and Tala wa Barfak. The provincial capital isPul-e Khumri.798
According to estimates for 2020-2021 by NSIA the province has a population of 1 014 634, 242 859 ofwhom live in the provincial capital, Pul-e Khumri.799 The main ethnic groups in the province are Tajiks,
Pashtuns and Hazaras. Other ethnic groups present include Uzbeks and Tatars.800
Baghlan province is connected to eight other provinces by the Kabul-North Highway. This is the onlytrans-Hindukush highway in Afghanistan and the major transit route between Kabul and the north of

794 UNOCHA, Afghanistan, Weekly humanitarian update, 24 April – 4 May 2020, 7 May 2020, url
795 UNOCHA, Afghanistan – Baghlan Province - District Atlas, April 2014, url
796 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: North Eastern Region – District Atlas, April 2014, url, pp. 32-45
797 AIMS, AIMS Political Divisions Map, n.d., url
798 Afghanistan, IEC, Afghanistan 2019 Presidential Elections – Final results by Polling Stations: Province Baghlan, 2020, url;

NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21, 1 June 2020, url, p. 18
799 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21, 1 June 2020, url, p. 18
800 US, Naval Postgraduate School, Baghlan Provincial Overview, n.d., url

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the country, via the Salang pass. The road forks at the northern edge of provincial capital Pul-e Khumri,
north-west to Mazar-e Sharif in Balkh province, north-east towards Kunduz.801 At the border between
Baghlan and Parwan, the highway leads through the notoriously overcrowded and desolate Salang
Tunnel.802 Besides the Kabul-North Highway Baghlan should be connected to Bamyan by December
2022 via the so-called Baghlan to Bamyan (B2B) road, according to plans by the World Bank.803
Baghlan’s capital Pul-e Khumri is known to be an economic hub.804
According to AAN, the Kabul-North Highway is pivotal for the military success of government forces, as
AGEs are able to hinder the movement of ammunition and troops by blocking the highway, as they did,for example, after an attack on a checkpoint in Pul-e Khumri on 4 December 2019.805 AAN links the
Taliban’s success in conquering and holding Kunduz City for two weeks in 2015 to the fact that they
were able to stop Kunduz-bound military convoys in Baghlan for days with a combination of road blocks
and ambushes.806 In a conversation with Landinfo in October 2019, an international source described
the stretch on Highway One between Kabul and Pul-e Khumri as sufficiently safe, including forinternational travellers. On the road further north, however, several incidents and road closures andobstructions as a result of clashes and non-state armed groups’ presence and activity were reported.807
AGEs reportedly draw revenue from extorting money from fuel trucks passing through Baghlan.808
The security along the highway is also pivotal for Kabul’s energy supply, as electricity transmission lines
originating in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan run along the highway. Power lines and towers at times
suffered damage by Taliban attacks or clashes between the Taliban and government forces in thereporting period.809
There were reports of protesters blocking the Kabul-North Highway in March 2019 and in April 2019
after the announcement of the parliamentary elections results.810 One participant in the April protest
was killed and six others wounded when security forces opened fire to clear the road.811
According to the 2018 UNODC Opium Survey, Baghlan does not belong to the ten main opium poppycultivating provinces of Afghanistan.812 Opium poppy cultivation in Baghlan remained approximately
the same in 2018 compared to 2017.813

801 Hewad, G., The 2015 insurgency in the North (4): Surrounding the cities in Baghlan, AAN, 21 October 2015, url; Ali, O.,

Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (22): Glances at Kunduz, Baghlan, Samangan, AAN, 30 October 2019, url
802 Pajhwok Afghan News, Current Salang tunnel insufficient, says President Ghani, 15 October 2018, url; Diplomat (The),
Fixing the Salang Pass Tunnel, 21 October 2015, url
803 World Bank (The), Trans-Hindukush Road Connectivity Project, n.d., url
804 Pajhwok Afghan News, Baghlan administrative units, n.d., url
805 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: December 2019, 5 December 2019, url
806 Hewad, G., The 2015 insurgency in the North (4): Surrounding the cities in Baghlan, AAN, 21 October 2015, url
807 Norway, Landinfo, Afghanistan: Sikkerhetssituasjon og konfliktmønster i 2019, 22/01/2019, url, p. 29; UNOCHA,
Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (30 September – 6 October 2019), 9 October 2019, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan:
Weekly Humanitarian Update (21 October – 27 October 2019), 30 October 2019, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly
Humanitarian Update (2 December – 8 December 2019), 11 December 2019, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly
Humanitarian Update (16 December – 22 December 2019), 26 December 2019, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly
Humanitarian Update (20 January – 26 January 2020), 29 January 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian
Update (10 February – 16 February 2020), 19 February 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 2020, 2 April 2020,
url
808 Salam Watandar, Taliban collecting billions through illicit customs, religious taxes, 16 May 2019, url
809 Pajhwok Afghan News, Power transmission line damaged in Baghlan, 18 March 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Kabul
in dark as 3 pylons blown up in Baghlan, 15 September 2019, url
810 Pajhwok Afghan News, Baghlan protestors unblock Kabul-North highway, 13 March 2019, url
811 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 26-May 2, 2 May 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 1 person killed, 5 injured as
Baghlan protest turned violent, 27 April 2019, url
812 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, p. 17
813 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, p. 15

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2.4.2 Conflict background and actors in Baghlan
The transport routes leading through Baghlan are decisive for the security situation of the province.
According to AAN, the Taliban started intimidating people travelling along the Baghlan-Balkh Highway
in late 2015.814 In October 2019, Afghanistan Analyst Obaid Ali described how the Taliban establisheda presence at different locations around Highway One and the split of the road towards Kunduz.815
Having understood the strategic importance of the main transport routes in the province, the Taliban
established mobile checkpoints on the Baghlan-Balkh Highway in order to search for ANSF members
and attempted to establish a permanent presence in the area. This helped them to obstruct the use of
Highway One when carrying out larger attacks816, such as the offensive on provincial capital Pul-e
Khumri in early September 2019, at a time when talks with the United States were leading up to thesigning of an agreement.817 In response to the Taliban establishing checkpoints, ANSF have conducted
several clearance operations, which, according to AAN, were ‘inconsequential‘ and hence unsuccessful
in creating a coherent government presence in the area.818
The security situation in Baghlan province reportedly worsened in 2016 after the Taliban launched
concerted actions against key districts near the provincial centre of Pul-e Khumri.819 In spring 2018, theAfghan Ministry of Defence (MoD) admitted that the provincial capital Pul-e Khumri was threatened by
the Taliban820, and by December 2018 the Afghan Ministry of Interior (MoI) counted Baghlan among
the provinces with a high Taliban presence and where Afghan forces have been engaged in deadly
battles in parts of the province.821
According to an Afghanistan analyst contacted by the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) in
January 2020, Kunduz and Baghlan were considered to be the most Taliban-controlled or influenced
provinces in the north-eastern region.822 A similar assessment was made by Afghanistan analyst Obaid
Ali in October 2019.823 In September 2019, no presidential elections took place in Dahana-e Ghuri
district, due to the Taliban controlling this district824, but in late October 2019, after three years under
Taliban control, government forces re-captured that district.825 As of 2 July 2020 an assessment by theLong War Journal presented in a frequently updated map and based on open-source information,
indicated Burka and Tala wa Barfak districts as ‘Taliban-controlled’, Andarab district as ‘governmentcontrolled’ and the remaining districts in Baghlan province as ‘contested’.826

814 Ali, O., Taleban in the North: Gaining ground along the Ring Road in Baghlan, AAN, 15 August 2016, url
815 Ali, O., Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (22): Glances at Kunduz, Baghlan, Samangan, AAN, 30 October 2019, url
816 Ali, O., Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (22): Glances at Kunduz, Baghlan, Samangan, AAN, 30 October 2019, url
817 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 35; Norway,

Landinfo, Afghanistan: Sikkerhetssituasjon og konfliktmønster i 2019, 22 January 2020, url, pp. 27-28; NYT, Taliban Attack
Second Afghan City in Two Days as an Agreement for Peace Nears, 1 September 2019, url; Al Jazeera, US envoy shows draftof deal with Taliban to Afghan president, 2 September 2019, url; Ali, O., Ruttig T., Taleban attacks on Kunduz and Pul-e
Khumri: Symbolic operations, AAN, 11 September 2019, url
818 Ali, O., Taleban in the North: Gaining ground along the Ring Road in Baghlan, AAN, 15 August 2016, url
819 Khaama Press, Taliban's deputy military chief surrenders in Baghlan province, 12 August 2017, url
820 Tolonews, 7 Provincial Centers Face ‘Serious Security Threats', 16 May 2018, url
821 Tolonews, Afghan Forces To Focus On Insecure Regions In Winter, 26 December 2018, url
822 Sweden, Migrationsverket, Säkerhetsläget i Afghanistan, 2020, 7 April 2020, url, p. 48
823 Ali, O., Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (22): Glances at Kunduz, Baghlan, Samangan, AAN, 30 October 2019, url
824 Ali, O., Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (22): Glances at Kunduz, Baghlan, Samangan, AAN, 30 October 2019, url
825 UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, A/74/582–S/2019/935, 10
December 2019, url, p. 6; Tolonews, Baghlan’s Dahna-e-Ghori Retaken By Security Troops: MoD, 24 October 2019, url;
Khaama Press, Around 100 Taliban militants killed, 88 arrested in Special Forces raids in Baghlan: Sources, 25 October 2019,url
826 LWJ, Mapping Taliban Control in Afghanistan, n.d., url. The source, however, does not specify when and which
information of the aforementioned map was last updated.

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Besides Taliban fighters, local pro-government militias supported by the National Directorate of
Security used to be active in the province, e.g. in the Surkh Kotal area eight kilometres north-west of
Pul-e Khumri.827
In response to the Taliban offensive on Pul-e Khumri in September 2019, the government forces
received support by armed residents. According to sources consulted by AAN, these people weremembers of various uprising groups led mostly by commanders affiliated with Jamiat-e Islami.828
According to an AAN report from July 2016, Afghan ethnic Uzbeks set up an insurgent group called
Jundullah in 2009 by splitting away from IMU.829 While Jundullah has been affiliated with the Talibanin the past, it established itself as an independent, IS-allied group by taking advantage of the turmoil
created by the Taliban conquest of Kunduz in September 2015. Unsympathetic towards IS-groups, theTaliban contained Jundullah’s activities in Baghlan by 2016. According to the same report, as of July
2016, ‘[...] the threat of Daesh in the north-east – through Jundullah affiliating itself to IS – is neither
widespread, nor immediate.’830 A December 2018 report by the US Counter-Terrorism Center (CTC) on
IS-groups in Afghanistan, counted one ISKP attack in Baghlan between 2014 and 2018. The attack took
place in 2017 causing the deaths of nine persons.831 While the Lead Inspector General for Operation’s
Freedom Sentinel referred to the existence of smaller groups of supporters in Baghlan in 2019832, andan official statement about the arrest of a key ISKP member was published in May 2019833, no security
incidents specifically attributed to ISKP were registered by ACLED in Baghlan province between
1 March 2019 and 30 June 2020.834
In terms of the presence of government security forces, Baghlan province is under the responsibilityof the 217th ANA corps after ANA’s 20th Division, previously under the ANA 209th Corps, wasreassigned in April 2019 to become a new corps, the 217th Corps.835 The 217th Corps has its
headquarters in Kunduz.836 As of 30 April 2020 Baghlan province was still included in the area of
responsibility of the Train Advise Assist Command – North (TAAC – North), which is partof NATO's Resolute Support Mission within Afghanistan. TAAC-North is led by German forces and has
its headquarters in Mazar-e Sharif, Balkh province.837

2.4.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population
2.4.3.1 General
In 2019, UNAMA documented 349 civilian casualties (123 deaths and 226 injured) in Baghlan. This
represents an increase of 34 % compared to 2018. Leading causes of casualties were ground

827 Ali, O., Taleban in the North: Gaining ground along the Ring Road in Baghlan, AAN, 15 August 2016, url
828 Ali, O., Ruttig Th., Taleban attacks on Kunduz and Pul-e Khumri: Symbolic operations, AAN, 11 September 2019, url
829 Ali, O., The 2016 Insurgency in the North: Raising the Daesh flag (although not for long), AAN, 15 July 2016, url
830 Ali, O., The 2016 Insurgency in the North: Raising the Daesh flag (although not for long), AAN, 15 July 2016, url
831 Jadoon, A., Allied and Lethal: Islamic State Khorasan´s Network and Organizational Capacity in Afghanistan and Pakistan,

CTC Sentinel, 3 December 2018, url, pp. 11, 15
832 USDOD, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. Lead Inspector General Report To The United States Congress. July 1, 2019‒
September 30, 2019, 18 November 2019, url, p. 18; USDOD, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. Lead Inspector General Report
To The United States Congress. October 1, 2019‒December 31, 2019, 14 February 2020, url, p. 13
833 Khaama Press, Afghan Special Forces arrest key ISIS group member in Baghlan province, 16 May 2019, url
834 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Baghlan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
835 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 July 2019, url, p. 78
836 USDOD, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. Lead Inspector General Report To The United States Congress. April 1, 2019‒June
30, 2019, 16 August 2019, url, p. 5
837 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability In Afghanistan. December 2019, 23 January 2020, url, pp. 11-12, 50; USDOD,
Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. Lead Inspector General Report To The United States Congress. April 1, 2019‒June 30, 2019,16 August 2019, url, pp. 27-28; USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability In Afghanistan. June 2020, 1 July 2020, url, p. 14

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 83

engagements followed by targeted/deliberate killings and non-suicide IEDs.838 Resolute Support
recorded between 26 and 75 civilian casualties in Baghlan in the first half of 2020, reporting a decreasein civilian casualties in the second quarter of 2020, compared to the first.839
ACLED collected data on 444 violent events in Baghlan province between 1 March 2019 and
30 June 2020 from reports in open sources, 304 of which were coded as ‘battles’, 118 as‘explosions/remote violence’ and 22 as ‘violence against civilians’.840 With 188 reported incidents, Pule Khumri stood out as the district where most violent events were reported, followed by Baghlan-e
Jadid with 93 incidents. No violent events were registered by ACLED in Fereng Wa Gharu and Khost wa
Fereng districts.841

Figure 6. Baghlan - Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians from
1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, based on ACLED data842

ACLED coded around 68 % of the violent incidents in Baghlan province as ‘battles’, mainly ‘armed
clashes’. This category represented the most prevalent incident type in nearly all of Baghlan’s
districts.843 The majority of those armed clashes were attacks by the Taliban on Afghan security forces,
including police, military or NDS personnel and members of pro-government militias or so-called
Arbakis (the term ‘Arbaki’ is often used locally and by the Taliban in reference to members of the
Afghan Local Police or other pro-government militias)844, or attacks on military or police facilities such

838 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 94. No

UNAMA data on civilian casualties in Baghlan province were available for the first half of 2020.
839 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 April 2020, url, p. 69; SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The UnitedStates Congress, 30 April 2020, url, p. 72
840 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Baghlan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
841 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Badakhshan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians;
Geoprecision Code: 1 & 2; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020), url
842 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, Afghanistan – Baghlan, url
843 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Baghlan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
844 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: February 2020, 6 February 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019,4 October 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 5-11, 11 July 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June
28-july 4, 4 July 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 10-16, 16 May 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Deputy
intelligence chief for Baghlan gunned down, 12 May 2019, url

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as checkpoints845, bases846 and headquarters847 and on convoys.848 These incidents at times resulted incivilian casualties, as for example on 5 May 2019 when in addition to dozens of casualties among police
forces, more than ten civilians were injured in a coordinated attack claimed by the Taliban on police
headquarters in Pul-e Khumri City.849 Responding to a Taliban attack in Chashma-e Sher area of Pul-e
Khumri City, an Afghan air force helicopter hit a house in April 2020. As a result, two children were
killed and six civilians were wounded.850
Operations and attacks carried out by Afghan security forces against AGEs were also registered underarmed clashes by ACLED. With the approval of the Ministry of Defence’s Operation Khalid on
2 April 2019, Baghlan was one of the provinces in the north-east that security forces’ operations
focused on.851 Most operations were carried out in May 2019 and from September to November
2019.852 Some ANDSF operations lead to the recapturing of villages in certain districts of Baghlan,
including Baghlan-e Jadid in June 2019, Burka in December 2019, the Kelagai area of Doshi district in
October 2019 or the Dand-e Shahabuddin area of Pul-e Khumri district in October 2019.853 Some
operations were backed by air strikes, as for example in Baghlan-e Jadid district in early June 2019854
or in Dahana-e Ghuri district at the end of July 2019.855
There were reports on the Taliban capturing smaller areas in the reporting period, such as the strategic
Kayan valley in Doshi district in July 2019.856 Taliban and other sources also reported on the Taliban
attacking the district headquarters in Burka district on 3 May 2019857, the centre of Guzargah-e Nur
district in July 2019858, or attacking villages and areas in Nahrin and Baghlan-e Jadid districts in
September 2019.859 The Taliban reportedly took control over Guzargah-e Nur district in Baghlan
province in September 2019 for a few months until government forces recaptured the district inJanuary 2020.860

845 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: February 2020, 6 February 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: December

2019, 5 December 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: Aug. 16-22, 22 August 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty
Report: June 21-27, 27 June 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 28-july 4, 4 July 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War
Casualty Report: January 2020, 2 January 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 2020, 5 March 2020, url
846 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 25-Aug. 1, 1 August 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 5-11, 11 July
2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 24-30, 30 May 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 31-June6, 6 June 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: January 2020, 2 January 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report:
March 2020, 5 March 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 2020, 4 June 2020, url
847 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 3-9, 9 May 2019, url
848 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: February 2020, 6 February 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019,4 October 2019, url
849 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 3-9, 9 May 2019, url; NYT, Taliban Kill Unarmed Afghan Police Officers Waitingfor Pay, 5 May 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Baghlan attack ends as all 8 attackers eliminated, 5 May 2019, url; Pajhwok
Afghan News, 75 people suffer casualties in Sunday attack: Baghlan governor, 6 may 2019, url
850 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 2020, 2 April 2020, url
851 UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, A/73/902–S/2019/493, 14
June 2019, url, p. 5
852 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Baghlan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
853 Tolonews, Large Scale Operation Launched In Baghlan, 17 October 2019, url
854 Khaama Press, 11 Taliban militants killed in Special Forces raid, airstrikes in Laghman and Baghlan, 4 June 2019, url
855 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Baghlan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url; Khaama Press, 52 militants killed, 33 wounded as Afghan forces repulse Taliban attack in Baghlan, 30
July 2019, url
856 Khaama Press, Taliban militants take control of the strategic Kayan Valley in Baghlan province, 2 July 2019, url; Xinhua,
Taliban overruns area in N. Afghanistan's Baghlan province, 2 July 2019, url
857 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 3-9, 9 May 2019, url
858 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 12-18, 18 July 2019, url
859 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 4 October 2019, url
860 Pajhwok Afghan News, Security forces retake control of Baghlan’s Guzarga Noor district, 30 January 2020, url; Tolonews,
Afghan Forces Retake Guzargah-e-Noor District of Baghlan, 1 February 2020, url; UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its
implications for international peace and security, A/74/582–S/2019/935, 10 December 2019, url, p. 6

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 85

More than half of the 118 reported incidents of explosions/remote violence, registered by ACLED in
Baghlan between 1 March 2019 and 30 June 2020, were incidents where the Taliban or unidentified
armed groups used roadside bombs or IEDs, including pressure-plate IEDs861 or magnetic bombs862 totarget security forces.863 These incidents represented 14 % of all violent incidents in Baghlan province
and at times resulted in civilian casualties, for example on 14 May 2019 when explosives attached tovehicles went off in Pul-e Khumri864, on 4 June 2019 when people leaving a mosque after Eid prayers
in Nahrin district were hit by a bomb explosion865 or on 4 November 2019, when a road mine blast hit
a family in Dand-e Shahabuddin area of Pul-e Khumri City.866
Over one third of the reported incidents of explosions/remote violence and representing 10 % of allviolent incidents registered by ACLED in Baghlan province between 1 March 2019 and 30 June 2020
were air/drone strikes.867 Air strikes were mainly carried out in Pul-e Khumri, Baghlan-e Jadid andDahana-e Ghuri districts and most were carried out by Afghan forces, while some were attributed to
US forces.868 While those air strikes inflicted losses among AGEs, some also caused civilian casualties,
as happened in Pul-e Khumri in July 2019 and April 2020.869
ACLED coded a few incidents of shelling in Baghlan province between 1 March 2019 and
30 June 2020.870 Some of those attributed to ANDSF caused civilian casualties as happened in Nahrin
district on 23 September 2019 when a group of children were killed when an unexploded rocket shellwent off while they were playing871 or in Pul-e Khumri on 9 March 2020 when a mortar shell fired froma military base hit a civilian home, killing one person and wounding four others.872
Twenty two incidents categorised by ACLED as violence against civilians represented 5 % of all violent
events in Baghlan province between 1 March 2019 and 30 June 2020.873 These included the kidnapping
and/or killing by armed groups, including the Taliban, of an off-duty soldier in Baghlan-e Jadid in June

861 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Monthly Humanitarian Update (October 2019), 23 November 2019, url
862 NYT, 1 August 2019, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 25-Aug. 1, 1 August 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 2 policemen

killed, as many wounded in Pul-i-Khumri blast, 19 March 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Baghlan police official killed in
explosion, 17 September 2019, url
863 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Baghlan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: November 2019, 7 November 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty
Report: August 2-8, 8 August 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 15-21, 22 March 2019, url
864 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 31-June 6, 6 June 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 10-16, 16
May 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Magnetic bomb blast leaves 7 civilians injured in Baghlan, 14 May 2019, url
865 Pahwok Afghan News, 2 worshipers killed, 12 injured in Baghlan blast, 4 June 2019, url; Khaama Press, 2 civilians killed,
14 wounded in an explosion in Baghlan province, 4 June 2019, url
866 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: November 2019, 7 November 2019, url; KUNA, Roadside blast kills 8 civilians in N.
Afghanistan, 4 November 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 8 of a family killed in Baghlan roadside bombing, 4 November
2019, url
867 These do not include air strikes carried out during operations categorised by ACLED under ‘battles’. For more
information on ACLED’s methodology, please consult the introduction.
868 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Baghlan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
869 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 28-july 4, 4 July 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 5-11, 11 July
2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 2 women killed in airstrike on a house in Baghlan, 4 July 2019, url; Tolonews, Baghlan
Residents Rally Against Civilian Casualties, 9 July 2019, url; Ariana News, Eight family members killed, wounded in airstrikes– Baghlan, 4 April 2020, url; UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection Of Civilians In Armed Conflict. midyear Report: 1 January – 30
June 2020, 27 July 2020, url, p. 17
870 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Baghlan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
871 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 5 September 2019, url
872 Pajhwok Afghan News, 1 killed, 4 wounded in Baghlan mortar strike, 9 March 2020, url
873 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Baghlan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url

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2019874, of government representatives and employees near Pul-e Khumri in August 2019875, ofcivilians in Nahrin district in September 2019876, of education personnel in Nahrin district in May 2019and in Baghlan-e Jadid and Doshi district in November 2019877 and the killing of a truck driver in Doshi
district in February 2020.878 Unknown armed men killed five members of one family in Deh Salah
district on 16 April 2020.879 An imam succumbed to his injuries after being beaten for performing thefuneral of a local police officer in Dahana-i Ghuri district in June 2020.880 Taliban sources reported
incidents of Afghan security forces killing civilians in targeted attacks or during operations.881 In
addition to the incidents registered by ACLED, UNAMA documented the killing of the brother of a
Taliban fighter by the ALP in Pul-e Khumri district on 25 November 2019 as an act of revenge for thekilling of one of their commanders. Two other civilians were wounded in the incident.882
There were reports from the north-eastern region, including from Baghlan province, of electricity andmobile phone networks being interrupted before and during the presidential election in September
2019.883 Baghlan was, after Kunduz, the province with the second-lowest turnout numbers for thepresidential election of 28 September 2019 in Afghanistan. This was, as in Kunduz, attributed to bad
security. The main roads connecting Baghlan to Kabul, Mazar-e Sharif and Kunduz were blocked by the
Taliban. Direct attacks on polling centres and rocket shelling were reported from Pul-e Khumri andDoshi districts.884
In April 2019 the Baghlan police chief announced the establishment of new checkpoints to improvesecurity along the Baghlan-Balkh Highway.885 The Taliban however carried out attacks on checkpoints
on the Baghlan-Samangan Highway in March and May 2019 and in January 2020886 and on the KunduzBaghlan Highway in July 2019, January and February 2020.887 Oil tanker drivers and directors of
petroleum companies complained in March 2019 about increasing attacks on their trucks in Baghlan,
particularly around Dand-e Ghori locality in Pul-e Khumri and Kelagi locality in Doshi district.888 Anotherattack on oil tankers was reported from Pul-e Khumri district in May 2019.889

874 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 21-27, 27 June 2019, url
875 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: Aug. 16-22, 22 August 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: Aug. 23-29, 29

August 2019, url; Khaama Press, Taliban militants kidnap a member of Provincial Council from Samangan-Baghlan Highway,
24 august 2019, url; Tolonews, Samangan Provincial Council Member Killed By Militants: Official, 25 August 2019, url
876 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 4 October 2019, url
877 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: December 2019, 5 December 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Kabul university
teacher shot dead in Baghlan, 6 November 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Headmaster among 4 gunned down inBaghlan, 30 November 2019, url
878 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: February 2020, 6 February 2020, url
879 Pajhwok Afghan News, 5 of a family gunned down in Baghlan attack, 16 April 2020, url
880 Reporterly, Imam in Baghlan Dies After Being Beaten by Taliban, 21 June 2020, url
881 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Baghlan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url; Voice of Jihad, Innocent civilian martyred in Baghlan, 28 May 2020, url
882 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 67
883 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Monthly Humanitarian Update (September 2019), 18 October 2019, url; Norway, Landinfo,
Afghanistan: Sikkerhetssituasjon og konfliktmønster i 2019, 22 January 2020, url, p. 10; NYT, To Disrupt Elections, Taliban
Turn to an Old Tactic: Destroying Cell Towers, 2 October 2019, url
884 Ali, O., Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (22): Glances at Kunduz, Baghlan, Samangan, AAN, 30 October 2019, url
885 Tolonews, Baghlan Police Chief Warns Taliban To Quit Violence, 7 April 2019, url
886 Xinhua, 14 including 8 militants killed in northern Afghan province, 29 May 2019, url; Xinhua, 1st LD Writethru: 9 police
killed in Taliban attack in N. Afghanistan, 28 January 2020, url; Khaama Press, NDS Special Forces storm key Taliban
compound in Baghlan province, 3 March 2019, url; Tolonews, Police Suffer Heavy Casualties in Baghlan, 28 January 2020,
url
887 Tolonews, MEHWAR: Insecurity Increases In Baghlan, 13 July 2019, url; Khaama Press, Afghan forces suffer casualties in
Taliban attacks, 23 January 2019, url ; Tolonews, Five Security Force Members Killed on Kunduz-Baghlan Highway, 2
February 2020, url
888 Pajhwok Afghan News, Militant attacks on oil tankers increasing in Baghlan, 30 March 2019, url
889 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban attack leaves 2 oil tankers torched in Baghlan, 12 may 2019, url

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Sources reported an explosion inside a doctor’s private clinic in Pul-e Khumri on 4 April 2019. The
doctor was killed and several patients were injured.890 According to further investigation by UNAMA,
the doctor had received dead threats from the Taliban.891 UNAMA also documented the forced closureof 11 clinics in different districts of Baghlan province on 12 May 2019. All were reopened within thenext week.892
In its report covering 2019 UNAMA noted that in certain parts of Afghanistan, including Baghlan,several private telecommunications companies, with the exception of Salaam Telecommunications,shut down their services in the evening following up on orders issued by the Taliban in order to prevent
being tracked down or targeted during operations.893
While armed clashes were the prevalent type of violent event, similar as in almost all of Baghlan’s
districts, Pul-e Khumri showed a somewhat different conflict pattern with nearly one out of four
incidents involving the use of IEDs.894 The police headquarters in Pul-e Khumri City were the target ofa coordinated attack, involving a suicide bombing, on 5 May 2019.895 On 2 February 2020, a suicide
bomber detonated his explosives before he had reached his target, an engagement ceremony, in Pule Khumri.896 Such attacks, which have been carried out in other larger cities in Afghanistan as well897,
were not reported from other districts in Baghlan province.898
In late August, early Septemer 2019, the Taliban attacked and penetrated three provincial centres in
one week’s time, first Kunduz, immediately followed by Pul-e Khumri and then Farah.899 After having
been driven out of Kunduz following their attack on the city, several Taliban fighters reportedly moved
to Baghlan province where they launched an offensive on the provincial capital on
1 September 2019.900 They were able to enter deep into the city and hold out for several days. This
was the first such attack for Pul-e Khumri.901 During the attack, the Taliban forcibly entered residential
homes.902 According to the head of the provincial council in Baghlan, heavy fighting caused people topanic and to try to flee.903 The attackers were pushed back, but clashes continued on the outskirts of

890 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 29-April 4, 4 April 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Physician killed, 20 civilians

injured in Baghlan blast, 4 April 2019, url
891 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 45
892 UNAMA, Afghanistan The Protection Of Civilians In Armed Midyear Update Conflict: 1 January To 30 June 2019, 30 July
2019, url, p. 5
893 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, pp. 109-110;
See also: Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban continue telecom services shutdown in Baghlan, 14 August 2019, url
894 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Baghlan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; Geoprecision
code: 1 & 2; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020), url
895 Pajhwok Afghan News, Baghlan attack ends as all 8 attackers eliminated, 5 May 2019, url; Khaama Press, Attack on
Baghlan Police HQ claims the lives of 13 people, wounding 55 others, 5 May 2019, url; Tolonews, Death Toll Rises To 20 In
Baghlan Police HQ Attack, 6 May 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 75 people suffer casualties in Sunday attack: Baghlan
governor, 6 May 2019, url
896 Pajhwok Afghan News, Bomber killed, 2 civilians injured in Baghlan, 2 February 2020, url
897 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 39; EASO
analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the Caucasus;
Afghanistan; Baghlan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 - 30 June2020), url
898 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Baghlan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; Geoprecision
code: 1 & 2; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020), url
899 Ali, O., Ruttig T., Taleban attacks on Kunduz and Pul-e Khumri: Symbolic operations, AAN, 11 September 2019, url
900 NYT, Taliban Attack Second Afghan City in 2 Days as Peace Deal Nears, 1 September 2019, url; Al Jazeera, Amid heavy
fighting in north, US envoy meets Afghan president, 2 September 2019, url
901 Ali, O., Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (22): Glances at Kunduz, Baghlan, Samangan, AAN, 30 October 2019, url
902 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 51; NYT,
War Casualty Report: September 2019, 5 September 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 6 killed, 33 injured in Baghlan
clashes, 1 September 2019, url
903 NYT, Taliban Attack Second Afghan City in Two Days as an Agreement for Peace Nears, 1 September 2019, url

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the city in the following days.904 According to a diplomatic source interviewed by the NorwegianCountry of Origin Information centre, Landinfo, in October 2019, the fall of provincial capitals Kunduz,
Pul-e Khumri and Taloqan (Takhar) was prevented due to air strikes.905 Civilian casualties anddisplacement were reported.906 While operations where carried out for reopening the Kabul-Northand the Pul-e Khumri-Mazar Highways907, exit routes from the city remained contested and movement
obstructed during more than a week following the attack.908 Checkpoints established by the Taliban in
Baghlan-e Jadid district were obstructing traffic to the north, although civilians were reportedly
allowed to pass.909 Telecommunications and road movements were intermittently disrupted.910 Local
sources described to AAN how people’s lives were impacted by the events, with schools and shops
closed, electricity and water cut off and a sharp increase in food prices.911
In October 2019, shopkeepers complained about insecurity due to Taliban presence and daily firing in
the city impacting their businesses in Pul-e Khumri.912
Taliban presence lead to regular attacks, fighting and security operations during the reporting period
in some areas of Pul-e Khumri, such as Dand-e Ghori (not to confuse with Dahana-e Ghuri district, alsoin Baghlan province) in April, July, October and December 2019913, Chashma-e Sher in July 2019914 or
Dand-e Shahabuddin in October 2019.915 A large-scale operation reportedly resulted in thedisplacement of thousands of families from Dand-e Ghori and Dand-e Shahabuddin areas in October
2019.916

2.4.3.2 Displacement
UNOCHA regularly reported how continued clashes between AGEs and the ANDSF in Baghlan caused
displacement in the reporting period.917

904 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Update on the situation in Kunduz city and Pul-e-Khumri Flash Update No.3, 3 September 2019,

url; Tolonews, Highways Remain Closed As Clashes Continue In Baghlan, 2 September 2019, url; Ali, O., Ruttig, T., Taleban
attacks on Kunduz and Pul-e Khumri: Symbolic operations, AAN, 11 September 2019, url
905 Norway, Landinfo, Afghanistan: Sikkerhetssituasjon og konfliktmønster i 2019, 22 January 2020, url, pp. 27-28
906 Pajhwok Afghan News, Civilians, military personnel among 63 killed in Baghlan clashes, 2 September 2019, url;
UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (26 August – 1 September 2019), 4 September 2019, url; UNOCHA,
Afghanistan: Update on the situation in Kunduz city and Pul-e-Khumri Flash Update No.3, 3 September 2019, url
907 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’s shadow governor among 43 rebels killed in Baghlan, 5 September 2019, url
908 Tolonews, Baghlan Clashes Enter Sixth Day, 6 September 2019, url; See also: UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Flash Update 2 – Lullin armed clashes in Kunduz city and new clashes in Pul-e-Khumri, 1 September 2019, url; Xinhua, Afghan fighting gets
intensified amid reported progress in U.S.-Taliban talks, 9 September 2019, url; Al Jazeera, Trump cancels Taliban talks:
What does it mean for Afghanistan?, 8 September 2019, url; Kabul Press, US Peace Talk with the Taliban Is Talibanization of
Afghanistan, 3 September 2019, url
909 Ali, O., Ruttig, T., Taleban attacks on Kunduz and Pul-e Khumri: Symbolic operations, AAN, 11 September 2019, url
910 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (26 August – 1 September 2019), 4 September 2019, url; Tolonews,
Special Forces Launch Clearance Operations In Baghlan, 4 September 2019, url
911 Ali, O., Ruttig T., Taleban attacks on Kunduz and Pul-e Khumri: Symbolic operations, AAN, 11 September 2019, url
912 Pajhwok Afghan News, Growing insecurity worries Baghlan shopkeepers, 13 October 2019, url
913 Pajhwok Afghan News, Baghlan: 371 displaced families in need of urgent assistance, 4 April 2019, url; Pajhwok AfghanNews, 5 security personnel killed, 14 injured in Baghlan attack, 3 July 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Massive operations
launched against Taliban in Baghlan, 17 October 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 22 rebels eliminated in Helmand, Baghlan
operations, 24 December 2019, url
914 Khaama press, Special Forces rescue 2 oil tanker drivers, kill 5 Taliban militants in Baghlan, 18 July 2019, url
915 Pajhwok Afghan News, Massive operations launched against Taliban in Baghlan, 17 October 2019, url
916 Pajhwok Afghan News, Baghlan IDPs in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, 30 October 2019, url
917 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (16 - 22 September 2019), 25 September 2019, url; UNOCHA,
Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (23 - 29 September 2019), 2 October 2019, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly
Humanitarian Update (30 September – 6 October 2019), 9 October 2019, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian
Update (21 October – 27 October 2019), 30 October 2019, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (4 – 10
November 2019), 13 November 2019, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (11 – 17 November 2019)21 November 2019, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (25 November - 1 December 2019), 4
December 2019, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (2 December – 8 December 2019), 11 December
2019, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (9 December – 15 December 2019), 18 December 2019, url;
UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (23 December - 29 December 2019), 31 December 2019, url;

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UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 46 669 persons
displaced by conflict from Baghlan province, 93 % of whom were displaced within the province itself.
The largest displacement occurred in Pul-e Khumri district, especially in September 2019, after the
Taliban had launched an offensive on the provincial capital.918 Thousands of people were displaced
from Burka in April and July 2019, from Baghlan-e Jadid, mainly in October 2019, from Nahrin, mainly
in September 2019 and from Guzargah-e Nur districts in October and December 2019. Nearly all IDPs
from Burka and Nahrin districts were displaced within the respective districts, while the people
displaced in October 2019 from Baghlan-e Jadid sought refuge in Pul-e Khumri and all IDPs from
Guzargah-e Nur were displaced to Taloqan in Takhar province.919 In the last days of June 2020, UNOCHA
noted the ‘most significant displacement since March 2020’ in three north-eastern provinces, including
Baghlan.920
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 43 428 persons
displaced by conflict to Baghlan province, all displaced within the province. Pul-e Khumri hosted 80 %of all IDPs, most from within the district and a large group from Baghlan-e Jadid in October 2019. Other
districts hosting people displaced to Baghlan province in the reporting period, were Burka, Nahrin and
Baghlan-e Jadid. All or nearly all of the people displaced to those districts came from within therespective districts.921

UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (30 December 2019 - 5 January 2020), 8 January 2020, url; UNOCHA,
Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (6 January - 12 January 2019), 15 January 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan:
Weekly Humanitarian Update (10 February – 16 February 2020), 19 February 2020, url
918 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url; See also: UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (26August – 1 September 2019), 4 September 2019, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Update on the situation in Kunduz city and Pule-Khumri Flash Update No.3, 3 September 2019, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (23 - 29
September 2019), 2 October 2019, url
919 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
920 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (22 June – 28 June 2020), 1 July 2020, url
921 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url

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2.5 Balkh
2.5.1 General description of the province

Map 5: Afghanistan – Balkh province, source: UNOCHA922

Balkh province is located in the northern part of Afghanistan and has borders with Kunduz and Baghlan
provinces to the east, Samangan province to the south-east, Sar-e Pul province to the south-west,
Jawzjan province to the west and an international border with Uzbekistan to the north and Tajikistan
to the north-east and Turkmenistan to the north-west.923 Balkh province is divided into the following
administrative units: Balkh, Charbulak, Charkent, Chemtal, Dawlatabad, Dehdadi, Kaldar, Keshendeh,
Khulm, Marmul, Mazar-e Sharif, Nahr-e Shahi, Sholgareh, Shortepa and Zari. The provincial capital isMazar-e Sharif.924
According to estimates for 2020-2021 by NSIA, the province has a population of 1 509 183,
approximately 484 492 of whom live in the provincial capital, Mazar-e Sharif.925 Balkh is an ethnicallydiverse province. It is inhabited by Pashtun, Uzbek, Hazara, Tajik, Turkmen, Aimaq, Baloch, Arab926 andSunni Hazara (Kawshi) communities.927
Balkh – and more specifically Mazar-e Sharif – is an import/export hub as well as a regional trading
centre.928 A map provided by the Ministry of Finance and used by the Diplomat shows a highway
leading to the Uzbek border crossing point Hairatan-Termiz branching off the Ring Road east of Mazare Sharif. Furthermore, a highway connecting Balkh to Bamyan in the centre of Afghanistan is under
922 UNOCHA, Afghanistan – Balkh Province- District Atlas, April 2014, url
923 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Northern region District Atlas, 13 April 2014, url; GADM, Afghanistan [Map], 2018, url
924 Afghanistan, IEC, Afghanistan 2019 Presidential Elections – Final results by Polling Stations: Province Balkh, 2020, url;

Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21, June 2020, url, p. 31
925 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21, June 2020, url, p. 31
926 Pajhwok Afghan News, Background Profile of Balkh, n.d., url
927 US, Naval Postgraduate School, Balkh Provincial Review, n.d., url
928 Samuel Hall, Economic Assessment and Labour Market Survey of Mazar-i Sharif, Pul-i Khumri, Kandahar City and Kunduz
City, 16 January 2017, url, p. 43

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 91

construction, according to that map.929 Mazar-e Sharif has an airport with scheduled passenger services
to national and international destinations.930 In January 2019, an air corridor connecting Mazar-e Sharif
and Europe via Turkey was opened for cargo flights.931
According to the UNODC Opium Survey of 2018, Balkh ranks 7th among the ten main opium poppycultivating provinces of Afghanistan. Because of a drought, poppy cultivation decreased by 30 % in theprovince in 2018 compared to 2017.932

2.5.2 Conflict background and actors in Balkh
Up until early 2019 Balkh was usually described as one of the relatively calm and most stable provincesof Afghanistan933, largely due to a monopoly on power by the former warlord Atta Mohammed Noor,
who was governor of Balkh for more than a decade.934 Even after Noor’s resignation in 2018 his
influence in the province continued to be strong.935 Atta Noor’s militiamen formed most of theprovincial police force.936 However, a representative of an international organisation who met with theSwedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) in Kabul in January 2020 saw Noor’s forced resignation
as a contributing factor to the worsening security situation in Balkh.937 According to Afghan news
portals Tolonews and Pajhwok Afghan News, the tensions between the President and Noor around
Noor’s resignation were followed by an increased presence of armed men in Mazar-e Sharif, which
allegedly had links to political parties and members of parliament.938 Subsequently, criminal activities
such as armed robberies, murder, clashes, and kidnapping increased in Balkh´s capital in early 2018939
and remained a source of concern for Balkh’s residents in 2019940, prompting the police to take action
against unregistered vehicles and motorcycles increasingly involved in crimes or to introduce a ban on
the use of motorbikes.941
Compared to other northern regions, the Taliban have a much smaller presence in Balkh, according toa 2019 Reuters article.942 Nevertheless their influence reportedly increased in 2019943 and there werereports of Taliban activity in nearly all of Balkh’s districts. Attacks by the Taliban special forces, known
as the Red Unit forces, were reported in Khulm district in May 2019944 and in Charkent district in

929 Diplomat (The), Kabul's Plan to Realize Afghanistan’s Geographic Dividend, 5 December 2017, url
930 Austria, BFA-Staatendokumentation, Afghanistan - Airports [Map], 25 March 2019; Ariana Airlines, Flights schedule, n.d.,url
931 Pajhwok Afghan News, Mazar-i-Sharif-Turkey-Europe air corridor formally opens, 9 January 2019, url
932 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, pp. 6, 17
933 Reuters, Gunfight erupts in north Afghan city over police chief's appointment, 14 March 2019, url; Tolonews, Taliban

Planning To Disrupt Balkh Security: Police Chief, 22 August 2019, url
934 RFE/RL, Afghanistan's New Northern Flash Points, n.d., url; RFE/RL, Powerful Afghan Governor Resigns, Ending Standoff
With Ghani, 22 March 2018, url; Ruttig, T., “Atta for President” Again? The struggle for the Afghan presidency and Jamiat’s
leadership, AAN, 10 April 2017, url
935 Reuters, Gunfight erupts in north Afghan city over police chief's appointment, 14 March 2019, url
936 RFE/RL, Rival Police Clash In North Afghan City In Spat Between President, Ex-Governor, 14 March 2019, url
937 Sweden, Lifos/Migrationsverket, Säkerhetsläget i Afghanistan, 2020, 7 April 2020, url, p. 46
938 Tolonews, Illegal Armed Men ‘A Big Challenge For Balkh Residents’, 12 January 2018, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 2
injured as gunmen loyal to MPs clash in Balkh, 28 January 2018, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Illegal armed men threaten
Mazar-i-Sharif security, 22 May 2018, url
939 Tolonews, Illegal Armed Men ‘A Big Challenge For Balkh Residents’, 12 January 2018, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Illegal
gunmen seen behind insecurity in Mazar-i-Sharif, 25 January 2018, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 2 injured as gunmen loyal to
MPs clash in Balkh, 28 January 2018, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Mazar-i-Sharif garrison failing to bar illegal gunmen:
Residents, 7 March 2018, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Illegal armed men threaten Mazar-i-Sharif security, 22 May 2018, url;
Tolonews, Mazar Man Killed For His Motorcycle, 22 July 2018, url
940 Pajhwok Afghan News, Increasing crime incidents worry Balkh dwellers, 26 October 2019, url
941 Pajhwok Afghan News, Undocumented vehicles, bikes being seized in Balkh, 27 October 2019, url; Kilid Group (The),
Unknown Gunmen Kill 3 Employees of Private Company in Balkh Province, 28 June 2020, url
942 Reuters, Gunfight erupts in north Afghan city over police chief's appointment, 14 March 2019, url
943 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’s influence, insecurity grow in Balkh, 18 August 2019, url
944 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 3-9, 9 May 2019, url

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February 2020.945 In May 2020, a Sar-e Pul provincial council member mentioned the Taliban running
checkpoints in various villages of Zari district, on the road towards Mazar-e Sharif.946
As of 2 July 2020 an assessment by the Long War Journal presented in a frequently updated map andbased on open-source information, indicated Dawlatabad district as ‘Taliban-controlled’, Charbulak,
Chemtal and Zari districts as ‘contested’ and the remaining districts in Balkh province as ‘governmentcontrolled’947, including Keshendeh, a district that the New York Times reported to be under Taliban
control in December 2019.948
Local officials and first Vice President Gen. Dostum claimed in December 2019 that ISKP had increased
its influence in all provinces of the northern region, including Balkh, in the previous months.949
However, no security incidents specifically attributed to ISKP were recorded by ACLED in Balkh between
1 March 2019 and 30 June 2020.950
In terms of the presence of government security forces, Balkh province is under the responsibility of
the 209th ANA Shaheen corps951 that has its headquarters in Dehdadi district of the province.952
Primarily present at bases in Kabul and Bagram, the US forces maintained regional hubs as of
30 April 2020, including in Balkh province in the north. Balkh province is included in the area of
responsibility of the Train Advise Assist Command – North (TAAC – North), which is partof NATO's Resolute Support Mission within Afghanistan. TAAC-North is led by German forces and has
its headquarters in Mazar-e Sharif.953
Members of pro-government militias or so-called Arbakis (the term ‘Arbaki’ is often used locally andby the Taliban in reference to members of the Afghan Local Police or other pro-government militias)
and local uprising commander forces are present in Balkh province and regular targets of Taliban
attacks.954

2.5.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population
2.5.3.1 General
In 2019, UNAMA documented 277 civilian casualties (108 deaths and 169 injured) in Balkh. This
represents an increase of 22 % compared to 2018. Leading causes of casualties were groundengagements, followed by non-suicide IEDs and targeted killings.955 In the first half of 2020, UNAMA
ranked Balkh province first in terms of civilians most affected by the conflict, documenting 344 civilian
casualties in the province.956 Resolute Support recorded between 102 and 150 civilian casualties in

945 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: February 2020, 6 February 2020, url
946 Ruttig, T., The case of Mawlawi Mehdi and Balkhab District: Are the Taleban attracting Hazaras?, AAN, 23 May 2020, url
947 LWJ, Mapping Taliban Control in Afghanistan, n.d., url. The source, however, does not specify when and which

information of the aforementioned map was last updated. For more information on the methodoly used by, see theIntroduction section of this report.
948 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: January 2020, 2 January 2020, url
949 Tolonews, Large-scale Military Operation To Launch in North: Dostum, 5 December 2019, url
950 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Balkh; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
951 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability In Afghanistan. December 2019, 23 January 2020, url, p. 50
952 Tolonews, 209 Shaheen Corps: The Base The Taliban Attacked, 22 April 2018, url
953 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability In Afghanistan. June 2020, 1 July 2020, url, pp. 3; 14954 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 3-9, 9 May 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 2020, 5 March
2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: February 2020, 6 February 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 39, 9 May 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 2 dead, 5 injured as Balkh commanders clash, 8 may 2019, url
955 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 94
956 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection Of Civilians In Armed Conflict. midyear Report: 1 January – 30 June 2020, 27 July 2020,
url, p. 5

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 93

Balkh in the first half of 2020, reporting similar numbers of civilian casualties between the first andsecond quarter of 2020.957
ACLED collected data on 811 violent events in Balkh province between 1 March 2019 and 30 June 2020
from reports in open sources, 631 of which were coded as ‘battles’, 162 as ‘explosions/remoteviolence’ and 18 as ‘violence against civilians’.958 The security situation in Balkh province has been
deteriorating in 2019959 and according to UN data, Balkh province was one of the four most active
areas of conflict in the first months of 2020.960 With 195 incidents, Balkh stood out as the district where
ACLED recorded most violent events between 1 March 2019 and 30 June 2020, followed by Chemtaland Charbulak districts, with more than 140 incidents each. Other districts where ACLED recorded over
40 incidents, were Sholgara and Dawlatabad and Zari. No violent events were registered by ACLED in
Marmul district.961

Figure 7. Balkh - Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians from
1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, based on ACLED data962

ACLED coded 78 % of the violent incidents in Balkh province as ‘battles’, nearly all ‘armed clashes’.963
The majority of those armed clashes were attacks by the Taliban on Afghan security forces, including
police, ANA soldiers or NDS personnel and members of pro-government militias964 or attacks on

957 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 April 2020, url, p. 69; SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The UnitedStates Congress, 30 July 2020, url, p. 72
958 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Balkh; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
959 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’s influence, insecurity grow in Balkh, 18 August 2019, url
960 UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, A/74/753–S/2020/210, 17
March 2020, url, p. 5; UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security,
A/74/897–S/2020/549, 17 June 2020, url, p. 5
961 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Baghlan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; Geoprecision
code: 1 & 2; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020), url
962 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, Afghanistan - Balkh, url
963 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Balkh; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
964 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: December 2019, 5 December 2019, url; Tolonews, Eight Policemen Killed As Clashes
Intensity In North, 2 April 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 4 October 2019, url; NYT, War
Casualty Report: May 3-9, 9 May 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 2020, 5 March 2020, url; NYT, Afghan
War Casualty Report: February 2020, 6 February 2020, url

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military or police facilities such as checkpoints965 and bases966 and on convoys967 and vehicles.968 These
incidents at times resulted in civilian casualties, as for example in Sawrian village in Charbulak districton 3 August 2019969, in the Alamkhel area of Balkh district on 17 March 2020970, or in the Maidan
Hawai area of Dawlatatabd district on 14 May 2020.971 Attacks by the Taliban on government officials
and employees were also included under armed clashes by ACLED.972 On 30 March 2019, the Taliban
attacked a convoy carrying First Vice-President Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum on the Mazar-Shiberghan
Highway which connects Balkh and Jowzjan provinces. Gen. Dostum escaped unhurt, but there werecasualties among his entourage.973 On 14 September 2019, the Taliban ambushed the Labour andSocial Affairs Director for northern Balkh province on the highway between Balkh district and Mazar-e
Sharif.974
Operations, such as Operation Walid 40 launched in March 2019975, Operation Khalid976 in April 2019
and Operation Shaheen 611 in April 2020977 and attacks carried out by Afghan security forces against
AGEs978 were also registered under battles by ACLED. Most of those were carried out in August 2019
and January 2020.979 Some of these operations were backed by air strikes, for example in Chemtal
district in March and August 2019 or in Charbulak in June and July 2019.980
The Taliban attacked security outposts briefly capturing them before they were retaken by security
forces in Zari district in March and May 2019981 and in Charkent district on 3 July 2019.982 Afghan
officials rejected claims by the Taliban of having captured Zari district in September 2019, stating that

965 RFE/RL, Seven Afghan Soldiers Killed In Taliban Attack, 24 December 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report:

October 2019, 4 October 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: August 2-8, 8 August 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War
Casualty Report: June 7-13, 13 June 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 2020, 5 March 2020, url; Pajhwok
Afghan News, 5 police killed, 6 wounded in Balkh firefight, 9 May 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 2020, 4June 2020, url
966 RFE/RL, Suicide Car Bomb Hits Afghan Army Compound, 26 December 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report:
December 2019, 5 December 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 2020, 5 March 2020, url; Khaama Press,
Local Taliban commanders among 16 killed, wounded in Balkh and Jawzjan clashes, 25 November 2019, url
967 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 4 October 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 2020, 7
May 2020, url
968 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 28-july 4, 4 July 2019, url
969 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: August 2-8, 8 August 2019, url
970 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 2020, 5 March 2020, url
971 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 2020, 7 May 2020, url
972 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Balkh; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
973 Tolonews, Dostum Unhurt As His Convoy Attacked By Taliban, 30 March 2019, url; RFE/RL, Afghan Vice President
Dostum Survives Convoy Ambush, 30 March 2019, url; NYT, Afghan Vice President Survives Attack on Convoy, 31 March
2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Dostum’s convoy attacked in Balkh, bodyguard killed, 30 March 2019, url
974 Pajhwok Afghan News, Balkh official injured in Taliban attack, 14 September 2019, url
975 Tolonews, Over 3,700 Militants Killed In 88 Operations In North: Official, 19 March 2019, url; Khaama Press, Afghan
armed forces launch Walid-40 operations in Balkh province, 12 March 2019, url
976 UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, A/73/902–S/2019/493
14 June 2019, url, p. 5
977 Tolonews, '17 Villages Cleared of Taliban' in Balkh: Police, 29 April 2020, url
978 Pajhwok Afghan News, Notorious Taliban commander killed in Balkh operation, 16 may 2019, url; Khaama Press,
Taliban’s most dangerous commander Mullah Khadem killed in Balkh province, 16 May 2019, url
979 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Balkh; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
980 Khaama Press, Dozens of Taliban militants killed in latest Special Forces operations, airstrikes, 14 March 2019, url;
Khaama Press, 3 Taliban militants killed, 2 detained in Balkh and Kunduz provinces, 20 June 2019, url; Khaama Press,
Taliban commander Qari Mehdi among several killed, wounded in Balkh airstrikes, 1 August 2019, url
981 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 29-April 4, 4 April 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 24-30, 30
May 2019, url
982 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 5-11, 11 July 2019, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 95

the district remained under government control.983 Clashes between pro-government forces and the
Taliban in September 2019 resulted in casualties on both sides, including the death of the Taliban’s
district governor in Zari district.984 As a result of an AGE attack on Zari district centre in February 2020
four people were killed and others were injured.985 In another Taliban attack in Zari district on 30 April
and 1 May 2020, 38 members of local uprising groups were killed or injured.986 The Taliban claimed tohave overtaken Alamkhail, Baba Yousif, and Boka villages of Balkh district at the end of December
2019.987 Heavy fighting was reported from Charbulak district in November 2019 after the Taliban
attacked the district centre. As a result, the district police chief and a pro-government militia member
were killed.988 The district police chief of Shortepa district was also killed in a Taliban attack on thepolice and district headquarters on 1 October 2019. Five other police officers were also killed andfifteen were taken prisoners.989 Government officials denied the claim by the Taliban that they had
overran the compound.990 In response to a Taliban attack, Afghan security forces launched an operation
called Shaheen 221 in February 2020, during which they managed to clear some vulnerable areas in
Chemtal district, such as Pul-e Bangaala village, from the Taliban.991 Coordinated attacks by the Taliban
on Dawlatabad, Balkh and Chemtal districts in March 2020 triggered operations by security forces.992
Clashes between (pro-)government forces and local jihadi commander forces were also reported in
Balkh district in May 2019 and caused civilian casualties.993
Air/drone strikes represented 11 % of all reported violent incidents in Balkh between 1 March 2019and 30 June 2020.994 Nearly three out of four air strikes in Balkh province were carried out in following
four districts: Chemtal, Charbulak, Balkh and Sholgara. Most air strikes were carried out by Afghan
forces, while some were attributed to US forces.995 While air strikes inflicted losses among AGEs996 anddestroyed their facilities or equipment997, some also caused civilian casualties such as the air strikes
carried out on 25 January 2020 in Boki village of Balkh district during which at least six civilians were
killed, when a bomb hit their home.998 In May 2020, civilians, reportedly forced by the Taliban to983 RFE/RL, Afghan Officials: Taliban Suffers Heavy Casualties In Several Provinces, 22 September 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War

Casualty Report: September 2019, 5 September 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban claims capturing Zari district inBalkh, 3 September 2019, url
984 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 5 September 2019, url
985 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (17 February – 23 February 2020), 26 February 2020, url
986 Pajhwok Afghan News, 38 local uprising members killed, injured in Zare clash, 1 may 2020, url
987 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: January 2020, 2 January 2020, url
988 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: November 2019, 7 November 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Balkh: District police
chief killed in Taliban attack, 6 November 2019, url
989 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 4 October 2019, url
990 AP, Afghan officials: Taliban attack kills at least 11 policemen, 1 October 2019, url
991 Tolonews, ‘Vulnerable’ Areas in Chamtal Cleared of Taliban: Army, 8 February 2020, url
992 Pajhwok Afghan News, Balkh: 2 tanks torched in Dawlatabad firefight, 20 March 2020, url; Khaama Press, 25 Taliban
militants killed, 33 wounded in Balkh clashes, 24 March 2020, url
993 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 3-9, 9 May 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 2 dead, 5 injured as Balkhcommanders clash, 8 may 2019, url
994 These do not include air strikes carried out during operations categorised by ACLED under ‘battles’. For more
information on ACLED’s methodology, please consult the introduction.
995 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Balkh; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
996 NYT, Dozens Killed as Taliban Bombs in 4 Humvees Rip Through Afghan District, 30 June 2019, url; Khaama press, 8
Taliban militants killed in an airstrike of the Afghan Air Force in Balkh province, 4 April 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan New,
Taliban’s district chiefs, commanders killed in Balkh, 30 June 2019, url; Khaama Press, Car bomb destroyed; 15 Taliban
militants killed in Balkh operations, 17 August 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban chief for Chamtal district killed inairstrike, 7 February 2020, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 16 insurgents killed in Balkh air raid, says army, 5 May 2020, url
997 Khaama Press, 49 Taliban militants killed, wounded; strategic compound destroyed in Balkh, 9 September 2019, url;
Khaama Press, Notorious Taliban commander, his fighters killed in Balkh before disrupting elections, 28 September 2019,
url; Khaama press, Video: Airstrike destroys key Taliban compound in Balkh province, 6 April 2020, url
998 RFE/RL, Afghan Officials Say Four Children, Three Women Killed In Air Strikes, 26 January 2020, url; NYT, Despite Calm in
Afghan Cities, War in Villages Kills Dozens Daily, 29 January 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update

96 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

destroy a main road in Balkh district in order to obstruct government forces, were killed and woundedby air strikes.999 In the first half of 2020, UNAMA documented more than half of all civilian casualties
as a result of Afghan Air Force air strikes in Kunduz and Balkh provinces.1000
AGEs using roadside bombs or IEDs – sometimes VB-IEDs1001 or pressure plate IEDs1002 - to target
security forces1003 or government officials1004, represented 7 % of all reported security incidents in
Balkh between 1 March 2019 and 30 June 2020.1005 Some of these incidents resulted in casualties
among civilians.1006 This happened for example on 15 July 2019, in Charbulak district when an IED went
off while children were playing in the area killing two of them1007, or on 18 August 2019, when a civilian
vehicle hit a roadside bomb in Dawlat Abad district. At least 10 civilians, nearly all members of thesame family, were reported to have died.1008
Mortars fired by Afghan forces in Zari district in January and February 2020 and rockets fired by the
Taliban in Chemtal district in March 2020 caused civilian casualties.1009
Eighteen incidents categorised by ACLED as violence against civilians included the killing of off-duty
police personnel1010, the abduction and killing of civilians by the Taliban on 7 April 2020 in Sholgareh
district1011 and the killing of civilians in operations by security forces, as reported by the Taliban.1012
These incidents represented 2 % of all violent events in Balkh province between 1 March 2019 and
30 June 2020.1013 In addition to the incidents registered by ACLED, UNAMA documented the abductionof five fuel truck drivers by the Taliban at one of their checkpoints in Charbulak district on
11 October 2019 until their company paid AFN 30 000 per tanker.1014(27 January – 2 February 2020), 5 February 2020, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 7 of a family killed in Balkh airstrike, residents
claim, 26 January 2020, url
999 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 2020, 7 May 2020, url; Tolonews, 9 ‘Civilians Killed’ in Govt Airstrike in Balkh:
Residents, 12 May 2020, url; UNAMA, Afghanistan. Protection Of Civilians In Armed Conflict. midyear Report: 1 January – 30
June 2020, 27 July 2020, url, p. 171000 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection Of Civilians In Armed Conflict. midyear Report: 1 January – 30 June 2020, 27 July 2020,
url, p. 161001 RFE/RL/Gandhara, Bomb Blast In Northern Afghanistan Kills One Civilian, Wounds Two Others, 4 January 2020, url;
UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, A/74/753–S/2020/210, 17
March 2020, url, p. 61002 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 421003 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 26-May 2, 2 May 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 30 soldiers suffer casualties
in Balkh attack, 26 December 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 2020, 7 May 2020, url
1004 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 2020, 4 June 2020 , url
1005 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Balkh; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
1006 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 4 October 2019, url
1007 Khaama Press, Roadside bomb explosion kills 2 children in Balkh province, 15 July 2019, url
1008 RFE/RL, Afghan President Condemns 'Barbaric' Attack On Wedding Party, 18 August 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War
Casualty Report: Aug. 16-22, 22 August 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 11 civilians killed in Balkh roadside bombing, 18
August 2019, url
1009 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: January 2020, 2 January 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 2020, 5
March 2020, url; UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection Of Civilians In Armed Conflict First Quarter Report: 1 January - 31 March
2020, 27 April 2020, url, p. 61010 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: February 2020, 6 February 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October
2019, 4 October 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: August 2-8, 8 August 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty
Report: June 21-27, 27 June 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 2020, 4 June 2020, url
1011 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 2020, 2 April 2020, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban abduct, slay 8 civilians in
Balkh, 8 April 2020, url
1012 Voice of Jihad, War crimes of the internal enemies (May 2020), 5 June 2020, url; Voice of Jihad, War crimes of theforeign occupying forces and their internal mercenaries (November 2019), 4 December 2019, url
1013 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Balkh; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
1014 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 49

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UNAMA notes a consistent pattern in the use of civilian locations by AGEs when carrying out their
attacks in Afghanistan, which exposes civilians to risks of attack by pro-government forces. Illustrating
this, UNAMA documented a ground engagement in Chemtal district in March 2019, when the Afghan
National Army fired a mortar round towards Taliban fighters who were hiding in residential homes.
The mortar landed on a civilian home, killing three civilians including a six-year old boy, and injuring
three children.1015 Another example was an attack on a convoy of Afghan security forces on
23 June 2019, during which Taliban fighters were hiding in shops in a bazaar in Balkh district. As a resultof the government forces’ response to the attack, two civilians, including a child, were killed.1016 Whilefleeing after having attacked the police headquarters and the district governor’s office in Zari districton 1 May 2020, the Taliban tried to hide in civilian houses and killed a civilian who refused to open thedoor.1017
There were reports from the northern region, which includes Balkh province, about electricity andmobile phone networks being interrupted before and during the presidential election in September
2019.1018 However, in contrast to other northern provinces, AAN did not observe a telecommunication
ban in Balkh. In some districts not all networks were active.1019 The election campaign office ofPresident Ghani was attacked by unidentified gunmen on 1 September 2019.1020 After a security
meeting in advance of the elections the Independent Election Commission announced that 33 polling
centres, located in Chemtal, Charbulak, Dawlatabad, Shortepa en Sholgareh districts, would not open
on election day.1021
Balkh was one of the four main provinces in Afghanistan where ANDSF invested in improving security
along the major roads in the third quarter of 2019.1022 There were reports of increased insecurity along
the Mazar-Shiberghan Highway in August 2019.1023 The Taliban reportedly often establishedcheckpoints along the highway, making travelling for government employees difficult.1024 Security
incidents along the Mazar-Shiberghan Highway were reported in March1025, April1026 and October
20191027 and continued to be reported in 20201028, including during the week of reduction in violenceat the end of February 2020 agreed between the Taliban and the United States.1029 Protesters blocked
the Mazar-Shiberghan Highway in June 2019 after to children were killed and two civilians were injured
in a security operation on that highway.1030
Within the framework of its attacks on health care initiative, the World Health Organisation (WHO) did
not register such attacks in Balkh province in 2019.1031 On 9 July 2019, the Taliban attacked a police
checkpoint, that had been providing security for a hospital in Dawlat Abad district. One police officer

1015 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 51
1016 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 21-27, 27 June 2019, url
1017 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 2020, 7 May 2020, url
1018 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Monthly Humanitarian Update (September 2019), 18 October 2019, url
1019 AAN, Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (13): Observations from Kandahar, Takhar, Wardak and Balkh, 4 October 2019, url
1020 Pajhwok Afghan News, Ghani’s campaign office attacked in Balkh, 1 September 2019, url
1021 Pajhwok Afghan News, 33 polling sites to stay shut in Balkh on Election Day, 14 September 2019, url
1022 UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, A/73/990–S/2019/703, 3

September 2019, url, pp. 5-61023 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (5 - 11 August 2019), 14 August 2019, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan:
Weekly Humanitarian Update (18 - 25 August 2019), 27 August 2019, url
1024 Tolonews, Taliban Planning To Disrupt Balkh Security: Police Chief, 22 August 2019, url
1025 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 2020, 5 March 2020, url
1026 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 5-11, 11 April 2019, url; Xinhua, Gov't forces kill 7 militants in N. Afghanistan, 30
April 2019, url
1027 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 4 October 2019, url
1028 Pajhwok Afghan News, 8 highway police personnel killed in Balkh assault, 1 January 2020, url
1029 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: January 2020, 2 January 2020, url; RFE/RL, At Least Six Killed In Afghanistan Despite'Reduction Of Violence' Deal, 24 February 2020, url; KUNA, Taliban attacks kill 15 security men in N. Afghanistan, 1 January
2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (24 February – 1 March 2020), 4 March 2020, url
1030 Pajhwok Afghan News, Balkh protestors close road after forces kill 2 children, 22 June 2019, url
1031 WHO, Afghanistan, Attacks on Health Care in 2019 as of December 31, 2019, 31 December 2019 url

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was killed, another was wounded.1032 UNAMA recorded the looting of medical supplies by ANA in Zari
district on 26 April 2020. The medical supplies belonged to an NGO, accused by the ANA of supporting
the Taliban with those supplies.1033
Education personnel from various districts in Balkh province, backed by the provincial council head,complained in August 2019 to Afghan news agency Pajhwok about ongoing conflict and clashes
impacting the education process and school attendance. The Balkh Education Director, however,confirmed increasing insecurity in some districts but claimed no serious problems were reported.1034
In June 2020, through its Twitter account, the Kabul-based news service Reportedly cited residents of
Balkh district saying that the Taliban blocked access to water and communication networks in the
district.1035
The conflict pattern in Mazar-e Sharif district, which includes the provincial capital, was different fromthe general pattern in Balkh province and in its different districts. Also Mazar-e Sharif was one of the
districts In Balkh province where a lower number of incidents were reported.1036
ACLED registered 19 violent incidents in Mazar-e Sharif district between 1 March 2019 and
30 June 2020 representing around 2 % of all violent events recorded by ACLED in Balkh province in that
period. While ACLED categorised at least 65 % of the violent incidents in the different districts of Balkhprovince as battles, in Mazar-e Sharif this event type represented 37 % of all violent incidents.1037
Over half of the reported violent incidents in Mazar-e Sharif were landmine or IED explosions, whereas
in the other districts that type of incidents represented under 25 % and in most districts even under
10 % of all violent incidents. No air strikes were reported in Mazar-e Sharif.1038 At least 18 people,
including civilians, were injured when an IED attached to a bicycle exploded at one of the busiest
intersections in Mazar-e Sharif on 17 December 2019.1039 A magnetic IED detonated near a publicbathhouse in PD10 of Mazar-e Sharif on 4 January 2020, killing one civilian and wounding threeothers.1040 On 14 January 2020, an explosion in PD9 of Mazar-e Sharif City, reportedly in front of theresidence of the Balkh district governor, killed two children. This was followed by another explosion
wounding at least seven civilians.1041
The two incidents of violence against civilians registered by ACLED in Mazar-e Sharif1042, included thebeheading of a 9-year old girl on 30 September 2019 and the killing af a religious scholar on1032 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 5-11, 11 July 2019, url
1033 UNAMA, Special Report: Attacks On Healthcare During The Covid-19 Pandemic, 20 June 2020, url, p.12
1034 Pajhwok Afghan News, Balkh students stop attending lessons as violence rages, 27 August 2019, url
1035 Reporterly, [Twitter], posted on 11 June 2020, url
1036 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus; Afghanistan; Baghlan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; Geoprecision
code: 1 & 2; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020), url
1037 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Baghlan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; Geoprecision
code: 1 & 2; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020), url
1038 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Baghlan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; Geoprecision
code: 1 & 2; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020), url
1039 Khaama Press, Explosion injures 18 civilians in Balkh province of Afghanistan 17 December 2019, url; Pajhwok AfghanNews, Civilians among 22 injured in Mazar-i-Sharif blast, 17 December 2019, url; RFE/RL, Roadside Bomb Kills 10 From Same
Afghan Family, 17 December 2019, url
1040 Pajhwok Afghan News, 1 killed, 3 wounded as blast rocks Mazar-i-Sharif, 4 January 2020, url; Tolonews, One Civilian
Killed in IED Explosion in Balkh, 4 January 2020, url; RFE/RL/Gandhara, 4 January 2020, url
1041 AP, Afghan official: Bombs kill 2 children in northern province, 14 January 2020, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 2 children
killed, 8 civilians wounded in Balkh blasts, 14 January 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: January 2020, 2 January
2020, url
1042 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Baghlan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; Geoprecision
code: 1 & 2; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020), url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 99

12 October 2019 by unidentified armed men.1043 In addition Pajhwok reported on the killing of a
primary court judge by unidentified armed men in PD 10 of the city on 8 August 2019.1044
Mazar-e Sharif was the scene of clashes in the context of political disputes and powerplay in thereporting period. On 14 March 2019, gunfire broke out between militia fighters loyal to former
Governor Mohammad Atta Noor and Interior Ministry forces sent to escort and support the newprovincial police chief, appointed by President Ashraf Ghani. As a result more than a dozen people,
police officers as well as civilians, were wounded.1045 A clash between local police and local jihadi
commanders on 7 May 2019 resulted in two people, including one civilian, being killed and five people,
including three civilians, being wounded.1046 On 14 December 2019, heavy fighting erupted and lasted
for nearly 24 hours between Afghan security forces and fighters loyal to local militia commander andformer police chief for Faryab, Nizamuddin Qaisary.1047 The battle caused residents to flee theneighbourhood, while the two sides were shelling each other.1048 Nearby civilian houses weredamaged.1049
Presidential election day, on 28 September 2019, was a quiet day in Mazar-e Sharif, with little visible
security measures an no visible checkpoints. Despite the fact that sources described the situation in
the city as secure, allowing the people in the city to go out to vote, turnout was low compared toprevious elections.1050
Sources consulted by Landinfo during its fact-finding mission at the end of October 2019, were of theopinion that the security situation in Mazar-e Sharif had worsened in 2019, compared to 2018, but
attributed this mainly to crime and to a small extent to conflict-related violence.1051 Residents ofMazar-e Sharif complained to Pajhwok in 2019 and 2020 about a worsening security situation andincreasing crime in the city, mentioning the presence of illegal armed men who were involved inrobberies, murders and chaos.1052

2.5.3.2 Displacement
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 22 253 persons
displaced from Balkh province, more than 99 % of whom were displaced within the province itself.1053
Most were displaced from Zari, mostly in July and September 2019 and March 2020, due to conflict,heavy fighting between security forces and the Taliban and air-and-ground operations against the
Taliban1054 and from Sholgarah, in particular in May 2020 and also in July and August 2019, whensecurity operations were reported.1055 Large groups were displaced from Chemtal district, especially in1043 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 4 October 2019, url
1044 Pajhwok Afghan News, Primary court judge gunned down in Balkh, 8 August 2019, url
1045 RFE/RL, Rival Police Clash In North Afghan City In Spat Between President, Ex-Governor, 14 March 2019, url; Reuters,

Gunfight erupts in north Afghan city over police chief's appointment, 14 March 2019, url; AP, Afghans probe US mistaken
airstrike of Afghan army base, 14 March 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Balkh: Gunfire erupts after talks on new police
chief fail, 14 March 2019, url
1046 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 3-9, 9 May 2019, url
1047 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: December 2019, 5 December 2019, url; Khaama Press, BREAKING: Government
storms a warlord’s home with Helicopter gunships in northern Balkh province as he refuses to surrender to security forces,
15 December 2019, url
1048 NYT, Afghan Warlord Escapes Arrest as Troops Turn City Into a War Zone, 16 December 2019, url
1049 Tolonews, Fight To Arrest Qaisari in Mazar-e-Sharif Ongoing, 15 December 2019, url
1050 AAN, Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (13): Observations from Kandahar, Takhar, Wardak and Balkh, 4 October 2019, url
1051 Norway, Landinfo, Afghanistan. Sikkerhetssituasjonen i Balkhprovinsen i 2019, 6 April 2020, url, p. 131052 Pajhwok Afghan News, Balkh police taking action against illegal armed men: Chief, 10 June 2019, url; Pajhwok AfghanNews, Balkh police record over 800 crimes in six months, 7 February 2020, url
1053 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
1054 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban claims capturing Zari district in Balkh, 3 September 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News,
Shadow district chief among 8 Taliban killed in Balkh, 22 September 2019, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian
Update (24 February – 1 March 2020), 4 March 2020, url
1055 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’s influence, insecurity grow in Balkh, 18 August 2019, url

100 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

July 2019 and February 2020, when ACLED registered most violent incidents there1056, from Charbulak
district, in particular in April 2019 and from Dawlatabad, mostly in February 2020. People were also
displaced from Nahr-e Shahi district in September 2019, due to attacks by AGEs around election day1057
and from Shortepa district in January 2020 due to military operations in that district.1058 The majorityof the IDPs from different districts in Balkh province were displaced to Nahr-e Shahi district or to
Mazar-e Sharif. Although insecurity and fighting reportedly caused people to flee in Balkh district1059,
only seven IDPs were registered by UNOCHA from that district in June 2020. UNOCHA also did notregister conflict-induced displacement from Mazar-e Sharif district.1060
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 28 987 persons
displaced to Balkh province. In addition to the 22 176 people displaced within the province, Balkh also
hosted IDPs from Faryab province and to a lesser extent from Jawzjan and Sar-e Pul provinces. Mazare Sharif, Nahr-e Shahi, Sholgareh and Charkent were the only districts hosting IDPs in the reporting
period. Almost two out of three IDPs displaced to Balkh province were displaced to Nahr-e Shahi
district, including all IDPs from Zari district and all IDPs displaced from within the district itself in
September 2019. Mazar-e Sharif hosted about one third of all IDPs displaced to Balkh province.1061

1056 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus; Afghanistan; Balkh; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
1057 ERM (Emergency Response Mechanism), Household Assessment report, 20 October 2019, url
1058 UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian
Update (27 January – 2 February 2020), 5 February 2020, url
1059 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’s influence, insecurity grow in Balkh, 18 August 2019, url
1060 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
1061 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 101

2.6 Bamyan
2.6.1 General description of the province

Map 6: Afghanistan – Bamyan province, source: UNOCHA1062

Bamyan province is located in the central highlands region and has borders with the provinces ofSamangan to the north, Baghlan and Parwan to the east, Wardak to the south-east, Ghazni andDaykundi to the south, Ghor to the west and Sar-e Pul to the north-west.1063 Bamyan is situated southof the Hindu Kush and north of the Koh-i Baba mountain ranges.1064 The province is divided into thefollowing administrative units: Bamyan, Kahmard, Panjab, Sayghan, Shibar, Waras and Yakawlang. The
provincial capital is Bamyan. Yakawlang Two is mentioned as a separate ‘temporary’ district.1065
According to AAN analyst Thomas Ruttig, ‘“temporary” districts […] have been approved after entry
into force of the 2004 constitution by the president due to security or other considerations, but have
not yet been approved by parliament.’1066
According to estimates for 2020-21 by NSIA, Bamyan province has a population of 495 557.1067 As
Bamyan is part of the Hazarajat region1068, referred to as the ‘unofficial Hazara capital’ by Al Jazeera1069,
the main ethnic group in the province is Hazara. Other groups present include a minority of Pashtun,

1062 UNOCHA, Afghanistan – Bamyan Province - District Atlas, April 2014, url
1063 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Bamyan Province - District Atlas, April 2014, url
1064 Pajhwok Afghan News, Elections 2019: Bamyan Province Background Profile, n.d., url
1065 Afghanistan, IEC, Afghanistan 2019 Presidential Elections - Final Results by Polling Stations: Province Bamyan, 2020, url;

Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21, June 2020, url, p. 191066 Ruttig, T., The Afghanistan Election Conundrum (12): Good News and Bad News About District Numbers, AAN, 16
August 2018, url
1067 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21, 1 June 2020, url, p. 51068 ACCORD, Anfragebeantwortung zu Afghanistan: Informationen zur Volksgruppe der Sadat (Sayed, Sayyed, Sadaat,
Sayyid, Sayid, Sayeed [Query response on Afghanistan: Information on the ethnic group of the Sadat (Sayed, Sayyed,
Sadaat, Sayyid, Sayid, Sayeed)], 25 October 2017, url; Qaane, E., One Land, Two Rules (9): Delivering Public Services inInsurgency-Affected Jalrez District of Wardak Province, AAN, 16 December 2019, url
1069 Al Jazeera, Afghanistan: Who Are the Hazaras?, 27 June 2016, url

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Tajik, and Sayed/Sadat.1070 According to various sources quoted in a query response of ACCORD,
Bamyan’s Sayeds are mostly Hazaras, though they distinguish themselves from other Hazaras, and are
traditionally part of the Hazara religious and political elite.1071 Approximately 90 % of Bamyan’s
residents are Shias.1072
In March 2016, Kam Air initiated direct commercial flights between Kabul and Bamyan1073, with flights
operating several times a week.1074 By road, Bamyan can be reached from Kabul either by the KabulBamyan Highway, via Wardak province, or by the Ghorband Valley, via Parwan province.1075 Bamyan
province is planned to be connected to neighbouring Baghlan province via the Baghlan to Bamyan(B2B) Road in 2022.1076
Bamyan is reportedly one of Afghanistan’s poorest provinces, ‘[...] often lacking basic facilities andelectricity’.1077 Tourism is a source of revenue in the province1078, which has however been impeded
by insecurity in neighbouring provinces1079, as well as by the increasing Covid-19 crisis in
Afghanistan.1080 According to UNODC’s Opium Survey from 2018, Bamyan province remained opiumfree in 2018.1081 UNODC data obtained by AAN in June 2020 indicated a 52 % reduction in opium-poppy
cultivation in the provinces of the central region and the central highlands (including Bamyan
province).1082

2.6.2 Conflict background and actors in Bamyan
Certain regions in Afghanistan, like Panjsher province and the area of the central highlands (including
Bamyan province1083), have been described as relatively safe and less affected by conflict-driven
violence.1084 According to an Afghan military expert cited by Tolonews, the relative stability of Bamyan
as well as Daykundi and Panjsher provinces is related to the social cohesion among its inhabitants, as
most of them belong to the same ethnic or tribal group.1085 Bamyan's relative peacefulness has also
been attributed to the active involvement of religious leaders in local and governmental peace
processes in the province.1086
An LWJ assessment mapping Taliban control in Afghanistan in a frequently updated map and based on
open-source information, consulted on 2 July 2020, indicated all districts of Bamyan province as1070 US, Naval Postgraduate School, Bamyan Provincial Overview, n.d., url
1071 ACCORD, Anfragebeantwortung zu Afghanistan: Informationen zur Volksgruppe der Sadat (Sayed, Sayyed, Sadaat,

Sayyid, Sayid, Sayeed) [Query response on Afghanistan: Information on the ethnic group of the Sadat (Sayed, Sayyed,
Sadaat, Sayyid, Sayid, Sayeed)], 25 October 2017, url
1072 Pajhwok Afghan News, Elections 2019: Bamyan Province Background Profile, n.d., url
1073 Khaama Press, Kam Air Starts Direct Commercial Flights to Bamyan for the First Time, 9 March 2016, url
1074 Kam Air, Route Map: Domestic Routes, 2020, url
1075 Pajhwok Afghan News, Hajigak Pass Reopens for Traffic, 26 April 2015, url
1076 World Bank (The), Trans-Hindukush Road Connectivity Project, 24 October 2018, url
1077 Al Jazeera, Afghanistan: Who are the Hazaras?, 27 June 2016, url
1078 Pajhwok Afghan News, More Than 200,000 Tourists Visit Bamyan This Year, 3 September 2017, url; National (The),
Coronavirus Shatters Tourism Hopes in Afghanistan's Bamyan Province, 26 April 2020, url
1079 Pajhwok Afghan News, More Than 200,000 Tourists Visit Bamyan This Year, 3 September 2017, url
1080 National (The), Coronavirus Shatters Tourism Hopes in Afghanistan's Bamyan Province, 26 April 2020, url
1081 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, p. 151082 Bjelica, J., New World Drug Report: Opium Production in Afghanistan Remained the Same in 2019, AAN, 25 June 2020,
url
1083 Khaama Press, Traditional Dambora Musical Festival Organized in Bamyan Province, 30 June 2018, url; Al Jazeera, Low
Turnout, Technical Glitches Mark Afghan Presidential Election, 28 September 2019, url; Reporterly, Challenges of the 2019
Elections: Bamyan, a Province with Heavy Preparedness and Soaring Uncertainty, 31 August 2019, url
1084 DW, Afghanistan: ‘A Latent Instability Dominates the Picture’, 14 March 2017, url; RFE/RL, Afghan Taliban Wants What
It Hasn't Been Able to Hold: Hazara Regions, 13 November 2018, url; National (The), Fears of Violence and Fraud Hang overAfghan Presidential Election, 26 September 2019, url; An international organisation Landinfo spoke to in October 2019.
Norway, Landinfo, Afghanistan: Sikkerhetssituasjon og konfliktmonster i 2019, 22 January 2020, url, pp. 12-13; Sweden,
Lifos/Migrationsverket, Säkerhetsläget i Afghanistan (Version 2.0), 7 April 2020, url, pp. 12, 51
1085 Pajhwok Afghan News, 2017 Causalities: Nearly 25,000 People Killed, Wounded in Afghanistan, 14 January 2018, url
1086 UNAMA, Bamyan Religious Scholars Gather to Discuss Peace-Building in Afghanistan, 20 November 2017, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 103‘government-controlled’ or ‘undetermined’.1087 The provincial capital, Bamyan City, is reported to beunder government control.1088 According to an international source Landinfo spoke to in October 2019,
the Taliban have no local presence in Bamyan province. However, infiltration of the Taliban from theneighbouring district of Tala Wa Barfak in Baghlan province has been reported, resulting in attacks atcheckpoints and abductions.1089 In September 2019, UNOCHA reported on a ‘tense’ situation in
Bamyan’s districts Kahmard and Shibar due to activities of non-state armed groups.1090 In May 2020,
the UN Security Council reported on a reorganisation of the Taliban shadow governance and military
structure in several provinces, with key new appointments made in Bamyan province.1091
According to AAN analyst Ehsan Qaane, insecurity in the insurgency-affected Jalrez district of Wardak
province has wider ramifications for the security situation in the Hazarajat region (including Bamyan
province), ‘given the importance of passing through Jalrez and the risks that this transit entails’.1092
The Kabul-Bamyan Highway, often referred to as the Death Road/Valley1093, has been reported as
unsafe.1094 According to two international sources Landinfo spoke to in October 2019, 10 to
15 kilometres on the Kabul-Bamyan Highway have been controlled by the Taliban for several years.1095
In December 2019, Qaane reported on 20 kilometres of this highway, connecting the Hazarajat region
to the Afghan capital, under Taliban control.1096 Roadblocks/checkpoints and IED emplacement byarmed opposition groups have been reported1097, as well as people being killed1098, kidnapped1099(passengers working for the Afghan government, NGOs or international troops) and/or extorted1100 by
Taliban militants. The victims were mainly Hazaras travelling on this route between Kabul and theHazarajat region.1101 58 % of respondents of the Asia Foundation’s 2019 Survey of the Afghan People
in Bamyan province reported to experience fear while travelling.1102 In December 2019, AAN reported
on an increasing number of Afghan people taking flights or longer routes to bypass roads situated incontested or Taliban-controlled areas. An NGO employee, cited by AAN, declared to use the Ghorband
Valley route (through Parwan province) instead of the road between Maydan Shar and Bamyan. 1103
Truck drivers transporting agricultural produce and other material between Kabul and the Hazarajat
1087 LWJ, Mapping Taliban Control in Afghanistan, n.d., url (LWJ, however, does not specify when and which information of

the aforementioned map was last updated.)
1088 ERM, AC401-ERM 09 Conflict Household Assessment Report in Bamyan City, August 2019, url, p. 1
1089 Tolonews, Taliban Attack Police Check Posts in Bamiyan, 30 July 2018, url; Norway, Landinfo, Afghanistan:
Sikkerhetssituasjon og konfliktmonster i 2019, 22 January 2020, url, p. 261090 UNOCHA, Afghanistan - Weekly Humanitarian Update (9 - 15 September 2019), 15 September 2019, url, p. 21091 UNSC, Eleventh Report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team Submitted Pursuant to Resolution
2501 (2019) Concerning the Taliban and Other Associated Individuals and Entities Constituting a Threat to the Peace,
Stability and Security of Afghanistan, 27 May 2020, url, pp. 8-91092 Qaane, E., One Land, Two Rules (9): Delivering Public Services in Insurgency-Affected Jalrez District of Wardak Province,
AAN, 16 December 2019, url
1093 Afghanistan Times, People Ask for Security of Kabul-Bamyan Highway, 13 September 2019, url; Qaane, E., One Land,
Two Rules (9): Delivering Public Services in Insurgency-Affected Jalrez District of Wardak Province, AAN, 16 December 2019,url
1094 Tolonews, Bamiyan Tourism Takes a Knock due to Security Threats on Roads, 28 June 2017, url; National (The),
Coronavirus Shatters Tourism Hopes in Afghanistan's Bamyan Province, 26 April 2020, url
1095 Norway, Landinfo, Afghanistan: Sikkerhetssituasjon og konfliktmonster i 2019, 22 January 2020, url, p. 261096 Qaane, E., One Land, Two Rules (9): Delivering Public Services in Insurgency-Affected Jalrez District of Wardak Province,
AAN, 16 December 2019, url
1097 ERM, AC401-ERM 09 Conflict Household Assessment Report in Bamyan City of Bamyan Province, August 2019, url, p. 1;
Qaane, E., One Land, Two Rules (9): Delivering Public Services in Insurgency-Affected Jalrez District of Wardak Province,
AAN, 16 December 2019, url
1098 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 31-June 6, 6 June 2019, url; Afghanistan Times, People Ask for Security of KabulBamyan Highway, 13 September 2019, url
1099 Afghanistan Times, People Ask for Security of Kabul-Bamyan Highway, 13 September 2019, url
1100 Tolonews, NDS Chief Says Claims against Alipoor Will Be Investigated, 27 November 2018, url; Afghanistan Times,
People Ask for Security of Kabul-Bamyan Highway, 13 September 2019, url
1101 Qaane, E., One Land, Two Rules (9): Delivering Public Services in Insurgency-Affected Jalrez District of Wardak Province,
AAN, 16 December 2019, url
1102 Asia Foundation (The), A Survey of the Afghan People - Afghanistan in 2019, 2 December 2019, url, p. 63
1103 Kazemi, S., R., Peace in the Districts (1): A Chasm between High Talks and Local Concerns in Afghanistan, AAN, 11
December 2019, url

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region reportedly use the alternative route through Parwan as well, avoiding tax collection by the
Taliban along the Kabul-Bamyan Highway.1104
No security incidents specifically attributed to ISKP have been recorded in Bamyan province between
1 March 2019 and 30 June 2020 by ACLED.1105
After the arrest of Hazara militia leader Abdul Ghani Alipur late November 2018, on charges of attacking
security forces1106, as well as of extortion of passengers by his gunmen on the highway from Maidan
Shar to Jalrez and Bamyan1107, protests were reported in Kabul, Mazar-e Sharif and Bamyan.1108 His
supporters claimed that Alipur had not been fighting government forces, but rather the Taliban in partsof Wardak, Ghor and Daykundi provinces.1109 Shortly after the protests, Alipur was released from NDS
custody.1110 Alipur’s militia is based in the province of Wardak but also operates in other parts of
Afghanistan, claiming to help Hazara communities facing security threats.1111
In July 2019, AAN reported on the recruitment of Shia Hazara and Sayed men and boys from Bamyan
province by the Iranian-backed Fatemiyun group1112, to fight in the Syrian war. Afghan officials haveexpressed concerns that ‘Iran may be laying the groundwork for an organised presence of its Fatemiyun
proxy in Bamyan, Kabul and the country at large.’1113
In terms of the presence of government security forces, Bamyan is under the responsibility of the 203th
ANA Corps. Bamyan province is included in the Task Force Southeast (TF-Southeast), which is part ofNATO’s Resolute Support Mission within Afghanistan. TF-Southeast is led by US forces and has its
headquarters in Paktya province.1114 In November 2018 President Ashraf Ghani ordered the formationof a new 443-strong security unit in Bamyan province, to ensure the protection of (road) construction
projects and to conduct special operations.1115

2.6.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population
2.6.3.1 General
In 2019, UNAMA documented five civilian casualties (three deaths and two injured) in Bamyan
province. This represents a decrease of 29 % compared to 2018. Leading cause of casualties was
explosive remnants of war.1116 For example in May 2019, three boys were killed in the Dahana-eAhangaran area, when accidently setting off an old Soviet bomb while playing.1117 In March 2020, theUN Secretary General reported Bamyan as the only province to be declared free of landmine

1104 Qaane, E., One Land, Two Rules (9): Delivering Public Services in Insurgency-Affected Jalrez District of Wardak Province,

AAN, 16 December 2019, url
1105 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Bamyan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
1106 Tolonews, Alipoor Says He Is 'Ready to Hand Over All Weapons', 27 November 2018, url
1107 Tolonews, NDS Chief Says Claims Against Alipoor Will Be Investigated, 27 November 2018, url
1108 Tolonews, Alipoor Says He Is 'Ready to Hand Over All Weapons', 27 November 2018, url; RFE/RL, Afghan Authorities
Release Militia Leader after Violent Demonstrations, 26 November 2018, url
1109 Tolonews, Alipoor Supporters Protest for the Second Day in Kabul, 26 November 2018, url
1110 RFE/RL, Afghan Authorities Release Militia Leader after Violent Demonstrations, 26 November 2018, url; AP, Afghans
Recruited to Fight in Syrian War Struggle Back Home, 1 April 2019, url
1111 RFE/RL, Afghan Authorities Release Militia Leader after Violent Demonstrations, 26 November 2018, url
1112 ‘One of the proxy forces deployed to Syria by the Iranian regime has been the Fatemiyun, a group of thousands ofAfghan men who have fought on the side of the Syrian government since 2012-2013. The group has played a small, but not
insignificant, role in the conflict in Syria.’ (Hamidi, M., The Two Faces of the Fatemiyun (I): Revisiting the Male Fighters,
AAN, 8 July 2019, url)
1113 Hamidi, M., The Two Faces of the Fatemiyun (I): Revisiting the Male Fighters, AAN, 8 July 2019, url
1114 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan - June 2020, 1 July 2020, url, p. 141115 Tolonews, Ghani Orders Formation of New 443-Strong Security Unit in Bamyan Province, 10 November 2018, url
1116 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 94
1117 NYT, Afghanistan’s Curse: A Bomb from 2 Wars Ago Crushes a Family Today, 21 November 2019, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 105

contamination, following the work of the only mixed-gender demining team in Afghanistan. 1118
Resolute Support1119 recorded between 0 and 50 civilian casualties in Bamyan province in the first halfof 2020, with no variation between the first and second quarter of the year.1120
ACLED collected data on 15 violent events in Bamyan province from 1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020
from reports in open sources, of which 14 were coded as ‘battles’ and 1 as ‘violence against civilians’.
Kahmard in the north-western region of the province stood out as the district where most incidents
were reported, with eight incidents recorded. Three incidents were reported in Sayghan district, twoin Shibar district and two in Bamyan district, where the provincial capital is located. In the rest of theprovince, no violent incidents were recorded.1121

Figure 8. Bamyan - Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians from
1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, based on ACLED data1122

All ‘battles’ recorded by ACLED in Bamyan province were categorised as ‘armed clashes’, reported in
Kahmard, Sayghan, Shibar and Bamyan districts in the third and fourth quarters of 2019. The majorityof these armed clashes were attacks by the Taliban on Afghan security forces, including military andpolice personnel as well as members of pro-government militias or so-called arbakis (the term arbaki
is locally often used to refer to members of the Afghan local police or other pro-government
militias).1123
The single incident ACLED registered as ‘violence against civilians’ in Bamyan was coded as an incidentof sexual violence in Bamyan City.1124 In August 2019, two senior security officials were accused ofraping a young woman in the guesthouse of the Bamyan police headquarters.1125
Bamyan’s voter turnout as percentage of its registered voters for the presidential elections on
28 September 2019 represented the second highest of all provinces (after Daykundi province),

1118 BBC News, Meet the Women on a Mission to Clear Landmines, 20 November 2019, url; UNSG, The Situation in

Afghanistan and Its Implications for International Peace and Security, A/74/753–S/2020/210, 17 March 2020, url, p. 131119 Civilian casualty data for 2020 have not yet been published by UNAMA.
1120 SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, 30 April 2020, url, p. 69; SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the UnitedStates Congress, 30 July 2020, url, p. 72
1121 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Bamyan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
1122 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, Afghanistan - Bamyan, url
1123 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Bamyan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
1124 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Bamyan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
1125 Khaama Press, Senior Security Officials on the Run after Raping a Young Woman in Bamyan Province, 14 August 2019,
url; USDOS, Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2019 - Afghanistan, 11 March 2020, url, p. 34

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reaching almost 50 %1126 and with a high female turnout reported.1127 However, across the wholeprovince the 2019 voter turnout remained low compared to previous elections.1128 In the Asia
Foundation’s 2019 Survey of the Afghan People, 0-25 % of respondents in Bamyan province reported
to have experienced fear while voting.1129 Some voters in Bamyan and Daykundi provinces, who often
travel back and forth to Kabul, were reported not to have participated in the elections out of fear of
being stopped by the Taliban when passing through Jalrez district in Wardak province.1130 According to
AAN, election day in Bamyan province went relatively smoothly. In some of the province’s districts suchas Kahmard, Sayghan and Shibar, insecurity was reported to have hampered the voter turnout. The
polling centre of Sar-e Qundi Baghak in the Imandab area of Shibar district remained closed due to ahigh security threat and a lack of access routes.1131 A Taliban checkpoint was established in the borderarea with Baghlan’s Tala Wa Barfak district on election day.1132 Without providing further details,
Agence France Presse (AFP) reported on security incidents on polling day in Bamyan province.1133
Referring to Taliban source Voice of Jihad, ACLED recorded one incident on election day in Bamyan
province, in which Taliban militants attacked several polling centres in Kahmard district, resulting inclashes with Afghan security forces.1134

2.6.3.2 Displacement
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, reporting 175 persons displaced
from Bamyan province. The majority of IDPs (126 individuals) were displaced from Shibar district inJanuary 2020. A smaller group of 49 IDPs was displaced from Sayghan district in February 2020. All
IDPs found refuge in Kabul province (Kabul district).1135
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, reporting 730 persons displaced
to Bamyan province, all coming from Jalrez district in Wardak province and finding refuge in Bamyan
district in August 2019.1136 Surging insecurity and intensifying conflict between armed oppositiongroups and public uprising forces over control of the strategic area connecting Bamyan and Kabul
province were reported to have displaced hundreds of people from their villages in the Maydan Valley(Jalrez district) of Wardak province. The IDPs found refuge in Bamyan province. When the situation insome villages in Jalrez improved, several displaced families were reported to have returned home or
moved further on towards Kabul.1137 According to IOM displacement data published in August andOctober 2019, most IDPs and returnees in Bamyan province resided in Bamyan district, followed by1126 Adili, A., Y., Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (24): Disputed Recount, Threats Not to Accept Results, and Some Interesting

New Data, AAN, 21 November 2019, url; SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, 30 January 2020, url, p. 98
1127 RFE/RL, Five Takeaways from Afghanistan's Presidential Election, 28 September 2019, url
1128 Adili, A., Y., Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (18): How the People of Bamyan, Daikundi and Lal Wa Sarjangal Voted, AAN, 16
October 2019, url
1129 Asia Foundation (The), A Survey of the Afghan People - Afghanistan in 2019, 2 December 2019, url, p. 621130 Adili, A., Y., Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (18): How the People of Bamyan, Daikundi and Lal Wa Sarjangal Voted, AAN, 16
October 2019, url; Qaane, E., One Land, Two Rules (9): Delivering Public Services in Insurgency-Affected Jalrez District of
Wardak Province, AAN, 16 December 2019, url
1131 Adili, A., Y., Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (18): How the People of Bamyan, Daikundi and Lal Wa Sarjangal Voted, AAN, 16
October 2019, url
1132 An international source Landinfo spoke to in October 2019. Norway, Landinfo, Afghanistan: Sikkerhetssituasjon og
konfliktmonster i 2019, 22 January 2020, url, p. 261133 AFP, Polls Close in Afghanistan Amid Reports of Irregularities, Sporadic Attacks, 28 September 2019, url
1134 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Bamyan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
1135 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
1136 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
1137 ERM, AC401-ERM 09 Conflict Household Assessment Report in Bamyan City, August 2019, url, p. 1

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 107

Kahmard district.1138 According to UNHCR, Bamyan is one of the four provinces with the highest
percentage of returnees who originate there but choose to live somewhere else once they return.1139

2.7 Daykundi
2.7.1 General description of the province

Map 7: Afghanistan – Daykundi province, source: UNOCHA1140

Daykundi province is located in the central highlands region and has borders with the provinces of Ghor
to the north and west, Bamyan to the north-east, Ghazni to the south-east, Uruzgan to the south andHelmand to the south-west.1141 Daykundi province is divided into the following administrative:
Ashtarlay, Nili, Kajran, Khadir, Kiti, Miramor, Sang-e Takht, Shahrestan, Gizab/Patoo and Nawmesh. The
provincial capital is Nili.1142
According to Pajhwok Afghan News, Daykundi was once a district of Uruzgan province and was given
the status of a separate province in 2003.1143 According to the Dutch embassy in Kabul, Daykundi
originated from the province of Uruzgan in March 2004.1144

1138 IOM, Afghanistan - Bamyan Baseline Mobility Assessment Summary Results Round 7 (October - December 2018), 1

August 2019, url, pp. 1, 2, 6; IOM, DTM Afghanistan Baseline Mobility Assessment I District Level I Total Inflow(Returnees+IDPs) I June 2019 I Province: Bamyan, 9 October 2019, url
1139 UNHCR, Returnee and Internally Displaced Persons Monitoring Report - Final Report, May 2018, url, p. 191140 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Daykundi Province - District Atlas, April 2014, url
1141 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Daykundi Province - District Atlas, April 2014, url
1142 Afghanistan, IEC, Afghanistan 2019 Presidential Elections - Final Results by Polling Stations: Province Daykundi, 2020,
url; Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21, June 2020, url, p. 34
1143 Pajhwok Afghan News, Mineral Resources of Daikundi Province, 1 February 2014, url
1144 Netherlands, Embassy in Kabul (The), Context Analysis - URUZGAN Province, August 2006, url, p. 3

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The administrative location of Gizab/Patoo district has been a source of contestation. The districtchanged hands between Daykundi province and the southern province of Uruzgan in the past and was
disputed whether to be split in two or not.1145 According to AAN analyst Martine van Bijlert, in 2011,
Gizab was formally still part of Daykundi province, despite the fact that in 2006 it was temporarily
placed under the authority of the province of Uruzgan.1146 Several sources reported on theestablishment of Patoo district in June 2018, formerly part of Gizab district in Uruzgan but now
constituting a separate district belonging to Daykundi.1147 UNODC’s Opium Survey from 2018
mentioned Gizab as ‘formerly part of Daykundi [province], but under the administration of thegovernor of Uruzgan province’. In this survey, Gizab is listed as part of Daykundi until 2013, from on theyear 2014 the district is listed as part of Uruzgan.1148 In the 2018 official list of districts by the
Independent Directorate of Local Governance, Gizab district is mentioned as belonging to Uruzganprovince according to the local authorities, and belonging to Daykundi province according to theCentral Statistics Organisation (CSO).1149
In March 2016, the Hazara-dominated district of Nawmesh was ‘split from the Pashtun-majority
Baghran district in northern Helmand province’ by presidential order. In June 2017, its administration
was transferred to Daykundi province. Nawmesh was considered a ‘temporary district’. According to
AAN analyst Thomas Ruttig, ‘ “temporary” districts […] have been approved after entry into force ofthe 2004 constitution by the president due to security or other considerations, but have not yet been
approved by parliament.’1150 UNAMA as well as AAN and several media sources mentioned Nawmesh
district as part of Daykundi province in 2019.1151
According to estimates for 2020-21 by NSIA, Daykundi province has a population of 516 504.1152 As
Daykundi is part of the Hazarajat region1153, the main ethnic group in the province is Hazara. Other
groups present include a minority of Pashtun, Baloch, and Sayed/Sadat.1154 Gizab/Patoo is a mixed
Pashtun-Hazara district.1155
Daykundi is described as having a ‘difficult geography’.1156 Most of the province’s territory ismountainous, with heavy snowfall in winter often blocking roads for months.1157 For example in March
2019, Daykundi residents interviewed by Pajhwok Afghan News stated the roads connecting
Patoo/Gizab district to the provincial capital Nili had been closed since long.1158 ‘Bad’ road conditions

1145 Qaane, E., The 2018 Election Observed (7) in Daikundi: The Outstanding Role of Women, AAN, 27 January 2019, url
1146 Van Bijlert, M., Trouble in Gizab; the Fight Everyone Chose to Ignore, AAN, 31 October 2011, url
1147 Pajhwok Afghan News, Daikundi: 80pc of Pato Residents without Tazkira, 6 May 2018, url; Qaane, E., The 2018 Election

Observed (7) in Daikundi: The Outstanding Role of Women, AAN, 27 January 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban Not
Allowing Us to Buy Food: Daikundi Residents, 30 March 2019, url
1148 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, pp. 6, 62, 64, 68
1149 Afghanistan, IEC, Independent Directorate of Local Governance, Distribution of Seats to Districts, 2018, url, p. 11150 Ruttig, T., The Afghanistan Election Conundrum (12): Good News and Bad News About District Numbers, AAN, 16
August 2018, url
1151 Pajhwok Afghan News, Daikundi Blast: 7 People Killed, 4 Injured, 10 May 2019, url; Reporterly, Security Incidents Mount
in Daikundi; Why Has the Secured Province Faces Insecurity?, 11 July 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 25Aug. 1, 1 August 2019, url; Adili, A., Y., Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (18): How the People of Bamyan, Daikundi and Lal Wa
Sarjangal Voted, AAN, 16 October 2019, url; UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report
2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 49
1152 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21, June 2020, url, p. 51153 ACCORD, Anfragebeantwortung zu Afghanistan: Informationen zur Volksgruppe der Sadat (Sayed, Sayyed, Sadaat,
Sayyid, Sayid, Sayeed [Query response on Afghanistan: Information on the ethnic group of the Sadat (Sayed, Sayyed,
Sadaat, Sayyid, Sayid, Sayeed)], 25 October 2017, url; Qaane, E., One Land, Two Rules (9): Delivering Public Services inInsurgency-Affected Jalrez District of Wardak Province, AAN, 16 December 2019, url
1154 US, Naval Postgraduate School, Dai Kundi Provincial Overview, n.d., url
1155 Van Bijlert, M., Trouble in Gizab; the Fight Everyone Chose to Ignore, AAN, 31 October 2011, url
1156 Adili, A., Y., Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (18): How the People of Bamyan, Daikundi and Lal Wa Sarjangal Voted, AAN, 16
October 2019, url
1157 Pajhwok Afghan News, Elections 2019: Daykundi Province Background Profile, n.d., url; DW, Avalanches Kill 21 People in
Afghanistan, Death Toll Expected to Rise, 14 February 2020, url
1158 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban Not Allowing Us to Buy Food: Daikundi Residents, 30 March 2019, url

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and a lack of infrastructure were reported in Daykundi province.1159 According to Daykundi residents
cited by Tolonews in April 2018, ‘there is only one asphalted road in the province.’ According to
Daykundi’s former governor cited in the same article, Daykundi has an airport, which is ‘not standard’
as only small planes can land.1160
In February 2019, the UN Secretary General reported that a combination of drought, ongoing conflictand low financial remittances had resulted in an atypically high demand for food and livelihood
assistance in Daykundi province.1161 According to UNODC’s Opium Survey from 2018, Daykundi was notamong Afghanistan's 10 main opium-poppy cultivating provinces in 2018; in fact cultivation amounted
to less than 1 000 hectares. Compared to 2017, opium-poppy cultivation decreased by 50 % in 2018,
positioning Daykundi among the provinces with a ‘strong decrease’.1162 UNODC data obtained by AAN
in June 2020 indicated a 52 % reduction in opium-poppy cultivation in the provinces of the central
region and the central highlands (including Daykundi province).1163 According to UNODC, 100 % ofopium-poppy taxes in Daykundi province is collected by anti-government groups.1164

2.7.2 Conflict background and actors in Daykundi
Certain regions in Afghanistan, like Panjsher province and the area of the central highlands (including
Daykundi province), have been described as relatively safe and less affected by conflict-driven
violence.1165 According to an Afghan military expert cited by Tolonews, the relative stability of Daykundi
as well as Bamyan and Panjsher provinces, is related to the social cohesion among its inhabitants, as
most of them belong to the same ethnic or tribal group.1166
Mid-July 2019, an increase in Taliban attacks causing a deterioration of the security situation in someof Daykundi’s districts was reported.1167 The situation in the districts of Gizab/Patoo, Ashtarlay andKhadir has been indicated as volatile.1168 Kajran and Nawmesh districts are equally reported among
the province’s most insecure areas.1169 In September 2019, UNOCHA reported on a ‘tense’ situation in
the districts of Kajran and Patoo due to activities of non-state armed groups.1170 According to aninternational organisation Landinfo spoke with in October 2019, the Taliban were present in thesouthern areas of Daykundi.1171
Several sources related the security situation in the aforementioned districts to their sharing borders
with insecure areas in neighbouring provinces such as Helmand, Uruzgan, Ghor and Ghazni.1172 For

1159 Afghanistan FSC, Daykundi Province Fact Findings (Qualitative Assessment) Report, 18 April 2018, url, p. 31160 Tolonews, Daikundi Secure but Lacks Development: Residents, 6 April 2018, url
1161 UNSG, The Situation in Afghanistan and Its Implications for International Peace & Security, A/73/777–S/2019/193, 28

February 2019, url, p. 131162 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, pp. 10, 11, 17, 191163 Bjelica, J., New World Drug Report: Opium Production in Afghanistan Remained the Same in 2019, AAN, 25 June 2020,
url
1164 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018: Challenges to Sustainable Development, Peace andSecurity, 30 July 2019, url, p. 641165 DW, Afghanistan: ‘A Latent Instability Dominates the Picture’, 14 March 2017, url; Tolonews, Daikundi Secure but Lacks
Development: Residents, 6 April 2018, url; Qaane, E., The 2018 Election Observed (7) in Daikundi: The Outstanding Role of
Women, AAN, 27 January 2019, url; Ruttig, T., Spring Offensive and Flooding Since the Afghan New Year, 7 April 2019, url;
An international organisation Landinfo spoke to in October 2019. Norway, Landinfo, Afghanistan: Sikkerhetssituasjon og
konfliktmonster i 2019, 22 January 2020, url, p. 13; Sweden, Lifos/Migrationsverket, Säkerhetsläget i Afghanistan (Version2.0), 7 April 2020, url, p. 51
1166 Pajhwok Afghan News, 2017 Causalities: Nearly 25,000 People Killed, Wounded in Afghanistan, 14 January 2018, url
1167 Reporterly, Security Incidents Mount in Daikundi; Why Has the Secured Province Faces Insecurity?, 11 July 2019, url
1168 ERM, AC301-ERM 09 Conflict Household Assessment Report in Nili District of Daykundi Province, 23 June 2019, url, p. 1;
AP, 3 Policemen Die in Attacks on Afghan Police Chief, Governor, 21 April 2020, url
1169 Reporterly, Security Incidents Mount in Daikundi; Why Has the Secured Province Faces Insecurity?, 11 July 2019, url
1170 UNOCHA, Afghanistan - Weekly Humanitarian Update (9 - 15 September 2019), 15 September, url, p. 21171 Norway, Landinfo, Afghanistan: Sikkerhetssituasjon og konfliktmonster i 2019, 22 January 2020, url, p. 26
1172 Pajhwok Afghan News, Daikundi Residents Concerned About Daesh in Neighborhood, 3 June 2018, url; Reporterly,
Security Incidents Mount in Daikundi; Why Has the Secured Province Faces Insecurity?, 11 July 2019, url

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example, Kajran district is described as a ‘corridor’ for the Taliban and part of a ‘strategic route’
through Helmand and Spin Boldak in Kandahar province.1173 According to provincial government
officials, the increasing insecurity in some of Daykundi’s districts is partly attributed to an insufficient
coordination among security forces and local departments1174 and to a lack of military equipment,
often exploited by militant groups.1175 As stated by AAN analyst Ehsan Qaane, the creation of Patoo
district affected the security situation in the region, as it sowed local discord.1176 According to a
provincial police spokesperson, the establishment of Patoo as a new district resulted in local Talibancommanders being forced to leave the area. Retreating to neighbouring Uruzgan province, thesecommanders affiliated with Taliban groups there to attack the southern region of Daykundi
province.1177 Daykundi residents cited by Pajhwok Afghan News related the instability in the province
to a competition among political parties, often connected to local armed groups. Their rivalries fuelling
tension, distrust and division in the area.1178
An LWJ assessment mapping Taliban control in Afghanistan in a frequently updated map and based on
open-source information, consulted on 2 July 2020, indicated Gizab/Patoo district as ‘contested’.
However, a USDOD assessment of July 2019, reported by LWJ in the same map, designated this districtas ‘government-controlled’. Kajran district is listed as ‘unconfirmable’ in this map, with LWJ specifyingthat it has not been able to confirm the Taliban’s claim of controlling all areas except the district centre,
nor USDOD’s assessment that the district is ‘government-controlled’. Daykundi’s remaining districts
were categorised as ‘government-controlled’ or ‘undetermined’ in this assessment.1179
Media sources in 2019 and 2020 reported on a Taliban presence in Kajran1180 and Patoo1181 districts. In
March 2019, residents of Patoo district declared to Pajhwok Afghan News that their village bazaar wasunder Taliban control and that militants prevented them from buying food.1182 In August 2019, civilian
protests were reported against increasing violence and Taliban attacks in Kajran and Patoo districts.1183
Several prominent Taliban figures were reported to have been killed in Kajran district.1184 In July 2019,a well-known Taliban commander called Mullah Noor was killed, together with more than 30 othermilitants.1185 In December 2019, the Taliban’s shadow chief for Nawzad district in Helmand province
called Mullah Abdul Wasi was killed, together with several of his militants.1186
According to AAN analyst Ehsan Qaane, the roads connecting Daykundi province to Kabul, Mazar-e
Sharif, Kandahar and Herat are not secure.1187 For example, insecurity in the insurgency-affected Jalrez
district of Wardak province has wider ramifications for the security situation in the Hazarajat region(including Daykundi province), ‘given the importance of passing through Jalrez and the risks that thistransit entails’. Qaane referred to people being killed and/or kidnapped while travelling this route.1188
In December 2019, a pressure-plate IED detonated on the road connecting Daykundi to Ghazni

1173 Sarwary, B., [Twitter], posted on: 21 July 2020, url
1174 Reporterly, Security Incidents Mount in Daikundi; Why Has the Secured Province Faces Insecurity?, 11 July 2019, url
1175 Pajhwok Afghan News, Daikundi Residents Concerned About Daesh in Neighborhood, 3 June 2018, url
1176 Qaane, E., The 2018 Election Observed (7) in Daikundi: The Outstanding Role of Women, AAN, 27 January 2019, url
1177 Reporterly, Security Incidents Mount in Daikundi; Why Has the Secured Province Faces Insecurity?, 11 July 2019, url
1178 Pajhwok Afghan News, Political Parties Seen As a Source of Insecurity in Daikundi, 14 April 2019, url
1179 LWJ, Mapping Taliban Control in Afghanistan, n.d., url (LWJ, however, does not specify when and which information of

the aforementioned map was last updated.)
1180 Reporterly, 9 Security Forces Killed & Injured in Taliban Attack in Daikundi, 2 July 2019, url; Reporterly, Security
Incidents Mount in Daikundi; Why Has the Secured Province Faces Insecurity?, 11 July 2019, url; Xinhua, Taliban Shadow
District Chiefs Killed in Afghan Provinces, 25 December 2019, url
1181 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban Not Allowing Us to Buy Food: Daikundi Residents, 30 March 2019, url
1182 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban Not Allowing Us to Buy Food: Daikundi Residents, 30 March 2019, url
1183 Pajhwok Afghan News, Daikundi Residents Rally against Mounting Instability, 3 August 2020, url
1184 See sources mentioned below.
1185 Reporterly, 9 Security Forces Killed & Injured in Taliban Attack in Daikundi, 2 July 2019, url
1186 Xinhua, Taliban Shadow District Chiefs Killed in Afghan Provinces, 25 December 2019, url
1187 Qaane, E., The 2018 Election Observed (7) in Daikundi: The Outstanding Role of Women, AAN, 27 January 2019, url
1188 Qaane, E., One Land, Two Rules (9): Delivering Public Services in Insurgency-Affected Jalrez District of Wardak Province,
AAN, 16 December 2019, url

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province, impacting a civilian minibus and resulting in 10 civilians being killed and 9 injured. According
to UNAMA, some sources claimed this road had been ‘closed’ by the Taliban.1189
No security incidents specifically attributed to ISKP have been recorded in Daykundi province between
1 March 2019 and 30 June 2020 by ACLED. One incident was recorded in June 2019, in which 10
Taliban and/or ISKP militants were killed and 5 were wounded during ground and air operations by
Afghan and NATO forces in Kajran district.1190
In terms of the presence of government security forces, Daykundi is under the responsibility of the205th ANA Corps. Daykundi province is included in the Train, Advise and Assist Command - South (TAACS), which is part of NATO’s Resolute Support Mission within Afghanistan. TAAC-S is led by US forces andhas its headquarters in Kandahar province.1191

2.7.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population
2.7.3.1 General
In 2019, UNAMA documented 70 civilian casualties (44 deaths and 26 injured) in Daykundi province.
This represented an increase of 71 % compared to 2018. Leading causes of casualties were non-suicide
IEDs, followed by ground engagements and aerial operations.1192 Resolute Support1193 recorded
between 0 and 50 civilian casualties in Daykundi province in the first half of 2020, with no variation
between the first and second quarter of the year.1194
ACLED collected data on 40 violent events in Daykundi province from 1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020
from reports in open sources, of which 29 were coded as ‘battles’, 8 as ‘explosions/remote violence’and 3 as ‘violence against civilians’. Kajran in the south-western region of the province stood out as the
district where most incidents were reported, with 33 incidents recorded. Six incidents were reported
in Nili district, where the provincial capital is located, and one incident was reported in Khadir district.
In the rest of the province, no violent incidents were recorded.1195

Figure 9. Daykundi - Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians
from 1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, based on ACLED data1196

1189 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 421190 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus; Afghanistan; Daykundi; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
1191 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan - June 2020, 1 July 2020, url, p. 131192 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 94
1193 Civilian casualty data for 2020 have not yet been published by UNAMA.
1194 SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, 30 April 2020, url, p. 69; SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the UnitedStates Congress, 30 July 2020, url, p. 72
1195 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Daykundi; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
1196 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, Afghanistan - Daykundi, url

112 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATIONACLED coded around 73 % of the violent incidents in Daykundi province as ‘battles’, of which the
majority were ‘armed clashes’. This category represented the most prevalent incident type in Kajran,Nili and Khadir districts. The majority of these armed clashes were attacks by the Taliban on Afghan
security forces, including military and police personal as well as members of pro-government militias
or so-called arbakis (the term arbaki is locally often used to refer to members of the Afghan local policeor other pro-government militias).1197 Examples of such incidents include attacks on military or police
checkpoints/outposts and bases in Kajran district in June 20191198, in July 20191199, in November
20191200, in December 20191201 and in March 20201202; in Nili district in July 20191203; in Nawmesh
district in July 20191204 and in October 20191205; in Patoo district in August 20191206; and in Khadir(Kando) district in March 2020.1207 No civilian casualties were reported in these incidents.
Operations and attacks by Afghan security forces against AGEs were also registered under armed
clashes by ACLED.1208 For example in August 20191209 and December 20191210, several Taliban militants
were killed and wounded in ANDSF operations in Kajran district. In October 20191211 and November
20191212, several Taliban militants were killed during Special Forces’ raids in Gizab district.
AGEs using roadside bombs or IEDs, often targeting the Afghan security forces, represented 10 % of allreported security incidents in Daykundi.1213 For example in April 2020, the car of a provincial police
chief hit a roadside bomb, causing several ANP casualties.1214 Some of the IED incidents resulted incasualties among civilians. This happened in May 2019, when a civilian vehicle hit a roadside bomb in
Nawmesh district, killing seven civilians and wounding several others.1215
Air/drone strikes represented 10 % of all reported violent incidents in Daykundi. Three of theseair/drone strikes were carried out by Afghan military forces in Kajran district in December 2019, killingaround 18 Taliban militants and wounding several others. One air/drone strike was reportedly carriedout by NATO forces in April 2020, also in Kajran district, causing one civilian casualty.1216

1197 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus; Afghanistan; Daykundi; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
1198 Pajhwok Afghan News, 25 Security Forces Killed, Injured in Daikundi Attack, 28 June 2019, url; Xinhua, 8 Police Killed in
Afghanistan's Central Province, 28 June 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 28-July 4, 4 July 2019, url
1199 Reporterly, 9 Security Forces Killed & Injured in Taliban Attack in Daikundi, 2 July 2019, url
1200 Al Jazeera, Blast Targets UN Vehicle in Afghanistan Killing One Foreigner, 24 November 2019, url; Khaama Press, Afghan
Forces Suffer Casualties in Taliban Attack in Daikundi Province, 24 November 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 8 Security
Personnel Killed, 5 Wounded in Daikundi Assault, 24 November 2019, url
1201 Xinhua, Taliban Shadow District Chiefs Killed in Afghan Provinces, 25 December 2019, url
1202 1TV, Four Killed in Attack Police Checkpoints in Daikundi, 29 March 2020, url
1203 Pajhwok Afghan News, 7 Security Forces, 6 Rebels Killed in Fresh Offensives, 4 July 2019, url
1204 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 25-Aug. 1, 1 August 2019, url
1205 Pajhwok Afghan News, 5 Killed, 7 Wounded in Fresh Wave of Violence, 7 October 2019, url
1206 RFE/RL, At Least 10 Afghan Police Killed in Taliban Attack on Security Checkpoint, 2 August 2019, url; VoA, Afghan
Official: Taliban Strike Police Checkpoint, Kill 10, 2 August 2019, url
1207 Pajhwok Afghan News, 4 Police Killed, 8 Injured in Daikundi Clash, 29 March 2020, url
1208 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Daykundi; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
1209 Khaama Press, Afghan Forces Inflict Heavy Casualties on Taliban in Daikundi and Kandahar, 3 August 2019, url
1210 Pajhwok Afghan News, 7 Taliban Killed in Daikundi Operation, 27 December 2019, url
1211 Khaama Press, Special Forces Kill, Detain 38 Taliban Militants in Daykundi and Wardak, 31 October 2019, url
1212 Khaama Press, Special Forces Kill, Detain 27 Taliban and ISIS Militants in 6 Provinces, 19 November 2019, url
1213 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Daykundi; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
1214 AP, 3 Policemen Die in Attacks on Afghan Police Chief, Governor, 21 April 2020, url
1215 Pajhwok Afghan News, Daikundi Blast: 7 People Killed, 4 Injured, 10 May 2019, url
1216 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Daykundi; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url

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ACLED categorised 8 % of all reported violent incidents in Daykundi province as ‘violence against
civilians’.1217 In October 2019, two polio-vaccinators were abducted by the Taliban in Nawmesh district.
After the mediation of community elders, they were released three days later.1218 In January 2020, twotrucks loaded with food were looted by Taliban militants in Kajran district. The drivers were abductedby the AGEs, but later released.1219 In June 2020, 53 civilians were reportedly taken hostage by the
Taliban1220, while on their way from Kajran district to Kiti district. Local elders were involved tonegotiate the release.1221
Daykundi’s voter turnout as percentage of its registered voters for the presidential elections on
28 September 2019 represented the highest of all provinces, reaching over 55 %1222, with a high female
turnout reported.1223 However, across the whole province the 2019 voter turnout remained low
compared to previous elections.1224 In the Asia Foundations 2019 Survey of the Afghan People, 2650 % of respondents in Daykundi province reported to have experienced fear while voting.1225 Some
voters in Daykundi and Bamyan provinces, who often travel back and forth to Kabul, were reported not
to have participated in the elections out of fear of being stopped by the Taliban when passing throughJalrez district in Wardak province.1226 According to AAN, election day in Daykundi province went
relatively smoothly. A local journalist and an observer from the Afghanistan Civil Society Forum
Organisation (ACSFO) indicated insecurity had influenced voting in Kajran, Patoo and Nawamesh
districts.1227 Without providing further details, Pajhwok Afghan News reported on election related
attacks on polling day in Daykundi province.1228 The polling centre in Buk-e Suf in Kajran district
reportedly came under fire and was temporarily closed, no casualties were reported.1229

2.7.3.2 Displacement
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, reporting 2 390 persons displaced
from Daykundi, from whom the majority (1 075) found refuge within the province itself (in Kajran andNili districts). The remaining 1 315 IDPs from Daykundi sought shelter in the southern provinces of
Kandahar (Spin Boldak district) and Helmand (Nahr-e Saraj district), in Kabul province (Kabul district)and in the western provinces of Herat (Injil district) and Ghor (Chag Charan district). The majority of
IDPs in Daykundi province were displaced from Kajran district, with a peak of 874 individuals in July
2019 and a smaller number of 103 individuals in January 2020 and from Gizab/Patoo district with apeak of 983 individuals in December 2019 and a smaller number of 51 individuals in June 2019. Minor

1217 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus; Afghanistan; Daykundi; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
1218 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 49
1219 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban Rebels Accused of Looting Food-Laden Trucks, 24 January 2020, url
1220 However, the Taliban denied their involvement in the hostage-taking. Tolonews, [Twitter], posted on: 20 June 2020, url
1221 1TV, Taliban Abduct 53 Civilians in Daikundi, 20 June 2020, url
1222 Adili, A., Y., Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (24): Disputed Recount, Threats Not to Accept Results, and Some Interesting
New Data, AAN, 21 November 2019, url; SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, 30 January 2020, url, p. 98
1223 RFE/RL, Five Takeaways from Afghanistan's Presidential Election, 28 September 2019, url
1224 Adili, A., Y., Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (18): How the People of Bamyan, Daikundi and Lal Wa Sarjangal Voted, AAN, 16
October 2019, url
1225 Asia Foundation (The), A Survey of the Afghan People - Afghanistan in 2019, 2 December 2019, url, p. 621226 Adili, A., Y., Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (18): How the People of Bamyan, Daikundi and Lal Wa Sarjangal Voted, AAN, 16
October 2019, url; Qaane, E., One Land, Two Rules (9): Delivering Public Services in Insurgency-Affected Jalrez District of
Wardak Province, AAN, 16 December 2019, url
1227 Adili, A., Y., Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (18): How the People of Bamyan, Daikundi and Lal Wa Sarjangal Voted, AAN, 16
October 2019, url
1228 Pajhwok Afghan News, 32 Killed, 123 Wounded in Election Day Attacks, 28 September 2019, url
1229 Bjelica, J. and Ruttig, T. Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (11): A First Look at How E-Day Went, AAN, 28 September 2019, url;
Adili, A., Y., Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (18): How the People of Bamyan, Daikundi and Lal Wa Sarjangal Voted, AAN, 16
October 2019, url

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groups of IDPs were displaced from Ashtarlay district in October 2019 and from Nili, Sang-e Takht andKiti districts in January and February 2020.1230
No conflict-induced internal displacement to Daykundi province from other provinces was reported by
UNOCHA for the period 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020.1231
Fighting between Taliban militants and Afghan government troops in Gizab/Patoo district, as well as
personal disputes between local commanders in Ashtarlay and Khadir districts were reported to havecaused displacements to the area of Nili City in June 2019.1232 In July and August 2019, UNOCHA
reported on continuing clashes over the strategic control of the Bazar Mushtarak area in Kajran district,causing the displacement of large numbers of people to various locations.1233 Several villages in thearea were reported to be inaccessible due to conflict and mine contamination.1234
According to IOM displacement data published in August and October 2019, most IDPs and returnees
in Daykundi province resided in Khadir district, followed by Nili and Miramor districts.1235

1230 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict

Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
1231 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
1232 ERM, AC301-ERM 09 Conflict Household Assessment Report in Nili District of Daykundi Province, 23 June 2019, url, p. 1
1233 UNOCHA, Afghanistan - Weekly Humanitarian Update (29 July - 4 August 2019), 4 August 2019, url, p. 21234 UNOCHA, Afghanistan - Weekly Humanitarian Update (12 - 19 August 2019), 19 August 2019, url, p. 21235 IOM, Afghanistan - Daykundi Baseline Mobility Assessment Summary Results Round 7 (October - December 2018), 1
August 2019, url, pp. 1, 2, 6; IOM, DTM Afghanistan Baseline Mobility Assessment I District Level I Total Inflow(Returnees+IDPs) I June 2019 I Province: Daykundi, 9 October 2019, url

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2.8 Farah
2.8.1 General description of the province

Map 8: Afghanistan – Farah province, source: UNOCHA1236

The province of Farah is located in the western part of Afghanistan and borders Herat to the north,
Ghor to the north-east, Helmand to the south-east and Nimroz to the south, as well as Iran to thewest.1237 Farah province is divided into the following administrative units: Anar Dara, Bakwa, Bala
Buluk, Farah, Gulistan, Khak-e Safed, Lash-e Juwayn, Pur Chaman, Pushtrud, Qala-i Kah (formerly PushtKoh) and Shib Koh. The provincial capital of Farah is Farah.1238
Afghanistan NSIA estimated the population of Farah at 563 026 in 2020-21, with 128 047 of its residents
living in the provincial capital.1239 The majority of Farah's inhabitants are Pashtuns, with Tajik andsmaller Hazara communities residing mainly in the countryside.1240 Aylat, Mugal, Sadat, Bomodi,
Aymaq, Barahawi and Baloch tribes live in Farah, according to Pajhwok Afghan News.1241
Part of the Ring Road leads through Farah, connecting the province with the regional centre of Heratin the north and the provinces of Nimroz and Helmand in the south and south-east, respectively.1242
Cross-border transport and trade with Iran is reportedly possible at Abu Nasr Farahi port.1243 In
September 2018, Tolonews reported security problems near the border crossing, as the route towards

1236 UNOCHA, Afghanistan, Farah Province - District Atlas, April 2014, url
1237 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Farah Province District Atlas, April 2014, url
1238 Afghanistan, IEC, Afghanistan 2019 Presidential Elections – Final results by Polling Stations: Province Farah, 2020, url;

Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated population of Afghanistan 2020-21, d.n., url, pp. 5 and 43
1239 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated population of Afghanistan 2020-21, d.n., url, pp. 5 and 43
1240 US, Naval Postgraduate School, Farah Provincial Overview, n.d., url
1241 Pajhwok Afghan News, Background Profile of Farah, n.d., url
1242 Diplomat (The), Kabul's Plan to Realize Afghanistan’s Geographic Dividend, 5 December 2017, url
1243 Tolonews, Import Ban Affects Business In Farah Port, 21 September 2018, url; IRNA, Afghanistan opens Farah border to
Iranian goods, 4 November 2018, url

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the border leads through militant-controlled areas.1244 In April 2020, UNODC cited [drug] traffickers inFarah province confirming Taliban presence on the trafficking route between Farah and Nimroz,
between Farah and Helmand and between Farah and Iran.1245
According to the 2018 UNODC Opium Survey, Farah is one of the main opium poppy-cultivating
provinces in western Afghanistan.1246 Regarding the size of poppy cultivation in hectares, Farah ranked
5th among all Afghan provinces in 2018, with a decrease of poppy acreage by 15 % compared to20171247, after opium-poppy cultivation had increased by 41 % in 2017 compared to 2016.1248 In 2020,
UNODC indicated that ‘some traffickers believed that there might be nearer 20 or 30 [illicit opium
manufacturing] laboratories in Farah’.1249 According to AAN, in 2019, opium poppy cultivation in thewestern provinces including in Farah has decreased by 23 % compared to 2018.1250

2.8.2 Conflict background and actors in Farah
According to AAN, the Taliban were never fully defeated after 2001 and kept a strong presence in theprovince – especially in Bala Buluk.1251 In February 2018, the Washington Post stated thatapproximately 60 % of Farah was controlled by insurgents, while the government controlled only theprovincial capital and 10 district centres, some of which are allegedly too dangerous for district officials
to visit.1252 In August 2019, Etilaatroz cited a former local commander indicating that the Taliban havea widespread presence in the remote areas of Farah province. The source also cited Shah Mahmood
Naimi, member of provincial council of Farah province, stating [informal translation] ‘Taliban maintainentire control over Khak-e Safed, Shib Koh, Bakwa, Gulistan, Bala Buluk districts including all highways,
and in the remaining districts, the government control is limited within 3 kilometres (from the capitalof the districts).’ Naimi further stated ‘currently, the Taliban commute even during the day in the
remote areas of the city.’ According to the source, Farah police confirms Taliban’s presence in three
districts and government’s control over Highway One, and Taliban’s control over certain roads due tothe lack of security forces.1253 Another source indicated that Taliban operate in a number of districts ofFarah province.1254
In September 2019, Ariana News cited a local official in Farah province stating that ‘Taliban militants
captured the center of Anar Darah district.’1255 In October 2019, the same source cites the Afghan
government indicated the presence of a Taliban prison in Pur Chaman1256 and in September 2019 in
Bakwa districts.1257 On 7 January 2020, Afghanistan Times reported that the government claimed
having cleared several villages from Taliban presence ‘in outskirt of Farah City and in Bala Blok and Qale-Kah districts’.1258 While on 20 January 2020, Kabul Now news cited Abdul Sattar Hussaini, a Memberof the Afghan Parliament, stating the Taliban established a Friday black market in Farah province where
1244 Tolonews, Import Ban Affects Business In Farah Port, 21 September 2018, url
1245 UNODC, OAPT update, ‘voices of Quchaqbar’, understand the opiate trafficking in Afghanistan from the perspective of

drug traffickers, 22 April 2020, url, p. 161246 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, p. 161247 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, p. 171248 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2017, November 2017, url, p. 161249 UNODC, AOTP update, voice of “Quchaqbar” understanding opiate trafficking in Afghanistan from the presective of
drug traffickers, 22 April 2020, url, p. 251250 AAN, New world drug report: opium production in Afghanistan remained the same in 2019, 25 June 2020, url
1251 Ruttig, T., Why Farah? A short history of the local insurgency (II), AAN, 7 June 2018, url
1252 Washington Post (The), Outgunned in urban centers, Taliban wages fierce fight in remote western Afghanistan, 26
February 2018, url‫[ بررسی اوضاع امنیتی غرب کشور؛ از افزایش تحرکات طالبان تا تلفات سنگین این گروه‬informaltranslation: ‘security assessment of the west of the country; from the increase of Taliban’s mobility to heavy losses of thegroup’,], 30 August 2019, url
1254 Ariana News, Afghan forces retreat from Anar Darah district of Farah province, 7 September 2019, url
1255 Ariana News, Afghan forces retreat from Anar Darah district of Farah province, 7 September 2019, url
1256 Ariana News, 7 civilians rescued from Taliban prison in Farah, 7 October 2019, url
1257 Ariana News, Afghan forces rescued 13 people from Taliban prison in Farah, 6 September 2019, url
1258 Afghanistan Times, Several villages of Farah purged of Taliban presence, 7 January 2020, url
1253 Etilaatroz,

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the group sold weapons seized from the ANDSF.1259 According to information by LWJ collected andpresented in a map, Gulistan, Bala Buluk, Saheb Koh, Anar Dara and Khak-e Safed districts of Farahprovince were under Taliban control, Qala-i Kah, Posht-e Rod, Bakwa, Pur Chaman districts as well as
Farah City were contested, while Lash-e Juwayn district was under government control.1260 In March
2020, Taliban reportedly closed the Farah-Herat Highway.1261 On 10 May 2020, local media reported
that former chief police of Farah province joined the Taliban.1262 According to the UN Security Council
report, as of 27 May 2020, the Taliban shadow governor for Farah was Mullah Mashar. The source also
indicated that the former shadow governor for Farah province, Mullah Abdul Bari, was killed in an air
strike in early August 2019.1263 A local news also reported on the incident.1264
In terms of government presence, the 207th Zafar Corps is in charge of the ANA operations in theprovince of Farah.1265 As part of the RS Mission, Italian forces provide ‘functionality-based’ security
assistance to ANA 207th Corps and ANP in Farah province.1266

2.8.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population
2.8.3.1 General
In 2019, UNAMA documented 147 civilian casualties, including 87 killed and 60 injured in Farahprovince, which represents 47 % decrease compared to 2018. The leading causes of casualties were
Non-Suicide IEDs, ground engagements and air strikes.1267 According to SIGAR, RS (Resolute Support)
recorded between 26 and 50 civilian casualties in Farah province during the first quarter of 20201268,
and the mentioned source recorded the same number of civilian casualties (between 26 and 50) during
the second quarter of 2020.1269
According to ACLED data, between 1 March 2019 and 30 June 2020 there were 441 security incidents
recorded in Farah province, of whom 277 were coded as battles, 148 remote violence and 16 incidents
of violence against civilians.

Figure 10. Farah - Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians from
1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, based on ACLED data1270
1259 Kabul Now, Taliban retail weapons of Afghan forces in Farah, 20 January 2020, url
1260 LWJ, Several Districts Change Hands as Fighting Rages in Northern Afghanistan, 6 July 2020, url, however the source

does not specify when and which information of the aforementioned map was last updated
1261 Pajhwok Afghan News, Militants close Herat-Farah highway for traffic, 19 March 2020, url
1262 Pajhwok Afghan News, Former police chief joins Taliban in Farah, 10 May 2020, url; Khaama Press, Interior minister
reacts to as former chief of Farah joins Taliban, 10 May 2020, url
1263 UN Security Council, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant
to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, S/2020/415, 27 May 2020, url, pp. 10 and 27
1264 Ariana News, 103 militants including Taliban shadow governor killed in Farah, 4 August 2019, url
1265 Afghanistan, MoD, 207 Zafar Corps, n.d., url
1266 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan, June 2020, 1 July 2020, url, p. 14
1267 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 94
1268 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 April 2020 , url, p. 69
1269 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 July 2020, url, p. 72
1270 Filters applied: Central Asia & the Caucasus; Afghanistan; Farah; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence;
Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, url

118 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATIONIn September 2019, Ariana News indicated that Farah province was one of the insecure provinces in
the west of Afghanistan.1271 According to UNAMA, at the end of August and beginning of September
2019, the Taliban carried out extensive attacks against three provincial capitals including the capital of
Farah province.1272 Several news sources reported that throughout 2019 and the first half of 2020,
several armed confrontations between the Taliban and the ANDSF took place in Farah province1273,
including intense fighting in parts of Farah province in June 2020.1274
In December 2019, Tolonews cited a member of the People’s Peace Movement (PPM) who stated that27 members of PPM have been abducted by the Taliban. The source quoted Dadullah Qani, memberof the Farah provincial council, confirming the incident and stating that the group was kidnapped on
Farah road while travelling from Herat to Nimroz province.1275
Recent security incidents with impact on civilians in Farah province include: on 5 May 2019, between
30 and 45 civilian workers were killed, including children, in clashes and air strikes by foreign troops
on drug production factories in Gulistan and Bakwa districts1276; on 31 July 2019, between 241277 and34 people were killed, and around 17 were wounded when a bomb struck a bus on the highway in the
Ab Khorma area, which links the provincial capitals of Herat and Kandahar1278; on 1 September 2019,
six people were killed, including women and children when a roadside bomb exploded in Anardara
district as family members of the local police chief were heading from the district centre to theirhome1279; on 23 November 2019, ten civilians were killed, and five wounded in an air strike in the Gajki
village of Pushtiroud district1280; on 21 January 2020, Shia News Association indicated [informaltranslation] ‘the Afghan Minister of Public Health stated that during the past year, over 50 healthcentres have been destroyed during the conflicts in Afghanistan and 112 others were closed down due
to the conflict, in particular in Farah and Nangarhar provinces’1281; on 5 February 2020, two civilians
were killed, and 10 others were wounded including women and children when a mortar hit Qala-i Kahand Shamalgah areas1282; on 9 February 2020, five civilians, who were reportedly businessmen
travelling from Farah City to Abu Nasar Farahi port were killed in an air strike1283; on 12 May 2020, fourchildren were killed by a mortar attack hitting a house in Bala Buluk district.1284

2.8.3.2 Displacement
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 17 830 persons
displaced from Farah province, with 86 % displaced within the province itself (mainly in the provincial

1271 Ariana News, Afghan forces retreat from Anar Darah district of Farah province, 7 September 2019, url
1272 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 35
1273 Ariana News, Taliban attacks border police checkpoint in Farah, 2 June 2019, url; Khaama Press, Afghan special forces

storm Taliban leadership’s compound in Farah province, 31 May 2019, url; Tolonews, Taliban attack pushed back in Farah:
officials, 16 June 2019, url; Khaama Press, Afghan forces inflict casualties on Mullah Mushtaghfir, Mullah Muhajir militantsin Farah, 7 August 2019, url; Tolonews, Heavy clashes ongoing in Farah: officials, 6 September 2019, url; Pajhwok AfghanNews, Farah: police officer among 3 killed in insurgent attack, 20 March 2020, url; NYT, Afghan war casualty report: May
2020, 28 May 2020, url
1274 Ariana News, Taliban attacks intensified in most parts of Afghanistan recently, 15 June 2020, url
1275 Tolonews, 27 peace activists taken captive in Farah, 25 December 2019, url
1276 Pajhwok Afghan News, dozens of civilians, forces killed in Farah, 6 May 2019, url; UNAMA, protection of civilians inarmed conflicts, special report: airstrike on alleged drug-process facilities, 5 May 2019, 9 October 2019, url
1277 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of civilians in armed conflict, Quarterly report, 17 October 2019, url, p. 51278 Reuters, Afghanistan highway blast kills at least 34 on bus, injures 17, 31 July 2019, url
1279 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 26 September 2019, url
1280 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: November 2019, 2 December 2019, url
1281 Shia News Association, [unofficial translation] ‘Health Ministry: in the past one year, 50 health centres have been
destroyed, 21 January 2020’, url
1282 1TV News, mortar shelling kills two children, wounds 10 in Farah, 5 February 2020, url
1283 Tolonews, Farah officials claim civilians were killed in airstrike, 9 February 2020, url
1284 Afghanistan Times, four children killed in Farah mortar attacks, 12 May 2020, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 119

capital district Farah and Qala-i Kah districts), 8 % were displaced into Kandahar, 3 % were displaced
into Herat and the remaining 3 % into Nimroz province.1285
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 15 430 persons
displaced to Farah province, with almost 100 % coming from within the province itself.1286
During the months of May, June and July 2019, 1 362 individuals were displaced due to conflict fromBala Buluk, Khak-e-Safed, Gulistan, Pushtrud, Shib Koh, Anardara and Qala-i Kah districts to thesurrounding villages of Farah City.1287 In August and September 2019, 1 287 people were displaced due
to conflict from Bala Buluk, Khak-e Safed, Pur Chaman, Pushtrud, Bakwa, Lash-e Juwayn, Shib Koh,Anardara districts and villages of Farah City.1288

1285 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict

Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
1286 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
1287 UNOCHA, Farah Operational Coordination Team (OCT) meeting minutes, 25 July 2019, url, p. 1
1288 UNOCHA, Farah Operational Coordination Team (OCT) meeting minutes, 3 October 2019, url, p. 1

120 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

2.9 Faryab
2.9.1 General description of the province

Map 9: Afghanistan – Faryab province, source: UNOCHA1289

1289 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Faryab Province - District Atlas, April 2014, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 121

Faryab province is located in the north-western part of Afghanistan and has borders with Jawzjan andSar-e Pul provinces to the east, Ghor province to the south and Badghis province to the south-west
and an international border with Turkmenistan to the west and north. Faryab province is divided into
the following administrative units: Almar, Andkhoy, Bilcheragh, Dawlatabad, Garziwan, Khan-e CharBagh, Khwajasabzposh, Kohestan, Maymana, Pashtunkot, Qaramqol, Qaysar, Qorghan, Shirintagab. 1290
The provincial capital is Maymana. According to UNODC, the district of Ghormach became part ofFaryab in 2017.1291 In August 2018, the Peshawar-based daily newspaper, Frontier Post noted that
Ghormach’s administrative affairs would be shifted back to Badghis due to security reasons.1292 The
administrative belonging of Ghormach seems to be disputed. Afghanistan Analysts Network reported
in 2017 that the central government had already transferred Ghormach to Faryab in 2007, while thegovernor of Faryab did not consider Ghormach to be part of Faryab in 2010.1293 In 2018, AAN statedthat Ghormach had been ‘temporarily transferred’ to Faryab according to a list of Afghanistan´s district
numbers which was jointly published by the Central Statistics Organization and the Independent
Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG).1294 The 2020/21 population estimation of the Afghan NSIA, as
well as the publication of the 2019 presidential election results by the Independent Election
Commission again listed Ghormach as part of Badghis.1295
According to estimates for 2020-2021 by NSIA, the province has a population of 1 109 223, 95 971 ofwhom live in the provincial capital, Maymana.1296 The main ethnic groups in the province are Uzbeks.
Other groups present include Tajiks/Aimaqs, Pashtuns, Hazara, Moghol and other smaller
ethnicities.1297
A part of the Ring Road leads through Faryab, connecting the province with neighbouring Jawzjan andthe regional centre Mazar-e Sharif in Balkh province.1298 According to AAN, parts of the paved highway
between Badghis and Faryab have been under Taliban control in the past1299 and in March 2018, theTaliban were threatening parts of the Ring Road, as well as important provincial roads.1300 According
to UNOCHA, the road between Andkhoy district and provincial capital Maymana remained contested
in January and February 2020. AGEs had control and were taxing commercial and logistic vehicles. 1301
This impacted civilian movement as well.1302
As of July 2020, scheduled air passenger services between Maymana and Kabul were provided.1303

1290 Afghanistan, IEC, Afghanistan 2019 Presidential Elections – Final results by Polling Stations: Province Faryab, 2020, url;

NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21, June 2020, url, p. 39
1291 Ali, O., Ruttig, T., Battle for Faryab: Fighting intensifies on one of Afghanistan’s major frontlines, AAN, 12 March 2018,
url; UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, p. 151292 Frontier Post (The), Ghormach falls to Taliban as ANA troops move to Maimana, 28 August 2018, url
1293 Bjelica, J., How Neglect and Remoteness Bred Insurgency and a Poppy Boom: The story of Badghis, AAN, 22 February
2017, url
1294 Ruttig, T., The Afghanistan Election Conundrum (12): Good news and bad news about district numbers, AAN, 16 August
2018, url
1295 NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21, June 2020, url, pp. 39, 41; Afghanistan, IEC, Afghanistan 2019
Presidential Elections – Final results by Polling Stations: Province Faryab, 2020, url
1296 NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21, June 2020, url, p. 39
1297 Ali, O., Non-Pashtun Taleban of the North (2): Case studies of Uzbek Taleban in Faryab and Sar-e Pul, AAN, 17 March
2017, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Background profile Faryab province, n.d., url
1298 Diplomat (The), Kabul's Plan to Realize Afghanistan’s Geographic Dividend, 5 December 2017, url
1299 Bjelica, J., How Neglect and Remoteness Bred Insurgency and a Poppy Boom: The story of Badghis, AAN, 22 February
2017, url
1300 Ali, O., Ruttig, T., Battle for Faryab: Fighting intensifies on one of Afghanistan’s major frontlines, AAN, 12 March 2018,url
1301 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (13 January – 19 January 2020), 22 January 2020, url; Salam
Watandar, Taliban collecting billions through illicit customs, religious taxes, 16 May 2019, url
1302 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (10 February – 16 February 2020), 19 February 2020, url
1303 KamAir, Route Map – domestic flights, n.d., url122 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

According to the 2018 UNODC Opium Survey, Faryab was among the ten main opium poppycultivating provinces of Afghanistan in 2018 – though it ranked within the lowest third of those ten
provinces. Compared to 2017, the size of poppy-cultivating acreage in Faryab decreased by 64 % in2018, even though UNODC counted Ghormach – a district with sizeable opium-poppy cultivation – aspart of Faryab for the first time in 2018. UNODC linked the decrease mainly to that year's weather
conditions, as Faryab was affected by a drought.1304

2.9.2 Conflict background and actors in Faryab
According to AAN, ‘[...] Faryab is strategically important as it connects the western parts of the country
with the north – it was through Faryab that the Taliban moved to capture Mazar-e Sharif in 1997 and1998 and from where anti-Taliban forces came to re-capture the city in 2001.’1305 In 2018, Faryab wasdescribed as ‘one of the most contested provinces in the north-west’1306 with ‘an astonishingly
widespread Taliban presence’.1307
AAN links the Taliban's success in Faryab from 2007 onwards to ‘local Jamiati-Jombesh rivalries, poppycultivation interests and radical propaganda by religious preachers, coupled with the absoluteinconsistence of government outreach’1308 as well as the exploitation of local land and water conflicts
and the rearmament of local commanders.1309 According to AAN, fighting broke out between local progovernment militias in early 2018, which further weakened the resistance against AGEs.1310
In March 2018, AAN described how the Taliban became increasingly successful in the province afterdrawing on local fighters – which is a change in strategy compared to the Taliban's approach before
2001. Since 2008, Faryab’s Taliban shadow governors mostly have been Uzbeks and also a majority of
the Taliban district officers are Uzbeks in districts with an Uzbek majority, along with a few Tajiks.
Pashtuns serve on mid-level posts in the districts of Qaysar, Dawlatabad, and Shirintagab where
Pashtuns form a considerable share of the population.1311 However, AAN reported that the strategy ofendorsement towards non-Pashtun ethnic groups among Faryab’s Taliban limited the group’s
organisational capacity as some Pashtun Taliban commanders ignored instructions of Uzbek shadow
governors. In order to avoid tensions, the then shadow governor allegedly deployed a strategy ofindividual smaller operations by each group in their own areas instead of joint operations with larger
numbers of fighters.1312
General Abdul Rashid Dostum, Jombesh party leader and self-proclaimed sole representative of the
Uzbek minority in Afghanistan, allegedly perceived the Taliban outreach to Uzbek communities as athreat. Subsequently, Dostum put considerable effort in combatting the Taliban influence on Uzbek
communities in Faryab and led several counteroffensives of pro-government (Jombesh) militias
together with the ANSF throughout 2015 and 2016. According to AAN, there were ‘some initial
successes, but no significant long-term results’: Dostum was reportedly able to clear most parts of
Qaysar, Dawlatabad, and Shirintagab (as well as Ghormach) of Taliban militants. Local government

1304 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, pp. 14-15, 17, 25
1305 Ali, O., Non-Pashtun Taleban of the North (2): Case studies of Uzbek Taleban in Faryab and Sar-e Pul, AAN, 17 March

2017, url
1306 Adili A. A., Afghanistan Elections Conundrum (17): Voters disenfranchised in Faryab, AAN, 12 October 2018, url
1307 Ali, O., Ruttig,T., Battle for Faryab: Fighting intensifies on one of Afghanistan’s major frontlines, AAN, 12 March 2018, url
1308 Ali, O., Ruttig, T., Classics of Conflict (1): Reviewing some of Afghanistan’s most notorious hotspots, AAN, 3 July 2015, url
1309 Ali, O., Ruttig, T., Battle for Faryab: Fighting intensifies on one of Afghanistan’s major frontlines, AAN, 12 March 2018,url
1310 Ali, O., Ruttig, T., Battle for Faryab: Fighting intensifies on one of Afghanistan’s major frontlines, AAN, 12 March 2018,url
1311 Ali, O., Ruttig, T., Classics of Conflict (1): Reviewing some of Afghanistan’s most notorious hotspots, AAN, 3 July 2015,
url; Ali, O., Non-Pashtun Taleban of the North (2): Case studies of Uzbek Taleban in Faryab and Sar-e Pul, AAN, 17 March
2017, url
1312 Ali, O., Ruttig, T., Battle for Faryab: Fighting intensifies on one of Afghanistan’s major frontlines, AAN, 12 March 2018,
url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 123

forces and pro-government militias have however not been able to hold most of the areas after Dostum
moved out of Faryab.1313 According to analyst Deedee Derksen, Dostum’s remobilising of local militias
might have strengthened the Taliban in the long run, as large numbers of militiamen formerly affiliatedto Dostum might have defected to the Taliban after their funding by Dostum dried up.1314
In November 2018, the Faryab governor claimed that at least 80 % of Faryab province was under
Taliban control. Two districts were fully under Taliban control, while eight other districts were on theverge of collapse according to the civil society foundations network head.1315 According to the police,
the Taliban controlled the main district bazaar in Qaramqol district and security personnel inside the
district building were besieged in June 2019.1316 The Taliban retook control of Qaramqol district inNovember 2019.1317 In June 2019, Bilchiragh district was recaptured by the ANDSF after having been
under Taliban control for over a year.1318 In July 2019, after a year, Afghan security forces managed toretake two strategic locations in the south-eastern outskirts of Maymana City.1319 With the exceptionof the district centre, all areas of Dawlatabad were said to be under Taliban control in August 2019.1320
Much of the area in Almar district was reported to be under Taliban control in October 2019.1321 An
Afghanistan analyst contacted by the Swedish Migrations Agency (Migrationsverket) in January 2020,
considered Sar-e Pul and Faryab to be the most Taliban-controlled or influenced provinces in thenorthern region.1322 As of 2 July 2020, an assessment by the Long War Journal presented in a frequently
updated map and based on open-source information, indicated Bilcheragh, Kohestan, Pashtunkot,
Qaramqol and Shirintagab districts as ‘Taliban-controlled’, Andkhoy and Khan-e Char Bagh districts as‘government-controlled’ and the remaining districts in Faryab province as ‘contested’.1323
According to information at the disposal of the UN Security Council in 2019 and 2020, in Afghanistan
Central Asian groups are under the direct operational and financial control of the Taliban. The Islamic
Movement of Uzbekistan is said to have no more than 100 members and operates mainly in Faryab
and Jowzjan provinces where it maintains links to splinter groups such as Islamic Jihad Group andKhatiba Imama al-Bukhari.1324 Besides local Taliban fighters, a small Taliban-affiliated group of theIslamic Jihad Union (IJU) was reportedly fighting in Faryab in 2018.1325
According to information submitted to the UN Secretary General for the February 2020 report, ISKP
had a covert presence in Faryab province, consisting of a group of up to 25 members, led by Qari
Salahuddin, who was formerly with the Taliban.1326 In May 2020, provincial officials expressed concern
about ISKP affiliates, recruiting and looking for strengthening its position in Faryab province after the1313 Ali, O., Non-Pashtun Taleban of the North (2): Case studies of Uzbek Taleban in Faryab and Sar-e Pul, AAN, 17 March

2017, url
1314 War on the Rocks, In Afghanistan, Today’s Pro-Government Militias Could Be Tomorrow’s Insurgents, 11 December
2017, url
1315 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban control 80pc of Faryab area, says governor, 28 November 2018, url
1316 Pajhwok Afghan News, Security personnel, Taliban suffer casualties in Faryab clashes, 30 June 2019, url
1317 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban overrun Qarma Qul district of Faryab, 23 November 2019, url
1318 UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, A/73/990–S/2019/703, 3
September 2019, url, p. 6; Tolonews, Afghan Forces Recapture Faryab’s Bilcheragh District, 25 June 2019, url; Pajhwok
Afghan News, Security forces retake Faryab’s Balcharagh district, 25 June 2019, url
1319 Pajhwok Afghan News, Afghan forces recapture 2 strategic areas in Maimana, 2 July 2019, url
1320 Pajhwok Afghan news, Civilians among 16 suffer casualties in Faryab clash, 15 August 2019, url
1321 NYT, Afghans Demanded a Fair Election. They Could Be Waiting a While for Results, 13 October 2019, url
1322 Sweden, Lifos/Migrationsverket, Säkerhetsläget i Afghanistan, 2020, 7 April 2020, url, p. 47
1323 LWJ, Mapping Taliban Control in Afghanistan, n.d., url. The source, however, does not specify when and which
information of the aforementioned map was last updated.
1324 UN Security Council, Letter dated 10 June 2019 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant
to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 13 June 2019, url, p. 18; UN Security Council,
Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011)
addressed to the President of the Security Council, 27 May 2020, url, p. 211325 Ali, O., Ruttig, T., Battle for Faryab: Fighting intensifies on one of Afghanistan’s major frontlines, AAN, 12 March 2018,url
1326 UNSG, Tenth report of the Secretary-General on the threat posed by ISIL (Da’esh) to international peace and security
and the range of United Nations efforts in support of Member States in countering the threat, 4 February 2020, url, pp. 6-7

124 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

US-Taliban deal.1327 However, no security incidents specifically attributed to ISKP were recorded by
ACLED in Faryab province between 1 March 2019 and 30 June 2020.1328
In terms of the presence of government security forces, Faryab province is under the responsibility of
the 209th ANA Shaheen corps.1329 Faryab province is included in the area of responsibility of the Train
Advise Assist Command – North (TAAC – North), which is part of NATO's Resolute Support
Mission within Afghanistan. TAAC-North is led by German forces and has its headquarters in Mazar-e
Sharif, Balkh province.1330

2.9.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population
2.9.3.1 General
In 2019, UNAMA documented 665 civilian casualties (199 deaths and 466 injured) in Faryab. This
represents an increase of 3 % compared to 2018. Leading causes of casualties were groundengagements, followed by air strikes and explosive remnants of war.1331 Throughout 2019 UNAMA
ranked Faryab among the five provinces in Afghanistan where civilians were most affected by thearmed conflict.1332 In the first half of 2020, UNAMA ranked Faryab province fourth in terms of civilians
most affected by the conflict, documenting 233 civilian casualties in the province.1333 Resolute Support
recorded between 102 and 150 civilian casualties in Faryab in the first half of 2020, reporting similar
numbers of civilian casualties between the first and second quarter of 2020.1334
ACLED collected data on 579 violent events in Faryab province between 1 March 2019 and
30 June 2020 from reports in open sources, 422 of which were coded as battles, 135 as
explosions/remote violence and 22 as violence against civilians.1335 An international source
interviewed by the Norwegian Country of Origin Information Centre, Landinfo, during a fact-finding
mission at the end of October 2019, counted Faryab among the six most violent provinces in
Afghanistan in terms of number of security incidents.1336 According to a representative of aninternational NGO met by the Swedish Migration Agency, Migrationsverket, in Kabul in January 2020,
Faryab remained a very insecure province where the security situation had further deteriorated
compared to before.1337 While ACLED registered violent events in all of Faryab’s districts, Qaysar andPashtunkot stood out as districts where most incidents were reported, with more than 90 incidents

1327 Afghanistan Times, Daesh may be regaining strength in Faryab, 9 May 2020, url
1328 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus; Afghanistan; Faryab; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
1329 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability In Afghanistan. December 2019, 23 January 2020, url, p. 50
1330 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability In Afghanistan. June 2020, 1 July 2020, url, p. 141331 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 94
1332 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection Of Civilians In Armed Conflict: 1 January To 30 June 2019, Midyear Update, 30 July
2019, url, p. 3; UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection Of Civilians In Armed Conflict: 1 January To 30 September 2019, Quarterly
Report 17 October 2019, url, p. 2; UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22
February 2020, url, p. 94
1333 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians In Armed Conflict. Midyear Report: 1 January – 30 June 2020, 27 July 2020,
url, p. 51334 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 April 2020, url, p. 69; SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The UnitedStates Congress, 30 April 2020, url, p. 72
1335 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Faryab; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
1336 Norway, Landinfo, Afghanistan. Sikkerhetssituasjon og konfliktmonster i 2019, 22 January 2020, url, pp. 12-13
1337 Sweden, Lifos/Migrationsverket, Säkerhetsläget i Afghanistan, 2020, 7 April 2020, url, p. 45

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 125

reported in each district, as registered by ACLED, followed by Almar, Garziwan and Shirintagab
districts, each with 50 or more violent events.1338

Figure 11. Faryab - Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians from
1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, based on ACLED data1339

ACLED coded 73 % of the violent incidents in Faryab province as ‘battles’, mainly ‘armed clashes’.1340
The majority of those incidents were attacks by the Taliban on Afghan security forces, including
military1341, police1342 or NDS personnel1343 and members of pro-government militias1344 or so-called
Arbakis (the term ‘Arbaki’ is locally often used to refer to members of the Afghan Local Police or otherpro-government militias) or attacks on military or police facilities such as checkpoints1345, police
headquarters1346 and bases1347 and to a lesser extent on convoys and vehicles. Some of those incidents
resulted in civilian casualties, as for example during Taliban ambushes on security forces in Qaysar
district on 18 October 2019 and in Khwajasabzposh district on 1 September 2019.1348 Three civilians
were wounded and 17 shops were destroyed during a battle following a Taliban attack in Shirintagab
district on 7 September 2019.1349 On 7 January 2020, a shopkeeper and two civilians were injured
when a Taliban fighter dressed in burqa fired at NDS agents sitting in shop in Dawlatabad district.1350
A woman was killed in a clash following a Taliban attack on a security outpost in Dawlatabad districton 24 March 2020.1351 Civilians were killed and wounded in Taliban attacks on the centre of Shirintagab
district in April 2020. In that same month, two children were killed in a clash following a Taliban attack
on a security outpost in Kohestan district.1352 On 27 June 2020, mortar shells fired by security forces in1338 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus; Afghanistan; Baghlan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; Geoprecision
code: 1 & 2; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020), url
1339 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, Afghanistan - Faryab, url
1340 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Faryab; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
1341 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: December 2019, 5 December 2019, url
1342 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: February 2020, 6 February 2020, url
1343 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 2020, 2 April 2020, url
1344 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: February 2020, 6 February 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 21-27,
27 June 2019, url
1345 Pajhwok Afghan News, 30 security forces killed and wounded in Faryab assault, 1 March 2019, url
NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: February 2020, 6 February 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: December 2019,
5 December 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 5 September 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War
Casualty Report: April 2020, 2 April 2020, url
1346 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 19-25, 25 July 2019, url
1347 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 15-21, 22 March 2019, url; NYT,Taliban Capture About 150 Afghan Soldiers
After Chase Into Turkmenistan, 17 March 2019, url
1348 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 4 October 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September
2019, 5 September 2019, url
1349 Pajhwok Afghan News, 11 killed, 24 wounded in Faryab firefight, 7 September 2019, url
1350 Pajhwok Afghan News, Burqa-clad insurgent kills 3 NDS personnel in Faryab, 7 January 2020, url
1351 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 2020, 5 March 2020, url
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response to a Taliban attack on a military base in Qorghan district hit a house, killing a child andwounding four other civilians.1353
Operations and attacks carried out by Afghan security forces against AGEs were also registered underarmed clashes.1354 Some of these operations were backed by air strikes.1355 Most of the security
operations were carried out in March, July and August 2019, while fewer were registered by ACLED in
the first half of 2020.1356
There were reports of groups of Taliban fighters attacking the centre of Dawlatabad district on
25 May 20191357, of Kohestan district on 30 May 20191358, of Shirintagab district on 14 March and
17 August 20191359, of Bilcheragh district on 4 August 20191360 and of Almar and Qaramqol districts in
April 20201361, sometimes resulting into hour-long clashes. UNOCHA reported that continued clashes
between AGEs and the ANDSF in various districts of Faryab in January and February 2020 caused
civilian casualties.1362
During the reporting period there were reports of the Taliban capturing villages and government forces
recapturing areas in Pashtunkot district.1363 The Taliban temporarily captured Qorghan district at theend of August 2019.1364 Clashes in the weeks that followed caused a few hundred people to flee toAndkhoy district.1365 Fighting in Almar district in August 2019 resulted in the loss of civilian property
and livelihoods.1366 The Taliban reportedly captured villages in Khwajasabzposh in September 2019.1367
In March 2020, the Taliban tried to overrun Almar district.1368
Air/drone strikes represented 13 % of all reported violent incidents in Faryab between 1 March 2019and 30 June 20201369, while incidents of shelling/artillery/missile attack represented 7 %.1370 Nearly
half of those types of incidents in Faryab between 1 March 2019 and 20 June 2020 occurred in
1353 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 2020, 4 June 2020 (updated 2 July 2020), url
1354 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus; Afghanistan; Faryab; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
1355 Khaama Press, 28 Taliban militants killed in past 48 hours in Faryab: 209th Shaheen Corps, 18 March 2019, url; Khaamapress, Key Taliban commanders among 31 killed in Faryab operations: 209th Shaheen Corps, 2 July 2019, url; Khaama Press,
Nearly 500 Taliban militants killed in Faryab in past one month: 209th Shaheen Corps, 20 July 2019, url
1356 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Faryab; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
1357 NYT Afghan War Casualty Report: May 24-30, 30 May 2019, url
1358 Pajhwok Afghan News, 13 security personnel killed in Faryab attack, 30 May 2019, url
1359 NYT Afghan War Casualty Report: March 8-14, 15 March 2019, url; NYT Afghan War Casualty Report: Aug. 16-22, 22
August 2019, url
1360 NYT Afghan War Casualty Report: August 2-8, 8 August 2019, url
1361 NYT Afghan War Casualty Report: April 2020, 2 April 2020, url
1362 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (13 January – 19 January 2020), 22 January 2020, url; UNOCHA,
Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (20 January – 26 January 2020), 29 January 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan:
Weekly Humanitarian Update (27 January – 2 February 2020), 5 February 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly
Humanitarian Update (10 February – 16 February 2020), 19 February 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly
Humanitarian Update (17 February – 23 February 2020), 26 February 2020, url
1363 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 4 October 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Security forces recapture
strategic area of Faryab, 11 June 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban driven from 4 strategic Faryab villages, 8 July
2019, url
1364 Pajhwok Afghan News, Faryab’s Qarghan district falls to Taliban: Officials, 28 August 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News,
Forces re-take control of Faryab’s Qarghan district, 30 August 2019, url
1365 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (16 - 22 September 2019), 25 September 2019, url
1366 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (5 - 11 August 2019), 14 August 2019, url
1367 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 4 October 2019, url
1368 NYT, Taliban Attack Afghanistan Amid Growing Coronavirus Threat, 28 March 2020, url
1369 These do not include air strikes are shellings carried out during operations categorised by ACLED under ‘battles’. For
more information on ACLED’s methodology, please consult the introduction.
1370 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Faryab; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 127

Pashtunkot, Bilchiragh and Qaysar districts. Most air strikes were carried out by Afghan forces, whilesome were attributed to NATO forces. While air strikes inflicted losses among AGEs1371, some also
caused civilian casualties. Air strikes in response to a Taliban attack in Garziwan district on 1 September
killed at least 12 civilians.1372 A drone strike in Shorcha village of Pashtunkot district on 4 August 2019killed two brothers and wounded another one.1373 Incidents of shelling/artillery/missile attack were
attributed to both the Taliban and Afghan military forces and at times caused civilian casualties as forexample in Almar district in May 2019.1374 Two mortar shells fired by the Taliban landed in a local
bazaar in Khwajasabzposh on 5 July 2019, killing at least four civilians and wounding at least 33
others.1375 A child was killed and four other civilians were wounded as a result of a mortar shell
exploding while children were playing in a house in Pashtunkot on 6 August 20191376 and a mortar hit
a civilian house in Bilcheragh district on 29 September 2019 and the house of an imam in Qaysar
district in February 2020, killing and wounding civilians.1377 At least 11 civilians were killed or wounded
as a result of Taliban rocket and mortar attacks on a village in Qaysar district in April 2020.1378
AGEs also used roadside bombs1379 or IEDs, including pressure-plate IEDs1380, or magnetic bombs totarget security forces, at times also causing casualties among civilians.1381 This happened on
10 May 2019 in Dawlatabad district when children herding their cattle were killed and wounded when
they struck an IED1382 or on 27 October 2019 in Pashtunkot district, when a boy was killed together
with four other boys, after stepping on a pressure-plate IED.1383 Targeting army personnel, the Taliban
had planted the device on a public road near an ANA checkpoint.1384 Another child was killed when aroadside bomb exploded in Almar district in April 20201385 and seven children were injured when theirdonkey stepped on a pressure-plate IED in Garziwan district on 8 June 2020.1386
Twenty-two incidents of violence against civilians were registered by ACLED, representing 3 % of allviolent events in Faryab province between 1 March 2019 and 30 June 2020 and attributed to both the
Taliban and Afghan security forces.1387 These included the killing of the head of an appeal court1388, the1371 Khaama Press, Airstrike by Afghan Air Force kills 30 Taliban militants in Faryab province, 17 June 2019, url; Pajhwok

Afghan News, Taliban’s district chief among 8 killed in Faryab, 12 September 2019, url
1372 NYT, To Start Afghan Withdrawal, U.S. Would Pull 5,400 Troops in 135 Days, 2 September 2019, url; Pajhwok AfghanNews, Civilians among over 50 killed in Faryab airstrikes, 1 September 2019, url
1373 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: August 2-8, 8 August 2019, url
1374 Tolonews, Airstrikes Kill 10 Militants In Faryab, 21 May 2019, url
1375 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 5-11, 11 July 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 9 killed, score injured in Faryab
mortar attack, 5 July 2019, url
1376 NYT,Afghan War Casualty Report: August 2-8, 8 August 2019, url
1377 NYT,Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 4 October 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 4 civilians killed in Faryab
mortar shelling, 30 September 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Children among 5 killed in Faryab incidents, 7 February
2020, url
1378 Khaama Press, Children, elder man among 14 killed, wounded in latest Taliban attacks in Faryab, 26 April 2020, url;
Pajwok Afghan News, Separate Taliban attacks cause 28 civilian casualties, 26 April 2020, url
1379 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: November 2019, 7 November 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 3-9,
9 May 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 2020, 2 April 2020, url
1380 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 431381 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Faryab; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (13 January – 19 January 2020), 22 January 2020,
url
1382 Pajhwok Afghan News, 4 children killed, 5 injured in Faryab blast, 10 May 2019, url
1383 Pajhwok Afghan News, 5 children killed, 1 wounded in Faryab landmine blast, 27 October 2019, url
1384 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 431385 Khaama Press, Children, elder man among 14 killed, wounded in latest Taliban attacks in Faryab, 26 April 2020, url
1386 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection Of Civilians In Armed Conflict. Midyear Report: 1 January – 30 June 2020, 27 July 2020,
url, pp. 9-101387 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Faryab; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
1388 Afghan Islamic Press (@aip_news), [Twitter], posted on 16 January 2020, url128 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

kidnapping of four NGO health workers by an armed group during a vaccine survey in May 20191389,
the rape of two girls by unidentified gunmen in an area under Taliban control in Qaramqol district in
May 20191390, the killing of women accused of committing immoral acts1391, the killing of a tribal
elder1392, the killing of an off-duty soldier1393, the abduction and killing of three civilians, including aformer garrison commander1394, the killing of a family in Andkhoy district1395 and the public hanging of
two men having shaved their beards by the Taliban1396, the killing of two scholars by unknown gunman
in Maymana City1397 and the killing of civilians by the Afghan security forces, as reported by the
Taliban.1398 The Taliban kidnapped a local journalist on 11 October 2019 in Faryab, releasing him the
day after.1399 In an attack on Kohi village in Qaysar district on 28 April 2019, the Taliban killed six
civilians and wounded nine others. Local officials claimed that the villagers’ support for thegovernment was the reason for the attack.1400
Illustrating a consistent pattern of the use of civilian locations by AGEs when carrying out their attacks
in Afghanistan, which exposes civilians to risks of attack by pro-government forces, as noted by
UNAMA, was an incident on 18 November 2019 in the Khwaja Naamosi area of Pashtunkot district.1401
An American air strike targeted a house used as a shelter by the Taliban. Three civilians were killed asa result.1402
There were reports from the northern region, which includes Faryab province, about electricity andmobile phone networks being interrupted before and during the presidential election in September
2019.1403 Ahead of the presidential election in September 2019, AGEs closed the road between
Maymana City and the districts in Faryab.1404 Clashes between Afghan security forces and the Taliban
were reported on election day, 28 September 2019, in six of Faryab’s districts1405, including
Bilcheragh1406 and Qaysar.1407
In the reporting period security incidents occurred along the highway or roads, such as a Taliban attack
on Maymana - Jawzjan Highway in Qaramqol district in June 2019.1408 In July 2019 a clearance
operation was carried out along the highway in Bilcheragh and Garziwan districts.1409 Passing a zone1389 Insecurity Insight, Attacks on health care in Afghanistan, 21 May 2020, url
1390 Pajhwok Afghan News, Gunmen rape 2 sisters in Faryab, family seeks justice, 19 May 2019, url
1391 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, Midyear Report, 1 January - 30 June 2019, 30 July 2019,url, p. 3; UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 19;
Pajhwok Afghan News, Woman shot dead in Fayab over alleged elopement, 22 November 2019, url
1392 Reporterly, Taliban Hang Tribal Elder For Not Paying 300 AFN, 18 August 2019, url; RFE/RL/Gandhara, Family Of WellKnown Writer Among Seven Killed In Afghan Violence, 20 June 2020, url; MIE, Tribal Elder Shot Dead by Taliban in Faryab,
20 June 2020, url
1393 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban capture, kill off-duty soldier in Faryab, 7 February 2020, url
1394 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 2020, 2 April 2020, url
1395 Salam Watandar, ‘Taliban kill six members of a family in Faryab’, 19 January 2020, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 6 of afamily shot dead in Faryab; Taliban deny involvement, 19 January 2020, url
1396 Afghanistan Times, Taliban hang two men for shaving beards in Faryab, 27 June 2020, url; UNAMA, Afghanistan.
Protection of Civilians In Armed Conflict. Midyear Report: 1 January – 30 June 2020, 27 July 2020, url, p. 131397 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 2020, 7 May 2020, url
1398 Voice of Jihad, Enemy firing martyr child in Faryab, 8 February 2020, url; Voice of Jihad, Enemy martyrs villager, abducts
3 others in Faryab, 23 January 2020, url
1399 UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, A/74/582–S/2019/935, 10
December 2019, url, p. 10
1400 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 26-May 2, 2 May 2019, url
1401 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 51
1402 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: November 2019, 7 November 2019, url
1403 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Monthly Humanitarian Update (September 2019), 18 October 2019, url
1404 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (23 - 29 September 2019), 2 October 2019, url
1405 RFE/RL, Five Takeaways From Afghanistan's Presidential Election, 28 September 2019, url; Reuters, Afghan presidential
vote held in relative calm, but turnout low, 28 September 2019, url
1406 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 4 October 2019, url
1407 NYT, Signs of Ballot-Box Stuffing Add Tension to Afghan Vote Count, 3 October 2019, url
1408 Pajhwok Afghan News, Security personnel, Taliban suffer casualties in Faryab clashes, 30 June 2019, url
1409 Khaama Press, At least 50 militants killed, wounded in Special Forces raid in Faryab: Special Ops Corps, 30 July 2019, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 129

of fighting on the Maymana - Almar road on 9 October 2019 a civilian car was hit by bullets. The driverand a girl were killed, three women were injured.1410
Within the framework of its attacks on health care initiative, the World Health Organisation (WHO) did
not register such attacks in Faryab province in 2019.1411 Faryab was one out of six provinces where
UNAMA documented the abduction of healthcare workers between 11 March and 23 May 2020.1412
As a result of clashes between the Taliban and security forces, residents of provincial capital Maymana
had no electricity for at least a week at the end of September 2019. This also impacted access to waterand food.1413 In October 2019, when clashes were reported in several of Faryab’s districts, a residentof Pashtunkot district spoke to Tolonews about the fighting causing problems in the clinics and schools
being closed, adding that there was no electricity or proper drinking water in the district.1414

2.9.3.2 Displacement
UNOCHA reported regularly how continued clashes between AGEs and the ANDSF in Faryab caused
displacement in the reporting period.1415
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 38 222 persons who
were displaced due to conflict from Faryab province, 71 % of whom were displaced within the province
itself. Most IDPs were registered from Pashtunkot, Khwajasabzposh and Garziwan districts. Nearly halfof all IDPs from Pashtunkot were displaced in June 2019. All IDPs from Pashtunkot left the district, thelarge majority seeking refuge in provincial capital Maymana, while others fled to Herat, Shiberghan orSar-e Pul. More than half of the IDPs from Khwajasabzposh were displaced to provincial capital
Maymana. Others leaving the district in July and September 2019 looked for shelter in Balkh province
and the IDPs registered in June 2019 stayed within the district. The majority of IDPs from Garziwan
district were displaced within the district. This happened mainly in April 2019.1416 Another large groupleft Garziwan to seek shelter in Sar-e Pul district of the eponymous province in January 2020, at a time
when ongoing fighting was reported from several districts in Faryab, including Garziwan.1417 No
conflict-induced displacement was registered by UNOCHA from Maymana during the reporting
period.1418
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 28 121 persons
displaced to Faryab province. In addition to the 27 302 people displaced within the province, Faryab
also hosted a few IDPs from Badghis, Balkh, Ghor, Jawzjan, Kunduz and Sar-e Pul provinces. Maymana
hosted more than half of the people displaced to Faryab province in the reporting period and Andkhoy
about one out of four.1419

1410 Pajhwok Afghan News, 11 people suffer casualties in Faryab incidents, 9 October 2019, url
1411 WHO, Afghanistan, Attacks on Health Care in 2019 as of December 31, 2019, 31 December 2019 url
1412 UNAMA, Special Report: Attacks On Healthcare During The Covid-19 Pandemic, 20 June 2020, url, pp. 9, 201413 Pajhwok Afghan News, Clashes leave Faryab capital, some districts in darkness, 2 October 2019, url
1414 Tolonews, Ongoing Fighting In Six Districts of Faryab: Residents, 10 October 2019, url
1415 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (2 - 8 September 2019), 11 September 2019, url; UNOCHA,

Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (14 October – 20 October 2019), 24 October 2019, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan:
Weekly Humanitarian Update (28 October - 3 November 2019), 6 November 2019, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly
Humanitarian Update (2 December – 8 December 2019), 11 December 2019, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly
Humanitarian Update (20 January – 26 January 2020), 29 January 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian
Update (3 February – 9 February 2020), 12 February 2020, url
1416 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 14 June 2020, url
1417 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (13 January – 19 January 2020), 22 January 2020, url
1418 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 14 June 2020, url
1419 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2020, last updated: 12
July 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (2 December – 8 December 2019), 11 December 2019,
url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (16 December – 22 December 2019), 26 December 2019, url;
UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (13 January – 19 January 2020), 22 January 2020, url

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2.10 Ghazni
2.10.1 General description of the province

Map 10: Afghanistan – Ghazni province, source: UNOCHA1420

1420 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Ghazni Province - District Atlas, April 2014, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 131

The province of Ghazni is located in the south-east of Afghanistan, bordering the provinces of Bamyan
and Wardak to the north, Logar, Paktya and Paktika to the east, Zabul to the south and Uruzgan andDaykundi to the west. Ghazni does not share an international border. The province is divided into thefollowing administrative units: Ghazni, with the provincial capital of Ghazni City, Abband, Ajrestan,
Andar, Dehyak, Gelan, Giro, Jaghatu, Jaghuri, Khwajaumari, Malestan, Muqur, Nawa, Nawur, Qarabagh,
Rashidan, Waghaz, Walimuhammad-e Shahid (Khugyani), and Zanakhan.1421 The district of Andar is also
known as Shelgar.1422
NSIA estimated the population of Ghazni for 2020/21 at 1 362 504, with 68 993 of its residents livingin the provincial capital of Ghazni City. Urban population constitutes about 5 % of all inhabitants of theprovince.1423 Ghazni is inhabited by Pashtuns (49 %), Hazara (46 %), Tajiks (5 %), and other smaller
minorities. Three districts – Jaghori, Malistan and Nawur – are inhabited exclusively by Hazara
population. Kuchi nomads also inhabit Ghazni, and their presence in the province may differ
throughout the year due to migration.1424
The climate is harsh in the province but some isolated, remote districts (Nawur, Jaghori, Malistan
inhabited by Hazara and Ajrestan predominantly Pashtun) suffer more than the others as access roads
are closed by winter snow and by spring mud.1425 A US military expert referred to Ghazni City as a ‘key
intersection’, since it is situated on the Ring Road (or Highway One), connecting the capital Kabul withthe major population centre of Kandahar in the south. Additionally, the road to Paktika's capital Sharanbranches off the Ring Road in Ghazni City, while the road to Paktya's capital Gardez forks a bit north of
Ghazni City. Hence, control over Ghazni is of strategic importance.1426
According to the UNODC data obtained by AAN, poppy cultivation in Ghazni province decreased by
67 % in 2019, compared to 2018.1427

2.10.2 Conflict background and actors in Ghazni
In terms of the presence of government security forces, Ghazni province is under the responsibility of
the 203rd ANA Corps, which falls under Task Force Southeast (TF Southeast), led by US forces.1428 The
main military base in the province is called Camp Sultan.1429 According to Afghan military officials in
Ghazni, ANA does not have enough troops to hold the territory of the province. The army establisheda number of small outposts around the province to make larger checkpoints easier to defend. They
quickly became a frequent target of Taliban nightly attacks.1430 For example, in Andar district after a
Taliban offensive in October 2018, the only sign of ANA presence was six military checkpoints and theonly task for soldiers deployed there was not to surrender. Some of these bases were supplied by air
without any land access. Other bases had road access but the Taliban still targeted the supply
operations.1431 In order to supplement the presence of the ANP, ALP, and the NDS paramilitary forces,
a newly established ANA Territorial Force (ANA TF) is being piloted in the Hazara district of Jaghori
where two ANA TF companies were created in the absence of any long-term regular ANA presence.1432

1421 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated population of Afghanistan, 1 June 2020, url, p. 201422 Muzhary, F. and Clark, K., Uprising, ALP and Taleban in Andar: The arc of government failure, AAN, 22 May 2018, url
1423 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-2021, url, p. 291424 JUH/AADA, Health and Integrated Protection Needs in Ghazni Province, Humanitarian Response, 01 Dec 2019 to 30 Dec

2019, December 2019, url, p. 91425 JUH/AADA, Health and Integrated Protection Needs in Ghazni Province, Humanitarian Response, 01 Dec 2019 to 30 Dec
2019, December 2019, url, p. 101426 Clearance Jobs, Taliban Seizure of Ghazni City Returns Terror Organization to its Roots, 13 August 2018, url
1427 Bjelica J., New World Drug Report: Opium production in Afghanistan remained the same in 2019, AAN, 25 June 2020, url
1428 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan, 1 June 2020, url, p. 141429 Stars and Stripes, Dangers for civilians rise in Afghan-Taliban conflict, 09 February 2020, url
1430 Stars and Stripes, Dangers for civilians rise in Afghan-Taliban conflict, 09 February 2020, url
1431 Muzhary F., One Land, Two Rules (7): Delivering public services in insurgency-affected Andar district in Ghazni province,
AAN, 13 June 2019, url
1432 Clark, K., The Afghan Territorial Force: Learning from the lessons of the past?, AAN, 15 January 2019, url132 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATIONThe Taliban had ‘long-established significant influence’ in the province and dominated militarily1433
with the provincial capital remaining an exception.1434 In a case study on Andar district, in southern
Ghazni, AAN noted that two parallel forms of government have operated for years, with a shadow
Taliban administration in place since 2007. Since 2013, the Taliban have expanded their governancestructure by collecting taxes, and by establishing several administrative commissions, including afinance commission, a commission for civilian casualties, a commission for prisoners, a commission for
inviting government forces to surrender, a commission for cultural affairs and a commission for dealing
with international NGOs; and from October 2018, Andar district has been ‘under virtually complete
Taleban control’. While, the government plays an important role in providing health and education
services and it is also responsible for ID cards distribution, in other aspects of daily life its role is highly
limited. Local administration sometimes made informal agreements with Taliban regulating daily needs
and services. AAN further noted that Andar district is the key location for Taliban in Ghazni as it was acommand centre for attacks on different parts of the province. Most Taliban fighters currently active
in Andar are locals, with very few outsiders. However, shadow governors of the Ghazni province used
to be from Kandahar, while one of the Ghazni commanders from Andar is a shadow governor of Khost
province.1435
In the spring of 2019, ANA reportedly managed to recapture administrative centres in Deh Yak and
Khwajah Omari districts.1436 In September 2019, government sources reported that ANA managed torecapture also Jaghato, Malistan, Jaghori, Ajristan and Nawur districts.1437 As of October 2019, theTaliban reportedly controlled almost all Pashtun populated districts of Ghanzni, while government
forces controlled Ghazni City and Hazara populated districts of the province.1438 A joint report by the
Johannite International Assistance (JUH) and Agency for Assistance and Development of Afghanistan(AADA), reported a deterioration of the general security situation in Ghazni province of as of December
2019. The source noted that there was a significant number of checkpoints across the province heldby both the Taliban and government forces, stating that ‘the district centres are mostly controlled by
the government and outside of the district centres are entirely under the control of Taliban. In some
district centres like Qarabagh, Nawa, Andar which are entirely under control of Afghanistan security
forces, but Taliban fighters are present in and around of a kilometre distance away.’1439 In May 2020,
local media reported that ANA managed to clear several villages in the outskirts of Ghazni City and in
Andar district, during a 16-day operation where more than 100 Taliban fighters were killed.1440
According to Afghan military sources quoted by the Stars and Stripes’ article, during the night, theTaliban pass through the villages in the province, even if they are not under their control. They
sometimes plant roadside bombs or plan attacks on the government checkpoints. However, the Taliban
only use small arms fire and the army can call in for artillery or air support when needed. On average,
the main military base launches 80 shells per week.1441

1433 Qaane, E., The Insecure Spring of Ghazni: Results of third-grade treatment by the centre?, AAN, 25 July 2018, url
1434 NYT, Taliban Kill More Than 200 Afghan Defenders on 4 Fronts: ‘A Catastrophe’, 12 August 2018, url; Der Spiegel,

Taliban-Offensive in Afghanistan Der Albtraum von Ghazni [Taliban Offensive in Afghanistan: The Nightmare of Ghazni], 15August 2018, url; Muzhary, F., Unheeded Warnings (1): Looking back at the Taleban attack on Ghazni, AAN, 16 December
2018, url; Muzhary, F., Unheeded Warnings (2): Ghazni city as vulnerable to Taleban as before, AAN, 30 December 2018, url
1435 Muzhary F., One Land, Two Rules (7): Delivering public services in insurgency-affected Andar district in Ghazni province,
AAN, 13 June 2019, url
1436 UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, 03 September 2019, url, p.
61437 Pajhwok Afghan News, Govt retakes control of Ghazni’s Jaghato district, 22 September 2019, url
1438 Kabul Now, Taliban force people to pay extortion money, Ghazni councilman confirms, 9 October 2019, url
1439 JUH/AADA, Health and Integrated Protection Needs in Ghazni Province, Humanitarian Response, 01 Dec 2019 to 30 Dec
2019, December 2019, url, p. 191440 Khamaa Press, Over 100 Taliban militants during a 16-day operation in Ghazni province, 11 May 2020, url
1441 Stars and Stripes, Dangers for civilians rise in Afghan-Taliban conflict, 09 February 2020, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 133

According to UNOCHA, Highway One was partially destroyed and contaminated with IEDs in August
2018.1442 In 2018 and 2019, the Ghazni-Paktika Highway was reported to be under Taliban control andclosed for civilian and government vehicles, with the insurgents continuing to put pressure on the
Kabul-Kandahar Highway.1443 Since the beginning of 2019 Taliban established lots of checkpoints toextort money in some areas under their control. According to a member of Ghazni Provincial Council,
they could collect AFN 15 million a day from each of the checkpoints they set across the Kabul-Ghazni
Highway. According to local people, Taliban stopped every car, checked the passengers (their ID cards
or mobile phones) and force them to pay money. According to army sources, during 2019, ANA tried
to secure the highway and remove Taliban checkpoints.1444
Citing Afghan officials, Stars and Stripes reported that, during 2019, government forces managed toretake ten Taliban-held districts and four Taliban-contested districts, including critical highways thatconnect Ghazni to the rest of the country. However the Afghan official ‘acknowledged that the
highways still had to be cleared of the Taliban’s roadside bombs each morning’.1445 In May 2020, 203rd
Corps of Afghan Army managed to clear parts of the route linking Ghazni with Paktiya and Paktika
provinces and established five military bases along the highway to ensure the security of the route.1446
UNAMA documented also ISKP activity in Ghazni province which caused civilian casualties.1447
In September 2019, the LWJ referred to Ghazni province as a ‘known haven for al Qaeda’, reportingthat NDS forces supported by air forces killed 26 Al Qaeda fighters in Muqur district.1448 According toJamestown Foundation, some Al Qaeda cells were present in Ghazni province, where they found the
shelter after Pakistani army offensive in tribal, remote region of Waziristan. However, Al Qaeda havelost many top leaders since 2017 in Ghazni. In March 2019, in Giro district, the Afghan army killed over
30 Al Qaeda fighters, including suicide bombers.1449

2.10.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population
2.10.3.1 General
In 2019, UNAMA documented 673 civilian casualties (213 deaths and 460 injured) in Ghazni. This
represents an increase of 3 % compared to 2018. Leading causes of casualties were suicide IEDs andnon-suicide IEDs and ground engagements.1450 Resolute Support recorded between 0 and 25 civilian
casualties in Ghazni in the first quarter of 2020, reporting an increase in the number of civilian
casualties in the second quarter of the year, with over 126 casualties recorded (from 1 April to
30 June 2020).1451
In the period from 1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, ACLED reported a total of 1 291 incidents related tosecurity in Ghazni province: 830 battles, 423 remote violence, 38 cases of violence against civilians,
mostly in the second part of 2019. In 2020 the number of security incidents and fatalities decreased.1452

1442 UN News, ‘No safe way’ into battle-scarred Afghan city of Ghazni to deliver aid as traumatized children search forparents, 17 August 2018, url
1443 Muzhary, F., Unheeded Warnings (2): Ghazni city as vulnerable to Taleban as before, AAN, 30 December 2018, url;
Pajhwok Afghan News, 18 months on, Ghazni-Paktika road remains shut 3 November 2019, url
1444 Kabul Now, Taliban force people to pay extortion money, Ghazni councilman confirms, 9 October 2019, url
1445 Stars and Stripes, Dangers for civilians rise in Afghan-Taliban conflict, 09 February 2020, url
1446 Khamaa Press, Over 100 Taliban militants during a 16-day operation in Ghazni province, 11 May 2020, url
1447 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 36
1448 LWJ, Taliban supplies al Qaeda with explosives for attacks in major Afghan cities, 16 September 2019, url
1449 Jamestown Foundation, Al-Qaeda’s South Asian Branch Gravitating Toward Kashmir, 17 April 2020, url
1450 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 94
1451 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 April 2020, url, p. 69; SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The UnitedStates Congress, 30 July 2020, url, p. 72
1452 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus - Afghanistan; Ghazni; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020, url134 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

Figure 12. Ghazni - Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians from
1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, based on ACLED data1453

Throughout 2019 and the first months of 2020, Ghazni continued to be a major battlefield between
Taliban insurgents and the Afghan government – backed by US forces. The intensification of military
campaigns by the Afghan forces aiming at retaking key territorial areas of the province has made ‘life
worse for civilians’ living this areas.1454 According to some local respondents interviewed by AAN, fullcontrol of Taliban in some districts meant better security in terms of lower level of crime and freedomof movement.1455 During clashes in 2019, the roads became impossible to use.1456 Also, as a result ofclashes and road blockades, people in need of emergency health care, reportedly, were not able toreach appropriate health care in time.1457 Additionally, several health facilities in Ghazni province weredamaged either due to conflict or natural disaster.1458
The Taliban checkpoints along main roads in Ghazni province made travelling insecure, especially forgovernment employees and university students.1459 In June 2019, the Taliban reportedly stopped a carin the Qiyaq area of Jaghatu district, kidnapped and killed a university student who was travelling to
Kabul.1460 In September 2019, a civilian deputy police chief of Ghazni and another senior security
official of Ghazni police were killed by the Taliban on the Kabul-Ghazni Highway in two separate
attacks.1461 In December 2019, in Jaghatu district, an explosion of a pressure-plate IED planted by
Taliban, killed 10 civilians travelling on the road from Daikundi to Ghazni.1462
There were several cases of targeted killings in Ghazni City in 2019. In May 2019, the Taliban kidnapped
and killed a military prosecutor and a government official from Zabul province. A local reporter was
shot in his leg while travelling on a motorbike with his wife on 27 September 2019. In October 2019,
the Taliban killed an attorney. On 10 December 2019, the head of the Disabled and Martyrs
Department was killed by unidentified armed group.1463
According to AAN, ‘following the capture of Andar by the Taliban in October 2018, the district has
experienced a considerable increase in night raids, drone activity, airstrikes, search operations and1453 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus - Afghanistan; Ghazni; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020, url
1454 Stars and Stripes, Dangers for civilians rise in Afghan-Taliban conflict, 09 February 2020, url
1455 Muzhary F., One Land, Two Rules (7): Delivering public services in insurgency-affected Andar district in Ghazni province,
AAN, 13 June 2019, url
1456 Stars and Stripes, Dangers for civilians rise in Afghan-Taliban conflict, 09 February 2020, url; UNAMA, Afghanistan
Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 71
1457 JUH/AADA, Health and Integrated Protection Needs in Ghazni Province, Humanitarian Response, 01 December 2019,url, p. 191458 JUH/AADA, Health and Integrated Protection Needs in Ghazni Province, Humanitarian Response, 01 December 2019,url, p. 28
1459 Kabul Now, Taliban force people to pay extortion money, Ghazni councilman confirms, 9 October 2019, url
1460 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 7-13, 13 June 2019, url
1461 Kabul Now, Taliban force people to pay extortion money, Ghazni councilman confirms, 9 October 2019, url
1462 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 421463 ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the Caucasus - Afghanistan; Ghazni; Event types: Battles;
Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 135

ground fighting between militants and US special forces-backed Afghan forces. These have resulted in
the killing of both civilians and Taliban fighters, as well as the destruction of the district governor’s
compound. Civilians have also been detained and beaten’.1464 According to Afghan military sources, incase of clashes in populated areas, the risk of civilian causalities grew as the use of artillery and air
strikes were the only effective weapon of ANA against Taliban forces.1465 On 30 March 2019, a mortar
round fired during the clash between ANA and Taliban hit the school in Andar district. Four students
and a teacher were killed and 18 others were injured.1466
There were also reports of search operations conducted by Afghan security forces during which people
were harassed. According to locals, Taliban usually do not undertake house to house searches.1467
According to ACLED, in June 2019, Afghan forces started shooting at people who refused to show their
ID cards, killing one person.1468 On 10 September 2019, Afghan and US forces raided and destroyed avillage in Giro district, five civilians were killed, two wounded. The Afghan army also destroyed two
mosques, a school and two houses.1469 In April 2020, there were violent protests in Jaghori after two
local policemen allegedly raped two women from the district. Protestors clashed with the police andone person was killed and nine other wounded as police opened fire to the gathering.1470
Attacks by ISKP against civilians in Ghazni province were also reported. On 5 July 2019, IKSP detonateda remote-controlled IED in the Shia Muhammadiyah Mosque in Ghazni City; two people were killed
and 22 were injured, including children. On 8 October 2019, another IED was detonated in a classroomof Ghazni University, killing or injuring 27 students, most of them women.1471

2.10.3.2 Displacement
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 3 742 persons displaced
from and within Ghazni province. Most of them were displaced from Dehyak district and were
resettled to Ghazni City.1472 The major reason for displacement was active conflict, followed bydrought. In Dehyak district, ground engagement and air strikes increased in 2019, but the population
often received prior warning from insurgents.1473
291 persons from various districts of Ghazni province were displaced to Kabul City, 75 persons from
Malestan district left for Injil district, Herat province and two families (14 persons) were displaced to
Qala-e Kah in Farah province .No conflict-induced internal displacement to Ghazni province from otherprovinces was reported by UNOCHA in the reporting period.1474

1464 Muzhary F., One Land, Two Rules (7): Delivering public services in insurgency-affected Andar district in Ghazni province,

AAN, 13 June 2019, url
1465 Stars and Stripes, Dangers for civilians rise in Afghan-Taliban conflict, 09 February 2020, url ; UNAMA, Afghanistan
Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, February 2020, url, p. 71
1466 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url , p. 71
1467 JUH/AADA, Health and Integrated Protection Needs in Ghazni Province, Humanitarian Response, 01 December 2019, url, pp. 19-20
1468 ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the Caucasus - Afghanistan; Ghazni; Event types: Battles;
Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, url
1469 ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the Caucasus - Afghanistan; Ghazni; Event types: Battles;
Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, url
1470 Tolonews, 1 Protestor Killed as Ghazni Protest Turns Violent 28 April 2020, url
1471 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 48
1472 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 03 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2019, last updated: 03 March 2020 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July
2020, url
1473 Humanitarian Response, Health and Integrated Protection Needs in Ghazni Province, 01 December 2019, url p. 201474 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 03 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2019, last updated: 03 March 2020 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July
2020, url

136 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

2.11 Ghor
2.11.1 General description of the province

Map 11: Afghanistan – Ghor province, source: UNOCHA1475

The province of Ghor is located in central towards north-western Afghanistan and does not share aninternational border. It is surrounded by the provinces of Herat and Badghis to the west, Faryab andSar-e Pul to the north, Bamyan and Daykundi to the east, and Helmand and Farah to the south. Ghor
province is divided into the following administrative units: Chaghcharan (Firozkoh), Charsadra,
Dawlatyar, Du Layna, Lal Wa Sarjangal, Pasaband, Saghar, Shahrak, Taywara, and Tulak. The provincial
capital is Chaghcharan.1476 The provincial capital of Ghor is called Feroz Koh or Chaghcharan, Radio
Television Afghanistan (RTA), the national broadcasting corporation of Afghanistan, stated that
Chaghcharan was renamed to Firozkoh in 2014.1477 Afghanistan, NSIA referred to Chaghcharan as theprovincial capital of Ghor in June 2020.1478
Afghanistan, NSIA estimated the population of Ghor at 764 472 in 2019/20.1479 According to theprovincial profile published by the US Naval Postgraduate School, the largest ethnic group in Ghor are
Tajiks, followed by Hazaras, Aimaqs and a small number of Pashtuns and Uzbeks1480; RFE/RL stated that
Aimaqs constitute the majority of Ghor.1481 The Aimaqs are ‘losely related to the Hazara, and to somedegree the Tajiks’ according to the US Naval Postgraduate School.1482

1475 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Ghor Province - District Atlas, April 2014, url
1476 Afghanistan, IEC, Afghanistan 2019 Presidential Elections – Final results by Polling Stations: Province Ghor, 2020, url;

Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated population of Afghanistan 2020-21, d.n., url, P. 33
1477 RTA article published at Baztab news portal, Ghor province, 11 July 2018, url
1478 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated population of Afghanistan 2020-21, d.n., url, P. 33
1479 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated population of Afghanistan 2020-21, d.n., url, P. 33
1480 US, Naval Postgraduate School, Ghor Provincial Overview, n.d., url
1481 RFE/RL, Female Afghan Governor Won't Back Down Amid Threats, Controversy, 19 October 2015, url
1482 US, Naval Postgraduate School, Ghor Provincial Overview, n.d., url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 137

According to the 2018 UNODC Opium Survey, Ghor was not among the ten main opium poppycultivating provinces of Afghanistan in 2018.1483 Compared to 2017, opium-poppy cultivation
reportedly decreased by 15 % in 2018. The main opium-poppy cultivating districts have been
Chaghcharan, Pasaband, and Taywara.1484 According to AAN, in 2019, opium-poppy cultivation in thewestern provinces including in Ghor has decreased by 23 % compared to 2018.1485

2.11.2 Conflict background and actors in Ghor
According to AAN, ‘Ghor is known for its particularly confusing pattern of conflicts, involving insurgent
groups and ‘freelancing’ militias, the dividing line between which is all but hermetic [...].’1486 Besides
Taliban insurgents, armed groups partially affiliated to political parties in the central government arepresent in the province. According to AAN, the ‘insurgent’ activities of some groups can be hardly
distinguished from crime and allegiances have been shifting several times in the past.1487 During theperiod of 2017 and 2018, the absence of rule of law and government was allegedly a particular pressing
problem in Ghor.1488
AAN reported in November 2016 of a network of militants active in the district of Chaghcharan, which
maintained close links to the political party and former militia, Jamiat-e Islami, but also with establishedlinks to the Taliban after 2010. It was said to sympathise with ISKP after 2015 – even though AAN statedthat claims of an IS-affiliation of the group proved wrong. While the network’s criminal activities led toprotests and resistance of local residents, the government forces’ weak presence in Ghor, as well as
the network’s affiliation with Jamiat reportedly prevented its disarmament. On the contrary, afterfighting between the group and the Taliban erupted, provincial officials treated the group as a ‘popular
uprising’ force and the ANSF provided logistical support for the fight against the Taliban. However,when ANSF launched a clearing operation against the network in the wake of protests caused by thekilling of more than 30 civilians by the network in 2016, the Taliban allegedly fought against ANSF, asthey perceived the presence of government forces as a threat against their strongholds in neighbouring
Charsada district.1489 Furthermore, according to an AAN report of 2017, an MP from Ghor province
stated that affiliates of Hezb-i-Islami, a rival party to Jamiat-e Islami, distributed a large quantity of
weapons to their supporters in Ghor.1490 According to Pajhwok Afghan News, two sons of a former
Hezb-i-Islami commander died in a clash with Taliban insurgents in January 2018. The fighting
reportedly erupted over the collection of ushr taxes, respectively a leadership dispute between theformer Hezb-i-Islami commander and Taliban insurgents.1491
In August 2019, Etilaatroz cited Mohammad Mehdi, deputy provincial council for Ghor province, statingthat the Taliban strength in Ghor province has weakened after Mawlawi Zarif deputy [commander] of
Red Unit of the Taliban militants has been killed by the security forces. According to the source Mehdi
indicated [informal translation] ‘government and public uprising forces control Tolak, Shahrak, Saghar,
Tyora, Pasaband, Dawlatyar district centres.’ According to the source, Mehdi added that due to the lackof security forces, the Taliban are present in remote areas of Ghor province […] public uprising forces
keep the security of governmental buildings in the province. The source also cited Abdul Rahim
Rezazadeh, member of provincial council of Ghor confirming the presence of Taliban in remote areas

1483 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, p. 171484 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, p. 33
1485 AAN, New world drug report: opium production in Afghanistan remained the same in 2019, 25 June 2020, url
1486 Ruttig, T., The ‘Humvee Bomb’ Series: The October wave of Taleban attacks in 2017 context, AAN, 7 November 2017, url
1487 Osman, B., Carnage in Ghor: Was Islamic State the perpetrator or was it falsely accused?, AAN, 23 November 2016, url
1488 NYT, Seesaw Conflict With Taliban Takes Toll in Fallen Afghan District, 7 August 2017, url; NYT, No Justice, ‘No Value’ for

Women in a Lawless Afghan Province, 7 July 2017, url; IWPR, Afghanistan: Women Abused in Lawless Ghor, 24 July 2018,url
1489 Osman, B., Carnage in Ghor: Was Islamic State the perpetrator or was it falsely accused?, AAN, 23 November 2016, url
1490 Ruttig, T., A Matter of Registration: Factional tensions in Hezb-e Islami, AAN, 25 November 2017, url
1491 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban kill HIA commander’s sons in Ghor clash, 13 January 2018, url138 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

of Ghor province.1492 Taliban claimed that in 2019 they took the control of Charsada district centre of
Ghor province.1493
In December 2019 and January 2020, around 88 Taliban fighters surrendered to the government forcesin Ghor province amongst whom 18 surrendered to join the peace process and other 70 due tocontinued military pressure by the ANDSF.1494 According to Kabul Now (local media), in February 2020,
the Taliban maintained full control in many Ghor districts.1495 During the same period, AAN reported
that there were several fighting actors present in many of the nine remote districts of Ghor province,
including illegal and criminal armed groups, the Taliban and ANDSF.1496 According to information by
LWJ collected and presented in a map, Charsada, Dawlat Yar, Taywara, Pasaband and Tulak districts ofGhor province were contested.1497
In March 2020, Ariana News quoted MoD claiming the killing of Qari Rauf, a Taliban shadow governor
for Lal Wa Sarjangal district, and several other Taliban fighters including Qari Niyatullah […] from
Zarzughal village and IEDs fabricator for Taliban.1498
In May 2020, the UN Security Council indicated that the Taliban shadow governor for Ghor was
Mawlawi Abdul Qayum Rohani Noorzai.1499 In June 2020, Afghanistan Times cited Fakhruddin, police
chief of Pasaband district, stating that the deputy governor of Taliban for Ghor province was Mullah
Ahmadshah1500, who entered Pasaband district with the Taliban shadow governor and over 200
militants on motorbikes.1501 In June 2020, another source mentioned two names ‘Mustafa and Mikhail’
as Taliban high ranking commanders for Ghor province.1502
The ANSF conducted military operations in Ghor in 2018.1503 According to a report of January 2019, thenewly established ANA TF will be stationed ‘soon’ in several districts of Ghor.1504
The 207th Zafar Corps is in charge of ANA operations in the province of Ghor.1505 As part of the RS(Resolute Support), Italian forces provide ‘functionality-based’ security assistance to ANA 207th Corps
and ANP in the west of Afghanistan including Ghor.1506

1492 Etilaatroz,‫ر‬‫برریسناوضاعنامنیتنغربنکشور؛نازنافزایشنتحرکاتنطالباننتانتلفاتنسنگینایننگروه‬[informal translation: ‘security

assessment of the west of the country; from the increase of Taliban’s mobility to heavy losses of the group’,], 30 August
2019, url‫[ د تېر کال فتوحاتو ته ځغلنده کتنه‬informal translation: ‘a quick look at last year’s victories’], 31
December 2019, url
1494 Salaam Times, Taliban fighters surrendering in Ghor pledge support against former comrades, 2 December 2019, url;
Salaam Times, Increased military pressure forces 70 Taliban fighters to surrender in Ghor, 14 January 2020, url
1495 Kabul Now, Women exchanged for weapons in parts of Ghor, 1 February 2020, url
1496 AAN, Placating Ghor, for now: ten-days protest pushed the government to respond, 5 February 2020, url
1497 LWJ, Several Districts Change Hands as Fighting Rages in Northern Afghanistan, J July 2020, url, however the source
does not specify when and which information of the aforementioned map was last updated
1498 Ariana News, Taliban shadow district governor among 10 dead – Ghor, 26 March 2020, url
1499 UN Security Council, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant
to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, S/2020/415, 27 May 2020, url, p. 27
1500 Afghanistan Times, Seven security forces killed in Ghor Taliban attack, 13 June 2020, url
1501 Afghanistan times, Ghor’s Pasaband district at risk of collapse to Taliban, 16 June 2020, url
1502 Pasbanan, Nine police were killed in Ghor province, 13 June 2020, url
1503 Tolonews, Casualties Rise Amid Heavy Clashes In 10 Provinces, 13 May 2018, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Scores ofrebels, security personnel killed in clashes, 14 December 2018, url
1504 Tolonews, Territorial Army To Begin Mission In West, 14 January 2019, url
1505 Afghanistan, MoD, 207 Zafar Corps, n.d., url; USDoD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan, June 2020, 1 July
2020, url, p. 59
1506 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan, June 2020, 1 July 2020, url, p. 141493 Voice of Jihad,

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 139

2.11.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population
2.11.3.1 General
In 2019, UNAMA documented 77 civilian casualties, including 62 killed and 15 injured in Ghor province,
which represents 20 % increase compared to 2018. The leading causes of casualties wereTarget/deliberate killings, ground engagements and Non-Suicide IEDs.1507 According to SIGAR, RS(Resolute Support) recorded between 26 and 50 civilian casualties in Ghor province during the firstquarter of 20201508, and the mentioned source recorded between 51 and 75 civilian casualties during
the second quarter of 2020.1509
According to ACLED data, between 1 March 2019 and 30 June 2020 there were 222 security incidents
recorded in Ghor province, of which 145 were coded as battles, 56 remote violence and 21 incidents
of violence against civilians.

Figure 13. Ghor - Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians from
1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, based on ACLED data1510

In 2019, violent conflict1511 and lack of security in several remote districts of Ghor province wasreported.1512 Tolonews quoted Rahila Rahmanzada, women rights activist, stating that there were 113
cases of violence against women including stoning during kangaroo courts1513 in Ghor province as of
21 December 2019.1514 According to the head of Mine Action Coordination, cited by Tolonews in 2019
in Ghor province, 22 people were killed and 16 wounded due to the explosion of unexploded
ordnance.1515 In May 2020, Afghanistan Times reported on an increasing number of informal courts in
Ghor province, where local religious and tribal leaders or influential figures punish people accused ofcrimes.1516
Recent incidents that caused civilian casualties in Ghor province in 2019 and 2020 include: on
8 June 2019, Taliban attacked security outposts in Poshta Noor village in Dawlatyar district of Ghor,
killing at least fifteen members of the public uprising forces and civilians, and as well as wounding a1507 UNAMA, Protection of civilians in armed conflict, 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 94
1508 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 April 2020 , url, p. 69
1509 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 July 2020, url, p. 72
1510 Filters applied: Central Asia & the Caucasus; Afghanistan; Ghor; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence;

Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, url
1511 AAN, Placating Ghor, for now: ten-days protest pushed the government to respond, 5 February 2020, url
1512 Tolonews, “Lack of security means more violence against women in Ghor”, 21 December 2019, url‫ محکمه صحرایی‬Mahkam-e Sahrayee in Dari) is an improvised court organized by the Taliban topunish victims publicly including shooting, hanging, stoning etc., and aimed at spreading violence and intimidating people,
1513 A Kangaroo court (Salaam Times, Taliban brutality takes center stage with couple’s execution in Ghor, 28 April 2020, url; AIHRC, ‫نتیجه‬‫[ بررسی های کمیسیون در رابطه با تصاویر ویدیویی از سنگسار یک خانم در والیت غور‬informal translation ‘theresult of commission’s enquiry concerning the videos of stoning of a woman in Ghor province’], 10 February 2020, url
1514 Tolonews, “Lack of security means more violence against women in Ghor”, 21 December 2019, url
1515 Tolonews, 100 of civilian casualties caused by unexploded ordnance in 2019, 20 February 2020, url
1516 Afghanistan Times, Drumhead courts-martials in rise in Ghor, 19 May 2020, url140 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

tribal leader and two others1517; on 4 July 2019, one civilian was killed and another wounded when the
Taliban attacked the office of the local pro-government militia in Dawlatyar district1518; on 8 July 2019,six children were killed in an explosion1519; on 23 July 2019, one civilian was killed when a roadsidebomb, placed close to the district council compound in Dawlatyar district, exploded1520; on
20 August 2019, two civilians, a father and his son, were killed and the man’s wife was wounded by aroadside bomb while they were travelling by motorcycle in the Midan Barra Khanah area of Firozkoh(provincial capital)1521; on 24 August 2019, two civilians were reportedly killed in a roadside bomb inthe same area1522; on 1 September 2019, four civilians were killed, and seven were wounded when
multiple bombs detonated in Firozkoh City1523; on 25 September 2019, a roadside bomb explosion
killed one civilian and wounded another one in Firozkoh district1524; on 9 October 2019, two civilians
were killed, and four wounded in a roadside bomb planted by the Taliban hitting their vehicle while
travelling from Kabul to the Sheniya village of Dawlat Yar district. Additionally, an ambulance, which
arrived to the area to evacuated the victims, was also blown up by a roadside bomb, wounding thedriver1525: on 13 October 2019, a roadside bomb, which exploded near a vehicle in the village of Bande Bayan in Lal Wa Sarjangal district, killed two women who were moving to Herat province.1526 on
21 October 2019, a 22-year-old woman was killed at home when the Taliban fired several mortars on
the village of Mang in Chahar Sadah district1527; on 10 November 2019, one civilian was killed during aclash between the Taliban and Afghan security forces when the latter’s convoy was ambushed in thevillage of Dahan-e Alander in Firozkoh1528; on 29 May 2020, one child was killed and another was
injured in a bomb blast in Pozalich village of Firozkoh, the provincial capital1529; on 10 June 2020, abomb, reportedly planted by the Taliban, exploded in Tarbulaq village of Du Layan district killed one
child and wounded three others1530; on 17 June 2020, a roadside bomb, planted by the Taliban, went
off in the village of Pa-i Kamar in Firozkoh district killing three children1531; on 19 June 2020, a roadsidebomb planted by the Taliban went off in Somak village of Dawlat Yar district killing one civilian on his
motorcycle.1532

2.11.3.2 Displacement
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 10 512 persons
displaced from Ghor province, with 93 % displaced within the province itself (mainly in the provincial
capital Chaghcharan), 6 % were displaced into Herat province and the remaining 1 % were displaced
into Faryab province.1533
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 10 036 persons
displaced to Ghor province, with almost 99 % coming from within the province itself.1534

1517 Tolonews, several killed in Taliban attack in Ghor: Officials, 8 June 2019, url
1518 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 28-4 July, 4 July 2019, url
1519 Save the Children, At least 25 children hospitalised after Ghazni car bomb attack, 8 July 2019, url
1520 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 19-25, 25 July 2019, url
1521 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: Aug. 16-22, 22 August 2019, url
1522 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: Aug. 23-29, 29 August 2019, url
1523 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 26 September 2019, url
1524 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 26 September 2019, url
1525 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 31 October 2019, url
1526 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 31 October 2019, url
1527 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 31 October 2019, url
1528 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: November 2019, 2 December 2019, url
1529 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 2020, 2 July 2020, url
1530 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 2020, 2 July 2020, url
1531 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 2020, 2 July 2020, url
1532 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 2020, 2 July 2020, url
1533 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict

Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
1534 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url

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During the period of 28 April – 4 May 2020, the ongoing conflict displaced 400 families (around 2 800
individuals) in Badghis and Ghor provinces.1535 Salaam Times reported that, in April 2020, due to the
Taliban attacks hundreds of families had to leave their homes in Shahrak district […] and weredisplaced to Firozkoh district.1536

1535 UNOCHA, Afghanistan, Weekly humanitarian update, 24 April – 4 May 2020, 7 May 2020, url
1536 Salaam Times, An insult to Islam: Taliban attack in Ghor forces hundreds to flee during Ramadan, 7 May 2020, url142 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

2.12 Helmand
2.12.1 General description of the province

Map 12: Afghanistan – Helmand province, source: UNOCHA1537

1537 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Helmand Province - District Atlas, April 2014, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 143

The province of Helmand is situated in southern Afghanistan, bordering the provinces of Nimroz, andFarah to the west, Ghor, and Daykundi to the north, and Uruzgan, as well as Kandahar to the east. In
the south, Helmand shares a 162-kilometre border with Pakistan along the Durand line.1538 Helmand is
the largest province of Afghanistan.1539 It is divided into the into the following administrative units: Nad
Ali, Nawa-e-Barikzayi (Nawa), Nahr-e-Saraj (Gereshk/Grishk), Washer, Garm Ser, Nawzad, Sangin, Musa
Qala, Kajaki, Reg-e-Khan Nishin (Reg), Baghran, Dishu, Lashkargah, , Marja (formerly part of Nad-eAli1540), and Nawamish. The provincial capital of Helmand is Lashkargah.1541 Hazara-dominatedNawamish was reportedly split from the Pashtun-majority district of Baghran by a presidential order inMarch 2016. In June 2017, its administrative affairs were transferred to neighbouring Daykundi
province.1542
According to NSIA, the population of Helmand is estimated at 1 446 230 for 2020/21. Urban population,living mainly in the provincial capital Lashkargah, constitutes slightly more than 7 % of all
inhabitants.1543 The majority of Helmand's residents are reportedly Pashtuns, with a Baloch minority inthe south at the border to the Pakistani province Balochistan1544 and with some Hazara minority in thenorth.1545 While Helmand's northern districts – Baghran, Kajaki and Musa Qala – are mainly populated
by members of the Alizai tribe, the districts of Marja and Nad-e-Ali are more heterogeneous, inhabitedby Nurzai, Ishaqzai, Alizai, Alekozai, and several smaller tribes. The Ishaqzai are allegedly ‘[...] one of
the most religiously conservative tribes across Afghanistan’1546, with the late Taliban leader Mullah
Akhtar Muhammad Mansur belonging to this tribe.1547
According to AAN, the more heterogeneous composition of the districts in the south of Helmand was
the result of a large-scale irrigation and agriculture project mainly funded by USAID until 1970, which
created new arable land to be cultivated by so-called naqileen – i.e. Pashtuns from other parts of
Afghanistan.1548 Author Carter Malkesian noted that this allegedly led to a rift in Helmand's society andthe naqileen predominantly allied with the Taliban against the older landed tribes, particularly in the
district of Garm Ser in southern Helmand.1549
The province has a ‘significant geo-strategic importance’.1550 A section of the Ring Road runs throughthe districts of Nahr-e-Saraj, Sangin and Washer1551, connecting major population centre Herat in thewest with Kandahar in the east and eventually the capital Kabul.1552 However, according to Tolonews,
as of January 2020, the five districts in Helmand province had no road access due to Taliban
presence.1553 A domestic airport with scheduled passenger service reportedly exists in Helmand's
capital Lashkargah.1554

1538 Pajhwok Afghan News, Recognition of southern Helmand province, n.d., url
1539 Diplomat (The), 5 Reasons Why Helmand Matters to the Taliban, 31 May 2016, url
1540 Amiri, R., Helmand (1): A crisis a long time coming, AAN, 10 March 2016, url
1541 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated population of Afghanistan, 1 June 2020, url, p. 40
1542 Ruttig, T., The Afghanistan Election Conundrum (12): Good news and bad news about district numbers, AAN, 16 August

2018, url
1543 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-2021, url, pp. 7, 40
1544 Naval Postgraduate School, Helmand Provincial Overview, n.d., url
1545 Ruttig, T., The Afghanistan Election Conundrum (12): Good news and bad news about district numbers, AAN, 16 August
2018, url
1546 Amiri, R., Helmand (1): A crisis a long time coming, AAN, 10 March 2016, url
1547 Amiri, R., Helmand (1): A crisis a long time coming, AAN, 10 March 2016, url; Guardian (The), Why capturing Helmand is
top of the Taleban’s strategic goals, 26 December 2015, url
1548 Amiri, R., Helmand (1): A crisis a long time coming, AAN, 10 March 2016, url
1549 Malkasian, C., War Comes to Garmser: Thirty Years of Conflict on the Afghan Frontier, 2013, p. 266
1550 Pajhwok Afghan News, Recognition of southern Helmand province, n.d., url
1551 Amiri, R., Helmand (1): A crisis a long time coming, AAN, 10 March 2016, url
1552 Diplomat (The), 5 Reasons Why Helmand Matters to the Taliban, 31 May 2016, url; Amiri, R., Helmand (1): A crisis a longtime coming, AAN, 10 March 2016, url
1553 Tolonews, Efforts Underway to Clear 5 Helmand Districts of Insurgents, 10 January 2020, url
1554 Austria, BFA-Staatendokumentation, Afghanistan - Airports [Map], 25 March 2019

144 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

Helmand is one of Afghanistan's most fertile regions, with a climate favouring the cultivation of avariety of crops – including opium –, and Helmand river providing the necessary irrigation through a‘relatively organized’ canal system.1555
According to the UNODC data obtained by AAN, Helmand province is situated in the region which thelargest producer of opium in the world. However, in 2019 poppy cultivation in Helmand province
decreased by 38 % in 2019, compared to 2018.1556 The province's pivotal role for opium poppy
cultivation allegedly contributes considerably to its strategic importance for the Taliban: whoever
controls Helmand is rewarded with large-scale revenues, according to several accounts.1557

2.12.2 Conflict background and actors in Helmand
In terms of the presence of government security forces, Helmand province is under the responsibilityof the 215th ANA Corps, which falls under Task Force Southwest (TF Southwest), led by US forces.1558
Local authorities stated in January 2020 that ANA has too little troops to maintain or retake thecheckpoints from Taliban but army officials denied it.1559 On the government side, along with Afghan
security forces such as the ANP, ALP, ANA, some various pro-government ‘uprising forces’ took active
part in fighting. One of the local initiatives of this type is also the Sangorian Group.1560 The Sangorian
was allegedly established in January 2016 by the operational commander of the Afghan forces inHelmand as a covert anti-Taliban militia with the aim of infiltrating and weakening the Taliban fromwithin. Its fighters are locals, Taliban dissidents and former Taliban insurgents, however according to
the media reports, Afghan government denied its existence.1561
In 2012, expert Antonio Giustozzi explained that the conflict in Helmand was driven by several factors
including weak governance and corruption of the government, but also inter and intra tribal rivalries,
competition between criminal networks over narcotic routes and resources, and outdated,
dysfunctional social structures based on feudal landlords. Moreover, Taliban managed to receive large
amounts of money from drug trade which made them self-sufficient.1562 After the international troops
largely withdrew in 2014, the Taliban overran several ‘chiefdoms’ in Helmand, which had been undercontrol of ANP, ALP and pro-government militia commanders.1563 In 2017, US Marines returned toHelmand after three years, reportedly in order to advise Afghan government forces and to increase air
strikes without conducting ground operations on their own.1564 The aim of the Marine's deployment inHelmand was to secure the provincial capital Lashkargah from falling to the Taliban; the Afghan security
forces reportedly remained dependent on US support in order to stay on the offensive.1565In 2017, BBC
reported that the Taliban captured nearly 85 % of Helmand province, making the cities of Sangin andMusa Qala the centre of its command and commerce. However, the schools, at least for boys, andhospitals in both towns were funded and inspected by the government in Kabul. According to locals
interviewed by BBC, areas entirely under Taliban control experienced less fighting and there was a1555 Diplomat (The), 5 Reasons Why Helmand Matters to the Taliban, 31 May 2016, url
1556 Bjelica J., New World Drug Report: Opium production in Afghanistan remained the same in 2019, AAN, 25 June 2020, url
1557 N-TV, Taliban auf dem Vormarsch: In Helmand geht es um Afghanistans Zukunft [Taliban on the rise: Afghanistan's

future at the stake in Helmand], 23 December 2015, url; Guardian (The), Why capturing Helmand is top of the Taleban’s
strategic goals, 26 December 2015, url; Amiri, R., Helmand (1): A crisis a long time coming, AAN, 10 March 2016, url
1558 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan, 1 June 2020, url, p. 141559 Tolonews, Efforts Underway to Clear 5 Helmand Districts of Insurgents, 10 January 2020, url
1560 Jamestown Foundation (The), The Sangorian: Weakening the Taliban from Within, 11 January 2019, url; RFE/RL, SecretAfghan Force Mimics, Infiltrates Taliban, 15 February 2018, url
1561 Jamestown Foundation (The), The Sangorian: Weakening the Taliban from Within, 11 January 2019, url
1562 Giustozzi A. ed. Decoding the New Taliban, Oxford Univesity Press, 2012, p. 151, url
1563 Amiri, R., Helmand (1): A crisis a long time coming, AAN, 10 March 2016, url; Amiri, R., Helmand (2): The chain ofchiefdoms unravels, AAN, 11 March 2016, url
1564 LA Times, The Marines Returned To Helmand Province. Is Their Mission A Blueprint For Trump’s Afghanistan Strategy?,
15 November 2017, url
1565 LA Times, The Marines Returned To Helmand Province. Is Their Mission A Blueprint For Trump’s Afghanistan Strategy?,
15 November 2017, url; Quilty A., Static War: Helmand after the US Marines’ return, 23 April 2020, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 145

meaningful rise in trade but some personal freedoms were limited.1566 Soon the provincial capital
Lashkargah also became surrounded and on the brink of collapse.1567
Since 2018, ANSF supported by US marines conducted several offensive operations called ‘Maiwand’
and managed to push Taliban away from certain districts and to clear some parts of local roads. In theconsequence, Taliban reportedly lost a lot of commanders and fighters.1568
The LWJ reported that the Taliban fully control 7 of 14 districts: Baghran, Musa Qala, Naw Zad, Sangin,
Ghorak, Deh-e Shu, Reg-e Khan, the rest of the districts are marked as contested. The provincial capitaland its surroundings are regularly stormed by AGEs but until now the government defended the city.1569
In December 2019, Tolonews reported that the government forces managed to recapture Marja district
after four years.1570
According to the AAN, as of April 2020, ‘although the US air campaign has kept significant pressure on
the Taliban throughout the province since early to mid-2018, aside from Nawa, the only area thegovernment appears to have retaken and held is Malgir; adding that ‘for now, the goal of the fighting
there, as recently witnessed along the canal, on both sides, seems to be about maintaining the statusquo.’1571
As a consequence of US-Taliban agreement signed in February 2020, US troops started leaving themilitary base in Lashkargah in March 2020.1572 On 4 March 2020, US forces in Helmand attacked the
Taliban, 11 days after the agreement, responding to the Taliban attack on ANDSF checkpoints. The
commander of NATO’s Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, General Miller, said that the UnitedStates would continue the air strikes in support of government army and police if they were attacked
by the Taliban.1573
Besides the Taliban, Al Qaeda is allegedly present in Helmand and closely collaborates with the Taliban– even though the Pentagon reportedly stated that the two groups do not maintain strategic
relationships.1574
According to the news magazine The Diplomat, as of September 2018, there has been no known
presence of Islamic State (IS) fighters in Helmand.1575

2.12.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population
2.12.3.1 General
In 2019, UNAMA documented 675 civilian casualties (284 deaths and 391 injured) in Helmand province.
This represents a decrease of 23 % compared to 2019. Although the number of victims remains high,
UNAMA reported that it has decreased since 2017, particularly in case of ground engagement
victims.1576 Resolute Support recorded between 76 and 100 civilian casualties in Helmand in the first

1566 BBC, Taliban territory: Life in Afghanistan under the militants, 8 June 2017, url
1567 Quilty A., Static War: Helmand after the US Marines’ return, AAN, 23 April 2020, url
1568 Quilty A., Static War: Helmand after the US Marines’ return, AAN, 23 April 2020, url
1569 LWJ, Mapping Taliban Control in Afghanistan, n.d., url; LWJ, however, does not specify when and which information of

the aforementioned map was last updated.
1570 Tolonews, Helmand’s Marjah Cleared of ‘Insurgents’ After Four Years, 1 December 2019, url; Military Times, US troops
and A-10s return to Marjah fight, 3 December 2019, url
1571 Quilty A., Static War: Helmand after the US Marines’ return, AAN, 23 April 2020, url
1572 Bangkok Post, US begins military pullout from two Afghan bases 11 March 2020, url; Stars and Stripes, US troops haveleft bases in Helmand, Laghman provinces, officials say, 13 March 2020, url
1573 Military Times, US resumes airstrikes against Taliban to halt attack on Afghan forces, 04 March 2020, url
1574 LWJ, Afghan forces target al Qaeda commanders in Helmand and Nangarhar, 7 August 2018, url; Institute for the Studyof War, Al Qaeda Expands its Presence in Afghanistan, 23 October 2019, url
1575 Diplomat (The), The Last 2 Sikhs in the Taliban’s Heartland, 26 September 2018, url
1576 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 69, 94

146 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

six months of 2020, with no variation in number between the first and second quarter of 2020.1577
According to UNAMA, leading causes of civilian casualties in 2019 were IEDs, air strikes, followed byground engagements.1578
In the period from 1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, ACLED reported total 1 650 incidents related tosecurity in Helmand province: 1 154 battles, 474 remote violence, 22 cases of violence against
civilians.1579

Figure 14. Helmand - Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians
from 1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, based on ACLED data1580

During the reporting period, the use of IEDs caused the most civilian casualties in the province.1581 For
instance, on 25 March 2020 at least eight civilians were killed after the explosion of a roadside bombin Musa Qala district.1582 On 31 March 2020, eight other civilians were killed in an explosion in Nahr-e
Saraj district.1583 Although the Taliban claimed they usually issued a warning to local population about
safety on the roads or closed the roads for traffic to reduce the number of civilians killed by IEDs, bombson the roads still caused civilian casualties and limited the freedom of movement of local people.1584
On 22 September 2019, Afghan special forces conducted a raid supported by US air strikes against
prominent Al Qaida fighters.1585 According to various sources, from 151586 to 401587 civilians were killed
and at least 11 wounded when wedding procession was accidentally targeted. Most victims were
women and children who participated in a wedding which was to take place in Musa Qala district.1588
According to Ministry of Defense, during the same operation, the security forces managed to kill 22
foreign fighters, including persons from Al Qaeda leadership and arrest 14 others.1589 On 29 June 2020,

1577 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 April 2020, url, p. 69; SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The UnitedStates Congress, 30 July 2020, url, p. 72
1578 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, pp. 69, 94
1579 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus - Afghanistan; Ghazni; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020, url
1580 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus - Afghanistan; Nimroz; Event types: Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, url
1581 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 94
1582 Afghanistan Times, 8 killed in Helmand after vehicle hit by roadside bomb, 25 March 2020, url
1583 SATP, Helmand Timeline 2020, url
1584 HRW, “You Have No Right to Complain” Education, Social Restrictions, and Justice in Taliban-Held Afghanistan, 30 June
2020, url, pp. 53-55; UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020,
url, p. 42
1585 PBS, 40 civilians killed in anti-Taliban raid in Afghanistan, 23 September 2019, url; UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of
Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 60; NYT, Ally of Al Qaeda Killed in Afghanistan
Raid, Officials Say, but Taliban Deny It, 8 October 2019, url
1586 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 60
1587 PBS, 40 civilians killed in anti-Taliban raid in Afghanistan, 23 September 2019, url
1588 PBS, 40 civilians killed in anti-Taliban raid in Afghanistan, 23 September 2019, url; UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of
Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 60; NYT, Ally of Al Qaeda Killed in Afghanistan
Raid, Officials Say, but Taliban Deny It, 8 October 2019, url
1589 PBS, 40 civilians killed in anti-Taliban raid in Afghanistan, 23 September 2019, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 147

in Sangin district of Helmand province, ANA forces fired three mortars that landed in a busy
marketplace, killing 19 civilians (including 6 children), and injuring 31 others (including 11 children).1590
The second leading cause of casualties were air strikes.1591 Throughout 2019 and early 2020, US andAfghan forces continued operations in the province1592, including air strikes reportedly inflicting
considerable damage among civilians.1593 Although a peace agreement between US and Taliban was
signed in February 2020, US and Afghan forces continued air strikes in Helmand province because
Taliban continues attacking military checkpoints of Afghan security forces.1594
Besides suicide and non-suicide IEDs attacks, AGEs targeted selected groups of civilians in Helmand.
There were reports of cases of killing tribal elders, government employees and journalists in Lashkar
Gah City during the reporting period.1595 According to a Human Rights Watch report, any contact with
the Afghan government for civilian population is prohibited in Taliban-controlled areas. For example,
Taliban targeted a resident of Helmand whose relatives worked for the police and accused him of being‘a police spy’.1596 Taliban also used civilian homes for military purposes and punished residents who
tried to oppose.1597 There were cases when Taliban tried to intimidate the workers of de-mining NGOs
in Grishk (Nahr-e-Saraj) district.1598

2.12.3.2 Displacement
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 9233 persons displaced
from Helmand province. 7 481 persons were displaced within the province itself from different
localities mainly to Lashkargah and Washer district. 1 752 persons were displaced from Helmand toother provinces, mainly to Kandahar.1599 A significant number of IDPs came from Marja / Nad-e Ali1600
where the Afghan army conducted a military operation trying to recapture the district from Taliban.1601
In the reporting period 103 persons arrived to the Helmand’s district Nahr-e Saraj from Daykundi
province.1602

1590 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 2020 Mid-year Update, 27 July 2020,

url, p. 15; Stars and Stripes, Afghan forces launched mortar attacks that killed civilians in Helmand, UN says, 30 June 2020,
url; Tolonews, 23 Civilians Killed in Rocket Attacks in Helmand 29 June 2020, url
1591 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, pp. 69, 94
1592 Quilty A., Static War: Helmand after the US Marines’ return, AAN, 23 April 2020, url
1593 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 60;
1594 CNBC, US carries out first airstrike on Taliban since Doha deal, 4 March 2020, url
1595 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus - Afghanistan; Helmand; Event types: Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, url; Khaama Press,
Media staff killed in Afghanistan’s southern province Helmand, 2 January 2020, url; 1 TV, Afghan media worker killed in
Afghanistan, 2 January 2020, url
1596 HRW, “You Have No Right to Complain” Education, Social Restrictions, and Justice in Taliban-Held Afghanistan, 30 June
2020, url, pp. 5-7
1597 HRW, “You Have No Right to Complain” Education, Social Restrictions, and Justice in Taliban-Held Afghanistan, 30 June
2020, url, pp. 53-54
1598 HRW, “You Have No Right to Complain” Education, Social Restrictions, and Justice in Taliban-Held Afghanistan, 30 June
2020, url, p. 44
1599 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 03 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2019, last updated: 03 March 2020 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July
2020, url
1600 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 03 March 2020, url
1601 RFE/RL/Gandhara, Can Afghan Forces Hold On To Former Taliban Territories?, 23 July 2019, url; Tolonews, Helmand’s
Marjah Cleared of ‘Insurgents’ After Four Years, 1 December 2019, url
1602 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 03 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2019, last updated: 03 March 2020 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July
2020, url148 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

2.13 Herat
2.13.1 General description of the province

Map 13: Afghanistan – Herat province, source: UNOCHA1603

The province of Herat is located in the west of Afghanistan, sharing an international border with Iranto the west and Turkmenistan to the north, as well as with the provinces of Badghis to the north-east,
Ghor to the east, and Farah to the south.1604 Herat province is divided into the following administrative
units: Adraskan, Chisti Sharif, Farsi, Ghoryan, Gulran, Guzara (Nizam-e Shahid), Herat, Injil, Karukh,
Kohsan, Kushk (Rubat-e Sangi), Kushki Kohna, Obe, Pashtun Zarghun, Shindand, Zinda Jan. Additionally,
there are four ‘temporary’ districts – Poshtko, Koh-e Zore (Koh-e Zawar), Zawol, and Zer Koh.1605 The
provincial capital of Herat is the city of Herat.1606 According to Pajhwok Afghan News, Herat is one of
the largest provinces of Afghanistan.1607
Afghanistan NSIA estimated the population of Herat province at 2 140 662 in 2020-21, with 574 276 of
its residents living in the provincial capital.1608 According to Pajhwok Afghan News, Pashtuns, Tajiks,
Hazara, Turkmen, Uzbeks and Aimaqs are the main ethnic groups in the province, with Pashtuns
representing the majority in 11 border districts.1609 A 2015 USIP report stated that ‘historically, Herat
City has been a Tajik-dominated enclave in a Pashtun-majority province that includes sizeable Hazara
and Aimaq minorities.’1610 Large-scale migration reportedly changed the ethnic composition of the city.

1603 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Hirat Province - District Atlas, April 2014, url
1604 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Hirat Province - District Atlas, April 2014, url
1605 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated population of Afghanistan 2020-21, n.d., url, p. 421606 Afghanistan, IEC, Afghanistan 2019 Presidential Elections – Final results by Polling Stations: Province Herat, 2020, url;

Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated population of Afghanistan 2020-21, n.d., url, p. 42
1607 Pajhwok Afghan News, Background profile of Herat province, n.d., url
1608 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated population of Afghanistan 2020-21, n.d., url, pp. 5 and 42
1609 Pajhwok Afghan News, Background profile of Herat province, n.d., url
1610 USIP, Political and Economic Dynamics of Herat, 2015, url, p.8

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 149

According to AAN, the share of Shia Hazaras has been particularly increasing since 2001 due torepatriation from Iran and displacement from provinces of central Afghanistan.1611
The province is connected to other major cities by the Ring Road.1612 A primary road leads from Herateastwards to Ghor and Bamyan and on to Kabul.1613 Other highways connect the provincial capital with
the Afghan-Turkmen border crossing at Torghundi, as well as with the Afghan-Iranian border crossing
at Islam Qala.1614 According Railway Gazette, Herat will be connected to Iran through a railway, which
was under construction during the reporting period.1615
Herat International airport is located about 10 kilometres west of Herat City, with a capacity ofmanaging 350 000 passengers per year, and the airport is managed by NATO forces, under the Italiancommand.1616 While agriculture is an important source of income for many dwellers in rural parts ofHerat, ‘[...] urban commercial and industrial ventures dominate Herat City's economy’ and theproximity of Iran is a determining factor for the city.1617
According to the 2018 UNODC Opium Survey, Herat was not one of the ten main opium-poppy
cultivating provinces of Afghanistan in 2018.1618 Compared to 2017, Herat's opium-poppy cultivation
decreased by 46 % in 2018. The main opium-poppy cultivating districts in 2018 have been Kushk andShindand.1619 According to AAN, in 2019, opium-poppy cultivation in the western provinces including
in Herat has decreased by 23 % compared to 2018.1620

2.13.2 Conflict background and actors in Herat
According to Khaama Press, ‘Herat has been among the relatively calm provinces in the west ofAfghanistan but the Taliban militants are active in some of its remote districts and often attempt tocarry out terrorist related activities.’1621 In October 2018, AAN reported that ‘large swathes of territory
in the province, particularly areas far from the provincial and district centres, are either contested or
partially or completely controlled by the Taleban.’1622 In December 2019, Etilaatroz reported onwidespread presence of Taliban fighters in a number of districts of Herat province.1623 In a separate
article, Etilaatroz quoted Mehdi Hadid, a member of Herat provincial council, stating the Taliban havepresence in Shindand, Kushki Kohna, Gulran, Rubat-e Sangi, Pashtun Zarghun, Adraskan and Farsi
districts, and the group has established checkpoints on the Islam Qala Highway. Mehdi also indicatedthat the government controlled the capitals of all districts, within a limit of 5 kilometres from the
district capitals. The source added that, Jilani Farhad, spokesperson for the governor of Herat province
claimed that [informal translation] ‘Taliban have presence in Gulran, Shindand and Kushki Kohna, but

1611 Kazemi, R.S., Speculation Abounding: Trying to make sense of the attacks against Shias in Herat city, AAN, 3 February

2019, url
1612 Diplomat (The), Kabul's Plan to Realize Afghanistan’s Geographic Dividend, 5 December 2017, url
1613 iMMAP, Afghanistan Administrative Map, 19 September 2017, url
1614 iMMAP, Afghanistan Administrative Map, 19 September 2017, url
1615 Railway Gazette International, Herat province railway construction contract signed, 12 December 2019, url
1616 Technical, Herat International Airport (Afghanistan), 19 July 2019, url
1617 US, Naval Postgraduate School, Herat Provincial Overview, n.d., url
1618 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, p. 171619 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, p. 33
1620 AAN, New world drug report: opium production in Afghanistan remained the same in 2019, 25 June 2020, url
1621 Khaama Press, Prominent Taliban leader killed in Herat drone strike, 17 December 2018, url
1622 Kazemi, R.S., The 2018 Election Observed (6) in Herat: Insecurity, organisational shambles, alleged rigging, AAN, 20
December 2018, url‫[ اعتراض شهروندان هرات؛ نمایندگان این والیت خواستار برکناری فرمانده پولیس شدند‬informaltranslation ‘Herat citizen protest; representatives of this province demanded the removal of the police chief’], 30 December
2019, url
1623 Etilaatroz,

150 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

the government holds its state sovereignty [over the province] and the security forces maintainsecurity.’1624
According to information LWJ collected and presented in a map released on 6 July 2020, Gulran, Koshk,
Kushki Kohna, Obe, Adraskan, Ghoryan and Shindand districts of Herat province were contested andFarsi district was ‘unconfirmable Taliban claim of control’.1625 In January 2020, Stars and Stripes
indicated the presence of Rasool group [Taliban’s separatist group] in Herat province that continued tofight the main Taliban groups in the province. The source claimed Rasool group ‘operated with the tacit
support of the Afghan Government’.1626
According to the UN Security Council report, the Taliban shadow governor for Herat was Mawlawi
Abdul Rashid in May 2020.1627 On 23 May 2020, Tolonews reported that NDS arrested a key Talibancommander and ‘a member of the Taliban’s leadership commission named Qari Shafi (also known as
Hafiz Omeri) in Herat province at the border with Iran.1628
In terms of government presence, the 207th Zafar Corps is in charge of the ANA operations in theprovince of Herat.1629 As part of the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission, Italian forces provide‘functionality-based’ security assistance to ANA 207th Corps and ANP in Herat province.1630
In December 2019, Gandhara news quoted the chief of Herat police stating there was a shortage in thenumber of police in Herat province and only in Herat City there was a need for 1 200 Afghan National
Police (ANP) in order to tackle insecurity.1631 According to Pajhwok, residents of Herat City complainedthat there were not enough police personal in the city to provide security for the population.1632
According to Etilaatroz, on 30 August 2019, there was one police officer per 1 000 people in Heratprovince. The source cited Ghulam Hussain Majrohi, a military expert stating that due to insecurity inseveral districts of Herat province, there were no judiciary institutions, and people used Taliban courts
to resolve their problems.1633 In December 2019, Pajhwok reported that the chief of Police District 10(PD 10) of Herat City has been removed from the office for the lack of efficiency to provide security inthe city.1634‫[ بررسی اوضاع امنیتی غرب کشور؛ از افزایش تحرکات طالبان تا تلفات سنگین این گروه‬informaltranslation: ‘security assessment of the west of the country; from the increase of Taliban’s mobility to heavy losses of thegroup’,], 30 August 2019, url
1625 LWJ, Several Districts Change Hands as Fighting Rages in Northern Afghanistan, 6 July 2020, url, however the source
does not specify when and which information of the aforementioned map was last updated
1626 Stripes, Airstrike in western Afghanistan kills leader of Taliban splinter group, may have killed civilians, 9 January 2020,
url
1627 UN Security Council, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant
to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, S/2020/415, 27 May 2020, url, p. 27
1628 Tolonews, “Key” Taliban member arrested in Herat by NDS, 23 May 2020, url
1629 Afghanistan, MoD, 207 Zafar Corps, n.d., url; USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan, June 2020, 1 July
2020, url, p. 59
1630 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan, June 2020, 1 July 2020, url, p. 141624 Etilaatroz,‫ اگر نیروهای پولیس افزایش نیابد اقتصاد هرات فلج میشود‬:‫[ فرمانده پولیس هرات‬informal translation:‘Herat Police commander: if the number of police personnel does not increase, economy of Herat will be impacted’], 17
December 2019, url
1632 Pajhwok Afghan News, Worsening insecurity worries Herat residents, 19 December 2019, url
1631 Radio Azadi,‫[ بررسی اوضاع امنیتی غرب کشور؛ از افزایش تحرکات طالبان تا تلفات سنگین این گروه‬informaltranslation: ‘security assessment of the west of the country; from the increase of Taliban’s mobility to heavy losses of thegroup’,], 30 August 2019, url
1633 Etilaatroz,‫[ آمر حوزه دهم امنیتی پولیس هرات به دلیل غفلت وظیفوی برکنار شد‬informal translation:‘chief of Police District 10 of Herat has been removed from office due to negligence’], 17 December 2019, url
1634 Pajhwok Afghan News,EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 151

2.13.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population
2.13.3.1 General
In 2019, UNAMA documented 400 civilian casualties, including 144 killed and 256 injured in Heratprovince, which represents 54 % increase compared to 2018. The leading causes of casualties were
Non-Suicide IEDs, ground engagements and targeted/deliberate killings.1635 According to SIGAR, RS(Resolute Support) recorded between 51 and 75 civilian casualties in Herat province during the firstquarter of 20201636, and the mentioned source recorded between 101 and 125 civilian casualties during
the second quarter of 2020.1637
According to ACLED data, between 1 March 2019 and 30 June 2020 there were 529 security incidents
recorded in Herat province, of which 360 were coded as battles, 141 remote violence and 28 incidents
of violence against civilians.

Figure 15. Herat - Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians from
1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, based on ACLED data1638

A local media source indicated that Herat district roads are not safe and residents complain about
armed thieves who rob civilians’ vehicles, particularly motorcycles, sometimes nearby the security
checkpoints.1639 There is reportedly rising insecurity on the Islam Qala-Herat Highway.1640 On
30 March 2020, Herat special police reportedly seized in a raid in Kang village of Ghoryan district atruck loaded with four tons of explosives. The source quoted the Ministry of Interior (MoI) stating that‘militants wanted to use the material in making roadside bombs and explosives for suicide attacks.’1641
According AAN, ‘in late 2019 and early 2020, Afghanistan’s key western city of Herat witnessed a seriesof security incidents, including targeted killings and attacks on the police.’1642 On 12 February 2020, a
local media in Herat province reported that the Taliban military commission issued a statement thatcalled on its fighting commanders to stop using civilian houses, mosques and other public
infrastructures as hideouts during the clashes with the security forces, or during air strikes. The source
indicated that the mentioned Taliban statement has been disseminated in several districts of Heratprovince. The source also posted a copy of the original statement in Pashto language dated
3 February 2020.1643

1635 UNAMA, Protection of civilians in armed conflict, 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 94
1636 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 April 2020 , url, p. 69
1637 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 July 2020, url, p. 72
1638 Filters applied: Central Asia & the Caucasus; Afghanistan; Herat; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence;

Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, url‫[ سریال بی پایان قتل و ترور ها در هرات‬informal translation ‘endless serial killings and assassinations in
Herat’], 2 December 2019, url
1640 Kabul Now, Customs staffs on strike over growing insecurity on Islam Qala-Herat highway, 7 July 2020, url
1641 1 TV News, Afghan police finds four tons of explosives in truck in Herat, 30 March 2020, url
1642 AAN, Herat City’s reported spike in insecurity: what a sober of reading events reveals, 21 April 2020, url
1639 News Vim,‫[ رهبری نظامی طالبان استفاده از منازل مسکونی به عنوان مخفیگاه را منع کرد‬informal translation‘Taliban military leadership banned the usage of residential houses as hideouts’], 12 February 2020, url
1643 News Vim,

152 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

Recent security incidents that caused civilian casualties in Herat province in 2019 and 2020 include:
five civilians reportedly killed and 29 wounded on 6 August 2019, when a motorcycle laden with
explosives detonated in the Haji Abbas area of Herat City1644; on 28 August 2019, eight civilians and six
pro-government militias were killed, and nine people including seven civilians and two progovernment militias were wounded in a Taliban attack in the Chahardarrah village of Koshk-e
Robatsangi district1645; on 28 September 2019, one civilian was killed, and two others wounded in a
Taliban attack on a polling centre in Obe district1646; on 29 September 2019, two separate roadsidebombs killed two civilians in Golran district1647; 14 members of a pro-government militia were killed in
Rubat-e Sangi district of Herat after several Taliban fighters stormed security checkpoints in the
Chahardara area, wounding several civilians1648; on 2 October 2019, two police officers and one civilian
were killed in a Taliban attack on the centre of Farsi district1649; in a separate incident, three civilians
were killed including women, children, and a retired Afghan army officer when the Taliban attacked acivilian vehicle in the village of Barnobad in Ghoryan district1650; on 17 October 2019, two civilians were
killed, and three others were wounded when the Taliban attacked a vehicle, due to errant intelligence
information, on the Kandahar-Herat Highway in the village of Kalesk in Zawol district1651; on
23 October 2019, one civilian was killed, and two others wounded by the explosion of a roadside bombin the Buran village of Pashtun Zarghun district1652; on 28 October 2019, a suicide attack near the Imam
Hadi Mosque in the Darb-e Khosh area of Herat City, killed one civilian and injured six others1653; on
7 November 2019, the Taliban killed one civilian in the Pal Pada village of Pashton Zarghun district1654;
on 31 December 2019, one civilian was killed and another injured by a roadside bomb in Golran
district1655; on 7 January 2020, around 40 civilians were killed by a US drone attack in the centre of
Shindand district after the strike targeted and killed a Taliban key member and nearly 30 of his men1656;
on 18 February 2020, five civilians were killed including two women and three children after foreign
troops carried out an air strike targeting a Taliban commander, Mullah Ahmad Ahmadi, in Kushki Kohna
district.1657 According to AAN, different sources including oral ones reported different numbers ofcivilian casualties during the mentioned incident1658; on 7 March 2020, seven civilians were killed and17 others were wounded in Khwaja Noor village of Kushk Rubat-e Sangi district after Taliban fightersattacked the area and ‘opened fire on women and children’.1659 According to the New York Times
Taliban attacked a pro-government outpost in the mentioned area, and the group ‘kidnapped six
civilians, including one teacher, all of whom were later killed’1660; on 18 March 2020, one civilian was
killed and another injured during a Taliban attack on a government outpost in Kal-e Sorkh village of
Adraskan district1661; on 14 May 2020, one woman was killed and two other civilians were wounded
when the Taliban opened fire on a security checkpoint in Sarak-e Naw village of Ghoryan district1662;
on 18 May 2020, one civilian was killed in Khwaja Nooh village of Shindand district after the Taliban

1644 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: August 2-8, 8 August 2019, url
1645 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: Aug. 23-29, 29 August 2019, url
1646 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 31 October 2019, url
1647 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 31 October 2019, url
1648 Al Jazeera, Taliban kills 14 pro-government fighters in Afghanistan, 28 August 2019, url
1649 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 31 October 2019, url
1650 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 31 October 2019, url
1651 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 31 October 2019, url
1652 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 31 October 2019, url
1653 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 31 October 2019, url
1654 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: August 2-8, 8 August 2019, url
1655 NYT, Afghan war casualty report: January 2020, 2 January 2020, url
1656GARDAWORLD, Afghanistan: Drone strike leaves heavy casualties in Herat Province January 9, 9 January 2020, url‫[ درباره تلفات غیرنظامی در والیتهای کندز و هرات‬informal translation: ‘concerning civilian casualties in
Kunduz and Herat provinces’], 20 February 2020, url
1658 AAN, Disputed casualties in Kushk: the cost of blurring lines between fighters and civilians, 24 February 2020, url
1659 Tolonews, Herat attack leaves seven civilians dead, including children, 7 March 2020, url
1660 NYT, Afghan war casualty report: March 2020, 26 March 2020, url
1661 NYT, Afghan war casualty report: March 2020, 26 March 2020, url
1662 NYT, Afghan war casualty report: May 2020, 28 May 2020, url
1657 AIHRC,EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 153

ambushed a military convoy1663; on 12 June 2020, one civilian was killed and seven others were injured(including five teenagers) in a rocket attack by the Taliban in Golran-e Timory village in Golran
district1664; on 14 June 2020, one civilian was killed in the village of Band-e Benafsh in Obe district due
to the clashes between the Taliban and ANSF1665; on 20 June 2020, one civilian (shopkeeper) and four
police officers were killed when a police vehicle hit a roadside bomb in Dahana village of Kohsan
district1666; on 1 July 2020, one civilian was killed, and nine security forces were injured including thepolice chief of Herat province, Obaidullah Noorzai, after the Taliban attacked ANSF convoy in Fooshkan
village of Pashton Zarghun district.1667

2.2.3.2 Displacement
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 3 761 persons displaced
from Herat province, with almost 99 % displaced within the province itself.1668
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 9 398 persons
displaced to Herat province, with 42 % coming from Badghis, 6 % from Ghor, 5 % from Farah, 4 % from
Faryab, 3 % from Ghazni, Kunduz and Uruzgan, and the remaining 40 % coming from within theprovince itself.1669
UNOCHA weekly Humanitarian update (1 to 7 June 2020) indicated that the security situation in westof Afghanistan remained unstable during the reporting period, and over 100 000 IDPs living in informal
settlements in Herat province was going to receive humanitarian aid.1670 According to Danish
Committee for Aid to Afghan Refugees (DACAAR), more than 17 000 IDPs families we living in Heratprovince in February 20201671, a much lower figure compared to the AAN/Nadim figure indicating thataround 158 000 IDP families were living in Herat province during the reporting period including 70 000
IDP families in Herat City.1672

1663 NYT, Afghan war casualty report: May 2020, 28 May 2020, url
1664 NYT, Afghan war casualty report: June 2020, 2 July 2020, url
1665 NYT, Afghan war casualty report: June 2020, 2 July 2020, url
1666 NYT, Afghan war casualty report: June 2020, 2 July 2020, url
1667 NYT, Afghan war casualty report: June 2020, 2 July 2020, url
1668 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict

Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
1669 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
1670 UNOCHA, Afghanistan weekly humanitarian update, 7 June 2020, url, p. 2
1671 DACAAR, Remember the plight of drought IDPs in Herat, 4 February 2020, url
1672 AAN, Herat City’s reported spike in insecurity: what a sober of reading events reveals, 21 April 2020, url154 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

2.14 Jawzjan
2.14.1 General description of the province

Map 14: Afghanistan – Jawzjan province, source: UNOCHA1673

1673 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Jawzjan Province - District Atlas, April 2014, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 155

Jawzjan province is located in the north of Afghanistan and has borders with Balkh province to the east,Sar-e Pul to the south, and Faryab to the west and an international border with Turkmenistan to thenorth.1674 Jawzjan province is divided into the following administrative units: Aqcha, Darzab, Fayzabad,
Khamyab, Khanaqa, Khwajadukoh, Mardyan, Mingajik, Qarqin, Qushtepa and Shiberghan. The
provincial capital is Shiberghan.1675 According to AAN, Darzab has been transferred from Faryab to
Jawzjan because of security reasons. Later, the district of Qushtepa was carved out of Darzab.1676
According to estimates for 2020-2021 by NSIA, the province has a population of 602 082, 192 724 ofwhom live in the provincial capital, Shiberghan.1677 The main ethnic groups in the province are Uzbek
and Turkmen. Other groups present include Pashtuns and so-called Arabs – i.e. descendants of
migrants who left the Arabian Peninsula in the 14th century –, as well as some Tajiks and Kuchi nomads,
whose numbers vary depending on the season.1678
The Ring Road connects the provincial capital of Jawzjan with the major population centre Mazar-e
Sharif in Balkh, as well as Faryab to the west. Another main road connects neighbouring Sar-e Pul to
the Ring Road in Shiberghan.1679 Jawzjan was one of four provinces in Afghanistan where ANDSF
particularly ‘dedicated significant resources to improving security along the major roads’ in the third
quarter of 2019.1680 According to UNOCHA, the road between Mazar-e Sharif and provincial capital
Shiberghan remained contested in January 2020.1681 AGEs had control and were taxing commercial andlogistic vehicles.1682
According to the 2018 UNODC Opium Survey, Jawzjan lost its poppy-free status in 2016. While opiumpoppy cultivation reached a peak in 2017 – with a nearly eightfold increase compared to 2016 –, thesize of the opium-poppy cultivating area in Jawzjan decreased by 90 % in 2018 compared to 2017.1683
UNODC links the decrease in acreage to 2018's severe draught in northern Afghanistan.1684 Jawzjan
was not among the ten main opium-poppy cultivating provinces of Afghanistan in 2018.1685

2.14.2 Conflict background and actors in Jawzjan
Despite being home to the former powerful Uzbek militia leader Abdul Rashid Dostum and thepresence of his ‘former militia fighters’, insurgent activity reportedly increased in Jawzjan after NATOled forces handed over control to Afghan security forces in 2012.1686 A 2017 study on Islamic State (IS)presence in Afghanistan found that ‘there are enormous numbers of armed forces in [...] Jawzjan [...],
among which the irregular (arbaki, private paramilitary units of commanders) and anti-government
forces (mostly various local Taliban groups) clearly outnumber the ANSF (ANA, ANP and ALP) andNational Uprising units.’1687

1674 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Northern Region - District Atlas, April 2014, url
1675 Afghanistan, IEC, Afghanistan 2019 Presidential Elections – Final results by Polling Stations: Province Jawzjan, 2020, url;

Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21, June 2020, url, p. 38
1676 Ruttig, T., The Afghanistan Election Conundrum (12): Good news and bad news about district numbers, AAN, 16 August
2018, url
1677 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21, June 2020, url, p. 38
1678 Larsson, K., A Provincial Survey of Balkh, Jowzjan, Samangan and Saripul, November 2008, url, p. 68
1679 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Northern Region - District Atlas, April 2014, url; iMMAP, Afghanistan Administrative Map, 19
September 2017, url; Diplomat (The), Kabul's Plan to Realize Afghanistan’s Geographic Dividend, 5 December 2017, url
1680 UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, A/73/990–S/2019/703, 3
September 2019, url, pp. 5-6
1681 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (13 January – 19 January 2020), 22 January 2020, url; UNOCHA,
Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (20 January – 26 January 2020), 29 January 2020, url
1682 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (13 January – 19 January 2020), 22 January 2020, url
1683 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, p. 191684 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, p. 26
1685 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, p. 171686 RFE/RL, Afghanistan's New Northern Flash Points, n.d., url
1687 Mielke, K., Miszak, N., Making sense of Daesh in Afghanistan: A social movement perspective, June 2017, url, pp. 28-29

156 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATIONAAN reported in 2017 that the Taliban became increasingly successful in Jawzjan, setting up
administrative and military institutions, after opening their ranks to non-Pashtun fighters. The
recruitment of Uzbeks allegedly proved particularly successful in the province.1688 Subsequently, theTaliban were able to expand their control in Jawzjan as well as in other provinces of northern
Afghanistan.1689 Within Jawzjan, they have been reportedly pushing into the province's northern andeastern parts, as well as the strategic areas around the provincial centre.1690
AAN reported that conflict emerged between local Taliban commanders and the Taliban leadership in2014 after the latter tried to enhance the accountability of the commanders in operations. According
to AAN, the appearance of IMU in Qushtepa subsequently favoured the formation of an ‘Islamic State(IS)’ faction in the district.1691
IMU, which appeared to have started infiltrating Jawzjan in early 2015 from neighbouring Faryab
province according to RFE/RL1692, has been a former ally of the Taliban, but shifted allegiance towards
IS after the disclosure of Taliban leader Mullah Omar's death in 2015.1693 The presence of IMU in
Jawzjan reportedly provided Qari Hekmat and his followers with an opportunity to pledge allegianceto IS. Subsequently, Hekmat succeeded in shaping his former Taliban unit into an independent ISassociated group.1694 AAN stated that it had found no reliable evidence of a connection between
Hekmat's IS group and Nangarhar's Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), which is allegedly
recognised by the ‘Daesh central’ in Syria and Iraq (i.e. the main franchise) as an IS branch.1695 A study
on IS presence in Afghanistan published in 2017 supported this finding.1696
According to AAN, Hekmat's shift to ‘IS’ was rather driven by ‘[...] power-saving opportunism [...]’ thanby ideological motives.1697 The self-proclaimed IS group managed to hold control over the districts ofQushtepa and Darzab for three years, fighting the Taliban1698 – though not expanding its territory due
to the widespread Taliban presence in the province1699 – and initially outlasting the death of its founder
by a US drone strike in April 2018.1700 In August 2018, the Taliban overran the group's strongholds1701,
prompting a faction of Hekmat's former unit to surrender to the government forces in fear of retaliationby the Taliban, while others (reportedly mainly Central Asian fighters) surrendered to the Taliban.1702
There were reports of an insider attack in Qushtepa district in June 2019, claiming that the attackers
were former members of groups affiliated with ISKP, who had surrendered to the government in1688 Ali, O., Non-Pashtun Taleban of the North (4): A case study from Jawzjan, AAN, 18 September 2017, url
1689 RFE/RL, Afghanistan's New Northern Flash Points, n.d., url; Ali, O., Non-Pashtun Taleban of the North (4): A case study

from Jawzjan, AAN, 18 September 2017, url
1690 Ali, O., Qari Hekmat’s Island Overrun: Taleban defeat ‘ISKP’ in Jawzjan, AAN, 4 August 2018, url
1691 Ali, O., Non-Pashtun Taleban of the North (4): A case study from Jawzjan, AAN, 18 September 2017, url
1692 RFE/RL, Afghanistan's New Northern Flash Points, n.d., url
1693 Ali, O., Non-Pashtun Taleban of the North (4): A case study from Jawzjan, AAN, 18 September 2017, url; AAN, Toward
Fragmentation? Mapping the post-Omar Taleban, 24 November 2015, url
1694 Ali, O., Non-Pashtun Taleban of the North (4): A case study from Jawzjan, AAN, 18 September 2017, url
1695 Ali, O., Qari Hekmat’s Island Overrun: Taleban defeat ‘ISKP’ in Jawzjan, AAN, 4 August 2018, url
1696 Mielke, K., Miszak, N., Making sense of Daesh in Afghanistan: A social movement perspective, June 2017, url, pp. 28-29
1697 Ali, O., Non-Pashtun Taleban of the North (4): A case study from Jawzjan, AAN, 18 September 2017, url
1698 Ali, O., Qari Hekmat’s Island: A Daesh enclave in Jawzjan?, AAN, 11 November 2018, url; Ali, O., Precarious
Consolidation: Qari Hekmat’s IS-affiliated ‘island’ survives another Taleban onslaught, AAN, 4 March 2018, url; Der Spiegel,Afghanistan 120 Tote bei Kämpfen zwischen Taliban und IS [Afghanistan: 120 Dead in Clashes Between Taliban and IS], 19
July 2018, url
1699 Ali, O., Non-Pashtun Taleban of the North (4): A case study from Jawzjan, AAN, 18 September 2017, url
1700 Ali, O., Still under the IS’s Black Flag: Qari Hekmat’s ISKP island in Jawzjan after his death by drone, AAN, 15 May 2018,
url; UN Security Council, Letter dated 10 June 2019 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant
to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 13 June 2019, url, p. 15
1701 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 85
1702 Ali, O., Qari Hekmat’s Island Overrun: Taleban defeat ‘ISKP’ in Jawzjan, AAN, 4 August 2018, url; UN Security Council,
Letter dated 10 June 2019 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011)
addressed to the President of the Security Council, 13 June 2019, url, p. 15

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 157

2018.1703 No security incidents specifically attributed to ISKP were recorded by ACLED in Jawzjan
province between 1 March 2019 and 20 June 2020.1704
In August 2019 provincial police officials stated that 1 500 fighters, forming 123 groups, have been
involved in fighting against government forces under the Taliban leadership in Jawzjan province.1705
Darzab district was reported to be under Taliban control in March 2019.1706 There were reports of the
Taliban capturing Qushtepa district in July 20191707 and again during the presidential elections at theend of September 2019.1708 Demanding more attention from the central government to Jawzjan’s
security in August 2019, the provincial police stated that next to Qushtepa, Khamyab district had also
fallen to the Taliban while Mangajak, Qarqin, Muradyan and Darzab districts were under threat.1709 In
the months that followed media reports, adding Aqcha and Khanaqa districts, also reflected this threat
on those districts.1710 The Taliban took control of Darzab district on 31 December 2019.1711 The Afghan
security forces reportedly withdrew peacefully from their Antan Hill military base on demand of thelocal residents.1712 Although officials claimed that government forces had retaken Khamyab district inApril 20201713, in its assessment, consulted on 11 June 2020, LWJ continued to indicate the district as‘Taliban-controlled’.1714 As of 2 July 2020 the assessment by the Long War Journal presented in afrequently updated map and based on open-source information, additionally indicated Darzab and
Qushtepa districts as ‘Taliban-controlled’, Mardyan, Mingajik and Shiberghan districts as ‘governmentcontrolled’ and the remaining districts in Jawzjan province as ‘contested’.1715
According to information at the disposal of the UN Security Council in 2019 and 2020, in Afghanistan
Central Asian groups were under the direct operational and financial control of the Taliban.1716 The
Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan was said to have no more than 100 members and operates mainly in1703 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 21-27, 27 June 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 5 pro-govt militiamen killed in

Jawzjan, Samangan, 26 June 2019, url
1704 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Jowzjan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
1705 Pajhwok Afghan News, ‘123 groups fight government forces under Taliban leadership in Jawzjan’, 3 August 2019, url;
Tolonews, Jawzjan Security Needs More Attention: Official, 5 August 2019, url
1706 Tolonews, Over 3,700 Militants Killed In 88 Operations In North: Official, 19 March 2019, url
1707 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 28-July 4, 4 July 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban capture Jawzjan’s
Qush Tepa district, 2 June 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban release 54 security forces in Jawzjan, 9 July 2019, url
1708 UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, A/73/990–S/2019/703, 3
September 2019, url, p. 6; UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security,
A/74/582–S/2019/935, 10 December 2019, url, p. 61709 Pajhwok Afghan News, ‘123 groups fight government forces under Taliban leadership in Jawzjan’, 3 August 2019, url
1710 Tolonews, 11 Police Killed/Wounded In Balkh, Police Under Siege in Jawzjan, 1 October 2019, url; Pajhwok AfghanNews, Darzab district residents seek arms for self-defense, 2 October 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report:
December 2019, 5 December 2019, url; Tolonews, Dostum Pledges Support to Afghan Forces, 31 October 2019, url;
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban torch 3 telecom antennas in Jawzjan, 1 January 2020, url
1711 UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, A/74/753–S/2020/210, 17
March 2020, url, p. 61712 Khaama Press, Taliban takes over Darzab district of northern Jawzjan province, 31 December 2019, url
1713 Khaama Press, 25 Taliban militants killed, 17 wounded in the operation ‘Retake of Khamaab’, 12 April 2020, url;
Afghanistan Times, Security forces purge Jawzjan’s Khomaab district, kill 25 Taliban rebels, 12 April 2020, url; 1TV, Afghan
forces retake Jowzjan's Khumab district, kill 14 Taliban militants, 19 April 2020, url; USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability
In Afghanistan. June 2020, 1 July 2020, url, pp. 2, 181714 LWJ, Mapping Taliban Control in Afghanistan, n.d., url. The source, however, does not specify when and which
information of the aforementioned map was last updated.
1715 LWJ, Mapping Taliban Control in Afghanistan, n.d., url. The source, however, does not specify when and which
information of the aforementioned map was last updated.
1716 UN Security Council, Letter dated 10 June 2019 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant
to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 13 June 2019, url, p. 18; UN Security Council,
Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011)
addressed to the President of the Security Council, 27 May 2020, url, p. 21

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Faryab and Jawzjan provinces where it maintained links to splinter groups such as Islamic Jihad Groupand Khatiba Imama al-Bukhari.1717
In terms of the presence of government security forces, Jawzjan province is under the responsibility of
the 209th ANA Shaheen corps. Jawzjan province is included in the area of responsibility of the Train
Advise Assist Command – North (TAAC – North), which is part of NATO's Resolute Support
Mission within Afghanistan. TAAC-North is led by German forces and has its headquarters in Mazar-e
Sharif, Balkh province.1718

2.14.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population
2.14.3.1 General
In 2019, UNAMA documented 123 civilian casualties (29 deaths and 94 injured) in Jawzjan. This
represents a decrease of 33 % compared to 2018. Leading causes of casualties were groundengagements, followed by explosive remnants of war and non-suicide IEDs.1719 Resolute Support
recorded between 26 and 75 civilian casualties in Jawzjan in the first half of 2020, reporting a decreasein the number of civilian casualties in the second quarter of 2020, compared to the first.1720
ACLED collected data on 244 violent events in Jawzjan province between 1 March 2019 and
30 June 2020 from reports in open sources, 180 of which were coded as battles, 58 as
explosions/remote violence and 6 as violence against civilians. While ACLED registered violent eventsin all of Jawzjan’s districts, around one third of all violent incidents in Jawzjan between 1 March 2019and 30 June 2020 were registered in Fayzabad and Aqcha districts.1721

Figure 16. Jawzjan - Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians from
1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, based on ACLED data1722

ACLED coded 74 % of the violent incidents in Jawzjan province as battles, mostly armed clashes,
representing the most prevalent incident type in all of Jawzjan’s districts.1723 The majority of thoseincidents were attacks by the Taliban on Afghan security forces, including military, police or NDS

1717 UN Security Council, Letter dated 10 June 2019 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant

to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 13 June 2019, url, p. 18
1718 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability In Afghanistan. December 2019, 23 January 2020, url, pp. 11-12, p. 50; USDOD,
Enhancing Security and Stability In Afghanistan. June 2020, 1 July 2020, url, p. 141719 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 94. No
UNAMA data on civilian casualties in Jawzjan province were available for the first half of 2020.
1720 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 April 2020, url, p. 69; SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The UnitedStates Congress, 30 July 2020, url, p. 72
1721 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Jowzjan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
1722 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, Afghanistan - Jowzjan, url
1723 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Jowzjan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 159

personnel1724, and members of pro-government militias or local uprising forces1725 or attacks on theirfacilities such as checkpoints1726, headquarters1727 and military bases1728, and to a lesser extent on
convoys and vehicles.1729 At times these incidents resulted in civilian casualties, as for example in
Khwajadukoh district where four civilians who were farming nearby were killed during a Taliban attack
on a security post on 2 May 2019.1730 In Qushtepa district two police officers and one civilian were
killed and another civilian wounded when clashes broke out after a Taliban attack on a security post
30 May 2019.1731 Two civilians were injured in a Taliban attack on a village in Aqcha district in May
2020.1732
Operations and attacks carried out by Afghan security forces against AGEs, such as in Fayzabad districtin March 20191733 or in Qarqin district in July 20191734, were also registered under armed clashes by
ACLED.1735
There were reports of groups of Taliban fighters attacking the centre of Mangajik district on
29 November 2019 and April 20201736, or Qarqin district on 30 May, 13 July and 10 August 2019 and
30 March 20201737 and Mardyan district at the end of March 2020.1738 Some of these attacks resulted
into hour-long clashes.1739
Air/drone strikes represented 15 % of all violent incidents registered by ACLED in Jawzjan between
1 March 2019 and 30 June 2020.1740 Most air strikes were carried out by Afghan forces, while a few

1724 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: February 2020, 6 February 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: December

2019, 5 December 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 28-July 4, 4 July 2019, url; NYT, War Casualty Report:
March 2020, 5 March 2020, url
NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: Aug. 16-22, 22 August 2019, url; Xinhua, 13 killed in N. Afghanistan clashes, including
pro-gov't local leader, 4 February 2020, url; Khaama Press, Gen. Dostum reacts to killing of uprising commander in Taliban
militants ambush in Jawzjan, 7 April 2019, url
1726 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 5 September 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: Aug. 2329, 29 August 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 5-11, 11 July 2019, url; NYT, War Casualty Report: May 2430, 30 May 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 5-11, 11 April 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report:
April 26-May 2, 2 May 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: January 2020, 2 January 2020, url; Xinhua, At least 14
militants killed in separate incidents in Afghanistan, 8 April 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Jawzjan: 17 security personnel
killed in Taliban assault, 30 December 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 3 policemen killed, 8 wounded in Jawzjan firefight,
28 January 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 2020, 7 May 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April
2020, 2 April 2020, url
1727 Bakhtar News, Terrorists With Two Commanders Killed in Jawzjan Clash, 4 December 2019, url
1728 Crisis Group, Crisiswatch November 2019, 12 December 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: November 2019, 7
November 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 4 October 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty
Report: August 2-8, 8 August 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 26-May 2, 2 May 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War
Casualty Report: June 2020, 4 June 2020, url
1729 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Jowzjan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
1730 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 26-May 2, 2 May 2019, url
1731 Pajhwok Afghan News, Over 180 killed in deadliest week of current year, 1 June 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty
Report: May 24-30, 30 May 2019, url
1732 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 2020, 7 May 2020, url
1733 Xinhua, Over 40 including 3 civilians killed within one day in Afghan fighting, 4 March 2019, url; Khaama Press, Up to 50
militants killed in Afghan Special Forces operations, airstrikes, 6 March 2019, url
1734 Khaama Press, Dadullah alias Surkhabi, one of the most dangerous leaders of Taliban killed in Jawzjan, 17 July 2019, url
1735 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Jowzjan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
1736 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: December 2019, 5 December 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 2020,
2 April 2020, url
1737 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 2020, 2 April 2020, url
1738 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’s Red Unit loses 7 men in Jawzjan firefight, 28 March 2020, url
1739 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: August 9-15, 15 August 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 12-18, 18
July 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 24-30, 30 May 2019, url
1740 These do not include air strikes carried out during operations categorised by ACLED under ‘battles’. For more
information on ACLED’s methodology, please consult the introduction.

160 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

were attributed to NATO forces.1741 While air strikes inflicted losses among AGEs1742, in one reported
incident on 20 May 2020, six civilians were also killed when Afghan forces bombed houses in response
to a Taliban attack in Mardyan district.1743
AGEs also used roadside bombs or IEDs, including VB-IEDs1744, to target security forces, at times also
causing casualties among civilians.1745 This happened on 31 October 2019 when explosives transportedby the Taliban, went off prematurely in Mardyan district.1746 An employee of Afghan Gas Company was
killed and five of his colleagues were wounded as a result of a roadside bomb hitting their vehicle inShiberghan City in December 2019.1747 One child was killed and two were wounded when a bomb
exploded at an abandoned check point in Dazab district on 7 February 20201748 and one child was killed
and two were wounded when two roadside bombs exploded in Mangajik district on 27 June 2020.1749
Six incidents categorised by ACLED as ‘violence against civilians’ included the killing of a tribal elder by
a pro-government militia in Aqcha district in February 20201750, arson in several shops and schools by
AGEs in Darzab district in November 2019, injuring civilians1751, the killing of a child by the Taliban in
Qushtepa district in March 20191752, the killing of a fuel tanker driver who refused to stop at a Taliban
check point on the Balkh-Jawzjan Highway in Shiberghan district in March 20191753 and the abductionof 40 elderly civilians from a funeral of a relative who belonged to a pro-government militia, in
Fayzabad district by the Taliban in December 2019.1754 The men were released after two days.1755
There were reports from the northern region, which includes Jawzjan province, about electricity andmobile phone networks being interrupted before and during the presidential election in September
2019.1756 This happened for example in Fayzabad district when the Taliban torched an antenna of
Salaam Telecom, which covered the Fayzabad district centre and surrounding areas up to 10 kilometres
and was the only company providing 24 hours’ service in the area.1757 Private mobile companies were
warned to close down their networks until after the presidential election. By the end of September,early October 2019 all networks started functioning again.1758 Attacks by the Taliban were reported on

1741 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus; Afghanistan; Jowzjan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
1742 Pajhwok Afghan News, Commander among 18 Taliban killed in Jawzjan blitz, 5 March 2019, url; Khaama Press, 9 Taliban
militants killed in Helmand, Uruzgan and Jawzjan provinces, 5 march 2019, url; Khaama Press, At least 40 Taliban militants
killed, wounded in Jawzjan airstrikes, 31 August 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 3 volleyball players killed in Kapisa groundblast, 14 September 2019, url
1743 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 2020, 7 May 2020, url; Salam Watandar, Air strike kills civilians in Jawzjan, 21
May 2020, url; UNAMA, Afghanistan. Protection Of Civilians In Armed Conflict. Midyear Report: 1 January – 30 June 2020,
27 July 2020, url, p. 131744 Pajhwok Afghan News, Security personnel among 14 killed in Jawzjan incidents, 28 December 2019, url
1745 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Jowzjan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url; Khaama Press, Taliban’s IED expert blown up by own bomb in Jawzjan province, 29 June 2019, url
1746 Khaama Press, 31 Taliban militants, civilians killed, wounded as explosives-laden vehicle goes off in Jawzjan, 31 October
2019, url
1747 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: December 2019, 5 December 2019, url
1748 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: February 2020, 6 February 2020, url
1749 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 2020, 4 June 2020, url
1750 Voice of Jihad, Tribal elder martyred, another one injured in enemy aggression, 21 February 2020, url
1751 1TV, Civilians injured after militants torch schools, shops in Jowzjan: official, 16 November 2019, url; Bakhtar News,
Taliban Sustained Casualties in Jawzjan Operation, 17 November 2019, url
1752 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 1-7, 7 March 2019, url; Khaama Press, 8-year-old child shot dead by Taliban
militants in Jawzjan province, 7 March 2019, url
1753 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 1-7, 7 March 2019, url
1754 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban abduct 40 elderly men from Jawzjan funeral, 10 December 2019, url
1755 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban set free 40 elderly individuals in Jawzjan, 12 December 2019, url
1756 UNOCHA, 18 October 2019, url
1757 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban torch Salaam Telecom tower in Jawzjan, 7 September 2019, url
1758 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Monthly Humanitarian Update (September 2019), 18 October 2019, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 161

presidential election day, 28 September 2019, in Fayzabad district. A woman was injured as a result of
one of those incidents.1759
In August 2019, increased insecurity was reported along the highway between Mazar-e Sharif andShiberghan.1760 Security incidents along the Balkh-Jawzjan Highway occurred in October 20191761 andin February 20201762 and also on the highway connecting Sar-e Pul to Jawzjan in March and August
2019 and in February, March and June 2020.1763
During clashes leading up to the capture of Qushtepa district in July 2019, connection between the
district and the provincial capital was cut off.1764 Within the framework of its attacks on health careinitiative, the World Health Organisation (WHO) did not register such attacks in Jawzjan province in
2019.1765 However UNAMA documented a Taliban attack on the district hospital in Aqcha district on
28 October 2019. The Taliban occupied the hospital and used it for military purposes until ANDSF
regained control. As a result of the attack two civilians were killed and two were injured.1766 Upontaking control of Darzab district at the end of December 2019 the Taliban set fire to three different
telecom towers in Darzab. Local residents reportedly were able to prevent the Taliban from destroying
the local public hospital.1767

2.14.3.2 Displacement
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 4 186 persons displaced
due to conflict from Jawzjan province, 67 % of whom were displaced within the province itself, whileothers sought refuge in Sar-e Pul, Balkh, Kandahar and Kabul provinces. Most IDPs were registeredfrom Darzab district, followed by Aqcha, Khanaqa and Mingajik districts.1768 UNOCHA reported how
fighting caused displacement in Jawzjan in May 2020, in particular from Mingajik districts as a resultof armed clashes between AGEs and the ANDSF.1769 No conflict-induced displacement was registeredby UNOCHA from Shiberghan during the reporting period.1770
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 6 384 persons
displaced to Jawzjan province. In addition to the 2 821 people displaced within the province, Jawzjan
hosted a large group of IDPs from Faryab province, all displaced to Shiberghan. Shiberghan, Aqcha andQarqin were the districts hosting people displaced to Jawzjan province in the reporting period, with
Shiberghan district hosting 80 %.1771

1759 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 4 October 2019, url1760 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (5 - 11 August 2019), 14 August 2019, url; Tolonews, Security In

Balkh Highway Concerning: Residents, 8 August 2019, url
1761 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 4 October 2019, url1762 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (17 February – 23 February 2020), 26 February 2020, url;
UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (24 February – 1 March 2020), 4 March 2020, url
1763 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: August 2-8, 8 August 2019, url; Tolonews, Security In Balkh Highway Concerning:
Residents, 10 August 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 8-14, 14 March 2019, url; Xinhua, 13 killed in N.
Afghanistan clashes, including pro-gov't local leader, 4 February 2020, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 3 uprising members killedin Jawzjan clashes, 3 March 2020, url; Khaama Press, Taliban militants suffer heavy casualties in Jawzjan province, 30 June
2020, url
1764 Pajhwok Afghan News, 30 Taliban, 6 security forces perish in Jawzjan battle, 1 July 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News,
Taliban capture Jawzjan’s Qush Tepa district, 2 June 2019, url; Tolonews, Qush Tepa District In Jawzjan Falls To Taliban:
Sources, 2 July 2019, url
1765 WHO, Afghanistan. Attacks on Health Care in 2019 as of December 31, 2019, 31 December 2019, url
1766 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 29
1767 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban torch 3 telecom antennas in Jawzjan, 1 January 2020, url; Khaama Press, Taliban
destroys telecom towers following occupancy of a district in northern Jawzjan province, 2 January 2020, url
1768 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (18 May – 24 May2020), 28 May 2020, url
1769 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (25 May – 31 May 2020), 3 June 2020, url
1770 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (18 May – 24 May 2020), 28 May 2020, url
1771 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2020, last updated: 12

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2.15 Kabul province
2.15.1 General description of the province

Map 15: Afghanistan – Kabul province, source: UNOCHA1772

Kabul province is located in the central region of Afghanistan and has borders with the provinces of
Parwan and Kapisa to the north, Laghman to the east, Nangarhar to the south-east, Logar to the southand Wardak to the west.1773 More than half of the province consists of mountainous or semimountainous terrain.1774 Kabul province is divided into the following administrative units: Bagrami,
Chaharasyab, Dehsabz, Estalef, Farza, Guldara, Kabul, Kalakan, Khak-e Jabbar, Mirbachakot, Musayi,
Paghman, Qarabagh, Shakardara and Surobi. The provincial capital is Kabul City, the capital ofAfghanistan.1775 North of Kabul City lies the Shomali plain, a plateau stretching from the outskirts ofthe city to the Salang Pass. According to AAN analyst Fabrizio Foschini, the Shomali area has been acentral part of Afghan economy and politics in the last couple of centuries -featuring strong politicalarmed networks dating back to the mujahideen time.1776
According to estimates for 2020-21 by NSIA, Kabul province has a population of 5 204 667.1777 Kabul
province has the largest share of population of any province, an estimated 16 % of the national total.

July 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (2 December – 8 December 2019), 11 December 2019,
url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (16 December – 22 December 2019), 26 December 2019, url;
UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (16 December – 22 December 2019), 19 January 2020, url
1772 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Kabul Province - District Atlas, April 2014, url
1773 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Kabul Province - District Atlas, April 2014, url1774 WFP, Provincial Profile: Kabul, n.d., url
1775 Afghanistan, IEC, Afghanistan 2019 Presidential Elections - Final Results by Polling Stations: Province Kabul, 2020, url;
Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21, June 2020, url, p. 81776 Foschini, F., Elections 2014 (6): Two Types of Security in the Shomali, AAN, 7 April 2014, url
1777 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21, June 2020, url, p. 4

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AAN describes Kabul province as the most ethnically diverse of all provinces.1778 The main ethnic groups
in Kabul are Tajik, Pashtun and Hazara.1779 Other groups present include Uzbek, Turkmen and Baloch.
The majority of the population of Kabul province are Sunni Muslim, but there are also Shia, Sikh and
Hindu.1780
Major roads depart from Kabul City and connect the Afghan capital with the rest of the country. The
main highway to Mazar-e Sharif passes through the districts of Shakardara, Mirbachakot, Kalakan and
Qarabagh. Another primary road connects Kabul City with Bagram in Parwan province and passes
through Dehsabz and Qarabagh districts. The Kabul-Jalalabad Highway leads to Nangarhar provincethrough the districts of Bagrami, Khak-e Jabbar and Surobi. The Kabul-Kandahar Highway connects
Kabul to Wardak province through Paghman district in the south-west of the province. Another primaryroad passes through Bagrami and Chaharasyab districts in the south and connects Kabul City with Logar
province.1781 Kabul City hosts an airport served by international and domestic scheduled passenger
flights.1782
UNODC data obtained by AAN in June 2020 indicated a 52 % reduction in opium poppy cultivation in
the provinces of the central region (including Kabul province) and the central highlands.1783 According
to UNODC’s Opium Survey from 2018, opium-poppy cultivation in Kabul province was limited to the
Uzbin Valley of Surobi district.1784 Surobi district is additionally mentioned as home to the ephedra
sinica plant, which contains the natural stimulant ephedrine, used to make the drug methamphetamineand expected to take up a central role in Afghanistan’s drug economy soon.1785 According to the July
2019 Quarterly Update from SIGAR, the provinces of Kabul and Nangarhar recorded most cases related
to drug smuggling and trafficking.1786 Also in July 2019, UNODC reported that 20 % of the drugtrafficking cases recorded in 2018-2019 were attempts to smuggle drugs out of Afghanistan throughKabul airport.1787 In February 2020, the Kabul counter-narcotics police chief was arrested for extortion,
distributing drugs1788 and collusion with drug smugglers.1789

2.15.2 Conflict background and actors in Kabul
In May 2020, the UN Security Council reported on a reorganisation of the Taliban shadow governanceand military structure in several provinces, with key new appointments made in Kabul province.1790 An
LWJ assessment mapping Taliban control in Afghanistan in a frequently updated map and based on
open-source information, consulted on 2 July 2020, indicated all Kabul’s districts as ‘government-

1778 Warden, S., Past as Prologue? What the Parliamentary Election Results Tell Us About the September Presidential

Election, AAN, 23 August 2019, url
1779 US, Naval Postgraduate School, Kabul Provincial Overview, n.d., url
1780 Pajhwok Afghan News, Elections 2019: Kabul Province Background Profile, n.d., url
1781 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Kabul Province - District Atlas, April 2014, url
1782 Hamid Karzai International Airport [website], n.d., url
1783 Bjelica, J., New World Drug Report: Opium Production in Afghanistan Remained the Same in 2019, AAN, 25 June 2020,
url
1784 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, p. 211785 Undark, The Wild Shrub at the Root of the Afghan Meth Epidemic, 20 May 2020, url
1786 SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, 30 July 2019, url, pp. 171-172
1787 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018: Challenges to Sustainable Development, Peace andSecurity, 30 July 2019, url, p. 36
1788 SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, 30 April 2020, url, p. 121
1789 UNSG, The Situation in Afghanistan and Its Implications for International Peace and Security, A/74/753–S/2020/210, 17
March 2020, url, p. 14
1790 UNSC, Eleventh Report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team Submitted Pursuant to Resolution
2501 (2019) Concerning the Taliban and Other Associated Individuals and Entities Constituting a Threat to the Peace,
Stability and Security of Afghanistan, 27 May 2020, url, pp. 8-9

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controlled’ or ‘undetermined’.1791 As confirmed by USDOD and SIGAR, the capital, Kabul City, hasremained under the control of the Afghan government.1792
According to UNOCHA, the situation in Surobi district, in the eastern part of the province, has become
increasingly volatile due to a rising number of militant attacks on ANDSF positions.1793 The district hasa significant strategic relevance because of its proximity to Kabul City and the Salang Highway.1794 As
reported by AAN analyst Fabrizio Foschini in 2015, the government’s control over the Uzbin Valley in
Surobi district had decreased and members of Hezb-e Islami, which has historically been the stronger
group in the area, as well as the Taliban, have been reported present in the district. The Uzbin Valley
has been serving as a relatively easily traversable connection to the insecure districts of Tagab in Kapisa
province and Bad Pakh in Laghman province. According to Foschini, this broader region is ‘an importantcrossing point and sanctuary for insurgents moving deeper into Afghanistan from the border area [withPakistan]’.1795
Media sources in 2019 and 2020 reported on a Taliban presence in Surobi district, as well as on thearrest and killing of several prominent figures of the militant group in the area.1796 In March 2019, two
Taliban militants, reportedly planning a suicide attack in the district, were arrested during an NDS
operation.1797 In an ANDSF operation with US air support in the same month, the Taliban shadow
district governor for Surobi was reportedly probably killed, as well as a key Taliban commander known
as Mullah Rasheed.1798 In May 2020, a Taliban commander known as Mullah Jan was injured, when amortar, he was reportedly attempting to launch on a security forces’ base in the Uzbin Valley, went off
prematurely.1799
According to UNAMA, Surobi district has in recent years witnessed several community conflicts. In
2018, for example, ‘a mediation process […] helped two tribes resolve a longstanding land dispute that
had turned violent’. According to the Surobi local council head, ‘the major causes of conflict in the
district are underdevelopment and poverty.’1800
In July 2020, a rising Taliban presence and activity in several villages of the Arghandi area in Paghman
district was reported. According to local residents, well-armed Taliban militants were launching attacks
on security checkpoints, planting IEDs and extorting people. NDS officials, cited by Tolonews,
confirmed two prominent Taliban commanders were operating in the area between Arghandi and the
Kohna Kumar valley in Wardak province.1801
ISKP is reported as active and capable of carrying out attacks in Kabul1802, as well as to have caused
civilian casualties in the province in 2019.1803 However, due to continued ANDSF pressure to disrupt its

1791 LWJ, Mapping Taliban Control in Afghanistan, n.d., url (LWJ, however, does not specify when and which information of

the aforementioned map was last updated.)
1792 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan - June 2019, 12 July 2019, url, p. 18; USDOD, Enhancing Security
and Stability in Afghanistan - December 2019, 23 January 2020, url, p. 16; SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the United States
Congress, 30 April 2020, url, p. 66
1793 UNOCHA, Afghanistan - Weekly Humanitarian Update (27 January - 2 February 2020), 3 February 2020, url, p. 2
1794 War on the Rocks, Remembering the French War in Afghanistan, 10 September 2018, url1795 Foschini, F., Classics of Conflict (2): Reviewing Some of Afghanistan’s Most Notorious Hotspots, AAN, 9 July 2015, url
1796 See sources mentioned below.
1797 Khaama Press, Suicide Bomber and His Companion Arrested in Kabul: NDS, 10 March 2019, url1798 Tolonews, Five Civilians Killed in Afghan Forces Operation in Surobi, 26 March 2019, url1799 Khaama Press, Taliban Commander Loses Both Legs in Premature Mortar Round Explosion in Kabul, 4 May 2020, url
1800 UNAMA, Kabul Elders Call for Participation of Afghans in Peacefully Resolving Community Conflict, 15 November 2018,url
1801 Tolonews, Residents West of Kabul City Report Rise in Taliban Activity, 15 July 2020, url
1802 USDOD, Lead Inspector General (IC) for Overseas Contingency Operations, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel - Report to theUnited States Congress 1 July - 30 September 2019, 20 November 2019, url, p. 18; UNSC, Eleventh Report of the Analytical
Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team Submitted Pursuant to Resolution 2501 (2019) Concerning the Taliban and Other
Associated Individuals and Entities Constituting a Threat to the Peace, Stability and Security of Afghanistan, 27 May 2020,
url, p. 4
1803 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict - Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 36

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activities1804, the militant group exhibited a reduced capacity to carry out high-profile attacks in Kabul
in 2019.1805 While ISKP represents a diminished threat since receiving a significant setback in late 2019
in what had been its Afghan headquarters in Nangarhar province, several sources indicate the group
has not been eradicated entirely and has shown notable resilience in the past. Grounds for concern
are added that several ISKP groups might have relocated to Kunar and Kabul provinces, raising thepotential for a resurgence1806, although reviving the groups networks would probably need time.1807
Between 1 March 2019 and 30 June 2020, ACLED recorded one incident specifically attributed to ISKP
in Kabul province, outside of Kabul district (for information on the presence of ISKP in Kabul City,
recruitment and incidents attributed to the group in the capital region, see the chapter on Kabul
City).1808 In February 2020, ISKP reportedly fired missiles on a US military base in Bagrami district, nocasualties were recorded.1809 In the same district in August 2019, two ISKP militants were reportedly
killed in an ANDSF operation.1810 Additionally, ACLED recorded two incidents in which Taliban and/or
ISKP militants were wounded and/or killed during military operations in Surobi district in July 2019 andin Paghman district in November 2019.1811 In May 2020, various ISKP and Haqqani Network hideouts
in the capital (see chapter on Kabul City) as well as in Shakardara district were raided during an
operation by NDS special units. Several members of the militant groups, including a regional ISKP
leader1812, were reportedly arrested and killed.1813
In terms of the presence of government security forces, the main part of Kabul province falls under the
responsibility of the Train, Advise and Assist Command - Capital (TAAC-C), which is part of NATO’s
Resolute Support Mission within Afghanistan. TAAC-C is currently led by Turkish forces together with
contingents from other nations. The district of Surobi falls under the responsibility of the 201stANA
corps.1814 According to USDOD, about 10 % of US’ and Afghan Forces’ operations in 2019 focused on
the Kabul region, preventing high-profile attacks.1815 The Special Mission Wing (SMW), an ANDSF unit
established in 2012, has several assault squadrons in Kabul to conduct counterterrorism and1804 Norway, Landinfo, Afghanistan: Sikkerhetssituasjon og konfliktmonster i 2019, 22 January 2020, url, p. 17; UNSC, Tenth

Report of the Secretary-General on the Threat Posed by ISIL (Da’esh) to International Peace and Security and the Range of
UN Efforts in Support of Member States in Countering the Threat, 4 February 2020, url, pp. 6-7
1805 Norway, Landinfo, Afghanistan: Sikkerhetssituasjon og konfliktmonster i 2019, 22 January 2020, url, p. 25; Washington
Post (The), Afghanistan Claims the Islamic State Was ‘Obliterated’. But Fighters Who Got Away Could Stage a Resurgence, 9February 2020, url; UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict - Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020,
url, p. 7
1806 NYT, ISIS Is Losing Afghan Territory. That Means Little for Its Victims, 2 December 2019, url; International source
Landinfo spoke to in October 2019. Norway, Landinfo, Afghanistan: Sikkerhetssituasjon og konfliktmonster i 2019, 22
January 2020, url, pp. 21-22; UNSC, Tenth Report of the Secretary-General on the Threat Posed by ISIL (Da’esh) toInternational Peace and Security and the Range of UN Efforts in Support of Member States in Countering the Threat, 4February 2020, url, pp. 6-7; Washington Post (The), Afghanistan Claims the Islamic State Was ‘Obliterated’. But Fighters
Who Got Away Could Stage a Resurgence, 9 February 2020, url; UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed
Conflict - Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 37
1807 Ali, O., Hit from Many Sides 1: Unpicking the Recent Victory Against the ISKP in Nangarhar, AAN, 1 March 2020, url
1808 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Kabul; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
1809 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Kabul; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
1810 Tolonews, Afghan Forces Raid Militants Hideouts in Kabul, 7 August 2019, url
1811 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Kabul; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
1812 RFE/RL, Afghan Forces Capture Key Figures From Islamic State's South Asia Branch, 11 May 2020, url1813 Tolonews, Afghan Forces Raid Daesh Hideout North of Kabul, 6 May 2020, url; Khaama Press, 5 killed As Special Forces
Bust Major Network Led by ISIS, Haqqani Network in Kabul, 6 May 2020, url; RFE/RL, Afghan Forces Capture Key Figures
From Islamic State's South Asia Branch, 11 May 2020, url1814 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan - June 2020, 1 July 2020, url, p. 13
1815 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan - June 2019, 12 July 2019, url, p. 6; USDOD, Enhancing Security
and Stability in Afghanistan - December 2019, 23 January 2020, url, p. 7

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counternarcotic missions.1816 NDS unit 01, a paramilitary CIA-backed militia accused of human rights
abuses, is reported to operate in the central region, including in Kabul province.1817

2.15.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population
2.15.3.1 General
In 2019, UNAMA documented 1 563 civilian casualties (261 deaths and 1 302 injured) in Kabul
province. This represents a decrease of 16 % compared to 2018. Leading causes of casualties weresuicide IEDs, followed by non-suicide IEDs and targeted/deliberate killings.1818 Compared to 2018,
UNAMA listed Kabul as the second province with the largest increase in civilian casualties (+130) fromground engagements in 2019.1819 According to UNAMA, civilians living in Kabul province were mostdirectly impacted by the conflict in 20191820, as well as in the first half of 2020 (together with Balkhprovince) with 338 civilian casualties recorded from 1 January to 30 June 2020.1821 According to
Resolute Support, Kabul province suffered the highest countrywide number of civilian casualties (208)in the first quarter of 2020, representing the most substantial countrywide increase (151 %) comparedto the last quarter of 2019.1822 In the second quarter of 2020, Resolute Support indicated Kabul as oneout of three provinces, together with Nangarhar and Ghazni, that experienced the highest number ofcivilian casualties countrywide, with an average of 204 civilian casualties each, among the threeprovinces.1823
ACLED collected data on 339 violent events in Kabul province from 1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020 from
reports in open sources, of which 172 were coded as ‘battles’, 132 as ‘explosions/remote violence’ and
35 as ‘violence against civilians’. Kabul district, where the capital Kabul City is located (see chapter on
Kabul City), stood out as the district were most incidents were reported, with 142 incidents recorded followed by Surobi, Mussahi, Paghman, Qarabagh and Dehsabz districts. In each of the rest of Kabul’s
districts, less than 15 incidents were reported. Most violent incidents in Kabul province were recordedin the third quarter of 2019.1824 Kabul witnessed the highest reported number of security incidents onrecord in July 2019.1825

1816 SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, 30 April 2020, url, p. 122; USDOD, Enhancing Security andStability in Afghanistan - June 2020, 1 July 2020, url, p. 75
1817 Clark, K., CIA-Backed Afghan Paramilitaries Accused of Grave Abuses: New Human Rights Watch Report, AAN, 31
October 2019, url
1818 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 94
1819 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 119
1820 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict First Quarter Report: 1 January - 31 March 2019, April
2019, url, p. 2; UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Midyear Report 2019, 30 July 2019, url, p. 3;
UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Third Quarter Report: 1 January to 30 September 2019,
October 2019, url, pp. 1-2
1821 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Midyear Report 2020: 1 January - 30 June 2020, 27 July
2020, url, p. 5
1822 SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, 30 April 2020, url, pp. 69-70
1823 SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, 30 July 2020, url, pp. 71-72
1824 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Kabul; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
1825 UNOCHA, Afghanistan - Weekly Humanitarian Update (29 July - 04 August 2019), 4 August 2019, url, p. 2

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Figure 17. Kabul - Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians from
1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, based on ACLED data1826

ACLED coded around 51 % of the violent incidents in Kabul province as ‘battles’, all ‘armed clashes’.
This category represented the most prevalent incident type in the majority of Kabul’s districts -withthe exception of Kabul, Dehsabz and Chaharasyab districts, where most or an equal number ofincidents were registered under the category of ‘explosions/remote violence’. The majority of thearmed clashes in Kabul province were attacks by the Taliban on Afghan security forces, including
military, police and NDS personnel as well as members of pro-government militias or so-called arbakis(the term arbaki is locally often used to refer to members of the Afghan local police or other progovernment militias).1827 Examples of such incidents included attacks on military or police
checkpoints/bases, such as a Taliban assault on security outposts in Shakardara district in June 20191828
and in July 20201829, as well as Taliban attacks on police checkpoints in Paghman district in May 20201830
and in Guldara district in June 20201831, resulting in several casualties among ANDSF forces; as well as
ambushes on security convoys/vehicles, such as a Taliban attack on an Afghan military convoy in the
Tangi area of Surobi district in February 2020, resulting in several soldiers being killed and/or
wounded.1832 No civilian casualties were reported in these incidents.
Operations and attacks by Afghan security forces against AGEs and criminal groups were also
registered under armed clashes by ACLED.1833 For example in March 2019, an ANDSF operation with
US air support in Surobi district resulted in the killing of several Taliban militants as well as five
civilians.1834 In May 2020, a criminal gang leader was killed by police forces in the Cheh Dukhtaran areaof Chaharasyab district.1835 Also in May 2020, several ISKP militants were killed and arrested in ANP

1826 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, Afghanistan - Kabul, url1827 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus; Afghanistan; Kabul; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url1828 Ariana News, Insurgents Attack Police Checkpoint in Kabul District, 11 June 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report:
June 7-13, 13 June 2019, url1829 Tolonews, Insurgents Attack Security Checkpoints in Kabul, 6 July 2020, url1830 UNAMA, Afghanistan: Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict. Special Report: Attacks on Healthcare during the Covid19 Pandemic, June 2020, url, p. 14
1831 Tolonews, 15 Soldiers Killed in Past Day Despite Unofficial Truce, 6 June 2020, url; AP, Separate Attacks Kill 14 Afghan
Forces in Kabul, Northeast, 6 June 2020, url
1832 Afghanistan, Liveuamap, Taliban: Enemy Convoy Engaged on Kabul-Jalalabad Highway in Tangi Area of Sarubi District
Kabul on Sun. Resulting in 2 Pickup Trucks Destroyed & 5 Gunmen Killed/Wounded, 3 February 2020, url1833 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Kabul; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url1834 Tolonews, Five Civilians Killed in Afghan Forces Operation in Surobi, 26 March 2019, url; Khaama Press, Taliban
Commanders among 6 Killed, Wounded in Surobi District of Kabul: Silab Corps, 27 March 2019, url; UNAMA, Afghanistan
Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Midyear Report 2019, 30 July 2019, url, p. 91835 Khaama Press, Gang Leader Killed During a Clash With the Police Forces in Kabul, 18 May 2020, url

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and NDS operations in Shakardara district (see above).1836 In June 2020, two prominent Taliban
members were reportedly arrested during an operation in Qarabagh district.1837
AGEs using roadside bombs or IEDs, often targeting the Afghan security forces, represented 28 % of allreported security incidents in Kabul province. The majority of these IED incidents were recorded in
Kabul district (see chapter on Kabul City).1838 In August 2019, a girls’ school was destroyed in a Talibanclaimed explosion in Shakardara district.1839 Some of the IED incidents in Kabul province resulted incasualties among civilians. This happened for example in June 2020, when a roadside bomb detonatedin Qarabagh district1840 and in Paghman district, killing several family members of writer and analyst
Assadullah Walwalji.1841
ACLED coded 5 % of all violent events in Kabul province as ‘suicide bombs’. Nearly all these eventswere reported in Kabul district (see chapter on Kabul City).1842 According to UNAMA, Kabul remained
the province suffering the highest number of suicide attacks in 2019, with 15 suicide attacks in thecapital region (see chapter on Kabul City) out of a nationwide total of 26.1843 Two suicide bomb attacks
were reported in Chaharasyab district: a Taliban suicide bomber targeted an Afghan special forces basein September 2019, killing several soldiers1844; and an unidentified suicide bomber detonated his
explosives near an ANDSF special operations facility in the Reshkor area in April 2020, causing several
civilian casualties.1845
Six air/drone strikes were recorded in Kabul province by ACLED, all carried out in Mussahi and Paghman
districts in the third and fourth quarters of 2019. All but one of these air/drone strikes were carriedout by Afghan military forces, one was attributed to NATO forces, reportedly killing two civilians.1846
ACLED categorised 10 % of all reported violent incidents in Kabul as ‘violence against civilians’.1847
These incidents involved for example: the killing of a government employee by a militant of the
Haqqani Network in Tarakhel village of Dehsabz district in August 20191848; the killing of a Ministry of
Finance employee by unidentified gunmen in Paghman district in October 20191849; the shooting of
two prosecutors on their way to Parwan province in Qarabagh district in November 20191850; theshooting of several members of President Ashraf Ghani’s personal security team while off-duty by1836 Tolonews, Afghan Forces Raid Daesh Hideout North of Kabul, 6 May 2020, url; Khaama Press, 5 killed as Special Forces

Bust Major Network Led by ISIS, Haqqani Network in Kabul, 6 May 2020, url; RFE/RL, Afghan Forces Capture Key Figures
From Islamic State's South Asia Branch, 11 May 2020, url; Tolonews, 'Key' Daesh Leaders Arrested in Kabul: NDS, 11 May
2020, url1837 Pajhwok Afghan News, 2 Key Taliban Figures Arrested in Kabul’s Qarah Bagh, 26 June 2020, url
1838 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Kabul; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url1839 Bakhtar News, Taliban Torched Girls’ School Building in N. Kabul, 21 August 2019, url
1840 Khaama Press, Explosion Leaves 4 Dead, Wounded in Kabul, 4 June 2020, url1841 Tolonews, Afghan Writer Walwalji Loses 4 Family Members in IED Blast, 20 June 2020, url
1842 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Kabul; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
1843 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict - Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 39
1844 Al Jazeera, Taliban Suicide Attack in Kabul Kills Afghan Troops, 12 September 2019, url
1845 RFE/RL, Afghanistan Suicide Bombing Kills at least Three, Wounds 15, 29 April 2020, url; Reuters, Bombing near Afghan
Capital Kills Three amid Unabated Violence, 29 April 2020, url1846 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Kabul; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url1847 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Kabul; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url1848 Khaama Press, Haqqani Terrorist Network’s Target Killer Arrested in Kabul, 26 August 2019, url
1849 Pajhwok Afghan News, Ministry Official Gunned Down in Kabul, 17 October 2019, url
1850 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: November 2019, 7 November 2019 (updated 2 December 2019), url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 169

unknown gunmen in Paghman district in April 20201851; the killing of the Supreme Court’s
administrative chief by unidentified gunmen in Surobi district in May 20201852; the shooting of two
prosecutors and three other employees of the office of the Attorney General in Dehsabz district inJune 20201853; and the killing of the head of the biometrics department of the Ministry of Interior by
unknown gunmen in Chaharasyab district in July 2020.1854
In August 2019, UNOCHA reported on Kabul as the province where most attacks on health facilities
and medical personnel were recorded.1855
Although Kabul stood out for having the largest number of both registered voters and recorded votes
for the presidential elections on 28 September 2019, the province’s voter turnout as percentage of its
registered voters reached only around 20 %, remaining just below the national average.1856 In the Asia
Foundations 2019 Survey of the Afghan People, 51-75 % of respondents in Kabul province reported tohave experienced fear while voting.1857 Without providing further details, Pajhwok Afghan News
reported on election related attacks on polling day in Kabul province.1858 A hand grenade wasreportedly detonated near a polling centre in a school in Shakardara district, causing no casualties. The
Khalazai polling centre in Qarabagh district reportedly came under Taliban fire in the morning ofelection day and remained closed for several hours.1859 Additionally ‘dozens of bombs’ were reported
discovered and defused by the Afghan authorities in Kabul’s districts of Qarabagh, Musahi, Khak-e
Jabbar and Shakardara.1860
In recent years, many of the security incidents outside of Kabul City have taken place along
Afghanistan’s main highways and transit routes, with AGEs regularly attacking Afghan security forces’
outposts and civilians often being caught in the crossfire.1861 About 85 % of respondents of the Asia
Foundation’s 2019 Survey of the Afghan People in Kabul province reported to experience fear while
travelling.1862 In July 2020, a surge in security threats on the main highways connecting Kabul withneighbouring provinces was reported.1863 Several road security incidents and road blocks/closures
were reported in 2019 and 2020.
In April 2019, the North-Kabul Highway to Baghlan was blocked in Pul-i Khumri by angry parliamentaryelection candidates and their supporters, resulting in several civilian casualties.1864 In the beginning of
2020, road movements from Pul-i Khumri to Kabul were reportedly interrupted due to the presenceof non-state armed groups.1865 In January 2020, the Taliban attacked the security outpost of Khwaja
Zaid on the Kabul-Baghlan Highway, causing several police casualties.1866 The same highway was

1851 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 2020, 2 April 2020 (updated 30 April 2020), url; RFE/RL, Gunmen Shoot Dead

Afghan Presidential Guard on Kabul Outskirts, 4 April 2020, url1852 Pajhwok Afghan News, Supreme Court Official Gunned Down in Kabul, 3 May 2020, url1853 AP, Gunmen Kill 5, Including 2 Prosecutors, in Afghan Capital, 22 June 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June
2020, 4 June 2020 (updated 25 June 2020), url
1854 Tolonews, [Twitter], posted on 8 July 2020, url
1855 UNOCHA, Afghanistan - Monthly Humanitarian Update (August 2019), 24 September 2020, url, p. 2
1856 SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, 30 January 2020, url, pp. 97-98
1857 Asia Foundation (The), A Survey of the Afghan People - Afghanistan in 2019, 2 December 2019, url, p. 62
1858 Pajhwok Afghan News, 32 Killed, 123 Wounded in Election Day Attacks, 28 September 2019, url1859 Ruttig, T. and Bjelica, J., Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (11): A First Look at How E-Day Went, AAN, 28 September 2019, url
1860 1TV, [Twitter], posted on: 28 September 2019, url
1861 Norway, Landinfo, Afghanistan: Sikkerhetssituasjonen i den Sentrale Regionen og i det Sentrale Hoylandet oppdatering, 5 September 2018, url, p. 4; UNSG, The Situation in Afghanistan and Its Implications for International Peaceand Security, A/73/777–S/2019/193, 28 February 2019, url, p. 14; USDOD, Lead Inspector General (IC) for Overseas
Contingency Operations, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel - Report to the United States Congress 1 April - 30 June 2019, 16
August 2019, url, p. 35
1862 Asia Foundation (The), A Survey of the Afghan People - Afghanistan in 2019, 2 December 2019, url, p. 63
1863 Tolonews, Fierce, Widespread Fighting Surges to Control Afghan Highways, 7 July 2020, url
1864 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 26-May 2, 2 May 2019, url
1865 UNOCHA, Afghanistan - Weekly Humanitarian Update (20 - 26 January 2020), 29 January 2020, url, p. 1
1866 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: January 2020, 2 January 2020 (updated 30 January 2020), url170 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

attacked by the Taliban once more in February 2020 in the area of Doshi district, resulting in the killingof a truck driver and the kidnapping of two civilians.1867
According to an international source Lifos spoke to in January 2020, the highway between Kabul andKandahar, passing through the provinces of Wardak and Ghazni, has been insecure for years1868 -with
more incidents recorded in 2019 compared to previous years. AGEs were reported active on thishighway1869, controlling some parts of the road1870 and using roadblocks to target government
employees and members of the Afghan security forces.1871 In August 2019, a police outpost securing
the Kabul-Kandahar Highway was attacked by the Taliban, killing and wounding several police
officers.1872 In November 2019, the same highway was blocked by hundreds of drivers protesting thekilling of a truck driver extorted by ANP officers in Zabul province. The highway was reopened after
mediation by local elders and provincial council members.1873
The Kabul-Jalalabad Highway, an important trade route and often considered ‘one of the world’s mostdangerous roads’ (referring to the numerous traffic accidents that have happened on this road), passes
through areas where AGEs have been reported active -such as Surobi district.1874 Along this highwaylies the highly secured Green Village compound in Kabul City, which has been attacked several times in
20191875, resulting in temporary road closures.1876 An international source Landinfo spoke to in October
2019, described the highway between Kabul and Jalalabad as ‘sufficiently safe’, also for international
travellers.1877 In July 2020, 22 Taliban militants were killed or wounded during an ANDSF operation
along this highway1878, which reportedly faced increased security threats.1879
According to AAN analyst Ehsan Qaane, 20 kilometres of the Kabul-Bamyan Highway, which connects
the Hazarajat region to the capital, are under Taliban control. The militant group directly intervenes inseveral areas of service delivery in the region, government provision remaining limited. The KabulBamyan Highway, going through Jalrez district in Wardak province, has many side roads and mountainpaths leading to several districts in Wardak, Parwan and Kabul provinces. Qaane describes these as‘supply and escape routes’ providing safe havens to militant groups and impeding the movement ofgovernment forces. The highway has two direct passes to Kabul’s Paghman district through Kohna
Khumar and Sanglakh.1880
Security threats reportedly increased on the highway connecting Kabul to Logar and Paktia provinces
in July 2020.1881 According to AAN analyst Fabrizio Foschini, the location of Chaharasyab district along
this highway is strategic for both the government and AGEs, affecting the security situation of the
district’s areas beside the highway.1882

1867 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: February 2020, 6 February 2020 (updated 27 February 2020), url
1868 Tolonews, Fierce, Widespread Fighting Surges to Control Afghan Highways, 7 July 2020, url
1869 UNSG, The Situation in Afghanistan and Its Implications for International Peace and Security, A/73/777–S/2019/193, 28

February 2019, url, p. 14; UNOCHA, Afghanistan - Weekly Humanitarian Update (17 - 23 February 2020), 23 February 2020,
url, p. 2
1870 An international source Landinfo spoke to in October 2019. Norway, Landinfo, Afghanistan: Sikkerhetssituasjon og
konfliktmonster i 2019, 22 January 2020, url, p. 29
1871 Sweden, Lifos/Migrationsverket, Säkerhetsläget i Afghanistan (Version 2.0), 7 April 2020, url, p. 52
1872 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: Aug. 23-29 , 29 August 2019, url
1873 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict - Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 67
1874 Diplomat (The), Next Stop Jalalabad: Traveling One of the World‘s Most Dangerous Roads, 13 December 2015, url
1875 NYT, After Bombing, Afghans Demand That Foreigners Leave Their Neighbourhood, 4 September 2019, url
1876 Al Jazeera, Fatal Blast Rocks Afghan Capital Kabul, 15 January 2019, url1877 Norway, Landinfo, Afghanistan: Sikkerhetssituasjon og konfliktmonster i 2019, 22 January 2020, url, p. 29
1878 Khaama Press, 22 Taliban Militants Killed, Wounded on Kabul-Jalalabad Highway, 7 July 2020, url
1879 Tolonews, Fierce, Widespread Fighting Surges to Control Afghan Highways, 7 July 2020, url
1880 Qaane, E., One Land, Two Rules (9): Delivering Public Services in Insurgency-Affected Jalrez District of Wardak Province,
AAN, 16 December 2019, url
1881 Tolonews, Fierce, Widespread Fighting Surges to Control Afghan Highways, 7 July 2020, url
1882 Foschini, F., Kabul Unpacked - A Geographical Guide to a Metropolis in the Making, AAN, 19 March 2019, url, p. 25

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 171

2.15.3.2 Displacement
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, reporting 27 persons displaced
from Kabul province, constituting a group of 5 families coming from Paghman district and finding
refuge in neighbouring Laghman province (in Mehtarlam/Bad Pash district) in August 2019.1883
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, reporting 4 062 persons displaced
to Kabul province, coming from different provinces (Ghazni1884, Logar, Faryab, Jawzjan, Baghlan1885,
Kunar1886, Nangarhar1887, Kapisa1888, Wardak1889, Badakhshan, Kunduz1890, Samangan, Takhar, Sar-e Pul,
Balkh, Laghman, Daykundi and Bamyan) and all finding refuge in Kabul district. Most IDPs arriving in
Kabul province came from Kunar (679) (mainly from Chapadara district) and Baghlan (651) (mainly
from Dahan-e Ghori district) provinces. Smaller groups of more than 300 IDPs came from the provincesof Logar (all from Baraki Barak district), Kunduz (mainly from Khanabad and Chardarah districts) andNangarhar (mainly from Sherzad and Khogyani districts).1891 In June 2019 during an Operational
Coordination Team (OCT) meeting in Kabul, the head of the Directorate of Refugees and Repatriation(DoRR) reported on the arrival of nearly 100 IDP families in Kabul, displaced from Khwaja Omari districtin Ghazni province after the area had been recaptured by armed opposition groups.1892 In January andFebruary 2020, UNOCHA registered 336 IDPs arriving in Kabul from the region of the central highlands(Bamyan and Daykundi provinces).1893
IOM ranked Kabul province as fourth out of five provinces hosting the most IDPs and returnees andKabul district sixth out of the countrywide top 25 districts hosting the most returnees and
IDPs.1894According to IOM displacement data published in August and October 2019, most IDPs andreturnees in Kabul province resided in Kabul district, followed by Bagrami, Dehsabz and Chaharasyab
districts.1895 According to UNHCR, Kabul and Nangarhar provinces remain the most attractive return
destinations1896, counting for a third of all returnees countrywide and ‘returnees who do not settle intheir provinces of origin move to relatively urban areas in search of safety, services and jobs.’1897

1883 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict

Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
1884 UNOCHA, Afghanistan - Weekly Humanitarian Update (21 - 27 October 2019), 27 October 2019, url, p. 2; UNOCHA,
Afghanistan - Weekly Humanitarian Update (28 October - 3 November), 3 November 2019, url, p. 21885 UNOCHA, Afghanistan - Weekly Humanitarian Update (21 - 27 October 2019), 27 October 2019, url, p. 2; UNOCHA,
Afghanistan - Weekly Humanitarian Update (28 October - 3 November), 3 November 2019, url, p. 2
1886 UNOCHA, Afghanistan - Weekly Humanitarian Update (12 - 19 August 2019), 19 August 2019, url, p. 21887 UNOCHA, Afghanistan - Weekly Humanitarian Update (12 - 19 August 2019), 19 August 2019, url, p. 2; UNOCHA,
Afghanistan - Weekly Humanitarian Update (28 October - 3 November), 3 November 2019, url, p. 2
1888 UNOCHA, Afghanistan - Weekly Humanitarian Update (21 - 27 October 2019), 27 October 2019, url, p. 2
1889 UNOCHA, Afghanistan - Weekly Humanitarian Update (12 - 19 August 2019), 19 August 2019, url, p. 2
1890 UNOCHA, Afghanistan - Weekly Humanitarian Update (21 - 27 October 2019), 27 October 2019, url, p. 2; UNOCHA,
Afghanistan - Weekly Humanitarian Update (28 October - 3 November), 3 November 2019, url, p. 2
1891 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url1892 UNOCHA, Operational Coordination Team (OCT) - Kabul Province - Meeting Summary, 25 June 2019, url, p. 1
1893 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2020, last updated: 14 June 2020, url1894 IOM, Baseline Mobility Assessment: Summary Results March - June 2019, 1 July 2019, url, pp. 1, 6, 9
1895 IOM, Afghanistan - Kabul Baseline Mobility Assessment Summary Results Round 7 (October - December 2018), 1 August
2019, url, pp. 1, 2, 6; IOM, DTM Afghanistan Baseline Mobility Assessment I District Level I Total Inflow (Returnees+IDPs) I
June 2019 I Province: Kabul, 9 October 2019, url
1896 UNHCR, Pakistan: Voluntary Repatriation of Afghans from Pakistan Update, 30 April 2019, url, p. 1; IOM and UNHCR,
Returns to Afghanistan 2018 - Joint IOM-UNHCR Summary Report, 25 June 2019, url, p. 6; UNHCR, Afghanistan: Voluntary
Repatriation Update, 23 July 2019, url, p. 41897 WBG and UNHCR, Living Conditions and Settlement Decisions of Recent Afghan Returnees, June 2019, url, p. 6

172 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

2.16 Kandahar
2.16.1 General description of the province

Map 16: Afghanistan – Kandahar province, source: UNOCHA1898

1898 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Kandahar Province - District Atlas, April 2014, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 173

The province of Kandahar is situated in the south of Afghanistan, bordering on Uruzgan and Zabul tothe north, Helmand to the west, and Pakistan to the south and east.1899 Kandahar is divided into thefollowing administrative units: the provincial capital Kandahar, Arghandab, Daman, Panjwayee, Zhire,
Shah Wali Kot, Khakrez, Arghistan, Maiwand, Ghorak, Spin Boldak, Nesh, Miyanishin, Shorabak, Maruf,
Reg (Shiga), and the ‘temporary’ districts of Dand and Takhtapul.1900 Temporary districts areadministrative units that ‘[…] have been approved after entry into force of the 2004 constitution by thepresident due to security or other considerations, but have not yet been approved by parliament’.1901
According to NSIA estimates, the population of the province is 1 399 594 in 2020-21, with 523 259 of
its residents living in the provincial capital Kandahar City1902, which is the second largest city in
Afghanistan.1903 The majority of Kandahar's population belongs to Pashtun tribes with theconfederation of the Durani tribes being the largest one. The Balochs live in the Kandahar’s desert
leading a nomadic life and they often deals with smuggling. Hazara and Tajiks, as well as otherethnicities are usually referred to as Farsiwan, i.e. Farsi/Dari speakers. They mainly live in cities andtowns.1904
The Ring Road connects the provincial capital of Kandahar with the major population centres of Heratand Kabul. A northbound road towards Uruzgan forks in Kandahar City.1905 In March 2018, the Afghan
news portal Tolonews described the highway as being ‘[...] in extremely bad condition due to heavyroad usage, a lack of maintenance and continued attacks by insurgents’.1906 Heading southwards, a roadconnects the city of Kandahar with the Afghan-Pakistani border crossing at Spin Boldak-Chaman.1907 It
is one of the most important border-crossing with Pakistan, leading to Quetta at Pakistani side. Border
towns Spin Boldak and Chaman are considered as the major smuggling hubs with flourishing bazaar
called Wesh situated in Spin Boldak.1908 Pakistani government has been trying to build a fence along
the border to prevent illegal border-crossing from Afghanistan. Spin Boldak residents protested against
the fence and Afghan security services tried many times to prevent the fence construction anytime
Pakistani forces attempted to have a fencing operation completed1909, which leads to frequent crossborder clashes and shelling.1910
According to the airport website, an airport with scheduled passenger services to domestic andinternational destinations exists in Kandahar City.1911
In 2016, the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline project, aiming at transportinggas from Turkmenistan to India, was inaugurated.1912 The pipeline was projected to lead throughAfghanistan alongside the Ring Road from Herat to Kandahar1913 and would therefore intersect Taliban-

1899 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Kandahar Province - District Atlas, April 2014, url
1900 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated population of Afghanistan, 1 June 2020, url, p. 37
1901 Ruttig, T., The Afghanistan Election Conundrum (12): Good news and bad news about district numbers, AAN, 16 August

2018, url1902 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-2021, url, p. 37
1903 Reporterly.net, 80% People Infected With COVID-19: How Did Kandahar Get Here? 23 June 2020, url
1904 Sabawoon A., Rutting Th, Kandahar from Razeq to Tadin (1): Building the ‘American tribe’, AAN 12 August 2019, url;
Naval Postgraduate School, Kandahar Provincial Overview, n.d., url;1905 iMMAP, Afghanistan Administrative Map, 19 September 2017, url; Diplomat (The), Kabul's Plan to Realize Afghanistan’s
Geographic Dividend, 5 December 2017, url
1906 Tolonews, Seven Die In Kandahar-Herat Highway Accident, 14 March 2018, url;
1907 iMMAP, Afghanistan Administrative Map, 19 September 2017, url; Diplomat (The), Kabul's Plan to Realize Afghanistan’s
Geographic Dividend, 5 December 2017, url1908 Sabawoon A., Rutting Th, Kandahar from Razeq to Tadin (1): Building the ‘American tribe’, AAN 12 August 2019, url;1909 Afghanistan Times, Army repulses Pakistan’s Durand Line fence bid, 13 April 2020, url
1910 Sabawoon A., Rutting Th, Kandahar from Razeq to Tadin (1): Building the ‘American tribe’, AAN 12 August 2019, url;
1911 Kandahar Airport Webpage, n/d, https://kandaharairport.net/
1912 Tolonews, All You Need To Know About TAPI Project, 24 February 2018, url1913 Tolonews, All You Need To Know About TAPI Project, 24 February 2018, url174 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

controlled areas.1914 The project on Afghan side has not started due to security reasons, however
authorities prepared special combat unit to secure pipeline construction.1915
According to the UNODC data obtained by AAN, poppy cultivation in Kandahar province decreased by
38 % in 2019, compared to 2018.1916
In March and April 2019, Kandahar was affected by severe flood, which also stopped some AGEs
activities.1917
As of end of June 2020, Kandahar was the third worst COVID-19 affected province in Afghanistan. It
was put under lockdown at the end of March, but most people did not comply with the restrictions
imposed. Diagnostic laboratory in Kandahar was able to make tests and was also responsible for testing
people from Zabul, Nimroz, Helmand and Uruzgan provinces.1918

2.16.2 Conflict background and actors in Kandahar
Kandahar is under the responsibility of the 205th ANA Corps, supported by the US Train, Advice, andAssist Command-South (TAAC-S) which has its headquarters in the province.1919 There is also an US
military airfield in the province. The number of foreign soldiers decreased after 2014 but in 2018 more
US troops were deployed along with A-10 aircraft and several MQ-9 reaper drones.1920 The
counterterrorism operations are under responsibility of NDS 03, called also Kandahar Strike Force (KSF)
which is based in the former headquarters of Mullah Omar.1921
AAN credited the years of relative stability in the centre of the province to the presence of the powerfulstrongman and police chief General Abdul Razeq.1922 Razeq managed to attract some local
commanders who helped US to push out the Taliban from the province between 2010 and 2014. Razeq
appointed them as police chiefs of key districts. ALP, in particular, was an important element of
security management. Razeq was, however, accused of serious human rights abuses.1923 He managed
to keep the Taliban away from the central Kandahar districts but he did not prevent some Taliban
activity there, including bomb attacks and targeted killings. Since 2016, however the Taliban havestarted regaining control in more remote districts of the province and in October 2018, Razeq wasassassinated, allegedly by the Taliban1924 and soon replaced by his brother, Tadin Khan Atsakzai.1925
According to local officials and residents, the security situation deteriorated following the assassinationof Razeq, with the number of targeted killing increasing and security services losing more staff.1926 In
2019, attacks increased in the remote districts, but the central parts remained relatively stable under
government control. In order to prevent expansion by the Taliban, the government carried out armed
operations, including air strikes.1927

1914 Reuters, Five working to clear way for gas pipeline killed in Afghanistan, 21 May 2018, url
1915 Xinhua, Special Afghan combat unit starts operation for TAPI project security 21 October 2019, url
1916 Bjelica J., New World Drug Report: Opium production in Afghanistan remained the same in 2019, AAN, 25 June 2020, url
1917 Sabawoon A., Rutting Th, Kandahar from Razeq to Tadin (2): The collapse foretold that did not happen, AAN, 14 August

2019, url
1918 Reporterly, 80% People Infected With COVID-19: How Did Kandahar Get Here? 23 June 2020, url
1919 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan, 1 June 2020, url, p. 13
1920 Stars and Stripes, Violence escalates in strategic Afghan province as US continues peace talks, 6 July 2019, url1921 HRW, “They’ve Shot Many Like This”, 31 October 2019, url
1922 Ruttig, T., The Killing of Razeq: Removing the Taleban’s strongest foe in Kandahar, an indirect hit at elections, AAN, 19
October 2018, url
1923 Sabawoon A., Rutting Th, Kandahar from Razeq to Tadin (1): Building the ‘American tribe’, AAN, 12 August 2019, url
1924 Ruttig, T., The Killing of Razeq: Removing the Taleban’s strongest foe in Kandahar, an indirect hit at elections, AAN, 19
October 2018, url
1925 Sabawoon A., Rutting Th, Kandahar from Razeq to Tadin (1): Building the ‘American tribe’, AAN 12 August 2019, url
1926 Stars and Stripes, Violence escalates in strategic Afghan province as US continues peace talks, 6 July 2019, url
1927 Sabawoon A., Rutting Th, Kandahar from Razeq to Tadin (2): The collapse foretold that did not happen, AAN, 14 August
2019, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 175

For the Taliban, Kandahar is a strategic province, not only because it is considered to be the birthplaceof the group’, but also because it borders with the Pakistani province of Baluchistan, which ‘serves as
the group’s safe haven as well as a prime recruitment center’. In addition, Kandahar is a main producer
and distributor of opium, a major source of the Taliban’s income.1928
As of August 2019, AAN noted that except from the provincial capital, ‘government forces only fully or
predominantly control the districts of Spin Boldak, Dand, Daman and Arghandab out of Kandahar’s 17
official and unofficial districts’, while the Taliban continued to control most of Kandahar province. AAN
also stated that ‘in Maruf in the east and Ghorak, Nesh, Mianeshin and, after recent Taleban forays, inKhakrez – all in the north – only the district centres are in the government’s hands and remain
practically under Taleban siege. In Arghestan, also in the east, in Maiwand in Middle Kandahar and in
the southern districts of Reg and Shorabak, the situation is not much different.’ Kandahar City issurrounded by Taliban from all four sides, but AGEs are still kept in the distance from it and they are
not able to storm the city directly as it happened in case of Lashkargah (Helmand) and Tarin Kot(Uruzgan). The Taliban however is capable to conduct the terrorist attacks, assassinations and smallscale shootings there.1929 Similarly, local officials stated that, in many Kandahar’s districts only the
district centre is controlled by the government and the rest of the district is under Taliban control.1930
According to LWJ, the districts of Ghorak, Nesh, Miya Nishin and Maruf are under total control of
Taliban. Maywand, Khakrez, Shah Wali Kot, Arghandab, Tarnak Wa Jaldak, Arghistan on the north andRegistan and Shorbak on the south are still contested.1931 In October 2019, US and Afghan forces
reportedly conducted air raids on Taliban positions in Maruf, Shah Wali Kot.1932
The UN reported on increased presence of anti-government elements on major transit routes in
Afghanistan, including highways between Kabul and Kandahar, and Kandahar and Tirin Kot.1933
It is reported that ISKP is also present in the province. At the beginning of April 2020, NDS forcesdetained several members of the top leadership of the organisation in Kandahar, including the ISKP’s
leader in Afghanistan, Abdullah Orakzai alias Aslam Farooqi, who originates from Pakistan.1934

2.16.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population
2.16.3.1 General
In 2019, UNAMA documented 467 civilian casualties (121 deaths and 346 injured) in the province of
Kandahar. This represents a decrease of 13 % compared to 2018. Leading causes of casualties were
non-suicide and suicide IEDs, followed by search operations.1935 Resolute Support recorded between
26 and 50 civilian casualties in Kandahar in the first quarter of 2020, reporting an increase in thenumber of civilian casualties in the second quarter of the year, with 101-125 casualties recorded (from1 April to 30 June 2020).1936

1928 LWJ, Taliban overruns Afghan army camp in Kandahar, 19 October 2017, url
1929 Sabawoon A., Rutting Th, Kandahar from Razeq to Tadin (2): The collapse foretold that did not happen, AAN, 14 August

2019, url
1930 Stars and Stripes, Violence escalates in strategic Afghan province as US continues peace talks, 6 July 2019, url
1931 LWJ, Mapping Taliban Control in Afghanistan, n.d., url. The source, however, does not specify when and which
information of the aforementioned map was last updated.
1932 Anadolu Agency, Afghan, US forces kill over 80 Taliban insurgents, 27 October 2020, url
1933 UNSG, The Situation in Afghanistan and Its Implications for International Peace & Security, A/73/777–S/2019/193, 28
February 2019, url, p. 14
1934 The Diplomat, The Islamic State Remains Alive in Afghanistan, 27 April 2020, url
1935 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection Of Civilians In Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 94
1936 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 April 2020, url, p. 69; SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The UnitedStates Congress, 30 July 2020, url, p. 72

176 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATIONIn the period from 1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, ACLED reported total 1 197 incidents related tosecurity in Kandahar province, of which 687 battles, 475 remote violence, 35 cases of violence against
civilians.1937

Figure 18. Kandahar - Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians
from 1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, based on ACLED data1938

According to UNAMA, the main cause of civilian deaths in 2019 were IEDs explosions.1939 According to
ACLED data, IEDs and other remote violence caused over 1 290 fatalities in the reporting period in theprovince, most of them were security forces members and AGEs fighters, however among them there
were also civilians.1940 On 15 July 2019, a convoy of cars heading for the mosque exploded on thepressure-plate IED planted by Taliban, killing 13 civilians and wounding 40 others.1941 On
24 September 2019, four civilians were killed including two children and a local journalist when a bomb
exploded next to the gate of Ashraf Ghani’s campaign office in Kandahar City.1942 On 3 June 2020, nine
passengers travelling by bus between different districts of the province were killed by explosion ofroadside bomb.1943
In July 2019 Taliban allegedly attacked residents of eight villages in the Shah Wali Kot district, forcing
their dwellers to provide food and shelter to the fighters. When they refused, elders in the villages
were severely beaten. The Taliban also blocked the road and villagers could not get to their fields.
According to the elders, many villagers moved out from the area to the Kandahar and other districts.1944
Kandahar City witnessed a number of targeted killings in the reported period. AGEs targeted a foodcontractor in May 2019, an off-duty military pilot in January 2020, a money charger, a policewoman
and a tribal elder in separate attacks in March 2020, a former policeman, a doctor and a former district
governor of Sangin district in three separate attacks in June 2020.1945 On 30 June 2019 the Taliban killedeight election officials registering voters in Maruf district.1946 On 28 September 2019, Taliban claimed
that election centres in Khakrez, Maruf, Miyanishin, Naish, Shorbak, and Ghorak districts were closed
because personnel responsible of validating identity documents were killed.1947

1937 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus - Afghanistan; Kandahar; Event types: Explosions/Remote Violence; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, url
1938 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus - Afghanistan; Kandahar; Event types: Explosions/Remote Violence; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, url
1939 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection Of Civilians In Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 68
1940 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus - Afghanistan; Kandahar; Event types: Explosions/Remote Violence; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, url
1941 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection Of Civilians In Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 43
1942 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 26 September 2019, url1943 Associated Press, Bus strikes roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan; 9 killed, 3 June 2020, url
1944 Salaam Times, Taliban attack Kandahar residents for refusing to abandon homes, 19 June 2019, url1945 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus - Afghanistan; Kandahar; Event types: Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, url
1946 Associated Press, Taliban attack kills 8 election officials in Afghanistan, 30 June 2019, url
1947 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus - Afghanistan; Kandahar; Event types: Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 177

One of the most important causes of civilian deaths in the province were search operations also called‘night raids’ usually conducted by NDS Special Forces.1948 These forces are reportedly guilty of
extrajudicial killings, torture and unlawful and arbitrary detentions.1949 On 10 April 2019, NDS SF killed
a school principal and arrested five other persons in Panjwai district.1950 In September 2019, NDS
allegedly tortured and killed local imam in Kandahar City what sparked mass protests in the front ofgovernor house.1951 On 16 September 2019, one woman was killed, the second was mutilated andthree others were arrested by Afghan and NATO forces in Shah Wali Kot district. In the same district inDecember 2019, NATO and Afghan security forces killed 8 civilians and arrested another 4 and on
10 April 2020 US drone killed three civilians there.1952

2.16.3.2 Displacement
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 5 051 persons
displaced from Kandahar province. They were mainly displaced within the province itself. Main
destinations were Kandahar and Spin Boldak districts. The biggest group nearly 1 800 persons left ShahWali Kot district in December 2019 and resettled to Kandahar/Dand district. The group of 377 persons
was displaced to Tirinkot City in Uruzgan province.1953
In the reporting period, 5 286 persons were displaced to Kandahar province (Kandahar city or Spin
Boldak) from other provinces, including 1 712 persons from Helmand, 1 378 from Farah, 983 from
Daykundi, 863 from Uruzgan and 350 persons from Jawzjan.1954

1948 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection Of Civilians In Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 64; Human

Rights Watch, “They’ve Shot Many Like This”, 31 October 2019, url
1949 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection Of Civilians In Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 64; Human
Rights Watch, “They’ve Shot Many Like This”, 31 October 2019, url,
1950 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus - Afghanistan; Kandahar; Event types: Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, url
1951 Pajhwok Afghan News, Imam’s death sparks anti-NDS protest in Kandahar, 8 September 2019, url
1952 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus - Afghanistan; Kandahar; Event types: Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, url
1953 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 03 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2019, last updated: 03 March 2020 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July
2020, url
1954 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 03 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2019, last updated: 03 March 2020 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July
2020, url178 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

2.17 Kapisa
2.17.1 General description of the province

Map 17: Afghanistan – Kapisa province, source: UNOCHA1955

Kapisa province is located in the central region of Afghanistan and has borders with the provinces ofPanjsher to the north, Laghman to the east, Kabul to the south, and Parwan to the west.1956 Kapisa is
divided into the following administrative units: Alasay, Hisa-i Awal-e Kohestan, Hisa-i Duwum-e
Kohestan, Kohband, Mahmud-e Raqi, Nejrab and Tagab. The provincial capital is Mahmud-e Raqi.1957
According to estimates for 2020-21 by NSIA, Kapisa province has a population of 488 298.1958 The main
ethnic groups in Kapisa are Tajik, Pashtun1959, and Nuristani.1960 Tajiks, constituting the largest single
group, are mainly living in the northern part of the province. Pashtuns, mainly from the Ghilzai tribe,
inhabit the southern district of Tagab.1961 Other groups present include Hazara1962 and Pashai, the latter
residing in the mountainous areas of Alasay and Kohband districts.1963
A primary road connects Kapisa’s capital Mahmud-e Raqi to Kabul City.1964

1955 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Kapisa Province - District Atlas, April 2014, url
1956 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Kapisa Province - District Atlas, April 2014, url
1957 Afghanistan, IEC, Afghanistan 2019 Presidential Elections - Final Results by Polling Stations: Province Kapisa, 2020, url;

Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21, June 2020, url, p. 10
1958 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21, June 2020, url, p. 4
1959 FP, Are Ethnic Politics Afghanistan’s Great Hope?, 11 November 2014, url
1960 US, Naval Postgraduate School, Kapisa Provincial Overview, n.d., url; Tolonews, Provincial Profile: Kapisa, n.d., url
1961 US, Naval Postgraduate School, Kapisa Provincial Overview, n.d., url; Ali, O., Fire in the Pashai Hills: A Two-District Case
Study from Kapisa, AAN, 6 April 2015, url
1962 Tolonews, Provincial Profile: Kapisa, n.d., url
1963 Ali, O., Fire in the Pashai Hills: A Two-District Case Study from Kapisa, AAN, 6 April 2015, url
1964 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Kapisa Province - District Atlas, April 2014, url; iMMAP, Afghanistan Administrative Map, 19
September 2017, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 179

UNODC data obtained by AAN in June 2020 indicated a 52 % reduction in opium-poppy cultivation in
the provinces of the central region (including Kapisa province) and the central highlands.1965 According
to UNODC’s Opium Survey from 2018, opium-poppy was mainly cultivated in the districts of Tagab andAlasay.1966

2.17.2 Conflict background and actors in Kapisa
According to AAN analyst Fabrizio Foschini, Kapisa province has strategic importance, as ‘[...] it is asmall province in the middle of almost everything: it is easy for insurgents to try and reach Kapisa’s
capital and the neighbouring provinces.’ Foschini suggests Kapisa to be ‘sociologically divided’ between
southern districts more sympathetic towards militant groups, and a northern part, ‘where allegianceto Jamiat-e Islami makes community support for the Taliban less likely’.1967 Kapisa’s southern district of
Tagab is connected to the Uzbin Valley in Surobi district of Kabul province and further to Bad Pakh
district in Laghman province, through relatively easily traversable passes. According to Foschini, thisbroader region became ‘an important crossing point and sanctuary for insurgents moving deeper into
Afghanistan from the border area [with Pakistan]’.1968
According to a 2014 report by the New York Times, southern Kapisa ‘has always been difficult terrain’,
adding that the battle between Taliban militants and government forces intensified after the French
ISAF forces left the province in 2012. The New York Times traced the Taliban's success partially to a lackof capacity or ‘unwillingness’ by the Afghan security forces to overtake Taliban-controlled areas in
Kapisa, leading to US Special Forces' allegations of infiltration of the Afghan army by the militants orclose cooperation between the ANA and AGEs. The Taliban in the area, on the other hand, were
described as a disciplined force, ‘able to operate freely’.1969
AAN analyst Obaid Ali defined the political landscape in Kapisa in 2015 as characterised by ‘[...] thenever-ending story of local warlords and Taliban competing with each other [...]’, in combination with‘[…] the poor economic situation of many residents [which] contributes to the high rates of militancy
and private feuds [...]’ in some districts of the province.1970
Remote districts such as Nejrab, Tagab and Alasay have been reported to be the most insecure areasof the province.1971 An LWJ assessment mapping Taliban control in Afghanistan in a frequently updated
map and based on open-source information, consulted on 2 July 2020, indicated Tagab, Alasay and
Nejrab districts as ‘contested’. A USDOD assessment of July 2019, reported by LWJ in the same map,
designated Nejrab district as ‘government-influenced’. Kapisa’s remaining districts were categorised as‘government-controlled’ or ‘undetermined’ in this assessment.1972 In May 2020, the UN Security
Council reported on a reorganisation of the Taliban shadow governance and military structure inseveral provinces, with key new appointments made in Kapisa province.1973

1965 Bjelica, J., New World Drug Report: Opium Production in Afghanistan Remained the Same in 2019, AAN, 25 June 2020,

url
1966 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, pp. 17, 23
1967 Foschini, F., In Kabul’s Shadow: The Attacks in the Provinces on 15-16 April, AAN, 24 April 2012, url
1968 Foschini, F., Classics of Conflict (2): Reviewing Some of Afghanistan’s Most Notorious Hotspots, AAN, 9 July 2015, url
1969 NYT, Hour’s Drive Outside Kabul, Taliban Reign, 22 November 2014, url
1970 Ali, O., Fire in the Pashai Hills: A Two-District Case Study from Kapisa, AAN, 6 April 2015, url
1971 Ali, O., Fire in the Pashai Hills: A Two-District Case Study from Kapisa, AAN, 6 April 2015, url; Khaama Press, Taliban

Sniper Killed in Armed Forces Operation in Kapisa Province, 29 April 2019, url; Khaama Press, Security Forces Kill Taliban’s
Suicide Attacks Planner in Kapisa Province, 23 May 2019, url; Emergency - Life Support for Civilian War Victims, A Quiet
Revolution: the Emergency Anabah Maternity Centre and Female Empowerment, 16 October 2019, url, p. 27; Tolonews, 4Security Force Members Killed in Kapisa, 21 March 2020, url
1972 LWJ, Mapping Taliban Control in Afghanistan, n.d., url; (LWJ, however, does not specify when and which information of
the aforementioned map was last updated.)
1973 UNSC, Eleventh Report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team Submitted Pursuant to Resolution
2501 (2019) Concerning the Taliban and Other Associated Individuals and Entities Constituting a Threat to the Peace,
Stability and Security of Afghanistan, 27 May 2020, url, pp. 8-9

180 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATIONMedia sources in 2019 and 2020 reported on a Taliban presence in Nejrab1974, Tagab1975 and Alasay1976
districts. In March 2019, the villages of Afghania, Pachaghan and Ghin Dara in Nejrab were reported tobe captured by Taliban militants.1977 In March 2020, a Taliban attack in Afghania village in Nejrab wasreported, described as the first battle in the area after it had been cleared from the Taliban1978 in
December 2019.1979 Mid-June 2020, Taliban militants reportedly advanced to the district centre of
Tagab, after taking 12 checkpoints of local uprising forces.1980 At the end of June 2020, the villages of
Firoozkhil, Turkandian, Baiskhel, Sarginan, Khanan and Badakhil in Tagab were reportedly cleared fromthe Taliban during ANA operations.1981 Several prominent Taliban figures were killed or arrested in the
aforementioned three districts.1982 In May 2019, a senior Taliban leader, reportedly involved in planningsuicide attacks in Kapisa province, was killed in Nejrab.1983 In August 2019, the Taliban’s deputy shadow
governor for Panjsher province, reportedly involved in activities of the militant group in Kapisa andneighbouring provinces, was killed in Nejrab.1984 In the same month, a Taliban military commander,
reportedly involved in various militant activities in the area, was arrested while planting an IED in
Shinkai village in Tagab district.1985 In November 2019, a Taliban military commission leader, described
as an instrumental figure in AGE activities in Kapisa province, was killed in the Ashpi Valley of Alasay
district.1986
Before Gulbuddin Hekmatyar signed a peace agreement with the Afghan government in September
2016, Kapisa was considered one of Hezb-e Islami’s strongholds.1987
In November 2019 and February 2020, USDOD reported on small groups of ISKP supporters in Kapisa
province.1988 One security incident specifically attributed to ISKP has been recorded in Kapisa between
1 March 2019 and 30 June 2020 by ACLED.1989 In February 2020, a dozen ISKP militants were killed anda hideout of the group was destroyed in a ground operation by Afghan commandos with air support
in Nejrab district.1990 Additionally, ACLED recorded two incidents in August and September 2019 inwhich Afghan military forces responded to attacks by suspected Taliban and/or ISKP militants in Tagab
district, as well as several incidents in which Taliban and/or ISKP militants were wounded and/or killedduring military operations in Nejrab and Tagab districts.1991 In a 2020 USIP report, analyst Borhan
1974 Ariana News, Roadside Bomb Kills 4 Civilians in Kapisa, 21 May 2019, url; RFE/RL,Taliban Militants Kill Six Afghan Police

at Remote Checkpoint Northeast of Kabul, 5 October 2019, url; Tolonews, 4 Security Force Members Killed in Kapisa, 21
March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Operational Coordination Team (OCT) - Kapisa - Meeting Summary, 2 April 2019, url, p. 1
1975 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’s Military Official Arrested in Tagab District, 22 August 2019, url
1976 Tolonews, Three Civilians Killed in Kapisa Blast, 23 November 2019, url
1977 Afghanistan Times, 65 Afghan Forces Dead in Helmand Attacks, 24 March 2019, url
1978 Tolonews, 4 Security Force Members Killed in Kapisa, 21 March 2020, url
1979 UNOCHA, Operational Coordination Team (OCT) - Kapisa Province - Meeting Summary, 29 January 2020, url, p. 1
1980 Tolonews, 4 Public Uprising Forces, 11 Taliban Killed in Kapisa: Official, 15 June 2020, url
1981 Pajhwok Afghan News, 2 Security Forces Killed, 5 Injured in Kapisa Clash, 22 June 2020, url
1982 See sources mentioned below.
1983 Khaama Press, Security Forces Kill Taliban’s Suicide Attacks Planner in Kapisa Province, 23 May 2019, url
1984 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’s Shadow Deputy Governor for Panjsher Killed: MoI, 4 August 2019, url; Ariana News,
Taliban’s Shadow Deputy Governor for Panjshir Killed, 4 August 2019, url; Afghanistan Times, Afghan Forces Killed Taliban’s
Designated Deputy Governor for Panjshir, 4 August 2019, url
1985 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’s Military Official Arrested in Tagab District, 22 August 2019, url
1986 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’s Military Commission Head Killed in Kapesa, 29 November 2019, url
1987 Van Bijlert, M. and Ruttig, T., Almost Signed? The Peace Agreement with Hezb-e Islami, AAN, 21 may 2016, url
1988 USDOD, Lead Inspector General (IC) for Overseas Contingency Operations, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel - Report to theUnited States Congress 1 July - 30 September 2019, 20 November 2019, url, p. 18; USDOD, Lead Inspector General (IC) for
Overseas Contingency Operations, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel - Report to the United States Congress 1 October - 31
December 2019, 19 February 2020, url, p. 13
1989 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Kapisa; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
1990 Pajhwok Afghan News, Airstrikes Kill 13 Daesh Rebels in Kapisa, Kunar, 21 February 2020, url; Bakhtar News, 12 ISISFighters Killed in Kapisa Operation, 22 February 2020, url
1991 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Kapisa; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 181

Osman mentioned Tagab and Nejrab districts as areas where ISKP has been recruiting for its Kabul
cell.1992
In terms of the presence of government security forces, Kapisa is under the responsibility of the 201 st
ANA Corps. Kapisa province is included in the Train, Advise and Assist Command - East (TAAC-E), whichis part of NATO’s Resolute Support Mission within Afghanistan. TAAC-E is led by US and Polish forces
and has its headquarters in Laghman province.1993

2.17.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population
2.17.3.1 General
In 2019, UNAMA documented 124 civilian casualties (49 deaths and 75 injured) in Kapisa province. This
represented a decrease of 11 % compared to 2018. Leading causes of casualties were groundengagements, followed by non-suicide IEDs and air strikes.1994 Resolute Support1995 recorded between
102 and 150 civilian casualties in Kapisa province in the first half of 2020, with no variation between
the first and second quarter of the year.1996
ACLED collected data on 265 violent events in Kapisa province from 1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020 from
reports in open sources, of which 206 were coded as ‘battles’, 49 as ‘explosions/remote violence’ and
10 as ‘violence against civilians’. Tagab and Nejrab stood out as districts where most incidents werereported, with more than 100 recorded incidents in each district -compared to 23 or less recorded
incidents in Kapisa’s other districts. ACLED recorded the lowest numbers of incidents Hisa-i Awal-e
Kohestan and Hisa-i Duwum-e Kohestan districts, followed by Kohband district. In the provincial capital
Mahmud-e Raqi 23 incidents were recorded.1997

Figure 19. Kapisa - Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians from
1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, based on ACLED data1998

ACLED coded around 78 % of the violent incidents in Kapisa province as ‘battles’, nearly all ‘armed
clashes’. With the exception of Alasay district, this category represented the most prevalent incident
type in all Kapisa’s districts, also in Mahmud-e Raqi district where the provincial capital is located. The
majority of these armed clashes were attacks by the Taliban on Afghan security forces, including
military, police or NDS personnel and members of pro-government militias or so-called arbakis (theterm arbaki is locally often used to refer to members of the Afghan local police or other pro-1992 Osman, B., Bourgeois Jihad: Why Young, Middle-Class Afghans Join Islamic State, USIP, June 2020, url, pp. 4, 11-12
1993 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan - June 2020, 1 July 2020, url, p. 13
1994 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 94
1995 Civilian casualty data for 2020 have not yet been published by UNAMA.
1996 SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, 30 April 2020, url, p. 69; SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the UnitedStates Congress, 30 July 2020, url, p. 72
1997 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Kapisa; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
1998 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, Afghanistan - Kapisa, url

182 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

government militias).1999 Examples of such incidents included assaults on military or police
checkpoints/outposts in Abad village near the provincial capital Mahmud-e Raqi in July 20192000, in
Nejrab district in October 20192001, in February 20202002, in March 20202003 and in June 20202004, and in
Tagab district in March 20202005 and in June 20202006; as well as attacks/ambushes on the
convoy/vehicle of an Afghan local police commander and an intelligence chief in Alasay district inDecember 20192007 and January 20202008; and an attack on the head of Kapisa’s police traffic
department in Mahmud-e Raqi district in June 2020.2009 No civilian casualties were reported in theseincidents.
Operations and attacks by Afghan security forces against AGEs were also registered under armed
clashes by ACLED.2010 These incidents involved several operations in Nejrab district in April 20192011, in
May 20192012, in August 20192013 and in November 20192014, killing several Taliban militants (seeabove). In Tagab district, various Taliban militants were killed in operations of the Afghan Special
Forces in June 20192015 and a Taliban military commander was arrested by the police while placing IEDs
in Shinkai village in August 2019.2016 In Alasay district, four Taliban militants were wounded during asecurity forces raid in July 2019.2017 During an operation in Hisa-i Awal-e Kohestan district in June 2020,
two NDS officers were reportedly killed by the gunman they aimed to arrest.2018
AGEs using roadside bombs or IEDs, often targeting the Afghan security forces2019, represented 8 % of
all reported security incidents in Kapisa.2020 Some of these incidents resulted in casualties among
civilians. This happened in May 2019, when a civilian motorcycle hit a roadside bomb in Nejrab district,

1999 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus; Afghanistan; Kapisa; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
2000 Tolonews, Two Policemen Killed in Taliban Attack in Kapisa, 30 July 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 25Aug. 1, 1 August 2019, url
2001 RFE/RL,Taliban Militants Kill Six Afghan Police at Remote Checkpoint Northeast of Kabul, 5 October 2019, url
2002 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: February 2020, 6 February 2020 (updated 27 February 2020), url; Reuters, U.S.Taliban Pact to Cut Violence About to Start, Afghan Minister Says Amid Clashes, 18 February 2020, url; Pajhwok AfghanNews, Taliban Kill 9 Pro-Government Fighters in Kapisa, 18 February 2020, url
2003 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 2020, 5 March 2020 (updated 26 March 2020), url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 7
Security Personnel, 3 Militants Killed in Kapisa Clash, 21 March 2020, url; Tolonews, 4 Security Force Members Killed in
Kapisa, 21 March 2020, url
2004 Pajhwok Afghan News, 2 Security Forces Killed, 5 Injured in Kapisa Clash, 22 June 2020, url
2005 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 2020, 5 March 2020 (updated 26 March 2020), url
2006 Tolonews, 4 Public Uprising Forces, 11 Taliban Killed in Kapisa: Official, 15 June 2020, url
2007 VoA, Taliban Assault on Army Base Kills 7 Afghan Soldiers, 24 December 2019, url; Reporterly, Afghan Local Police
Commander Killed in Taliban Ambush in Kapisa, 24 December 2019, url
2008 Pajhwok Afghan News, Kapisa: District Intelligence Chief Killed in Taliban Ambush, 30 January 2020, url
2009 Tolonews, Head of Kapisa Traffic Dept. Killed by Unknown Gunmen, 1 June 2020, url
2010 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Kapisa; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
2011 Khaama Press, Taliban Sniper Killed in Armed Forces Operation in Kapisa Province, 29 April 2019, url
2012 Khaama Press, Security Forces Kill Taliban’s Suicide Attacks Planner in Kapisa Province, 23 May 2019, url
2013 Ariana News, Taliban’s Shadow Deputy Governor for Panjshir Killed, 4 August 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’s
Shadow Deputy Governor for Panjsher Killed: MoI, 4 August 2019, url
2014 Pajhwok Afghan News, Kapisa Police Chief Injured in Clash with Taliban, 13 November 2019, url
2015 Khaama Press, 16 Taliban Militants Killed, Wounded in Kapisa, Wardak and Herat Provinces, 12 June 2019, url; Khaama
Press, 9 Militants Killed, Roadside Bombs and House-borne IED Destroyed in Kapisa and Wardak, 29 June 2019, url
2016 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’s Military Official Arrested in Tagab District, 22 August 2019, url
2017 Pajhwok Afghan News, 7 Security Forces, 6 Rebels Killed in Fresh Offensives, 4 July 2019, url
2018 Pajhwok Afghan News, 2 NDS Agents Killed by Illegal Gunman in Kapisa, 21 June 2020, url
2019 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 2020, 5 March 2020 (updated 26 March 2020), url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty
Report: May 17-23, 23 May 2019, url
2020 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Kapisa; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 183

killing four civilians.2021 In the same district in October 2019, six members of a family were killed in aroadside bomb explosion.2022 Another such incident happened in November 2019, when a roadsidebomb was hit by a pick-up in the district market of Alasay, killing at least 10 civilians.2023
Air/drone strikes represented 7 % of all reported violent incidents in Kapisa. Most air/drone strikes
were carried out in Nejrab district (two out of three), followed by Alasay and Tagab districts. The
majority of these air/drone strikes were carried out by Afghan military forces, some were attributed
to US forces.2024 While air strikes inflicted losses among AGEs in the aforementioned districts2025, somealso caused civilian casualties such as air strikes carried out during security forces’ operations at theend of December 2019 in several villages in Nejrab district, during which at least six civilians were
killed.2026
Mortars and grenades fired by Taliban militants in Nejrab district in July 20192027 and in Tagab districtin March 20202028 and April 20202029, landed on civilian homes and/or vehicles and caused civilian
casualties.
ACLED categorised 4 % of all violent incidents recorded in Kapisa as ‘violence against civilians’.2030
These incidents involved for example: civilian houses being targeted by the Taliban with a grenade
launcher in Nejrab district in July 20192031; civilians being killed in operations by Afghan and US security
forces in Nejrab district in December 20192032; a civilian vehicle being attacked by Taliban militants in
Tagab district in March 20202033; and the killing of an appellate court judge by unidentified gunmen in
Afghanha village in the area of PD 1 in June 2020.2034
Kapisa’s voter turnout as percentage of its registered voters for the presidential elections on
28 September 2019 remained just under 10 %. Along with Uruzgan province in the south and Farahprovince in the west, this represented one of the lowest scores in the whole country.2035 In the Asia
Foundations 2019 Survey of the Afghan People, 51-75 % of respondents in Kapisa province reported
to have experienced fear while voting.2036 Without providing further details, Pajhwok Afghan News
reported on election related attacks on polling day in Kapisa province2037, including the beating of anagent of the Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan (FEFA).2038

2.17.3.2 Displacement
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, reporting 924 persons displaced
from Kapisa province, from whom the majority (833) found refuge within the province itself (in the2021 Ariana News, Roadside Bomb Kills 4 Civilians in Kapisa, 21 May 2019, url
2022 Pajhwok Afghan News, Women Among 6 of a family Killed in Kapisa Blast, 2 October 2019, url
2023 Pajhwok Afghan News, ANA Soldier Killed, 12 Wounded in Kapisa Explosion, 6 November 2019, url
2024 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus; Afghanistan; Kapisa; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
2025 Khaama Press, Up to 50 Militants Killed in Afghan Special Forces Operations, Airstrikes, 6 March 2019, url; Khaama
Press, Afghan Air Force’s A-29s and MD-530s Target Taliban Hideouts in Kunar and Kapisa, 23 March 2020, url; Pajhwok
Afghan News, Taliban’s Military Commission Head Killed in Kapesa, 29 November 2019, url
2026 Pajhwok Afghan News, 6 Civilians Killed in Kapisa Operations, Says Rights Watchdog, 29 December 2019, url
2027 Khaama Press, Taliban Target Civilian Houses with Grenade Launcher in Kapisa: 201st Silab Corps, 18 July 2019, url
2028 Pajhwok Afghan News, Civilians, Policeman Killed in Kapesa Mortar Shell Attack, 25 March 2020, url
2029 Khaama Press, Taliban Militants Kill 1 Civilian, Wound 3 Others in Kapisa Province, 20 April 2020, url
2030 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Kapisa; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
2031 Khaama Press, Taliban Target Civilian Houses with Grenade Launcher in Kapisa: 201st Silab Corps, 18 July 2019, url
2032 Pajhwok Afghan News, 6 Civilians Killed in Kapisa Operations, Says Rights Watchdog, 29 December 2019, url
2033 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 2020, 5 March 2020 (updated 26 March 2020), url
2034 Tolonews, Gunmen Shoot and Kill Judge in Kapisa, 23 June 2020, url
2035 SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, 30 January 2020, url, p. 98
2036 Asia Foundation (The), A Survey of the Afghan People - Afghanistan in 2019, 2 December 2019, url, p. 622037 Pajhwok Afghan News, 32 Killed, 123 Wounded in Election Day Attacks, 28 September 2019, url
2038 Pajhwok Afghan News, 2 Observers Killed, Many Beaten on Polling Day, 17 October 2019, url184 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

provincial capital Mahmud-e Raqi and in Nejrab, Hisa-i Awal-e Kohestan and Hisa-i Duwum-e Kohestan
districts). The remaining 91 IDPs from Kapisa sought shelter in neighbouring provinces Parwan(Charikar district) and Kabul. The majority of IDPs in Kapisa province were displaced from Nejrab
district, mostly in March and December 2019 and in the beginning of January 2020. A smaller numberof IDPs was displaced from Tagab district in March, July and September 2019 and March 2020, as well
as from Alasay district in September 2019 and March 2020.2039
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, reporting 193 persons displaced
to Kapisa province coming from other provinces. In October 2019, a group of 70 IDPs from Chahab
district in the northern province of Takhar found refuge in Kapisa’s Hisa-i Duwum-e Kohestan district.
Mid-January 2020, a group of 126 IDPs coming from Tala Wa Barfak district in the northern provinceof Baghlan found refuge in the provincial capital Mahmud-e Raqi.2040
In the beginning of April 2019, large displacement figures were reported in Nejrab district, due tochanges in the security situation. Several areas of the district that were cleared by joined ANDSF
operations in early December 2018 were recaptured by non-state armed forces. The displaced families
found refuge in Nejrab district centre and in other secure districts within the province, such as
Mahmud-e Raqi and Hisa-i Awal-e Kohistan.2041 In December 2019 and January 2020, ongoing ANDSF
clearing operations in Nejrab district were reported to have caused large numbers of displaced families
to seek shelter in the district centre and in the provincial capital Mahmud-e Raqi.2042
According to IOM displacement data published in August and October 2019, most IDPs and returnees
in Kapisa province resided in Mahmud-e Raqi and Tagab districts.2043 According to UNHCR, Kapisa is
one of the four provinces with the highest percentage of returnees who originate there but choose tolive somewhere else once they return.2044

2039 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict

Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
2040 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
2041 UNOCHA, Operational Coordination Team (OCT) - Kapisa Province - Meeting Summary, 2 April 2019, url, p. 1
2042 UNOCHA, Operational Coordination Team (OCT) - Kapisa Province - Meeting Summary, 29 January 2020, url, p. 1
2043 IOM, Afghanistan - Kapisa Baseline Mobility Assessment Summary Results Round 7 (October - December 2018), 1
August 2019, url, pp. 1, 2, 6; IOM, DTM Afghanistan Baseline Mobility Assessment I District Level I Total Inflow(Returnees+IDPs) I June 2019 I Province: Kapisa, 9 October 2019, url
2044 UNHCR, Returnee and Internally Displaced Persons Monitoring Report - Final Report, May 2018, url, p. 19

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2.18 Khost
2.18.1 General description of the province

Map 18: Afghanistan – Khost province, source: UNOCHA2045

A part of Loya Paktya (i.e. ‘Greater Paktya’), an area also encompassing the provinces of Paktya andPaktika2046, the province of Khost is situated in the eastern part of Afghanistan, bordering Pakistan tothe east, Paktika to the south-west, and Paktya to the west and north-west.2047 Khost is divided into
the following administrative units: Ali Sher (Terezayi), Bak, Gurbuz, Jajimaydan, Khost (Matun),
Mandozayi (Esmayel Khel), Muzakhel, Nadirshahkot, Qalandar, Sabari (Yaqubi), Shamal, Spera, andTani. The provincial capital of Khost is the city of Khost.2048
According to the NSIA, the population of Khost is estimated at 636 522 for 2020/21. The rural
population accounts for 98 % of the total.2049 As stated by AAN founder Thomas Ruttig, Khost is part ofone of the three major Pashtun regions of Afghanistan.2050 The province is primarily inhabited by
Pashtuns, with approximately 1 % Tajik.2051 US-bad Tribal Analysis Center (TAC) also mentioned thepresence of other minorities (Sikh, Hazara) in Khost City.2052 The province is inhabited by a large number
of Pashtun tribes, among them the Zadran tribe, namesake of the so-called Zadran Arc, which includes

2045 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Khost Province - District Atlas, April 2014, url
2046 Ruttig, T., Loya Paktia‘s Insurgency: The Haqqani Network as an Autonomous Entity, , in: Giustozzi, A. (ed.), Decoding

the New Taliban. Insights from the Afghan Field, Columbia, Hurst, 2009, url, p. 57
2047 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: South Eastern Region - District Atlas, April 2014, url
2048 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Khost Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url, Afghanistan, IEC, Afghanistan 2019 Presidential
Elections – Final results by Polling Stations: Province Khost, 2020, url; Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated population of
Afghanistan 2020-2021, June 2020, url, p. 232049 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated population of Afghanistan 2020-2021, June 2020, url, p. 42050 Ruttig, T., Loya Paktia‘s Insurgency: The Haqqani Network as an Autonomous Entity, in: Giustozzi, A. (ed.), Decoding the
New Taliban. Insights from the Afghan Field, Columbia, Hurst, 2009, url, p. 57
2051 US, Naval Postgraduate School, Khost Provincial Overview, n.d., url
2052 TAC, Khost Province District Studies, 20 May 2013, url, p. 8

186 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

stretches of western Khost, Paktya and Paktika.2053 In 2013, TAC described the Zadran as historicallystrong but also ‘loose’, characterized by infighting and multiple political affiliations.2054 Furthermore,
Kuchi and Musalyan nomads are said to live in Khost seasonally.2055 According to Afghanistan expert
Antonio Giustozzi, there were over 50 000 nomad families in Khost as of May 2019.2056 RFE/RL’s
Gandhara also pointed out that, from 2014 onwards, military operations in North Waziristan forced
7 000 families to seek shelter in Khost and Paktika.2057
In 2013, TAC described Khost as a ‘[...] major transit hub for trade from Pakistan [...]’.2058 Khost
reportedly has three border crossings with Pakistan (Ghulam Khan, Babrak Tanai and Zazai Maidan).2059
The key border crossing of Ghulam Khan was closed in 2014 due to military operations in Pakistan's
North Waziristan, reopened for trade activities in March 2018, and was fully reopened from August
2019. Since then, the residents of Paktya, Paktika and Khost are reportedly allowed to get into Pakistanwith their tazkera, under the condition that they have relatives living on the other side of the DurandLine.2060 There is also an unofficial motorable crossing point to Pakistan in Jajimaydan district, which
has been temporarily closed in the past as well.2061
The so-called Khost-Gardez Pass connects Khost with neighbouring Paktya, Logar and ultimately
Kabul.2062 According to a 2017 report by the US-based news site ThinkProgress, the Khost-Logar roadleads through areas with a strong Taliban presence and hence potential Taliban checkpoints in theprovinces of Paktya and Logar.2063 In March 2019, the Afghan authorities announced that they were
now in full control of the 50 kilometre-road linking Paktya’s Dand Wa Patan district to Khost’s
Jajimaydan district. For the previous five years, the highway had been under the influence of the Taliban
and the Haqqani Network.2064 In March 2019 as well, Tolonews reported that the Pakistani forces had
closed the road connecting Khost City to Gurbuz district. Some villages of this district close to theborder have been cut in two by the fencing of the border by the Pakistani military, which encroachedon Afghan territory and deprived local population from access to public services.2065
According to the airport map produced by the Austrian COI department, an airport with scheduled
passenger services does not exist in Khost.2066
The 2018 UNODC Opium Survey reported that Khost has been poppy-free at least since 2013.2067

2053 TAC, Khost Province District Studies, 20 May 2013, url, p. 82054 TAC, Khost Province District Studies, 20 May 2013, url, p. 82055 TAC, Khost Province District Studies, 20 May 2013, url, p. 92056 Giustozzi, A., Nomad-settler conflict in Afghanistan today, AREU, 13 November 2019, url, p. 142057 RFE/RL/Gandhara, In Afghanistan, Lockdown Hits Waziristan Refugees Hard, 21 April 2020, url
2058 TAC, Khost Province District Studies, 20 May 2013, url, p. 92059 Pajhwok Afghan News, Khost market unaffected by closure of Pakistan border, 8 July 2016, url
2060 Pajhwok Afghan News, Af-Pak trade via Ghulam Khan route set to resume, 5 March 2018, url; Sabawoon, A. M., The

Gates of Friendship: How Afghans cross the Afghan-Pakistani border, AAN, 28 January 2020, url
2061 Pajhwok Afghan News, Khost market unaffected by closure of Pakistan border, 8 July 2016, url; Sabawoon, A. M., The
Gates of Friendship: How Afghans cross the Afghan-Pakistani border, AAN, 28 January 2020, url
2062 iMMAP, Afghanistan Administrative Map, 19 September 2017, url; NYT, Costly Afghanistan Road Project Is Marred by
Unsavory Alliances, 1 May 2011, url
2063 ThinkProgress, Afghans fearful as CIA-backed militias patrol the ground and U.S. drones haunt the skies, 13 December
2017, url
2064 Tolonews, Afghan Forces Hold ‘Full Control’ Of Key Highway In Southeast, 31 March 2019, url
2065 Tolonews, Durand Line Fencing Splits Afghan Families, 31 March 2019, url
2066 Austria, BFA-Staatendokumentation, Afghanistan - Airports [Map], 25 March 2019, available upon request underhttps://www.staatendokumentation.at/de/ (accessed by EASO on 25 March 2019)2067 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, p. 19

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2.18.2 Conflict background and actors in Khost
In 2009, Thomas Ruttig noted that Loya Paktya – encompassing Khost – has never been a Taliban
stronghold.2068 AAN stated in August 2018 that Khost ‘[...] features an active insurgency, but it remains
somewhat curtailed by strong tribal affiliations and cohesive local communities’. It also noted that due
to the geographical terrain of mountainous Khost, AGEs are largely dependent on the collaboration of
locals, as ‘the sworn hostility of even a minor community can be a logistical nightmare for insurgents,
as they have to rely on mountain routes or secrecy for the security of their movements and the successof their operations.’ AAN concluded that ‘this discourages acts that would antagonise wholecommunities.’2069
As of May 2020, the UN Security Council listed Mawlawi Abdullah Hussaini, originally affiliated to thePeshawar Shura network, as the Taliban shadow governor in Khost. He was appointed after the‘reshuffle’ of the Taliban government structure during the 2019-2020 winter, ahead of the 2020 fighting
season. Mawlawi Qasam Farid was listed as the head of the military commission in Loya Paktya.2070
Moreover, Khost is one of the provinces where the UN Security Council observed ‘strong ties’ between
the Taliban and organised criminal groups involved in heroin, hashish, pine nut traffics or local
businesses extorsion.2071
The Haqqani Network has reportedly been most active in the ‘Zadran Arc’2072, with its late founderJalaluddin Haqqani being a member of the Zadran tribe.2073 The group is affiliated with the Taliban,
though it declared itself independent from the Quetta Shura from 2007 to 2015.2074 Declassified US
cables quoted by Associated Press (AP) stated that, contrary to other Taliban factions, the Haqqani
Network ‘[…] functions more in the military area, and is not a force in setting Taliban political or social
issues’2075, a perception seemingly shared by Ruttig.2076 The Haqqani Network reportedly maintains
close ties to the Pakistani secret service ISI, as well as other Pakistani militant groups and Al Qaeda.2077
In June 2019, the UN Security Council stated that the Haqqani Network numbered between 1 800 and
2 000 fighters leading Taliban operations in Khost, Paktya and Paktika, with the help of Tehrik-e Taliban
Pakistan (TTP) militants. The report added that in Loya Paktya, the network was holding all of the main
shadow government positions (provincial governors and district governors).2078 As of May 2020, theHaqqani Network was said to plan a joint unit of 2 000 fighters with Al Qaeda, headed by Hafiz
Azizuddin Haqqani in the operational zone encompassing Loya Paktya.2079 Over 2019 and 2020, the2068 Ruttig, T., Loya Paktia‘s Insurgency: The Haqqani Network as an Autonomous Entity, in: Giustozzi, A. (ed.), Decoding the

New Taliban. Insights from the Afghan Field, Columbia, Hurst, 2009, url, p. 58
2069 Foschini, F., Hitting Gardez: A vicious attack on Paktia’s Shias, AAN, 18 August 2018, url
2070 UN Security Council, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant
to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 27 May 2020, url, pp. 8-9, 12, 25, 27
2071 UN Security Council, Letter dated 10 June 2019 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant
to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 13 June 2019, url, p. 122072 Ruttig, T., Loya Paktia‘s Insurgency: The Haqqani Network as an Autonomous Entity, in: Giustozzi, A. (ed.), Decoding the
New Taliban. Insights from the Afghan Field, Columbia, Hurst, 2009, url, p. 62
2073 AP, Death of Afghan group’s founder unlikely to weaken militants, 4 September 2018, url
2074 Giustozzi, A., Afghanistan: Taliban’s organization and structure, Landinfo, 23 August 2017, url, p. 92075 AP, Death of Afghan group’s founder unlikely to weaken militants, 4 September 2018, url
2076 Ruttig, T., Loya Paktia‘s Insurgency: The Haqqani Network as an Autonomous Entity, in: Giustozzi, A. (ed.), Decoding the
New Taliban. Insights from the Afghan Field, Columbia, Hurst, 2009, url, p. 73
2077 AP, Death of Afghan group’s founder unlikely to weaken militants, 4 September 2018, url; Ruttig, T., Loya Paktia‘s
Insurgency: The Haqqani Network as an Autonomous Entity, in: Giustozzi, A. (ed.), Decoding the New Taliban. Insights fromthe Afghan Field, Columbia, Hurst, 2009, url, pp. 75-76; NYT, Costly Afghanistan Road Project Is Marred by Unsavory
Alliances, 1 May 2011, url
2078 UN Security Council, Letter dated 10 June 2019 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant
to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 13 June 2019, url, pp. 17-18
2079 UN Security Council, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant
to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 27 May 2020, url, p. 13

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Afghan security forces led several operations against the Haqqani Network in Khost and notably killed
twelve of its commanders in Sabari district.2080
In a May 2020 report, the UN Security Council listed Khost among the 12 provinces where Al Qaeda
was supposed to be ‘covertly active’.2081 UNAMA added that its main tasks consist in ‘training, including
weapons and explosives, and mentoring’.2082
In terms of presence of government security forces, Khost province is under the responsibility of the203th ANA Corps, which falls under Task Force Southeast (TF Southeast), led by US forces.2083 In a 2020
report focused on locally-rooted security forces, AAN observed that the robust and ‘relatively
egalitarian’ tribal structures of Loya Paktya and its tradition of local defence groups (arbaki) had
contributed to ‘more instances of effective, less abusive forces’.2084
In 2015, the Washington Post listed the Khost Protection Force (KPF) as the most influential security
actor in the province.2085 Foreign Policy described it as ‘the most prominent of several CIA-sponsored
elite paramilitary forces along the porous border with Pakistan’, where it is charged with keeping theborder secure and prevent the entry of terrorists in Khost but also in neighbouring provinces. 2086
According to UNAMA, it operates outside of the regular military structure and without any legal basis
in south-eastern Afghanistan since at least 2007, with frequent support from foreign military forces
and the Afghan air force.2087 Headquartered at Camp Chapman, outside Khost City, the KFP manpower
ranges between 3 000 and 10 000, plus a network of informants.2088 In its 2020 annual report, UNAMA
expressed grave concern over the impunity that, despite occasional investigations led by theauthorities, KPF members enjoy for abuses they commit (including executions, torture and arbitrary
detentions), which contributes to ‘anti-government sentiment and spark protests among the civilian
population’.2089
According to information collected by LWJ and presented in a map, Gurbuz, Jajimaydan, Muzakhel,
Nadirshahkot, Qalandar, Sabari, Spera, Tere Zayi districts are assessed as ‘contested’, while Bak, Khost,
Mandozay, Shamal and Tani are listed as government-controlled or undetermined.2090 However, in April
2020, French daily newspaper Libération stated that Sabari district was under Taliban control.2091 In aregional overview, ACLED reported that in July 2019, the Taliban had taken over areas of Jajimaydan
district.2092 At last, a survey published in June 2019 by Tolonews noted that due to insecurity, the Afghan
administration was not able to rule one of Khost districts (unspecified) and was working remotely.2093

2080 Tolonews, 12 Haqqani Network Commanders Killed In Khost, 11 June 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Khost: 20 crime

suspects arrested in a week, 12 May 2020, url
2081 UN Security Council, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant
to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 27 May 2020, url, p. 122082 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, pp. 85-86
2083 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan, June 2020, url, p. 142084 Clark, K. et al., Ghosts of the Past: Lessons from Local Force Mobilisation in Afghanistan and Prospects for the Future,
AAN & Global Public Policy Institute, July 2020, url, pp. 46-47
2085 Washington Post (The), CIA runs shadow war with Afghan militia implicated in civilian killings, 3 December 2015, url
2086 FP, How the CIA Aims to Keep a Footprint in Afghanistan, 8 August 2019, url
2087 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, pp. 53, 57
2088 HRW, “They’ve Shot Many Like This” Abusive Night Raids by CIA-Backed Afghan Strike Forces, 31 October 2019, url
2089 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, pp. 9, 58, 6465
2090 LWJ, Mapping Taliban Control in Afghanistan, n. d., url However the source does not systematically specify when andwhich information of the aforementioned map was last updated.
2091 Libération, Naître et donner la vie en pays pachtoun [To be born and to give life in Pashtun country], 11 April 2020, url
2092 ACLED, Regional Overview-Asia, 31 July 2019, url
2093 Tolonews, 64 Administrative Units Partially Paralyzed In 19 Provinces, 30 June 2019, url

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2.18.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population
2.18.3.1 General
In 2019, UNAMA documented 197 civilian casualties (51 deaths and 146 injured) in Khost. This
represents an increase of 13 % compared to 2018. Leading causes of casualties were non-suicide IEDs,
followed by targeted/deliberate killings and ground engagements.2094 Resolute Support recorded
between 76 and 125 civilian casualties in Khost in the first half of 2020, reporting a very marked
increase during the second quarter compared to the first.2095
With regard to the severity of the conflict, over the full year 2019, Resolute Support recorded less than150 enemy-initiated attacks in Khost province, as in 2018 – one of the five provinces with the lowest
numbers.2096 In March 2020, a resident of Spera district told AAN that since the eight-days ‘reduction
in violence’ period in February 2020, the situation was calm, with only ‘minor conflicts’ not resulting
in any casualty. Local dwellers were now free to travel, but the government agents and NGO personnel
were still wary of the Taliban.2097 In Khost City, the security situation was also said to be better thanthe usual at this time of year.2098 However, in May 2020, RFE/RL’s Gandhara observed that ‘the security
situation [had] been deteriorating’ in the previous weeks.2099
In the period from 1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, ACLED collected data on 342 violent events in Khost
province from open sources: 196 coded as ‘battles’ (57 %), 130 as ‘explosions/remote violence’ (38 %)and 16 as ‘violence against civilians’ (5 %).2100

Figure 20. Khost - Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians from
1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, based on ACLED data2101

Across these three categories, Sabari (66 incidents) and Khost (64) stood out as the districts wheremost violent events were reported between 1 March 2019 and 30 June 2020. In Bak, Mandozayi,
Muzakhel, Nadirshahkot, Qalandar and Spera, the number of such incidents ranged between 17 and2094 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 94
2095 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 April 2020, url, p. 69 ; SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the UnitedStates Congress, 30 July 2020, url, p. 72 At the time of writing, UNAMA provincial data for 2020 was not available.
2096 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 January 2020, url, p. 69
2097 AAN, Voices from the Districts, the Violence Mapped (1): What has happened since the reduction in violence ended?,
21 March 2020, url
2098 Clark, K., Voices from the Districts, the Violence Mapped (2): Assessing the conflict a month after the US-Taleban
agreement, AAN, 8 April 2020, url
2099 RFE/RL/Gandhara, Afghan Mosque Attacks Kill 13 Worshippers Breaking Fast, 20 May 2020, url
2100 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Khost ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url For more information on ACLED’s methodology, see: Introduction – Sources.
2101 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Khost ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url

190 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

35. Based on ACLED data, the least affected districts were Gurbuz (3 events), Jajimaydan (4), Tani (4)and Shamal (7).2102
Regarding events coded as ‘battles’ by ACLED, an overwhelming majority of them were ‘armed
clashes’. Sabari, Muzakhel, Terezayi and Nadirshakot were the most affected districts by this type ofviolence. Conversely, Shamal, Mandozayi, Jajimaydan, Tani and Gurbuz recorded less than six armed
clashes each. The remaining districts experienced levels of clashes ranging from 12 to 17. Of the 189
armed clashes that ACLED collected information about, 165 were said to have been initiated by the
Taliban, and 2 others by them or an unidentified group. According to ACLED data, Taliban attacks
mainly focused on Sabari, Muzakhel, Terezayi and Nadirshahkot districts and only targeted ANDSF. As
for the 22 armed clashes initiated by the Afghan security forces and allied militias, they were spreadout across six districts, with a peak of nine attacks in Sabari in May - July 2019.2103
Examples of such incidents include the killing by ANDSF of 16 Taliban militants in June 2019 and 21
others while repelling an attack in June 2020, both in Muzakhel district.2104 In May 2020, Pajhwok
reported that the provincial chief of police had been killed by a Taliban-initiated blast in Nadirshahkot
district, while he was travelling to a local police checkpoint attacked by the Taliban.2105 Throughout
2019 and 2020, the Afghan security forces have led several operations against the Haqqani Network in
Khost, resulting in the killing of twelve of its commanders in Sabari district, in June 2019, and the arrestof six fighters in May 2020.2106 UNAMA expressed concern over Pakistan-initiated cross-borderincidents in Kunar, Zabul and Khost provinces, which caused 39 child casualties (8 killed, 31 injured).2107
In terms of incidents coded by ACLED as ‘Explosions/Remote violence’, the most represented subcategory was clearly ‘Remote explosive/Landmine/IED’ (78 %). All these incidents were attributed toAGEs, particularly to the Taliban, although they have claimed none of the explosions reported to target
civilians. Khost City district stood out as the most affected district by episodes of remote violence (43events out of 130).2108 For instance, in July 2019, two civilians were killed, and thirty others were
wounded when a motorcycle bomb targeted a KPF convoy in the eastern part of Khost City.2109 In other
districts, several civilians were killed by explosives in Tani and Sabari, in November 2019.2110 On
17 December 2019, at least 10 civilians were killed (including 3 children), and at least 18 people were
wounded in Ali Sher (Terezayi) district when explosives attached to a bicycle detonated near a police
vehicle.2111 On 2 March 2020, three civilians were killed and eleven injured when a bomb exploded
during a football match in Nadirshahkot district. Although they denied it, the Taliban were suspected2102 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus; Afghanistan; Khost ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
2103 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Khost ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
2104 Khaama Press, Afghan forces killed, wound 34 Taliban militants in Khost, Paktiya: 203rd Thunder Corps, 13 July 2019,
url ; Reporterly, Over 40 Taliban Killed By Afghan Forces, 30 June 2020, url
2105 Pajhwok Afghan News, Khost police chief killed in roadside blast, 8 May 2020, url
2106 Tolonews, 12 Haqqani Network Commanders Killed In Khost, 11 June 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Khost: 20 crime
suspects arrested in a week, 12 May 2020, url
2107 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, pp. 21-22
2108 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Khost ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
2109 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 25- Aug. 1, 1 August 2019, url
2110 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: November 2019, 2 December 2019, url
2111 AP, Roadside bombing kills 10 civilians in Afghanistan, 17 December 2019, url; Khaama Press, Children among 10 killed
as Taliban IED goes off in Khost province, 17 December 2019, url; TRTWorld, Roadside bombing kills 10 civilians in
Afghanistan - official, 17 December 2019, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 191

to have planned the attack.2112 In April 2020, an unclaimed bomb exploded along the convoy ofprovincial governor Hamil Fidai, who survived.2113
Also coded as ‘Explosions/Remote violence’ by ACLED, ten air/drone strikes were recorded across six
districts of the province, most of them in Khost, Nadirshahkot, Sabari and Terezayi (Ali Sher).2114 In thelatter, on 28 November 2019, five civilians were killed when a US drone targeted a car carrying awoman who had just given birth, prompting the US forces and the Afghanistan Independent Human
Rights Commission to launch investigations.2115
As for episodes of violence against civilians, based on ACLED data, none of the districts registered morethan four incidents, Khost and Sabari being relatively more affected.2116 In Sabari, two unclaimed
shootings against worshipers praying in mosques resulted in four deaths overall in May 2020.2117 Other
incidents included the shooting of a local TV journalist, in March 2019, for which ‘an Islamic Stateaffiliate’ claimed responsibility.2118 While expressing concern over reported cases of summary
executions, unlawful and arbitrary detentions and of torture by the KPF, UNAMA noted that the 25
civilian deaths attributed to the KPF across Khost, Paktya and Paktika in 2019 represented a ‘significant
drop’ from 2018 and that all of them had been reported during the first quarter of 2019 alone.2119
Incidentally, in June 2020, in Mandozayi district, invoking an ancient tribal custom, hundreds ofmembers of the Mangal tribe burned several houses of a family accused of having killed sevenmembers of another family two days earlier.2120

2.18.3.2 Displacement
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 2 828 persons
displaced from Khost – one of the lowest provincial figures recorded over the period. All of them foundrefuge in the provincial capital’s district.2121 Overall, the main district of origin of IDPs was Sabari(1 750), accounting for 62 % of Khost total numbers. It is distantly followed by Bak (308) andNadirshahkot (259). The highest displacement figures were recorded in April and October 2019, andJanuary-February 2020. Since then, UNOCHA has not reported any displacement.2122 According toseveral UNOCHA reports, ongoing conflict appeared to be the main cause of displacement.2123
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 3 619 persons
displaced to Khost. Aside from the 2 828 people displaced within the province, 301 IDPs came from2112 RFE/RL, Afghan Taliban Ends Partial Truce As Deadly Bombing Hits Near Soccer Ground, 2 March 2020, url ; Tolonews,

Blast in Khost Kills Three Civilians: MoI, 2 March 2020, url ; NYT, U.S. Announces Troop Withdrawal in Afghanistan as
Respite From Violence Ends, 2 March 2020, url
2113 RFE/RL/Gandhara, Attacks Across Afghanistan Kill Dozens Of Security Force Members [Source : AFP], Civilians, 22 April
2020, url
2114 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Khost ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
2115 NYT, U.S. Drone Killed Afghan Civilians, Officials Say, 1 December 2019, url ; Pajhwok Afghan News, US forces, AIHRC
probing Khost drone strike, 1 December 2019, url
2116 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Khost ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
2117 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 2020, 28 May 2020, url ; RFE/RL/Gandhara, Afghan Mosque Attacks Kill 13
Worshippers Breaking Fast, 20 May 2020, url
2118 AP, Taliban kill 22 Afghan forces in attack on checkpoints, 17 March 2019, url
2119 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, pp. 9, 57-58,
64-65
2120 RFE/RL/Gandhara, Tribe Burns Down Houses Of Alleged Murderers In Southeast Afghanistan, 16 June 2020, url
2121 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
2122 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
2123 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (28 October – 3 November 2019), 6 November 2019, url;
UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (27 January – 2 February 2020), 3 February 2020, url192 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

Paktika, 231 from Logar, 189 from Paktya and 70 from Nangarhar. Khost City’s district turned out tobe the only destination of these IDPs.2124

2.19 Kunar
2.19.1 General description of the province

Map 19: Afghanistan – Kunar province, source: UNOCHA2125

Kunar is located in eastern Afghanistan, along the Afghan-Pakistani border; it borders Nuristan to thenorth, Pakistan to the east, Nangarhar to the south, and Laghman to the west.2126 The province isdivided into the following administrative units: Asadabad, Barkunar (also Asmar), Chapadara, Chawkay(also Sawkay), Dangam, Dara-e-Pech (also Manogi), Ghaziabad, Khashkunar, Marawara, Narang, Nari,
Nurgal, Sarkani, Shigal, Watapur and Sheltan.2127 AAN defined the latter as a ‘temporary district’,meaning that it is considered to belong to Kunar province, but its status as such has not been approvedby the Afghan parliament yet.2128 The provincial capital is Asadabad.2129

2124 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict

Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
2125 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Kunar Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url
2126 US, Naval Postgraduate School, Kunar Provincial Overview, n.d., url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Kunar Province – District
Atlas, April 2014, url
2127 Afghanistan, IEC, Afghanistan 2019 Presidential Elections – Final results by Polling Stations: Province Kunar, 2020, url;
Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated population of Afghanistan 2020-2021, June 2020, url, p. 24; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Kunar
Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url
2128 Ruttig, T., The Afghanistan Election Conundrum (12): Good news and bad news about district numbers, AAN, 16 August
2018, url
2129 US, Naval Postgraduate School, Kunar Provincial Overview, n.d., url; Afghanistan, Office of the President, Provincial
Profile Kunar, n. d., url

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According to NSIA, the population of Kunar is estimated at 499 393 for 2020/21. The rural populationaccounts for about 97 % of the total.2130 It is composed mainly of Pashtuns, followed by Pashai andNuristani.2131 The province has been affected by high rates of illegal logging, mining and smuggling by
militants, mafia groups, local strongmen and, allegedly, some government officials, contributing to thedevastation of Kunar’s dense forests. The illegal mining of precious stones in Manogi and Chapadara
districts provides jobs to hundreds of people and, in April 2020, was said to be increasing.2132
The national highway ‘NH01’ starts from Jalalabad, passes through the districts of Nurgal, Chawkay,
Narang, Asadabad, Shigal and leads to Asmar.2133 From Asmar, the highway leads to Nuristan provincethrough Ghaziabad and Nari districts. Blocked in 2017 by insurgents, it was reopened by ANDSF in
August 2018 after a series of operations.2134 According to an Afghan solider interviewed by French
newspaper Libération, the government also retook control of the road leading to Chapadara district
through Dara-e Pech, formerly known as a ‘death trap’, in early 2019.2135 In September 2019, it wasreported that after five years of closure, the Nawapas Highway, which is located in Sarkani district andcrosses into Pakistan at the unofficial Nawapas border point, had been cleared from the Taliban.2136
However, in September 2019, UNOCHA reported that militant groups were blocking unspecified
highways in Kunar.2137
The province shares a 175 kilometre-long border with Pakistan; through the Korengal valley, which lies
west of the provincial capital; insurgents have been entering and leaving the province for years.2138 In
June 2020, Pakistani forces have been accused of encroaching on Afghan territory while building afence along the border in Kunar.2139
According to the 2018 UNODC Opium Survey, opium-poppy cultivation levels in Kunar (1 723 hectares)
remained similar to 2017 (1 634 hectares), representing a 6 % increase in poppy cultivation.2140

2.19.2 Conflict background and actors in Kunar
In February 2020, a security analyst interviewed by Sweden’s Lifos described Kunar as ‘strongly
controlled/influenced’ by the Taliban.2141 As of May 2020, the UN Security Council listed Mawalawi
Hamdullah Uruzgani, originally affiliated to the Peshawar Shura network, as the Taliban shadow
governor of Kunar. He was appointed after the ‘reshuffle’ of the Taliban government structure during
the 2019-2020 winter, ahead of the 2020 fighting season.2142 By December 2019, according to theprovincial vice-governor, about 1 000 militants, most of them former members of the Taliban, had2130 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated population of Afghanistan 2020-2021, June 2020, url, p. 42131 US, Naval Postgraduate School, Kunar Provincial Overview, n.d., url, Afghanistan, Office of the President, Provincial

Profile Kunar, n. d., url
2132 IWPR, Illegal Logging Destroying Afghan Forests, 23 January 2018, url; RFE/RL/Gandhara,Precious Stones Illegally MinedIn Afghan Province, 24 April 2020, url ; FP, Afghanistan’s Forests are Turning a Profit for the Islamic State, 15 July 2019, url
2133 Italy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Evaluation Report - Afghanistan: Rehabilitation of Maidan Shar – Bamyan Road, 2014,
url, p. 8; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Kunar Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url
2134 Salaam Times, Afghan forces reopen key Kunar highway blocked by Taliban, 9 August 2018, url
2135 Libération, Afghanistan : mon voisin, ce taliban devenu fréquentable [Afghanistan : my neighbour, this Taliban guy who
has become reputable], 3 February 2020, url
2136 Pajhwok Afghan News, Kunar’s Nawapas road reopens after 5-year closure, 7 September 2019, url; Sabawoon, A. M.,
The Gates of Friendship: How Afghans cross the Afghan-Pakistani border, AAN, 28 January 2020, url
2137 UNOCHA, Afghanistan : Weekly Humanitarian Update (23 – 29 September 2019), 2 October 2019, url
2138 US, Naval Postgraduate School, Kunar Provincial Overview, n.d., url
2139 Tolonews, 'Pakistani Forces Building Facilities on Afghan Soil': Residents, 8 June 2020, url
2140 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, p. 23
2141 Sweden, Lifos/Migrationsverket, Säkerhetsläget i Afghanistan (version 2.0.), 7 April 2020, url, p. 41
2142 UN Security Council, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant
to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 27 May 2020, url, pp. 8-9, 27

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reportedly enrolled in a NDS-sponsored ‘Disarmament, demobilization and reintegration’ program in
Kunar.2143
As of May 2020, Kunar was one of the 12 provinces where Al Qaeda was said to be ‘covertly active’.
The UN Security Council mentioned in the same report that the group intended to form a joint unit of
2 000 fighters with the Haqqani Network, headed by Shir Khan Manga in the operational zone
composed of Kunar and Nuristan.2144 UNAMA added that Al Qaeda’s main tasks consist in ‘training,
including weapons and explosives, and mentoring’.2145 Besides, in March 2020, Kunar officials
expressed concern about the recruitment by Al Qaeda of former Taliban fighters hostile to thenegotiations between the movement and the USA.2146 Long War Journal also mentioned the presencein Kunar and Nuristan provinces of a commander affiliated to both the Taliban and Al Qaeda, Qari Zia
Rahman.2147
As of July 2020, the Afghan branch of the Islamic State, ISKP, was said to be headed by Sheikh Matiullah
Kamahwal, former leader of the Kunar chapter.2148 During the first half of 2019, ISKP appeared to gain
territory in the province2149, which had already been described as one its strongholds in Afghanistan in
February 2019.2150 However, from the fall of 2019, military operations simultaneously led by ANDSF,
coalition forces and the Taliban pressured ISKP into leaving the areas under its control in southern
Nangarhar and in Kunar.2151 Although the group endured further losses in Kunar in early 20202152, theUN Secretary General stated that the province had ‘effectively become the group’s new Afghan coreareas’.2153 Between January and May 2020, sources reported the presence of ISKP fighters or bases inwestern parts of the province: in remote areas of Chawkay district, where the dense forests provide
quality hideouts2154, in Narang, Nurgal and Chapadara2155, as well as in Watapur and Dara-e Pech
districts.2156 Estimates of the total number of ISKP fighters in Kunar oscillated between 400 (half ofthem in Chapadara), as reported by the Diplomat in August 20192157, 1 200, according to the provincial
governor in January 20202158, and 2 100, as stated by the UN Secretary General in February 2020.2159

2143 Le Figaro, Afghanistan: un programme gouvernemental pour réintégrer des talibans repentis [Afghanistan : agovernment program to reinstate repentant Taliban], 26 December 2019, url
2144 UN Security Council, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant
to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 27 May 2020, url, pp. 12-13
2145 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, pp. 85-86
2146 Tolonews, Al-Qaeda Recruiting Disaffected Taliban: Kunar Officials, 12 March 2020, url
2147 LWJ, Female Pakistani Taliban suicide bomber hits hospital, 21 July 2019, url
2148 UN Security Council, Letter dated 16 July 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions
1267 (1999), 1989 (2011)and 2253 (2015)concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associatedindividuals, groups, undertakingsand entities addressed to the President of the Security Council, 23 July 2020, url, p. 152149 RFE/RL/Gandhara, Islamic State In Afghanistan Growing Bigger, More Dangerous, 22 May 2019, url
2150 UN Secretary-General, Eighth report of the Secretary-General on the threat posed by ISIL (Da’esh) to international
peace and security and the range of United Nations efforts in support of Member States in countering the threat, 1
February 2019, url, p. 72151 USDOD, Enhancing Security & Stability in Afghanistan, June 2020, url, p. 28
2152 UNSG, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution
1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 27 May 2020, url, pp. 32153 UN Secretary-General, Tenth report of the Secretary-General on the threat posed by ISIL (Da’esh) to international peaceand security and the range of United Nations efforts in support of Member States in countering the threat, 4 February
2020, url, p. 72154 UNSG, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution
1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 27 May 2020, url, p. 182155 Tolonews, More Than 1,000 Daesh Fighters Active In Kunar: Governor, 8 January 2020, url
2156 Ali, O., Hit from Many Sides 1: Unpicking the recent victory against the ISKP in Nangrahar, AAN, 1 March 2020, url
2157 Diplomat (The), The Peculiar Presence of the Islamic State in Kunar, 14 May 2019, url
2158 Tolonews, More Than 1,000 Daesh Fighters Active In Kunar: Governor, 8 January 2020, url
2159 UNSG, Tenth report of the Secretary-General on the threat posed by ISIL (Da’esh) to international peace and security
and the range of United Nations efforts in support of Member States in countering the threat, 4 February 2020, url, p. 7

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Local ISKP ranks were bolstered by the arrival of about 350 fighters – including foreign nationals –pushed out of neighbouring Nangarhar by ANDSF and Taliban operations.2160
In an article published by the magazine The Diplomat, Afghanistan-based journalist Franz J. Marty
noted that, according to ‘anecdotal evidence’, ‘some alleged Islamic State fighters in Kunar have simply
adopted a vague, locally-colored version of the Islamic Sate’, sometimes for opportunistic reasons or
ideological compatibility, since many Kunar residents are Salafists.2161 In this regard, in January 2020,
Foreign Policy reported that in both Nangarhar and Kunar provinces, some Salafist madrasas, funded
by Gulf states-based NGOs, were supporting ISKP activities.2162
In 2017, sources mentioned the presence of a group of Hezb-e Islami militants based in Shigal district.
At that time, they were reportedly communicating with other insurgent groups but had neither joined
the Taliban, the Haqqani Network, nor ISKP.2163
In a June 2019 report, the UN Security Council listed Kunar as one of the border areas where ‘many
foreign terrorist fighter groups operate and have established safe havens’. Of these groups, Lashkar-e
Tayyiba (LeT) was said to be ‘one of more prominent’ and ‘a key facilitator in recruitment and financial
support activities’. It reportedly numbers about 500 active members in Kunar and Nangarhar, and isthought to have adopted a ‘more neutral role’ towards the Taliban and ISKP, from which it distanced
itself.2164 As of May 2020, LeT fighters were ‘dispersed within Taliban forces’.2165 Another active groupis Jaish-e Mohammed (JeM). As LeT, it is said to help terrorist fighters to enter Afghanistan and to carryout targeted assassinations, notably against government officials.2166 Up to 2018 at least, Tehrik-e
Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ran a military base, called Ghazi Camp, in Kunar.2167 It reportedly numbered 500
fighters in the province as of May 2020.2168 Finally, as of July 2020, the Eastern Turkistan Islamic
Movement (ETIM) was supposedly present in Afghanistan, mainly in three provinces, among which
Kunar.2169
In terms of presence of government security forces, Kunar province is under the responsibility of the
201st ANA Corps, which falls under the Train, Advise, and Assist Command – East (TAAC-E), led by US
and Polish forces.2170 According to AAN, Kunar is often listed as one of the provinces where the ALP is
working well. Indeed, whereas it was one of the most violent provinces, the ALP and other ANDSF corps
were able to stabilise the situation after the withdrawal of international forces.2171
The NDS-04, a unit of the NDS paramilitary strike forces, operates in Nuristan, Kunar and otherprovinces in the North-East. In a 2019 report, Human Rights Watch explained that, although they aretechnically subordinated to the NDS, these forces are trained, equipped and overseen by the CIA. They
conduct brutal night raids, targeting alleged insurgents and often injuring or killing civilians. These
2160 UN Security Council, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant

to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 27 May 2020, url, p. 172161 Diplomat (The), The Peculiar Presence of the Islamic State in Kunar, 14 May 2019, url
2162 FP, In Afghanistan, Religious Schools Are a Breeding Ground for Islamic State Influence, 24 January 2020, url
2163 Diplomat (The), Afghan Jihad Frozen in Time?, 25 April 2017, url ; USIP, The Political Deal with Hezb-e Islami, 6 July
2018, url
2164 UN Security Council, Letter dated 10 June 2019 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant
to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 13 June 2019, url, pp. 17-18
2165 UN Security Council, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant
to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 27 May 2020, url, p. 202166 UN Security Council, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant
to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 27 May 2020, url, p. 202167 LWJ, US hits Pakistani Taliban training camp in eastern Afghanistan, 8 March 2018, url
2168 UNSG, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution
1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 27 May 2020, url, p. 202169 UNSG, Letter dated 16 July 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999),
1989 (2011)and 2253 (2015)concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals,
groups, undertakingsand entities addressed to the President of the Security Council, 23 July 2020, url, p. 162170 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan, June 2020, url, p. 13
2171 Clark, K. et al., Ghosts of the Past: Lessons from Local Force Mobilisation in Afghanistan and Prospects for the Future,
AAN & Global Public Policy Institute, July 2020, url, pp. 46, 93

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operations have grown increasingly frequent since late 2017.2172 According to AAN’s Kate Clark, in
2017, the NDS-04 unit numbered 250 men.2173 However, another AAN report stated that Kunar was
actually the operation field of the NDS-02 Special forces unit.2174
In April 2020, RFE/RL’s Gandhara reported that the Taliban and other AGEs controlled ‘large swathes ofrural territories’ in Kunar province.2175 According to information LWJ collected and presented in a map,
all of Kunar districts are assessed as contested by the Afghan government and the Taliban, except for
Asadabad district (presented as undetermined or government-controlled) and Chapadara (presented
as Taliban-controlled, based on 2017 information).2176 Regarding Chapadara, in May 2019, the Diplomat
described the situation as ‘calm’. Its main valley was then controlled by the government, while ISKP
had ousted the Taliban from two others valleys, Lindalam and Digal, in March 2019.2177 As of August
2019, government forces were said to be ‘in full control’ of the Pech valley area, encompassing districtsof Watapur, Dara-e Pech and Chapadara, despite sporadic AGEs attacks.2178 In September 2019, on theeve of the presidential election, the Taliban retook parts of Manroo (equated with Marawara by
AAN2179) district that they had lost to ISKP six months earlier.2180

2.19.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population
2.19.3.1 General
In 2019, UNAMA documented 256 civilian casualties (77 deaths and 179 injured) in Kunar. This
represents a decrease of 36 % compared to 2018. Indeed, while UNAMA noticed an increase in thenumber of incidents attributed to ISKP (such as IED discoveries, detonations and armed clashes) inKunar and two other provinces, there were fewer civilian casualties connected to ground engagements
initiated by ISKP, resulting in a ‘significant decrease’ in this type of casualties in Nangarhar and Kunar
over 2019. However, ground engagements remained the leading cause of casualties, followed by
explosive remnants of war and targeted/deliberate killings.2181 Resolute Support recorded between 26
and 75 civilian casualties in Kunar in the first half of 2020, reporting a decrease during the second
quarter compared to the first.2182
In terms of severity of the conflict, Resolute Support recorded between 501 and 1 000 enemy-initiatedattacks in Kunar province over the full year 2019, in line with 2018.2183 In March 2020, AAN reported
that after the end of the ‘reduction in violence’ period, in the build-up to the US/Taliban agreement,
provincial capital Asadabad had remained secure, while fighting had resumed in the districts – forinstance, between the Taliban and ISKP in Watapur district.2184

2172 HRW, “They’ve Shot Many Like This” Abusive Night Raids by CIA-Backed Afghan Strike Forces, 31 October 2019, url
2173 Clark, K., CIA-proxy militias, CIA-drones in Afghanistan: “Hunt and kill” déjà vu, AAN, 26 October 2017, url
2174 Ruttig, T., “Murder Is Always”: The Kulalgo night raid killings, AAN, 17 August 2019, url
2175 RFE/RL/Gandhara, Precious Stones Illegally Mined In Afghan Province, 24 April 2020, url
2176 LWJ, Mapping Taliban Control in Afghanistan, n. d., url However the source does not systematically specify when andwhich information of the aforementioned map was last updated.
2177 Diplomat (The), The Peculiar Presence of the Islamic State in Kunar, 14 May 2019, url
2178 RFE/RL/Gandhara,Peace Returns To Afghanistan’s ‘Valley Of Death’, 22 August 2019, url
2179 Ruttig, T., Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (19): An ambiguous picture of E-day civilian casualties, AAN, 17 October 2019, url
2180 VoA, In One Afghan Province, the Taliban Safe-Guarded the Elections, 8 October 2019, url
2181 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, pp. 36,69, 94
2182 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 April 2020, url, p. 69 ; SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the UnitedStates Congress, 30 July 2020, url, p. 72 At the time of writing, UNAMA provincial data for 2020 was not available.
2183 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 January 2020, url, p. 69
2184 AAN, Voices from the Districts, the Violence Mapped (1): What has happened since the reduction in violence ended?,
21 March 2020, url

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In the period from 1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, ACLED collected data on 271 violent events in Kunar
province from open sources: 164 coded as ‘battles’ (61 %), 100 as ‘explosions/remote violence’ (37 %)and 7 as ‘violence against civilians’ (2 %).2185

Figure 21. Kunar - Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians from
1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, based on ACLED data2186

Across these three categories, Sarkani (55 incidents), Dara-e Pech (41) and Chawkay (33) stood out as
the districts where most violent incidents were reported between 1 March 2019 and 30 June 2020,accounting for half of the total number. ACLED also recorded between 10 and 21 violent events in
Barkunar, Chapadara, Dangam, Ghaziabad, Marawara and Nurgal districts, and less than 10 for theremaining districts (including in Asadabad, home to the provincial capital – 7 incidents).2187
Regarding events coded as ‘battles’ by ACLED, about 80 % were ‘armed clashes’. They mainly took
place in Sarkani district (42 out of 124), with Ghaziabad being a distant second (15). Out of all of the
documented clashes, 82 were assessed by ACLED as initiated by the Taliban, almost entirely against
ANDSF and, throughout the reporting period, mainly in Sarkani district.2188
Taliban-ISKP clashes were also reported in late March and June 2019 in Chapadara and Dare-e Pech
districts, forcing two health centres to close in the former.2189 In March 2020, the Taliban claimed tohave cleared the whole province of ISKP, although US military sources stated that ANDSF and coalition
forces had also contributed to ISKP defeat.2190 According to French newspaper Le Figaro, Afghan official
sources denied that ANDSF and the Taliban had led joint military operations against ISKP. However, theANDSF are thought to have toned down their attacks on the Taliban, allowing both of them to focus on
the fighting against their common enemy.2191

2185 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus; Afghanistan; Kunar; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url For more information on ACLED’s methodology, see: Introduction – Sources.
2186 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Kunar; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
2187 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Nuristan ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
2188 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Nuristan ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
2189 UNOCHA, Afghanistan : Kunar Conflict – Update (as of 3 April 2019), 4 April 2019, url; Khaama Press, Heavy clashes
underway between Taliban, ISIS militants in two districts of Kunar, 22 June 2019, url
2190 VoA, US Admits Taliban Offensive Is Whittling IS's Grip on Afghanistan, 20 March 2020, url
2191 Le Figaro, Afghanistan: à Taranak, l'alliance secrète des talibans et de l'armée contre l'État islamique [In Taranak, theTaliban and the army's secret alliance against the Islamic State], 31 January 2020, url

198 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATIONThe 38 ANDSF-initiated clashes were spread out across 12 districts, with a peak of 5 in Nurgal2192, where
11 Taliban were killed in May 2019.2193 In early 2020, several raids were conducted against ISKP in
Chawkay and Nurgal districts.2194 ACLED data also highlight the territorial gains made throughout
December 2019 in Dara-e Pech district by Afghan military forces, with numerous attacks launchedagainst the Taliban and ISKP.2195
In terms of incidents coded by ACLED as ‘Explosions/Remote violence’, the most represented
subcategory was ANDSF-initiated ‘Air/drone strikes’ (about two thirds of the 88 reported incidents).2196
Most of them targeted AGEs in Chawkay district, where, for instance, five ISKP fighters were killed in
November 2019.2197
ACLED also listed 21 ’Shelling/artillery/missile attacks’, which included several cross-border incidents
initiated by the Pakistani military forces.2198 In August 2019, local officials quoted by Khaama Press
stated that during the previous months, Pakistani forces had fired over 700 shells and mortar rounds
on Kunar, most of them landing in Sheltan district.2199 On 26 September 2019, three children were
killed when a mosque collapsed in Dangam district after the Pakistani army allegedly fired more than
180 rockets into Kunar.2200 In October 2019, another Pakistani shelling killed three women in Nari
district.2201 Overall, in 2019, UNAMA recorded 65 civilian casualties due to cross-border incidents, aswell as damages to property and livestock. Out of the 29 recorded incidents involving civilian casualties,
a majority took place in Kunar.2202
Most of the seven violent events against civilians documented by ACLED were disruptions caused by
the Taliban to the presidential election across the province2203, notably in Dangam and Barkunar
districts, where they attacked polling centres. Overall, seven civilians were wounded in these
attacks.2204 However, in Manroo district (equated with Marawara by AAN2205), where ISKP had
threatened civilians who would take part to the voting process, the Taliban actually ensured the safetyof the voters.2206

2192 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus; Afghanistan; Kunar ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
2193 Khaama Press, Afghan Special Forces kill 11 Taliban fighters in Kunar province, 22 May 2019, url
2194 Khaama Press, 19 ISIS militants killed in Afghan Special Forces raid, airstrikes in Kapisa and Kunar, 21 February 2020,
url ; Khaama Press, Airstrikes, Special Forces raid kill 6 ISIS militants in East of Afghanistan, 18 February 2020, url ; Khaama
Press, U.S. airstrike kills 7 ISIS militants in Kunar province of Afghanistan, 5 March 2020, url
2195 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Kunar ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
2196 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Kunar ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
2197 Khaama Press, Airstrikes kill 13 ISIS militants in Nangarhar and Kunar provinces of Afghanistan, 9 November 2019, url
2198 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Kunar ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
2199 Khaama Press, Shelling by Pakistani military kill, wound 9 Afghan children in Kunar, 28 August 2019, url
2200 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 26 September 2019, url
2201 Tolonews, 3 Afghan Women Killed In Pakistani Shelling: Officials, 28 October 2019, url
2202 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, pp. 72, 119
2203 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Kunar ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 –30 June 2020), url
2204 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict – Special Report: 2019 Election-Related Violence, October
2019, url, pp. 4-52205 Ruttig, T., Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (19): An ambiguous picture of E-day civilian casualties, AAN, 17 October 2019, url
2206 VoA, In One Afghan Province, the Taliban Safe-Guarded the Elections, 8 October 2019, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 199

UNAMA documented cases of abduction of children by the Taliban, in Marawara (March 2019) and
Watapur (October 2019) districts. They were held captive for up to two weeks.2207
Although, in April 2019, Kunar was listed among the provinces where the Taliban most disrupted thepolio vaccination campaigns2208, in August 2019, a four-years long ban on immunization services waslifted in Nurgal district2209, while UNOCHA mentioned the reopening of several health centres that had
been kept closed for an undefined period in Ghaziabad and Digal districts.2210 In March and April 2020,
the Taliban abducted and held captive seven health workers overall, in Chapadara and Marawara
districts, reportedly accusing them of failing to provide adequate services to the local population.2211
In March 2020, the security forces reportedly arrested – then released – a journalist for having
questioned the management of funds allocated to the COVID-19 response.2212

2.19.3.2 Displacement
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 58 043 persons
displaced from Kunar – the second highest provincial numbers recorded over the period. While over
45 000 IDPs found refuge within the province, more than 11 000 were headed to neighbouring
Nangarhar and Nuristan, and 680 to Kabul province.2213 Chapadara district alone accounted for 28 898
of Kunar’s IDPs. Of them, over 25 000 were displaced in March 20192214, due to clashes between ISKP
and the Taliban.2215 In early April 2019, UNOCHA noted that overall, half of the population of
Chapadara had been forced to flee the area and relocated in nearby Taliban-controlled areas, in Darae Pech district or in Asadabad.2216
Other districts of origin of IDPs included Chawkay (10 545, most of them in February 2020), Nurgal(8 603, for the most part displaced in September 2019 and March 2020) and Watapur (6 101, withsignificant numbers recorded in June 2019).2217 These displacement waves are linked to inter-AGEs
clashes in Nurgal’s case2218, and to ANDSF operations against ISKP in Chawkay and Nurgal.2219 Crossborder shelling was another cause of displacement, such as in Nari district in October 2019.2220 In
October 2019, clashes between Afghan and Pakistani forces resulted in 3 500 – 4 200 people being
displaced in the Kunar border areas.2221
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 45 798 persons
displaced to Kunar province, all of them being intra-provincial movements. The IDPs mainly headed to
Chapadara (18 340), provincial capital Asadabad (7 700) and Chawkay (7 647).2222

2207 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 232208 VoA, Official: Taliban, IS Deprive Afghan Kids of Polio Vaccine, 18 April 2019, url
2209 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (18 – 25 August 2019), 25 August 2019, url
2210 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (29 July – 04 August 2019), 7 August 2019, url
2211 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict – Special Report: Attacks on Healthcare during the

COVID-19 Pandemic, 20 June 2020, url, p. 92212 UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, A/74/897–S/2020/549, 17
June 2020, url, p. 92213 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
2214 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url‫[را آواره کرد 'دو هزار خانواده'درگیری داعش و طالبان در شرق افغانستان‬Clashes between ISIS and the
Taliban in eastern Afghanistan have displaced 2,000 families], 27 March 2019, url
2216 UNOCHA, Afghanistan : Kunar Conflict – Update (as of 3 April 2019), 4 April 2019, url
2217 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
2218 UNOCHA, Afghanistan : Weekly Humanitarian Update (16 September – 22 September 2019), 22 September 2019, url
2219 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (2 March - 8 March 2020), 11 March 2020, url
2220 AP, Afghan, Pakistani forces clash on border, 3 civilians killed, 28 October 2019, url
2221 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (28 October – 3 November 2019), 6 November 2019, url
2222 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
2215 BBC News,

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2.20 Kunduz
2.20.1 General description of the province

Map 20: Afghanistan – Kunduz province, source: UNOCHA2223

Kunduz province is located in the north-eastern part of Afghanistan and has borders with Takhar
province to the east, Baghlan province to the south, Balkh province to the west and an international
border with Tajikistan to the north.2224 Kunduz province is divided into the following administrative
units: Aliabad, Chardarah, Dasht-e-Archi, Emamsaheb, Khanabad, Kunduz and Qala-e-Zal.2225 Gulbad,
Gultepa and Aqtash are more recently established districts.2226 The provincial capital is Kunduz City.2227
According to estimates for 2020-2021 by NSIA, the province has a population of 1 136 677, 365 529 ofwhom live in the provincial capital, Kunduz.2228 The main ethnic group in the province are Pashtuns.
Other ethnic groups present include Tajiks, Uzbeks, Hazara, Turkmen and Pashai2229 as well as Qazak,
Aymaq, Arab, Gujar, Baluch and Nuritani.2230
A section of Asian Highway AH7 from Kabul passes through the provinces of Parwan and Baghlan andconnects the national capital with Kunduz province and the border crossing to Tajikistan at the port ofSher Khan (also Sher Khan Bandar).2231 The Kunduz-Takhar Highway passes through the district of2223 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Kunduz Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url
2224 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Kunduz Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url
2225 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21, June 2020, url, p. 29
2226 Ali, O., The 2018 Election Observed (3) in Kunduz: A Very Violent E-Day, AAN, 7 November 2018, url; Afghanistan, IEC,

Afghanistan 2019 Presidential Elections – Final results by Polling Stations: Province Kunduz, 2020, url
2227 Afghanistan, Office of the President, Provincial Profile Kunduz, 1 February 2017, url; Afghanistan, NSIA, EstimatedPopulation of Afghanistan 2020-21, June 2020, url, p. 29
2228 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21, June 2020, url, p. 29
2229 US, Naval Postgraduate School, Kunduz Provincial Overview, n.d., url
2230 Afghanistan, Office of the President, Provincial Profile Kunduz, 1 February 2017, url
2231 Afghanistan, MOPW, Application of Road Numbering System National Highways, 16 October 2015, url, p.5; RFE/RL,
Tajikistan/Afghanistan: Road Bridge Opens With Aim Of Strengthening Trade, 26 August 2007, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 201

Khanabad and connects the province with Takhar and Badakhshan.2232 In an assessment reportpublished by the German NGO The Johanniter International Assistance (JUH) in November 2019, no
movement was possible from dusk until dawn on Khanabad road connecting Kunduz and Takhar
provincial capital Taloqan.2233 After having been controlled by the Taliban for about a month, KunduzKhanabad road was reopened by Afghan security forces at the end of December 2019.2234
The province has always been a strategic crossing-point. Being close to Tajikistan, it hosted the
Tajikistan Islamic opposition during the Tajik civil war in the 1990s and it provided access to the main
smuggling routes to Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Moreover, located near a main road to Kabul, it connects
the rest of Afghanistan with its northern region.2235
The inauguration of a new terminal with a capacity of 1 300 passengers at Kunduz airport wasannounced in February 2017.2236 While officials announced in March 2018 that civil flights would
resume soon at Kunduz airport2237, there was no information available on scheduled flights as of July
2020.2238
According to the 2018 UNODC Opium Survey, Kunduz maintained its poppy-free status, which it has
held since 2007, as poppy cultivation in Kunduz remained under the threshold of 100 hectares, the
UNODC threshold for obtaining ‘poppy-free status’.2239

2.20.2 Conflict background and actors in Kunduz
The security situation of Kunduz province has purportedly been deteriorating over recent years2240,
including in 2019.2241 Kunduz was the last Taliban stronghold before the Taliban’s fall in 2001, when it
was freed by US led security forces.2242 Kunduz City temporary fell to the Taliban in September 20152243,
and they almost recaptured it in October 2016 by encircling the city and cutting off the main supply
and reinforcement routes.2244 After these attempts by the Taliban to capture Kunduz City, the Afghan
security forces tried to regain control over the districts of Dasht-e-Archi, Qala-e-Zal, Emamsaheb andparts of Khanabad, which served as strategic strongholds for the Taliban offensive. The operations took
long and control over the districts changed hands a few times, purportedly contributing to instability
in the province.2245 In 2017, renewed attempts by the Taliban to get closer to the provincial capitalthrough attacking nearby Dasht-e-Archi took place, but these were repelled by Afghan security
forces.2246 According to a report by AAN in 2017, AGEs had been weakened by night raids and air strikes
carried out by coalition forces, which killed key figures of the Taliban movement, like the Taliban
shadow governor of the province, Mullah Salam. The appointment of his successor created tensions
among the Taliban in Chardarah and Dasht-e-Archi, which weakened the coordination of the movementin the province.2247 However according to an Afghanistan analyst contacted by the Swedish Migration

2232 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Kunduz Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url; Ali, O., The Taleban Assault on Kunduz city: Déjàvu, but why?, AAN, 12 October 2016, url
2233 JUH/JACK, Health and Integrated Protection Needs in Kunduz Province, November 2019, url, p. 202234 Ariana News, Kunduz-Khan Abad Highway Cleared of Taliban, 26 December 2019, url
2235 DW, Kunduz violence could destabilize neighbors, 30 September 2015, url
2236 Pajhwok Afghan News, Kunduz airport gets new terminal worth $1.4m, 22 February 2017, url
2237 Pajhwok Afghan News, Corruption alleged in Kunduz City airport project, 7 March 2018, url
2238 Flightradar24, UND/OAUZ Kunduz Afghanistan – Routes, n.d., url; KamAir, Route Map, n.d., url
2239 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, pp. 21, 27
2240 Ali, O., The 2018 Election Observed (3) in Kunduz: A Very Violent E-Day, AAN, 7 November 2018, url; Al Jazeera, Taliban
launch deadly attacks as they attend Afghan peace talks, 5 February 2019, url
2241 Sweden, Lifos/Migrationsverket, Säkerhetsläget i Afghanistan, 2020, 7 April 2020, url, p. 47
2242 RFE/RL, Afghanistan‘s New Northern Flash Points, n.d., url
2243 RFE/RL, Afghanistan‘s New Northern Flash Points, n.d., url
2244 Ali, O., The Taleban Assault on Kunduz city: Déjà vu, but why?, AAN, 12 October 2016, url
2245 Ali, O., The Taleban Assault on Kunduz city: Déjà vu, but why?, AAN, 12 October 2016, url
2246 Ali, O., New Taleban Attacks in Kunduz: Less coordination, still well placed to threaten the city, AAN, 9 July 2017, url;
Tolonews, Dozens of Afghan Forces Killed In North, 10 September 2018, url
2247 Ali, O., New Taleban Attacks in Kunduz: Less coordination, still well placed to threaten the city, AAN, 9 July 2017, url

202 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

Agency (Migrationsverket) in January 2020, Kunduz is, together with Baghlan, considered to be themost Taliban-controlled or influenced province in the north-eastern region.2248
In late 2018 the government’s presence reached almost half of the districts Aliabad, Emamsaheb andKhanabad, whilst the remaining parts were contested. Aqtash, Gulbad and Gultepa were largely or
entirely under Taliban control.2249 Based on research, AAN considered the Taliban to be almost entirely
in control of Dasht-e-Archi district in May 2019, having established parallel shadow governancestructures in absence of most Afghan government officials.2250 In September 2019, no presidential
elections took place in Dasht-e-Archi, Qala-e-Zal, Aqtash, Gulbad, and Gultepa districts, due to the
Taliban controlling those districts.2251 In a conversation with Landinfo in October 2019, Afghanistan
analyst Obaid Ali said that districts in Kunduz province changing hands between government forces
and the Taliban was common.2252 According to Obaid Ali the Taliban controlled more or less most
districts in Kunduz province.2253 According to an assessment published by the German NGO The
Johanniter International Assistance in November 2019, 80 % of Kunduz province, in particular the rural
areas, was under Taliban control, while most district administrative centres were under control of the
security forces.2254 At the end of 2019 Emamsaheb district was described as ‘largely controlled by the
Taliban’.2255 As of 2 July 2020 an assessment by the Long War Journal presented in a frequently
updated map and based on open-source information, indicated Dasht-e-Archi, Khanabad and Qala-eZal districts as ‘Taliban-controlled’ and the remaining districts in Kunduz province as ‘contested’.2256
According to an April 2018 report by the Jamestown Foundation, a US-based institute for research andanalysis, the Islamic State (ISKP) set up bases in the northern provinces of Afghanistan, including in
Kunduz.2257 A June 2019 New York Times article noted that ISKP cells had recently appeared in Kunduz
province.2258 The Afghan Ministry of Interior claimed to have arrested an ISKP leader in Emamsaheb
district in July 2019, accusing him of recruiting in Kunduz.2259 The presence of active ISKP cells in Kunduz
was also mentioned on Twitter in August and October 2019 by an anonymous account, drawing
information from a seemingly large network of local (Twitter) sources.2260 An attack on a checkpoint on
the border between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in November 2019 was attributed to ISKP by Tajik
officials2261, although not claimed by the movement itself. The attackers were said to have entered
Tajikistan from Kunduz province, through Qala-e-Zal district, which is said to be almost under complete
Taliban control. According to the Qala-e-Zal district governor an ISKP commander had been recruiting
fighters in the district.2262
In the past, Kunduz province has been hosting foreign fighters from Central Asia, such as members of
the Islamic Jihad Union (IJU) and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, which were purportedly active
along the ‘porous’ Afghan-Tajik border.2263 Besides Uzbek and Tajik militants, fighters coming from
2248 Sweden, Lifos/Migrationsverket, Säkerhetsläget i Afghanistan, 2020, 7 April 2020, url, p. 48
2249 Ali, O., The 2018 Election Observed (3) in Kunduz: A Very Violent E-Day, AAN, 7 November 2018, url
2250 Bjelica J., One Land, Two Rules (5): The polio vaccination gap, AAN, 9 May 2019, url
2251 Ali, O., Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (22): Glances at Kunduz, Baghlan, Samangan, AAN, 30 October 2019, url
2252 Norway, Landinfo, Afghanistan: Sikkerhetssituasjon og konfliktmønster i 2019, 22 January 2019, url, p. 28
2253 Ali, O., Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (22): Glances at Kunduz, Baghlan, Samangan, AAN, 30 October 2019, url
2254 JUH/JACK, Health and Integrated Protection Needs in Kunduz Province, November 2019, url, pp. 14-15; 202255 NYT, Roadside Bomb Kills 13 People on Their Way to Afghan Wedding, 28 November 2019, url
2256 LWJ, Mapping Taliban Control in Afghanistan, n.d., url. The source, however, does not specify when and which

information of the aforementioned map was last updated. Also the map does not indicate the assessment for the newly
created Gulbad, Gultepa and Aqtash districts.
2257 Jamestown Foundation (The), Islamic State a Deadly Force in Kabul, 6 April 2018, url
2258 NYT, U.S. Special Forces Battle Against ISIS Turns to Containment, and Concern, 14 June 2019, url
2259 Khaama Press, Afghan Special Forces arrest top ISIS leader in Kunduz province, 7 July 2019, url
2260 Dr. Drexluddin Khan Spiveyzai (@RisboLensky), [Twitter], posted on: 19 October 2019, url; Dr. Drexluddin Khan
Spiveyzai (@RisboLensky), [Twitter], posted on: 6 August 2019, url
2261 Asia Plus, Tajik security forces launch operation to hunt alleged terrorists who turn out to be … ordinary hunters, 11November 2019, url
2262 NYT, ISIS Fighters Attack Outpost in Tajikistan, 6 November 2019, url; RFE/RL, Reported Attack In Tajikistan Could Have
Broad Implications For Central Asia, 6 November 2019, url
2263 DW, Kunduz violence could destabilize neighbors, 30 September 2015, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 203

Kyrgyzstan, Turkey and Chechnya were also reported to have been active in the province.2264 Moreover,an insurgent group called Jabha-ye Qariha (‘the front of those who have memorised the Quran byheart’, the qaris), which is known as the military wing of Jundullah, is purportedly active in Dasht-eArchi district. Although Jundullah is an independent group, it is allied with the Taliban even if the two
insurgent groups have different beliefs.2265
In terms of the presence of government security forces, Kunduz province is under the responsibility of
the 217th ANA corps after ANA’s 20th Division, previously under the ANA 209th Corps, was reassigned
in April 2019 to become a new corps, the 217th Corps.2266 The 217th Corps has its headquarters in
Kunduz.2267 As of 30 April 2020, Kunduz province was still included in the area of responsibility of theTrain Advise Assist Command – North (TAAC – North), which is part of NATO's Resolute Support
Mission within Afghanistan. TAAC-North is led by German forces and has its headquarters in Mazar-e
Sharif, Balkh province.2268

2.20.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population
2.20.3.1 General
In 2019, UNAMA documented 492 civilian casualties (141 deaths and 351 injured) in Kunduz. This
represents an increase of 46 % compared to 2018. Leading causes of casualties were groundengagements followed by non-suicide IEDs and air strikes.2269 In the first half of 2020, UNAMA ranked
Kunduz province fifth in terms of civilians most affected by the conflict, documenting 205 civilian
casualties in the province.2270 Resolute Support recorded between 127 and 175 civilian casualties in
Kunduz in the first half of 2020, reporting a 22 % decrease in the number of civilian casualties in thesecond quarter of 2020, compared to the first.2271
ACLED collected data on 629 violent events in Kunduz province between 1 March 2019 and
30 June 2020; 446 of which were coded as battles, 153 as explosions/remote violence and 30 asviolence against civilians.2272 With 170 incidents Kunduz stood out as the district where ACLED
registered most violent events, followed by Khanabad and Emamsaheb, with 100 or more incidents
each and then followed by Chardarah and Dasht-e-Archi with over 60 incidents each.2273

2264 RFE/RL, Afghanistan‘s New Northern Flash Points, n.d., url
2265 Ali, O., One Land, Two Rules (3): Delivering public services in insurgency-affected Dasht-e Archi district in Kunduz

province, AAN, 26 February 2019, url
2266 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 July 2019, url, p. 78
2267 USDOD, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. Lead Inspector General Report To The United States Congress. April 1, 2019‒
June 30, 2019, 16 August 2019, url, p. 52268 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability In Afghanistan. December 2019, 23 January 2020, url, pp. 11-12; 50; USDOD,
Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. Lead Inspector General Report To The United States Congress. April 1, 2019‒June 30, 2019,16 August 2019, url, pp. 27-28; USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability In Afghanistan. June 2020, 1 July 2020, url, p. 142269 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 94
2270 UNAMA, Afghanistan. Protection Of Civilians In Armed Conflict. midyear Report: 1 January – 30 June 2020, 27 July 2020,
url, p. 52271 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 April 2020, url, p. 69; SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The UnitedStates Congress, 30 July 2020, url, p. 72
2272 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Kunduz; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
2273 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Baghlan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; Geoprecision
code: 1 & 2; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020), url204 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

Figure 22. Kunduz - Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians from
1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, based on ACLED data2274

ACLED coded 71 % of the violent incidents in Kunduz province as battles, nearly all armed clashes,
representing the most prevalent incident type in all of Kunduz’ districts.2275 The majority of thosearmed clashes were attacks by the Taliban on Afghan security forces, including police, military or NDS
personnel and members of pro-government militias or so-called Arbakis (the term ‘Arbaki’ is often
used locally and by the Taliban in reference to members of the Afghan Local Police or other progovernment militias)2276, or government officials.2277 These also included attacks on military or police
facilities such as checkpoints2278, bases2279 and headquarters2280 and on convoys2281 and vehicles.2282
These attacks inflicted losses among security forces causing concern in December 2019 about a rise incasualties.2283 At times these incidents also resulted in civilian casualties, as for example in Kunduz City,
when a police officer was killed and his two friends, civilians, who were taking a walk with him were
wounded on 19 July 2019.2284 Civilian casualties were also reported during clashes in Chardarah districtin March 20192285 or in Dasht-e- Archi district in September 2019.2286 Civilians were killed in crossfire
2274 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, Afghanistan - Kunduz, url
2275 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus; Afghanistan; Kunduz; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
2276 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 5 September 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 1218, 18 July 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 17-23, 23 May 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report:
April 26-May 2, 2 May 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 15-21, 22 March 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War
Casualty Report: April 2020, 2 April 2020, url
2277 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 24-30, 30 May 2019, url
2278 NYT, Taliban Ramp Up Attacks on Afghans After Trump Says ‘No Violence’, 4 March 2019, url; Gandhara (RFE/RL),
Taliban Attacks On Afghan Security Forces Leave Dozens Dead, 1 January 2020, url; Xinhua, Xinhua Asia-Pacific news
summary at 1000 GMT, Oct. 22, 22 October 2019, url; Xinhua, Over 40 including 3 civilians killed within one day in Afghan
fighting, 4 March 2019, url; RFE/RL, Taliban Attack In Northern Afghanistan Kills At Least 13, 29 January 2020, url; NYT,
Afghan War Casualty Report: February 2020, 6 February 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: November 2019, 7
November 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 4 October 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty
Report: August 2-8, 8 August 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: January 2020, 2 January 2020, url; Pajhwok
Afghan News, 14 policemen killed, 20 captured in Kunduz assault, 30 June 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Kunduz: 5
Afghan soldiers killed in Taliban attack, 18 April 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 2020, 7 May 2020, url;
NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: December 2019, 5 December 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 2020, 5
March 2020, url
2279 Pajhwok Afghan News,13 Afghan soldiers killed in Kunduz assault, 20 November 2019, url
NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 4 October 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 5September 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 5-11, 11 July 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June
28-july 4, 4 July 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 16 ANA soldiers killed in Taliban attack in Kunduz, 4 March 2019, url; NYT,
Afghan War Casualty Report: April 2020, 2 April 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 2020, 5 March 2020, url
2280 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: December 2019, 5 December 2019, url
2281 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 4 October 2019, url
2282 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: February 2020, 6 February 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: December
2019, 5 December 2019, url
2283 Pajhwok Afghan News, Security forces’ mounting casualties spark concerns, 12 December 2019, url
2284 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 19-25, 25 July 2019, url
2285 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 15-21, 22 March 2019, url
2286 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 5 September 2019, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 205

following Taliban attacks on checkpoints in Dasht-e Archi on 9 February 2020 or in Aqtash andKhanabad districts in March 2020.2287
Operations and attacks carried out by Afghan security forces against AGEs were also registered underarmed clashes. With the approval of the Ministry of Defence’s Operation Khalid on 2 April 2019, Kunduz
was one of the provinces in the north-east that security forces’ operations focused on.2288 Afghan forces
also stepped up operations against the Taliban in Kunduz towards the end of 2019.2289 Several of the
security operations in Kunduz province were backed by air strikes.2290 While operations led toarrests2291 and inflicted losses among AGEs2292, some also caused civilian casualties, for example on
23 March 2019 when at least 13 civilians, mostly children from the same family, were killed in joint US- Afghan air strikes near Kunduz City2293, in Gultepa district.2294
The Taliban temporarily overtook district administrative centres in Dasht-e-Archi2295, Qala-e-Zal2296 andKhanabad districts in the last quarter of 2019.2297 In March 2019, areas in Emamsaheb district were
temporarily captured by the Taliban.2298
More than half of the 153 reported incidents of explosions/remote violence registered by ACLED in
Kunduz province between 1 March 2019 and 30 June 2020, were air/drone strikes.2299 Air strikes
represent 13 % of all violent incidents in Kunduz province and were mainly carried out in Khanabad
and Emamsaheb districts, followed by Dasht-e-Archi, Chardarah and Kunduz districts.2300 While those
air strikes destroyed Taliban facilities, such as hideouts, weapon caches and prisons, and inflicted

2287 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: February 2020, 6 February 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 2020,

5 March 2020, url
2288 UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, A/73/902–S/2019/493, 14
June 2019, url, p. 52289 Tolonews, Afghan Forces Launch Large-Scale Operation In Kunduz: MoD, 21 November 2019, url; Xinhua, Afghan army
kicks off operation to trace militants in restive province, 21 November 2019, url; Reuters, Taliban kill U.S. force member innorthern Afghanistan, 22 December 2019, url; EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data
Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the Caucasus; Afghanistan; Kunduz; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence;
Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020), url
2290 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Kunduz; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
2291 Khaama Press,2 senior Taliban commanders arrested, 2 others killed in the outskirts of Kunduz city, 26 March 2019, url;
Khaama Press, 3 Taliban militants killed, 2 detained in Balkh and Kunduz provinces, 20 June 2019, url
2292 Pajhwok Afghan News, 30 Taliban killed in Kunduz operation, 9 March 2019, url; Khaama Press, More than 30 Taliban,
ISIS-K militants killed, wounded in latest security operations, 16 March 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 58 rebels, 4
security forces killed in Kunduz operation, 23 March 2019, url; Khaama Press, 10 Taliban militants killed, 9 arrested in
Kunduz and Badghis operations, 15 April 2019, url; Khaama Press, Afghan Special Forces inflict heavy casualties on Taliban
militants in Badghis, Kunduz, 2 August 2019, url; Khaama Press, Airstrike in Kunduz kills top Taliban commander and his
comrades, 3 September 2019, url
2293 France24, Air strike kills 10 children in Afghanistan, UN says, 25 March 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Women,children among 12 killed in Kunduz blitz, 23 March 2019, url; UNAMA, Kunduz Airstrike Kills 13 Civilians, Mostly Children –Un Initial Findings, 25 March 2019, url
2294 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 22-28, 29 March 2019, url
2295 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: November 2019, 7 November 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban overrun
district; police in denial, 8 September 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Security forces regain Dasht-i-Archi control, 12
October 2019, url
2296 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 5 September 2019, url
2297 UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, A/74/582–S/2019/935, 10
December 2019, url, p. 6 ; Ali, O., Ruttig, T., Taleban attacks on Kunduz and Pul-e Khumri: Symbolic operations, AAN, 11
September 2019, url
2298 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban kill 10 security forces, capture 7 in Kunduz, 4 March 2019, url; Khaama Press, Taliban
suffer heavy in Afghan Special Forces operation in Kunduz province, 6 March 2019 url
2299 These do not include air strikes carried out during operations categorised by ACLED under ‘battles’. For more
information on ACLED’s methodology, please consult the introduction.
2300 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Kunduz; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url

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losses among AGEs2301, some also caused civilian casualties, for example in Dasht-e-Archi district in late
January 2020, when a US drone hit a family on their way from a funeral2302 or in Emamsaheb districton 21 March 2020.2303 Four civilians were killed and six others were injured in Dasht-e Archi in March
2020 when their house, located near a military base, was hit by a bomb in response to a Taliban attackon the base.2304 Three civilians were killed when a rocket fired by Afghan forces hit a house in Khanabad
district (Aqtash district, according to the New York Times)2305 in May 2020.2306 In the first half of 2020,
UNAMA documented more than half of all civilian casualties as a result of Afghan Air Force air strikes
in Kunduz and Balkh provinces.2307
Incidents where the Taliban or unidentified armed groups used roadside bombs and IEDs to target
Afghan and international security forces or government officials2308, represented 7 % of all violent
incidents registered by ACLED in Kunduz province between 1 March 2019 and 30 June 2020.2309 Someof these incidents caused civilian casualties as for example in Khanabad district on 27 November 2019,
when at least 13 civilians, mostly members of a family on their way to a wedding were killed when
their car hit a roadside bomb.2310 Also in Khanabad district, at least six labourers were killed after their
car was hit by a roadside bomb on 1 June 2020.2311 Five children were killed and three others wounded
when a bomb inside or near a madrasa exploded on 14 February 2020 in Dasht-e-Archi district.2312
Incidents of shelling in Kunduz province between 1 March 2019 and 30 June 2020 were attributed toboth the Taliban and Afghan security forces.2313 Some resulted in civilian casualties, for example whena mortar shell fired at Taliban positions hit a house in Qala-e-Zal district on 18 August 20192314, whena mortar fired by the Taliban hit a house on 17 February 2020, killing a child and injuring eight othermembers of the same family2315, or when artillery rounds shot by the Afghan military targeting Taliban
positions killed eight civilians and injured two in Khanabad district on 16 March 2020.2316

2301 Khaama Press, Afghan Special Forces destroy Taliban prison, arms and explosives depots in Kunduz, 9 April 2019, url;

Pajhwok Afghan News, 7 Taliban killed, 6 wounded in Kunduz airstrikes, 9 January 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly
Humanitarian Update (27 January – 2 February 2020), 5 February 2020, url
2302 NYT, Taliban’s Continued Attacks Show Limits of U.S. Strategy in Afghanistan, 31 January 2020, url; Pajhwok AfghanNews, Civilian deaths in Kunduz strike trigger protest, 31 January 2020, url
2303 UNAMA, Afghanistan. Protection Of Civilians In Armed Conflict First Quarter Report: 1 January - 31 March 2020, 27 April
2020, url, p. 6; NYT, Pompeo Cuts $1 Billion in Afghan Aid as 2 Leaders Reject Push for Unity, 23 March 2020, url
2304 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 2020, 5 March 2020, url
2305 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 2020, 7 May 2020, url
2306 UNAMA, Afghanistan. Protection Of Civilians In Armed Conflict. midyear Report: 1 January – 30 June 2020, 27 July 2020,
url, p. 162307 UNAMA, Afghanistan. Protection Of Civilians In Armed Conflict. midyear Report: 1 January – 30 June 2020, 27 July 2020,
url, p. 162308 NYT, American Special Forces Soldier Is Killed in Afghanistan, 22 December 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report:
October 2019, 4 October 2019, url
2309 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Kunduz; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
2310 NYT,Roadside Bomb Kills 13 People on Their Way to Afghan Wedding, 28 November 2019, url; Tolonews, 13 Dead in
Kunduz Blast All Belonged to Two Families, 28 November 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Kunduz: 15 civilians killed inroadside blast, 28 November 2019, url
2311 Afghanistan Times, Roadside bomb kills 7 workers in Kunduz, 2 June 2020, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 7 labourers killed,
6 wounded in Kunduz blast, 2 June 2020, url; NYT,Afghan War Casualty Report: June 2020, 4 June 2020, url; UNOCHA(United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (1 – 7 June2020), 10 June 2020, url
2312 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: February 2020, 6 February 2020, url; Pajhwok afghan News, 5 children injured in
Kunduz roadside blast, 14 February 2020, url
2313 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Kunduz; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
2314 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: Aug. 16-22, 22 August 2019, url
2315 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: February 2020, 6 February 2020, url
2316 UNAMA, Afghanistan. Protection Of Civilians In Armed Conflict First Quarter Report: 1 January - 31 March 2020, 27 April
2020, url, p. 6

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 207

Thirty incidents categorised by ACLED as violence against civilians represented 5 % of all violent events
registered by ACLED in Kunduz province between 1 March 2019 and 30 June 2020.2317 These included
attacks by Afghan or international military forces or by pro-government forces, during which civilians
were killed2318: the killing of civilians in a wedding convoy for refusing to pay money to soldiers2319; the
ISKP-claimed killing of a Shiite cleric2320; another killing of a Shiite religious scholar attributed to the
Taliban2321; the Taliban firing at wedding party guests in Kunduz City2322; the killing of a bodybuilder2323;
the killing of government employees and officials2324; the killing of off-duty ANDSF personnel2325; thekilling of the brother of a special forces commander2326; the killing of a tribal elder accused of having
relations with the intelligence service2327; and the killing of a human rights activist by the Taliban orunidentified anti-government armed groups.2328
While armed clashes were the prevalent type of violent event, as they were in all of Kunduz province’s
districts, Kunduz district showed a somewhat different conflict pattern with 13 % of all violent
incidents in the district involving the use of IEDs and 8 % involving shelling or artillery. Over half of theincidents involving the use of IEDs and/or shelling in all of Kunduz province occurred in Kunduz districtalone.2329 As elsewhere in the province, some of these incidents also caused civilian casualties in
Kunduz City, as did the detonation of bombs attached to a bicycle on 17 July 20192330 and on
19 May 2020.2331
In March 2020 Pajhwok reported on a rise in crime, in particular kidnappings, in Kunduz City. According
to the deputy head of the Kunduz Provincial Council, this raised concerns among residents, prompting
them to keep their children home from school.2332
Following reports of the Taliban gathering on the outskirts of the city in March 20192333, Kunduz was
the focus of Taliban attacks just after the annoucement of the spring fighting season.2334 Again
following reports of high levels of Taliban activity near the provincial capital2335, on 31 August 2019,
Kunduz was the first of three provincial centres, the others being Pul-e Khumri and Farah, to come

2317 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus; Afghanistan; Kunduz; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
2318 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 24-30, 30 May 2019, url
2319 NYT, Where Violence Can Strike Anywhere, Even at a Wedding Party on the Move, 1 April 2019, url
2320 Dr. Drexluddin Khan Spiveyzai (@RisboLensky), [Twitter], posted on: 4 August 2019, url; Melisa (@cmellaniac),[Twitter], posted on: 4 August 2019, url
2321 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 5-11, 11 July 2019, url
2322 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 25-Aug. 1, 1 August 2019, url
2323 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: February 2020, 6 February 2020, url
2324 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: February 2020, 6 February 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 12-18,
18 April 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 2020, 5 March 2020, url
2325 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: August 2-8, 8 August 2019, url
2326 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: August 2-8, 8 August 2019, url
2327 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 12-18, 18 April 2019, url
2328 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Kunduz; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
2329 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Kunduz; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
2330 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 12-18, 18 July 2019, url
2331 1TV, Bicycle bomb kills two, injures 18 in Kunduz city, 19 May 2020, url
2332 Pajhwok Afghan News, Kunduz residents in fear as kidnapping incidents spike, 9 March 2020, url
2333 NYT, After Deadly Insider Attack, U.S. Airstrikes Kill 14 Civilians, Afghans Say, 23 March 2019, url
2334 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 12-18, 18 April 2019, url; Tolonews, Clashes Ongoing Near Kunduz City: Officials,
13 April 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’s attempt at capturing Kunduz City thwarted, 15 April 2019, url
2335 UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, A/73/990–S/2019/703, 3
September 2019, url, p. 6

208 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

under Taliban attack from different directions.2336 This was the third time Kunduz came under Taliban
attack since 20152337 and it happened at a time when talks between the Taliban and the United States
were finalizing.2338 The Taliban attacked Kunduz from PD1, PD2 and PD3 to the north and north-west,
areas that are part of the city but rural in character, where they have maintained a strong presence andwhere they enjoy the support of the mainly Pashtun population.2339 They were able to enter deep into
the city and briefly occupy the health department and a hospital.2340 According to initial reports,
civilians stayed in their homes on 31 August 2019.2341 Exit routes were contested, phone lines were
disrupted and electricity interrupted2342, affecting water supply.2343 Markets, bazaars and shops wereclosed.2344 In the evening a suicide bombing was carried out on Kunduz’s main square, wounding theprovincial police chief.2345 By the next day the fighting had ended and phone and power lines werepartly restored, according to UNOCHA.2346 Initial reports mentioned at least 61 civilian casualties.2347 In
the following days sporadic clashes occurred in some parts of the city, but the situation was describedas having returned to normal and under control.2348 However the main routes to and from the cityremained closed in the beginning of September 2019.2349 This also affected food prices.2350
According to verifications by UNAMA, the fighting in Kunduz between 31 August and
11 September 2019 caused 99 civilian casualties, more than the number of civilian casualties in theother two provincial capitals that had also come under attack.2351 Civilian homes were damaged by thefighting.2352 Following the 31 August attack on Kunduz, a suicide attack was carried out in the city on
2 September 2019, killing more than ten people and wounding dozens, including civilians.2353 The
suicide attack took place in the outskirts of the city, near the highway connecting Kunduz with otherprovinces.2354 On 19 May 2020 the Taliban again attacked different parts and several checkpoints of2336 Ali, O., Ruttig, T., Taleban attacks on Kunduz and Pul-e Khumri: Symbolic operations, AAN, 11 September 2019, url; NYT,

Afghan City Survives Third Taliban Assault, but Loses a Top Defender, 31 August 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty
Report: September 2019, 5 September 2019, url
2337 Tolonews, Afghan Forces Responding Taliban Attack In Kunduz, 31 August 2019, url
2338 Ali, O., Ruttig, T., Taleban attacks on Kunduz and Pul-e Khumri: Symbolic operations, AAN, 11 September 2019, url
2339 Ali, O., Ruttig, T., Taleban attacks on Kunduz and Pul-e Khumri: Symbolic operations, AAN, 11 September 2019, url
2340 NYT, Taliban Attack Second Afghan City in 2 Days as Peace Deal Nears, 1 September 2019, url
2341 UNOCHA, Flash Update 1 – Armed clashes in Kunduz city (31 Aug 2019), 31 August 2019, url; NYT, Afghan City Survives
Third Taliban Assault, but Loses a Top Defender, 31 August 2019, url
2342 UNOCHA, Flash Update 1 – Armed clashes in Kunduz city (31 Aug 2019), 31 August 2019, url
2343 Ali, O., Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (22): Glances at Kunduz, Baghlan, Samangan, AAN, 30 October 2019, url; UNOCHA,
Operational Coordination Team (OCT) Meeting 04 Sep 2019 at 09:00 AM in ACTED Kunduz Office 4 September 2019, url, p.
12344 Pajhwok Afghan News, Kunduz City comes under multi-pronged rebel attack, 31 August 2019, url; BBC, Afghanistan
conflict: Taliban storm key northern city, 31 August 2019, url
2345 Pajhwok Afghan News, Kuduz police chief wounded in blast amid clashes, 31 August 2019, url
2346 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Flash Update 2 – Lull in armed clashes in Kunduz city and new clashes in Pul-e-Khumri (1September 2019), 1 September 2019, url
2347 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Flash Update 2 – Lull in armed clashes in Kunduz city and new clashes in Pul-e-Khumri (1September 2019), 1 September 2019, url
2348 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Update on the situation in Kunduz city and Pul-e-Khumri Flash Update No.3 (03 September2019), 3 September 2019, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Update on the situation in Kunduz city and Pul-e-Khumri Flash Update
No.4 (09 September 2019), 9 September 2019, url; Tolonews, 20 Security Force Members Killed In Kunduz Battle, 1September 2019, url
2349 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Update on the situation in Kunduz city and Pul-e-Khumri Flash Update No.4 (09 September2019), 9 September 2019, url
2350 UNOCHA, Operational Coordination Team (OCT) Meeting 04 Sep 2019 at 09:00 AM in ACTED Kunduz Office 4
September 2019, url, p. 1; Salaam Times, Kunduz residents describe miserable living conditions after Taliban offensive, 9September 2019, url
2351 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 35
2352 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Update on the situation in Kunduz city and Pul-e-Khumri Flash Update No.4, 9 September 2019,url
2353 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 5 September 2019, url; Khaama Press, Update: Suicide attack in
Kunduz leaves at least 17 dead, wounded, 2 September 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 6 policemen killed, 7 injured in
Kunduz suicide blast, 2 September 2019, url
2354 Tolonews, Suicide Bombing Targets Afghan Forces In Kunduz, 2 September 2019, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 209

Kunduz City.2355 One civilian was killed in this attack. The attacks were repelled and the situation
reportedly returned to normal after a few hours of clashes.2356 Some fighting reportedly continued in
one on the city’s suburbs.2357
There were reports from the north-eastern region, including from Kunduz province, about electricity
and mobile phone networks being interrupted before and during the presidential election in
September 2019.2358 UNAMA documented at least 25 telecommunications towers across Kunduz
province being damaged by the Taliban.2359 According to AAN telecommunication networks’ service inKunduz remained cut until 1 October.2360 Kunduz province saw the lowest turnout for the presidential
election of 28 September 2019 in Afghanistan. This was attributed to bad security.2361 In an attempt to
disrupt the elections, the Taliban fired rockets on Kunduz City, causing civilian casualties.2362 Together
with Kabul City, Kunduz was where most incidents were recorded on election day.2363 Markets, shops
were closed and supply of goods into and from Kunduz province was cut due to threats and insecurity
before and during the elections.2364
Security incidents, including attacks on checkpoints and closures as a result of clashes were reported
on both the Kunduz-Baghlan and Kunduz-Takhar Highways during the reporting period.2365 The Taliban
at times were able to block access and prevent movement on those highways.2366 Sources told AAN
that in the aftermath of the 31 August 2019 attack on Kunduz the Taliban continued to set up mobile
checkpoints on both Kunduz-Baghlan and the Kunduz-Takhar Highways.2367 Taliban checkpoints on
both highways were still operational in 2020.2368 UNOCHA noted that fighting between AGEs andsecurity forces impacted humanitarian partners’ access to people in need in Dasht-e Archi and other
districts in Kunduz province in February 2020.2369

2355 NYT, Clinic Bombed as Afghan Forces Fend Off Taliban Attack on Kunduz, 19 May 2020, url; Guardian (The), Despite the'peace process', Afghanistan's anguish endures, 20 May 2020, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 24 Taliban killed, 60 wounded in
Kunduz battle, 19 May 2020, url
2356 Tolonews, Taliban Attack Kunduz City, Clash With Security Forces, 19 May 2020, url
2357 NYT, Clinic Bombed as Afghan Forces Fend Off Taliban Attack on Kunduz, 19 May 2020, url
2358 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Monthly Humanitarian Update (September 2019), 18 October 2019, url; Norway, Landinfo,
Afghanistan: Sikkerhetssituasjon og konfliktmønster i 2019, 22 January 2020, url, p. 10; NYT, To Disrupt Elections, Taliban
Turn to an Old Tactic: Destroying Cell Towers, 2 October 2019, url
2359 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 35
2360 Ali, O., Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (22): Glances at Kunduz, Baghlan, Samangan, AAN, 30 October 2019, url
2361 Ali, O., Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (22): Glances at Kunduz, Baghlan, Samangan, AAN, 30 October 2019, url
2362 Pajhwok Afghan News, Would-be suicide bomber killed in Kunduz, 28 September 2019, url; Ali, O., Afghanistan’s 2019
Election (22): Glances at Kunduz, Baghlan, Samangan, AAN, 30 October 2019, url
2363 UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, A/74/582–S/2019/935, 10
December 2019, url, p. 5; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 4 October 2019, url
2364 Ali, O., Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (22): Glances at Kunduz, Baghlan, Samangan, AAN, 30 October 2019, url
2365 NYT, U.S. Drone Killed Afghan Civilians, Officials Say, 1 December 2019, url; Xinhua, 11 police, 10 militants killed innorthern Afghanistan: official, 16 January 2020, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’s attempt at capturing Kunduz City
thwarted, 15 April 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, District chief demand more troops as Taliban attacks Khanabad district,
6 September 2019, url; Ali, O., Ruttig, T., Taleban attacks on Kunduz and Pul-e Khumri: Symbolic operations, AAN, 11
September 2019, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (30 September – 6 October 2019), 9 October
2019, url; Tolonews, Five Security Force Members Killed on Kunduz-Baghlan Highway, 2 February 2020, url; UNOCHA,
Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (21 October – 27 October 2019), 30 October 2019, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan:
Weekly Humanitarian Update (27 January – 2 February 2020), 5 February 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April
2020, 2 April 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 2020, 5 March 2020, url
2366 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 5 September 2019, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly
Humanitarian Update (2 December – 8 December 2019), 11 December 2019, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly
Humanitarian Update (16 December – 22 December 2019), 26 December 2019, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly
Humanitarian Update (20 January – 26 January 2020), 29 January 2020, url
2367 Ali, O., Ruttig, T., Taleban attacks on Kunduz and Pul-e Khumri: Symbolic operations, AAN, 11 September 2019, url
2368 Ariana News, Taliban set up checkpoint – Baghlan-Kunduz Highway, 16 February 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan:
Weekly Humanitarian Update (13 April – 20 April 2020), 22 April 2020, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Kunduz: Taliban take tax
on imported goods, 22 June 2020, url
2369 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (17 February – 23 February 2020), 26 February 2020, url

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In its report covering 2019 UNAMA noted that in certain parts of Afghanistan, including Kunduz andDasht-e-Archi, several private telecommunications companies, with the exception of Salaam
Telecommunications, shut down their services in the evening following up on threats and orders issued
by the Taliban in order to prevent being tracked down or targeted during operations.2370
Local officials accused to Taliban of setting fire to a girls’ school in Qala-e-Zal district in October
2019.2371 Within the framework of its attacks on health care initiative, the World Health Organisation(WHO) did not register such attacks in Kunduz province in 2019.2372 On 2 February 2020, an air strikeby the Afghan Air Force inflicted damage to a health clinic and a school building in Gultepa district.2373
In an effort to push back Taliban attacks on Kunduz City on 19 May 2020, but also on other districts2374,
joint US–Afghan forces bombed a hospital in Chardarah district.2375 At least two civilians standing
outside the hospital were killed. Health services there only resumed on 2 June 2020.2376

2.20.3.2 Displacement
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 31 274 persons
displaced by conflict from Kunduz province, 97 % of whom were displaced within the province itself,while others sought refuge in Kabul, Takhar and to a lesser extent in Balkh, Herat and Faryab provinces.
Over 60 % were displaced from Kunduz district, in particular in August, September, November andDecember 2019.2377 While initially no significant displacement was observed when the Taliban
launched their attack on Kunduz City on 31 August 2019, thousands were displaced within the city inearly September 2019, with many returning home in the following days.2378 UNOCHA recorded a few
thousand people displaced due to conflict within Kunduz district in September 2019.2379 Large groups
were also displaced from Dasht-e-Archi district in September and October 2019 and from Emamsaheb
district in July and September 2019. All IDPs from Emamsaheb were displaced within the district. The
majority of the IDPs from Dasht-e-Archi were also displaced within the district, while a few hundredsought refuge in Kunduz.2380
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 33 866 persons
displaced by conflict to Kunduz province. In addition to the 30 289 people displaced within theprovince, Kunduz also hosted IDPs from Takhar province and in 2020 some from Faryab province.
Kunduz district hosted the majority of the people displaced to Kunduz province in the reporting period,
most from within the district, but also from other districts in Kunduz province as well as from Takhar
province. Both Dasht-e-Archi and Emamsaheb district hosted only IDPs from within the district.2381

2370 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, pp. 109-110 ;USIP, Service Delivery in Taliban-Influenced Areas of Afghanistan, 30 April 2020, url, pp. 16-17; JUH/JACK, Health andIntegrated Protection Needs in Kunduz Province, November 2019, url, p. 14; 212371 Pajhwok Afghan News, Girls’ school set ablaze in Kunduz’s Qala Zal district, 6 October 2019, url
2372 WHO, Afghanistan. Attacks on Health Care in 2019 as of December 31, 2019, 31 December 2019 url
2373 UNAMA, Afghanistan. Protection Of Civilians In Armed Conflict First Quarter Report: 1 January - 31 March 2020, 27 April
2020, url, p. 9; Pajhwok Afghan News, Parts of school, clinic damaged in Kunduz airstrike: Officials, 3 February 2020, url
2374 Tolonews, Taliban Attack Kunduz City, Clash With Security Forces, 19 May 2020, url
2375 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 2020, 7 May 2020, url; NYT, Clinic Bombed as Afghan Forces Fend Off Taliban
Attack on Kunduz, 19 May 2020, url
2376 UNAMA, Special Report: Attacks On Healthcare During The Covid-19 Pandemic, 20 June 2020, url, pp. 112377 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
2378 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Update on the situation in Kunduz city and Pul-e-Khumri Flash Update No.4 (09 September2019), 9 September 2019, url; iDMC, Afghanistan. Displacement associated with Conflict and Violence Figure Analysis - GRID
2020, April 2020, url, p. 1; UNOCHA, Operational Coordination Team (OCT) Meeting 04 Sep 2019 at 09:00 AM in ACTED
Kunduz Office 4 September 2019, url, p. 1
2379 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url
2380 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
2381 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (5 - 11 August2019), 14 August 2019, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (18 - 25 August 2019), 27 August 2019, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION

2.21 Laghman
2.21.1 General description of the province

Map 21: Afghanistan – Laghman province, source: UNOCHA2382

2382 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Laghman Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url;

— 211

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Laghman is located in eastern Afghanistan and it borders on the provinces of Panjshir and Nuristan to
the north, Kunar to the east, Nangarhar to the south, and Kabul and Kapisa to the west.2383. Laghman
province is divided into the following administrative units: Alingar, Alishang, Dawlatshah, Mehtarlam,
Qarghayi2384, and Bad Pash (also Bad Pakh); the latter became a district of its own in 2011. The
provincial capital of Laghman is Mehtarlam.2385
According to Afghanistan NSIA, the population of Laghman is estimated at 493 488 in 2020/212386 andis composed of majority Pashtuns, followed by Tajik and Pashai tribes.2387 The province is mostly
mountainous, a fact that has favoured the insurgents in the past, who used to ‘flee into remotemountain ranges’, according to a report from 2014.2388
The Kabul-Jalalabad Highway passes through Qarghayi district2389, where a secondary road branches
off to connect to Nurgeram in Nuristan via the provincial capital Mehtarlam.2390 Bad Pash district has
been a strategic crossing-point for Afghan and foreign insurgents coming from the border area andmoving deeper into Afghanistan.2391
According to the 2018 UNODC Opium Survey, opium-poppy cultivation levels in Laghman(2 092 hectares) remained similar to 2017 (2 257 hectares) with insignificant changes at districtlevel.2392 According to AAN, in 2019, opium poppy cultivation in the eastern provinces including in
Laghman has decreased by 76 % compared to 2018.2393

2.21.2 Conflict background and actors in Laghman
According to Khaama Press reporting in October 2018, Laghman, which was described as one of the‘relatively calm’ provinces of Afghanistan, has seen a rise in activities by Taliban and ISKP militants insome remote districts of the province.2394
Purportedly, Alingar district, which was mainly under the influence of the Taliban in the past,reportedly saw an increased presence of IS fighters, as reported in February 2018.2395 As of February
2019, the UN Secretary General described Laghman as one of the ISKP ‘strongholds’ in Afghanistan2396
operating in the mountainous Alingar and Chapa Dara districts.2397
In December 2019, ANSF killed 20 Taliban militants, including the shadow governor of Taliban for
Laghman province, Zainulabidin.2398 The MoD published the names of some the Taliban militants who
2383 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Laghman Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url; Afghanistan, Office of the President, Provincial

Profile Laghman, 1 February 2017, url
2384 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Laghman Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url

Afghanistan, IEC, Afghanistan 2019 Presidential Elections – Final results by Polling Stations: Province
Laghman, 2020, url; Foschini, F., The Enteqal Seven (2): Around Mehtarlam, an ‚insurgency corridor‘ in the making, AAN,
2385

10 May 2011, url; Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated population of Afghanistan 2020-21, n.d.., url, P. 16
2386 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated population of Afghanistan 2020-21, n.d.., url, P. 16
2387 BMC, ‘The midwife helped me ... otherwise I could have died’: women’s experience of professional midwifery services
in rural Afghanistan - a qualitative study in the provinces Kunar and Laghman, 6 March 2020, url; Pajhwok Afghan News,
Background profile of Laghman province, n.d., url; US, Naval Postgraduate School, Laghman Provincial Overview, n.d., url
2388 Stars and Stripes, Insurgents in Afghanistan‘s Laghman province may win by not losing, 15 November 2014, url
2389 INSI, Country profile for Afghanistan, alerts, 7 February 2020, url
2390 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Laghman Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url
2391 Foschini, F., Classics of Conflict (2): Reviewing some of Afghanistan‘s most notorious hotspots, AAN, 9 July 2015, url;
Foschini, F., The Enteqal Seven (2): Around Mehtarlam, an ‘insurgency corridor‘ in the making, AAN, 10 May 2011, url
2392 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, p. 232393 AAN, New world drug report: opium production in Afghanistan remained the same in 2019, 25 June 2020, url
2394 Khaama Press, Four key Taliban group leaders ambushed in Laghman province, 1 October 2018, url
2395 Salaam Times, Security forces launch operation in Laghman amid Taliban-ISIS clashes, 27 February 2018, url
2396 UN Secretary-General, Eighth report of the Secretary-General on the threat posed by ISIL (Da’esh) to international
peace and security and the range of United Nations efforts in support of Member States in countering the threat, 1
February 2019, url, p. 72397 Salaam Times, Stepped up operations forces ISIS fighters to lay down arms in Laghman, 23 March 2020, url
2398 Pajhwok Afghan News, 20 Taliban including shadow governor killed in Laghman airstrike, 27 December 2019, url

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were killed during the strike including the aforementioned shadow governor, and Qari Saboor, thehead of the Taliban red unit for Laghman province, Qari Saqib, a local Taliban group leader, Janatgul,
a Taliban fighter, Qari Miraj, former shadow governor of Taliban for Alingar district, Ahmadshah,
Taliban shadow district governor for Alingar district, Qari Anzargul, a Taliban group leader, Qari
Mihrab, a Taliban platoon leader, Haji Ahmadshah, a Taliban group leader, Qari Ebrahim, a Taliban
fighter, Fazal Rabi, a local Taliban fighter, Toheed, a Taliban fighter, Muheet, a Taliban fighter, Gulab,a Taliban fighter, Malang, a Taliban fighter.2399
In March 2020, ISKP shadow governor for Laghman province and 30 fighters of the group surrendered
to ANSF.2400 During the same period, several media sources cited Noorullah Shirzada, from Agence
France Press (AFP), showing in a photo the presence of Taliban fighters in Alingar district.2401 In May
2020, Etilaatroz indicated that Taliban fighters had a widespread presence and carried out theiractivities in Mehtarlam district2402 and in a number of other districts of Laghman province including
Alishang district.2403 During this same period, the Taliban shadow governor for Laghman province was
Mawlawi Abdul Hadi Pashayeewal2404, and the head of the Taliban military commission for thementioned province was Mawlawi Qais. Talibans based in Alingar district were reportedly recruiting
new fighters via mosques, Quranic and school, and amongst friends and relatives.2405 On 10 May 2020,
ANSF killed Omar Khater, the Taliban intelligence chief for Laghman province.2406
According to information by the LWJ collected and presented in a map released on 6 July 2020,
Alishang, Alingar and Dawlatshah districts of Laghman province were contested.2407
In terms of the presence of government security forces, Laghman province is under the responsibilityof the 201st ANA Corps, which falls under Train, Advise, and Assist Command - East (TAAC-E), led by US
and Polish forces.2408

2.21.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population
2.21.3.1 General
In 2019, UNAMA documented 282 civilian casualties, including 80 killed and 202 injured in Laghman
province, which represents 4 % increase compared to 2018. The leading causes of casualties wereground engagements, Non-Suicide IEDs, and suicide IEDs.2409 According to SIGAR, RS (Resolute
Support) recorded between 51 and 75 civilian casualties in Laghman province during the first quarter

2399 Afghanistan, MoD, List of the Taliban killed this morning in Laghman, 27 December 2019, url
2400 Pajhwok, Senior figure among 30 IS rebels surrender in Laghman, 19 March 2020, url
2401 Salaam Times, Taliban, Al-Qaeda maintain “close ties” despite peace deal promises, 2 July 2020, url; NYT, Taliban ramp

up attacks on Afghans after Trump says “no violence”, 6 March 2020, url; France24, Afghan Government set to release
1 500 prisoners, 11 March 2020, url
2402 Etilaatroz,‫[ سه غیرنظامی در انفجاری در لغمان کشته شدند‬informal translation: ‘three civilians killed in an explosionin Laghman, 2 May 2020], url‫ طالبان بر ادامهی «افغانکشی» پافشاری دارند‬:‫ سرباز ارتش در لغمان؛ ارگ‬۲۱ ‫[ کشتهشدن‬informaltranslation: ‘killing of 21 army soldiers in Laghman; Presidential palace: Taliban insist on continuing ‘killing Afghans’, 22 May
2020’], url
2404 UN Security Council, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant
to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, S/2020/415, 27 May 2020, url, p. 272405 NYT, How the Taliban outlasted a superpower: tenacity and carnage, 26 May 2020, url
2406 Reporterly, Security forces kill senior Taliban spy in Laghman, 10 May 2020, url; Sputnik, Afghan Forces kill senior
Taliban spy in Laghman province, 10 May 2020, url
2407 LWJ, Several Districts Change Hands as Fighting Rages in Northern Afghanistan, 6 July 2020, url, however the source
does not specify when and which information of the aforementioned map was last updated
2408 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan, June 2020, 1 July 2020, url, p. 13 and 59
2409 UNAMA, Protection of civilians in armed conflict, 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 94
2403 Etilaatroz,

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of 20202410, and the mentioned source recorded between 76 and 100 civilian casualties during thesecond quarter of 2020.2411
According to ACLED data, between 1 March 2019 and 30 June 2020 there were 292 security incidents
recorded in Laghman province, of whom 198 were coded as battles, 77 remote violence and 17
incidents of violence against civilians.

Figure 23. Laghman - Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians
from 1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, based on ACLED data2412

In May 2020, clashes between ANSF and the Taliban took place in Alishang district.2413 On 7 July 2020,
Khaama Press cited 201st Corps stating that the Afghan security forces killed 16 Taliban fighters andwounded 6 others in Sarkund Baba area of Laghman province, situated on the highway between Kabul
and Jalalabad.2414
Recent incidents that caused civilian casualties in Laghman province in 2019 and 2020 include: in
September 2019, seven members of a family were killed, and six others were wounded when a Taliban
mortar hit their house in Alishang district2415; in the same district in the area of Qalatak, in October
2019, three civilians were killed, and three others were wounded in an operation conducted by aSpecial Forces unit of NDS2416; on 16 October 2019, two security forces and two civilians were killed,
and six others were wounded when a car bomb exploded near the police headquarters of Alishang
district.2417 On 23 December 2019, three civilians were killed, and at least seven others were wounded
in an explosion at a funeral ceremony of tribal leader in Laghman province2418; on 2 May 2020, threecivilians were killed in Mehtarlam after a bomb set in a motorcycle went off in front of the prison2419;
on 23 May 2020, four children below the age of six were killed after a mortar shell hit a residential
house in Gerdi Saleb area of Alishang district.2420

2.21.3.2 Displacement
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 4 816 persons displaced
from Laghman province, with 98 % displaced within the province itself (mainly in the provincial capital

2410 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 April 2020 , url, p. 69
2411 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 July 2020, url, p. 72
2412 Filters applied: Central Asia & the Caucasus; Afghanistan; Laghman; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence;

Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, url
2413 NYT, Afghan war casualty report: May 2020, 28 May 2020, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 6 soldiers, as many Taliban killedin Laghman firefight, 11 May 2020, url
2414 Khaama Press, 22 Taliban militants killed, wounded on Kabul-Jalalabad highway, 7 July 2020, url
2415 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 26 September 2019, url
2416 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 31 October 2019, url
2417 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 31 October 2019, url
2418 1TV, Three children killed in blast at funeral in Laghman, 23 December 2019, url; Tolonews, Three civilians killed in
explosion at funeral in Laghman, 23 December 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: December 2019, 30 December
2019, url
2419 NYT, Afghan war casualty report: May 2020, 28 May 2020, url; Khaama Press, Explosion close to a prison leaves 3 deadin Laghman province of Afghanistan, 2 May 2020, url
2420 NYT, Afghan war casualty report: May 2020, 28 May 2020, url

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district of Mehtarlam and Bad Pash district), and the remaining 2 % were displaced into Panjshir and
Parwan provinces.2421
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 4 809 persons
displaced to Laghman province, with almost 98 % coming from within the province itself and 2 % from
Kabul and Nangarhar provinces.2422
In December 2019, fighting and military operations continued in several eastern provinces including
Laghman province.2423 During the first week of March 2020, around 2 296 people were displaced due
to continued fighting in Alishang, Alingar and Mehterlam districts.2424 During the entire month of March
clashes between ANSF and AGEs in Laghman province were reported.2425 During the period of 15 –21 June 2020, at least 1 000 nomad families (7 000 people) were blocked in Laghman province due tothe COVID-19 restrictions.2426

2.22 Logar
2.22.1 General description of the province

Map 22: Afghanistan – Logar province, source: UNOCHA2427

Logar province is located in the central region of Afghanistan, about 65 kilometres south of Kabul2428,
and has borders with the provinces of Kabul to the north, Nangarhar to the north-east, Paktya to the2421 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict

Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
2422 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
2423 UNOCHA, Afghanistan weekly humanitarian update, 23 December – 29 December 2019, url, p. 1
2424 UNOCHA, Afghanistan weekly humanitarian update, 9 March – 15 March 2020, url, p. p. 1
2425 UNOCHA, Afghanistan weekly humanitarian update, 16 March – 22 March 2020, url, p. 1; UNOCHA, Afghanistan weekly
humanitarian update, 23 March – 29 March 2020, url, p. 1
2426 UNOCHA, Afghanistan weekly humanitarian update, 15 – 21 June 2020, url, p. 2
2427 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Logar Province - District Atlas, April 2014, url
2428 Pajhwok Afghan News, Elections 2019: Logar Province Background Profile, n.d., url

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south and south-east, Ghazni to the south-west and Wardak to the west.2429 Logar province is divided
into the following administrative units: Azra, Baraki Barak, Charkh, Kharwar, Khoshi, Mohammad Aghaand Pul-e Alam. The provincial capital of Logar is Pul-e Alam.2430 Azra district, in the eastern part of theprovince has an international border of a few kilometres with Pakistan’s province of Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa.2431
According to estimates for 2020-21 by NSIA, Logar province has a population of 434 374.2432 Most of
the province’s population lives in the fertile plains of the Logar Valley.2433 The main ethnic groups in
Logar are Pashtun, Tajik and Hazara.2434 Kharwar and Azra districts are entirely Pashtun-inhabited.
Charkh district has a Tajik majority. In the remaining districts, Tajiks constitute between 20 and 40 %of the population.2435 Hazara reportedly reside in Khoshi and Pul-e Alam districts. Kuchi nomads canbe found in Kharwar and Pul-e Alam districts. The majority of the population of Logar province are
Sunni Muslim, but there are also Shia.2436 In January 2020, the detention of ethnic Pashtun activist
Manzoor Pashteen reportedly caused protests in Logar province.2437
Logar connects Kabul to Afghanistan’s south-eastern region, Greater (Loya) Paktya, through the KabulGardez Highway that runs east from the main national ring road and over the Tera Pass, traversing the
districts of Mohammad Agha and Pul-e Alam.2438 Logar province has no functioning airstrip and air
traffic is regularly interrupted by bad weather conditions.2439
UNODC’s Opium Survey from 2018 listed Logar province as poppy-free since 2013.2440 UNODC dataobtained by AAN in June 2020 indicated a 52 % reduction in opium poppy cultivation in the provincesof the central region (including Logar province) and the central highlands.2441
Logar province is rich in chromite ore, with deposits extracted illegally and smuggled to Pakistan.2442
The province also houses the country’s largest copper deposit, the mine of Mes Aynak in Mohammad
Agha district.2443 Logar’s natural resources have caused local rivalries over revenues coming frommineral deposits.2444 Due to shrinking resources, population growth and sedentarisation processes, the2429 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Logar Province - District Atlas, April 2014, url
2430 Afghanistan, IEC, Afghanistan 2019 Presidential Elections - Final Results by Polling Stations: Province Logar, 2020, url;

Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21, June 2020, url, p. 132431 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Logar Province - District Atlas, April 2014, url; Tolonews, Insecurity Hardens Access to Logar’s
Azra District, 30 June 2019, url
2432 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21, June 2020, url, p. 42433 Ruttig, T., Sabawoon, A.M., A Threat at Kabul’s Southern Gate: a Security Overview of Logar Province, AAN, 18 July
2020, url
2434 US, Naval Postgraduate School, Logar Provincial Overview, n.d., url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Elections 2019: Logar
Province Background Profile, n.d., url; Ruttig, T., Sabawoon, A.M., A Threat at Kabul’s Southern Gate: a Security Overview of
Logar Province, AAN, 18 July 2020, url
2435 Ruttig, T., Sabawoon, A.M., A Threat at Kabul’s Southern Gate: a Security Overview of Logar Province, AAN, 18 July
2020, url
2436 US, Naval Postgraduate School, Logar Provincial Overview, n.d., url
2437 RFE/RL, Detention of Ethnic Pashtun Activist Triggers Protests in Pakistan, Afghanistan, 28 January 2020, url
2438 Ali, O., The Empty Streets of Mohammad Agha: Logar‘s Struggle Against the Taleban, AAN, 15 December 2014, url;
Ruttig, T., Sabawoon, A.M., A Threat at Kabul’s Southern Gate: a Security Overview of Logar Province, AAN, 18 July 2020, url
2439 UNOCHA, Humanitarian Needs Overview Afghanistan 2020, 17 December 2019, url, p. 11
2440 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, p. 192441 Bjelica, J., New World Drug Report: Opium Production in Afghanistan Remained the Same in 2019, AAN, 25 June 2020,
url
2442 Pajhwok Afghan News, Logar Province: Illegal Extraction of Logar Chromites Goes On, 6 October 2015, url; VoA, Report:
Militant Groups in Afghanistan Get Rich Off Mineral Smuggling, 1 February 2017, url
2443 Tolonews, Logar Security ‘Improves’ after More Forces Deployed, 4 May 2019, url
2444 Global Security Review, Are Afghanistan‘s Mineral Deposits an Answer to the Country‘s Economic Woes?, 9 June 2019,url

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province has witnessed conflicts between nomads and settlers, for example in Azra2445 and Baraki
Barak2446 districts.

2.22.2 Conflict background and actors in Logar
Logar province has served as a strategic crossing-point for Taliban fighters, not only due to its proximity
to Kabul2447, but also because it provided easy access to AGEs’ fronts in the nearby provinces of
Nangarhar, Paktya, Paktika, Khost, Wardak and Ghazni, as well as in Pakistan.2448 Kharwar, amountainous district in the south of the province, was among the first ones in the central region where
Taliban groups started to reorganise in 2005.2449 According to a 2014 report by AAN’s analyst Obaid
Ali, the security situation in Logar province started to deteriorate in 2011. The districts of Azra, Baraki
Barak, Charkh, Kharwar and Mohammad Agha were described as the areas worst hit by the Taliban.2450
In 2017, the situation in Logar was reported to have worsened2451, with the Taliban’s Miran Shah Shura,based in the region of North Waziristan in Pakistan and composed exclusively of Haqqani Network
members, reportedly holding authority in the province.2452 In 2019-2020, Logar is described as among
the relatively volatile2453 and insecure2454 provinces in the central region of the country, ‘where the
Taliban have influence and control’2455, regularly attacking government forces in both the provincial
capital and the districts.2456 In May 2020, the UN Security Council reported on a reorganisation of the
Taliban shadow governance and military structure in several provinces, with key new appointments
made in Logar province.2457
According to AAN analysts Ruttig and Sabawoon, Logar province, together with neighbouring provinces
such as Wardak, western Nangarhar and Surobi district of Kabul province, are ‘part of a belt that could
cut off the capital from southern and eastern Afghanistan’ if the security situation would escalate.
Various causes for the continued insecurity throughout Logar are cited by local sources, such as the
Taliban’s resilient local structures in the province and a widespread regional sympathy for the Taliban,
incompetent high government officials and a lack of proper coordination among security forces,
government forces’ harassment that pushes local people into the insurgency, as well as the hashish
and chromite smuggling and the fight over its control. Security analysts describe Logar province as an
example of ‘statically disputed territory’, without much change in territory and population control, but

2445 Giustozzi, A., Nomad-Settler Conflict in Afghanistan Today, AREU, October 2019, url, p. 27
2446 Giustozzi, A., Nomad Sedentarisation Processes in Afghanistan and Their Impact on Conflict, AREU, September 2019,url, p. 102447 Al Jazeera, Taliban Attack in Afghanistan‘s Logar Kills Eight Security Forces, 20 January 2019, url; Ruttig, T., Sabawoon,
A.M., A Threat at Kabul’s Southern Gate: a Security Overview of Logar Province, AAN, 18 July 2020, url
2448 Dorronsoro, G., The Taliban‘s Winning Strategy in Afghanistan, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 2009, url,
pp. 22, 28; Ali, O., The Empty Streets of Mohammad Agha: Logar‘s Struggle Against the Taleban, AAN, 15 December 2014,url
2449 Elias, M.O.T., The Resurgence of the Taliban in Kabul: Logar and Wardak, in: Giustozzi, A. (ed.), Decoding the New
Taliban: Insights from the Afghan Field, 2009, pp. 45-46, 52
2450 Ali, O., The Empty Streets of Mohammad Agha: Logar‘s Struggle Against the Taleban, AAN, 15 December 2014, url
2451 Pajhwok Afghan News, More than 50pc of Logar Being Controlled by Taliban, 26 June 2017, url
2452 Giustozzi, A., Afghanistan: Taliban’s Organization and Structure, Landinfo, 23 August 2017, url, p. 62453 Khaama Press, Coalition Airstrike Kills Taliban Leader Mullah Amin Gul and His 3 Comrades in Logar, 7 April 2019, url
2454 Warden, S., Past as Prologue? What the Parliamentary Election Results Tell Us About the September Presidential
Election, AAN, 23 August 2019, url; Mashal, M., [Twitter], posted on: 1 July 2020, url; Ruttig, T., Sabawoon, A.M., A Threat
at Kabul’s Southern Gate: a Security Overview of Logar Province, AAN, 18 July 2020, url
2455 An Afghan analyst Lifos spoke to in January 2020. Sweden, Lifos/Migrationsverket, Säkerhetsläget i Afghanistan (Version2.0), 7 April 2020, url, p. 52
2456 Ruttig, T., Sabawoon, A.M., A Threat at Kabul’s Southern Gate: a Security Overview of Logar, AAN, 18 July 2020, url
2457 UNSC, Eleventh Report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team Submitted Pursuant to Resolution
2501 (2019) Concerning the Taliban and Other Associated Individuals and Entities Constituting a Threat to the Peace,
Stability and Security of Afghanistan, 27 May 2020, url, pp. 8-9

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with intensive fighting indicating that increasing efforts are needed from the actors in the conflict tohold their terrain.2458
Out of the six rural districts and the one surrounding Logar’s capital Pul-e Alam, the government
officially claims to control three: the provincial capital, Khoshi and Mohammad Agha. Security analysts
and local sources, however, give a different picture.2459 An LWJ assessment mapping Taliban control in
Afghanistan in a frequently updated map and based on open-source information, consulted on
2 July 2020, indicated Kharwar, Charkh and Azra districts as ‘Taliban-controlled’ and Pul-e Alam,
Mohammad Agha and Baraki Barak districts as ‘contested’. A USDOD assessment of July 2019, reported
by LWJ in the same map, designated Kharwar and Charkh districts as ‘contested’ and Azra district as‘government-influenced’. Khoshi district was categorised as ‘government-controlled’ or‘undetermined’ in this assessment.2460 According to local sources, cited by AAN mid-July 2020, theTaliban are present in several villages just a few kilometres from the provincial capital, several areasin Mohammad Agha district are under Taliban control, heavy Taliban activity is reported in Baraki
Barak, Charkh and Kharwar districts with the government only holding the district centres or small
areas around them, Khoshi district is reportedly contested and the situation in Azra district is reported
as volatile with the district centre besieged by the Taliban for the past 15 years.2461
Media sources in 2019 and 2020 reported on a Taliban presence in the districts of Charkh2462, Azra2463,
Baraki Barak2464, Mohammad Agha2465, Kharwar2466 and Khoshi.2467 The area of Charkh district has long
been largely Taliban controlled2468 and is described as one of Logar’s most insecure districts.2469
According to a May 2019 USIP report, the Afghan government had a limited presence in Charkh district,retaining compounds in the district centre and controlling the main road, but its control remaining
confined to its bases and checkpoints. District residents stated Taliban militants have returned soon
whenever the government’s military operations were concluded; adding that Taliban influence in theregion has grown with relatives joining the militant group for the purpose of revenge.2470 The Taliban
are reported to have established training centres in the district.2471 Arab, Chechen, Uzbek and Pakistani
militants (some of them affiliated with Al Qaeda2472 - see below) have reportedly been seen in the
Taliban’s ranks in Charkh.2473 However, according to Charkh’s district’s governor, cited by Tolonews inApril 2020, the centre of the district is under government control.2474 In June - July 2019, a Taliban

2458 Ruttig, T., Sabawoon, A.M., A Threat at Kabul’s Southern Gate: a Security Overview of Logar, AAN, 18 July 2020, url
2459 Ruttig, T., Sabawoon, A.M., A Threat at Kabul’s Southern Gate: a Security Overview of Logar, AAN, 18 July 2020, url
2460 LWJ, Mapping Taliban Control in Afghanistan, n.d., url (LWJ, however, does not specify when and which information of

the aforementioned map was last updated.)
2461 Ruttig, T., Sabawoon, A.M., A Threat at Kabul’s Southern Gate: a Security Overview of Logar, AAN, 18 July 2020, url
2462 Pajhwok Afghan News, Foreign Militants Swell Taliban Ranks in Charkh District: Official, 30 April 2019, url; Tolonews,
Afghan Forces Launch Operation in Taliban-Held District in Logar, 22 April 2020, url
2463 Pajhwok Afghan News, Logar’s Azra District on the Verge of Collapse, 25 June 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Logar:
56 Militants Eliminated in Azra Offensive, 13 July 2019, url
2464 Pajhwok Afghan News, Govt Unable to Collect Taxes in 5 Logar Districts, 9 October 2019, url; AAN, The ‘Reduction inViolence’ Week: What Did (Some of the) People Think?, 28 February 2020, url; Reporterly, Taliban Launch AwarenessCampaign on Coronavirus, 30 March 2020, url; Clark, K., Voices from the Districts, the Violence Mapped (2): Assessing theConflict a Month after the US-Taleban Agreement, AAN, 8 April 2020, url
2465 Tolonews, Logar Security ‘Improves’ after More Forces Deployed, 4 May 2019, url
2466 Pajhwok Afghan News, Govt Unable to Collect Taxes in 5 Logar Districts, 9 October 2019, url
2467 Pajhwok Afghan News, Govt Unable to Collect Taxes in 5 Logar Districts, 9 October 2019, url
2468 Pajhwok Afghan News, Foreign Militants Swell Taliban Ranks in Charkh District: Official, 30 April 2019, url; Jackson, A.,
Perspectives on Peace from Taliban Areas of Afghanistan, USIP, May 2019, url, p. 4; Tolonews, Afghan Forces Launch
Operation in Taliban-Held District in Logar, 22 April 2020, url
2469 Pajhwok Afghan News, Foreign Militants Swell Taliban Ranks in Charkh District: Official, 30 April 2019, url
2470 Jackson, A., Perspectives on Peace from Taliban Areas of Afghanistan, USIP, May 2019, url, pp. 6, 122471 Pajhwok Afghan News, Foreign Militants Swell Taliban Ranks in Charkh District: Official, 30 April 2019, url
2472 Khaama Press, Chechen and Chinese Militants Among Dozens Killed, Wounded in Logar Operation, 2 August 2019, url
2473 Pajhwok Afghan News, Foreign Militants Swell Taliban Ranks in Charkh District: Official, 30 April 2019, url
2474 Tolonews, Afghan Forces Launch Operation in Taliban-Held District in Logar, 22 April 2020, url

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siege on the eastern district of Azra was reported.2475 Taliban militants reportedly seized all roads
connecting the district with the rest of the province and closed several of them, hindering trade routes
as well as residents’ free movement.2476 Azra is described as ‘a strategic district’, from where the
Taliban could threaten Kabul and other neighbouring provinces.2477 In Mohammad Agha district, thevillage of Surkhab is reported to be the most embattled area.2478 An important base for Taliban
decision-making is located in Zurmat district of neighbouring Paktya province, bordering Logar’s
southern district of Kharwar, where Taliban militants from Logar province are reportedly active. 2479
The Taliban are reportedly involved in disturbing security on the Kabul-Gardez Highway2480, running
through the districts of Mohammad Agha and Pul-e Alam, regularly blocking the highway and pulling
people from vehicles whom they suspect are government or NGO employees.2481
Several prominent Taliban figures were reported to have been killed or arrested in various districts.2482
In March 2019, two key Taliban commanders, known as Shafiqullah2483 and Abu Zar, reportedly involvedin planning high-profile attacks2484, were killed in Mohammad Agha district. In the same month,
notorious Taliban commander Qari Waqar, purportedly involved in the killing of several police officers,
was detained in Logar’s capital Pul-e Alam.2485 In April 2019, three prominent Taliban figures, including
Qari Mohammad Yusuf and Mohammad Wali, were arrested2486 and Taliban group leader Mullah Amin
Gul was killed2487 in the area of the provincial capital. In June 2019, the Afghan Ministry of Defence
reported the killing of the Taliban’s shadow governor for Logar province, known as Haji Lala, and his
two deputies in Charkh district.2488 However, in August 2019, local officials in Logar claimed Haji Lala
was killed in that month.2489 In July 2019, a group of senior Taliban leaders, including Red Unit
commander Qudrat, the Taliban shadow district chief for Mohammad Agha district and the Taliban
military commission chief for Khushi district, were reportedly killed in the outskirts of the provincial
capital Pul-e Alam.2490 In August 2019, the Taliban’s shadow district chief for Azra district, known as
Maulvi Mohammadullah or Farooqi and reportedly leading a 45-member Taliban group, was killed in
Pul-e Alam.2491 In November 2019, a prominent Taliban commander known as Waisuddin was killed inMohammad Agha district.2492

2475 Pajhwok Afghan News, Logar’s Azra District on the Verge of Collapse, 25 June 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Logar:

56 Militants Eliminated in Azra Offensive, 13 July 2019, url
2476 Pajhwok Afghan News, Logar’s Azra District on the Verge of Collapse, 25 June 2019, url; Tolonews, Insecurity Hardens
Access to Logar’s Azra District, 30 June 2019, url
2477 Pajhwok Afghan News, Logar’s Azra District on the Verge of Collapse, 25 June 2019, url
2478 Tolonews, Logar Security ‘Improves’ after More Forces Deployed, 4 May 2019, url; Adili, A.Y. et al., Afghanistan’s 2019
Election (10): What to Watch Out for on Election Day, AAN, 26 September 2019, url
2479 Bleuer, Ch. et al., One Land, Two Rules (8): Delivering Public Services in Insurgency-Affected Insurgent-Controlled
Zurmat District, AAN, 4 September 2019, url
2480 Pajhwok Afghan News, 3 Militants Killed, 7 Captured in Logar Operation, 19 June 2019, url
2481 Ruttig, T., Sabawoon, A.M., A Threat at Kabul’s Southern Gate: a Security Overview of Logar, AAN, 18 July 2020, url
2482 See sources mentioned below.
2483 Khaama Press, Prominent Taliban Commander Identified as Shafiullah Killed in Logar Province, 11 March 2019, url
2484 Khaama Press, Taliban’s High-Profile Attack Planner Killed in Logar Airstrike, 21 March 2019, url
2485 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban Commander Who Killed 10 Police Detained in Logar, 27 March 2019, url
2486 Khaama Press, 3 Prominent Taliban Leaders Arrested by Afghan Forces in Logar Province, 26 April 2019, url
2487 Khaama Press, Coalition Airstrike Kills Taliban Leader Mullah Amin Gul and His 3 Comrades in Logar, 7 April 2019, url
2488 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban Shadow Governor for Logar Among Key Members Killed in Airstrike, 28 June 2019, url;
Khaama Press, Airstrike Kills Taliban Shadow for Governor for Logar and His Two Deputies, 28 June 2019, url; UNSC,
Eleventh Report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team Submitted Pursuant to Resolution 2501 (2019)
Concerning the Taliban and Other Associated Individuals and Entities Constituting a Threat to the Peace, Stability andSecurity of Afghanistan, 27 May 2020, url, p. 102489 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’s Governor for Logar Among 22 Militants Killed, 24 August 2019, url
2490 Khaama Press, U.S. Airstrikes Kill Top Taliban Leaders in Logar Province, 16 July 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty
Report: July 12-18, 18 July 2019, url
2491 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban District Chief Among 5 Killed in Logar Blitz, 18 August 2019, url; UNSC, Eleventh Reportof the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team Submitted Pursuant to Resolution 2501 (2019) Concerning the
Taliban and Other Associated Individuals and Entities Constituting a Threat to the Peace, Stability and Security ofAfghanistan, 27 May 2020, url, p. 102492 Tolonews, 'Taliban Commander' Killed in Logar Airstrike, 10 November 2019, url220 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

According to the UN Security Council, ISKP has tried to expand its influence in the provinces of Logar
and Paktya in the past, however without success.2493 Former Logar Taliban commander Abdul Hasib
was reported to have taken over ISKP leadership for Afghanistan after leader Hafiz Saeed Khan was
killed in July 2016. Abdul Hasib was killed in a joint Afghan and US operation in April 2017.2494 No
security incidents specifically attributed to ISKP have been recorded in Logar between 1 March 2019and 30 June 2020 by ACLED. ACLED did record more than 30 incidents in which Taliban and/or ISKP
militants were wounded and/or killed during military operations in all seven districts of Logar.2495 In
June 2019, ANDSF forces arrested an ISKP commander, known as Shafi Gul and reportedly intending
to recruit ISKP militants from Pul-e Alam City.2496
According to the UN Security Council, Al Qaeda is covertly active in 12 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces,including in Logar.2497 In August 2019, a dozen Chechen and Chinese fighters, reportedly part of an Al
Qaeda network, were killed alongside Taliban militants in Charkh district.2498 In October 2019, a
prominent Haqqani commander, reportedly maintaining links with Al Qaeda, was killed in Mohammad
Agha district, together with several Arab and Pakistani militants.2499 In May 2020, information reported
to the UN Security Council suggested ‘that discussions were held among senior Haqqani Network
figures to form a new joint unit of 2 000 armed fighters in cooperation with and funded by Al Qaeda’.
This newly established unit would be split into two operational zones with the forces in the Loya Paktya
area (including Khost, Logar, Paktika and Paktya provinces) under Hafiz Azizuddin Haqqani’scommand.2500
In terms of the presence of government security forces, Logar is under the responsibility of the 203st
ANA Corps. Logar province is included in the Task Force Southeast (TF-Southeast), which is part ofNATO’s Resolute Support Mission within Afghanistan. TF-Southeast is led by US forces and has its
headquarters in Paktya province.2501 NDS unit 01, a paramilitary CIA-backed militia accused of humanrights abuses, is reported to operate in the central region, including in Logar province.2502 In May 2019,
the deployment of additional ANDSF forces in the insecure parts of Logar province was reported.2503

2493 UNSC, Tenth Report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team Submitted Pursuant to Resolution 2255

(2015) Concerning the Taliban and other Associated Individuals and Entities Constituting a Threat to the Peace, Stability andSecurity of Afghanistan, 13 June 2019, url, p. 14; LWJ, UN: Islamic State Replaced Leader in Afghanistan after Visit fromCentral Leadership, 30 July 2019, url; UNSC, Ninth Report of the Secretary-General on the Threat Posed by ISIL (Da’esh) toInternational Peace and Security and the Range of United Nations Efforts in Support of Member States in Countering theThreat, 31 July 2019, url, p. 72494 USDOS, Country Reports on Terrorism 2018, October 2019, url, p. 294
2495 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Logar; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
2496 Khaama Press, Afghan Forces Foil ISIS Bid to Recruit Militants in Logar Province, 18 June 2019, url
2497 UNSC, Eleventh Report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team Submitted Pursuant to Resolution
2501 (2019) Concerning the Taliban and Other Associated Individuals and Entities Constituting a Threat to the Peace,
Stability and Security of Afghanistan, 27 May 2020, url, p. 122498 Tolonews, 12 Chechen Fighters Affiliated to Al-Qaida Killed in Afghanistan, 2 August 2019, url; Khaama Press, Chechen
and Chinese Militants Among Dozens Killed, Wounded in Logar Operation, 2 August 2019, url
2499 Pajhwok Afghan News, Mastermind Behind Kabul Bombings Killed, 26 October 2019, url
2500 UNSC, Eleventh Report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team Submitted Pursuant to Resolution
2501 (2019) Concerning the Taliban and Other Associated Individuals and Entities Constituting a Threat to the Peace,
Stability and Security of Afghanistan, 27 May 2020, url, p. 132501 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan - June 2020, 1 July 2020, url, p. 142502 Clark, K., CIA-Backed Afghan Paramilitaries Accused of Grave Abuses: New Human Rights Watch Report, AAN, 31
October 2019, url
2503 Tolonews, Logar Security ‘Improves’ after More Forces Deployed, 4 May 2019, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 221

2.22.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population
2.22.3.1 General
In 2019, UNAMA documented 218 civilian casualties (95 deaths and 123 injured) in Logar province.
This represents an increase of 52 % compared to 2018. Leading causes of casualties were air strikes,
followed by ground engagements and targeted/deliberate killings.2504 Resolute Support2505 recorded
between 26 and 50 civilian casualties in Logar province in the first quarter of 20202506 and between 101
and 125 civilian casualties in the second quarter of 2020.2507 Logar is mentioned as one out of four
provinces (alongside Faryab, Laghman and Kunar) with a relatively high number of civilian casualties
regarding to its population number.2508 Security analysts have registered an increased conflict activity
in Logar, with peaks and intensified fighting recorded in 2019 and 2020. The number of security
incidents in Logar in March 2020 was reportedly three and a half times higher than in March 2019.2509
ACLED collected data on 468 violent events in Logar province from 1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020 from
reports in open sources, of which 295 were coded as ‘battles’, 148 as ‘explosions/remote violence’ and25 as ‘violence against civilians’. Pul-e Alam, where Logar’s provincial capital is located, stood out as
the district where most incidents were reported, with 184 incidents recorded, followed by the districtsof Mohammad Agha, Baraki Barak and Charkh. In Logar’s remaining districts, 16 or less incidents werereported. Most violent incidents in Logar province were recorded in the third quarter of 2019.2510

Figure 24. Logar - Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians from
1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, based on ACLED data2511

ACLED coded around 63 % of the violent incidents in Logar as ‘battles’, all ‘armed clashes’. This
category represented the most prevalent incident type in nearly all of Logar’s districts -with the
exception of Azra district, where most incidents were registered under the category of‘explosions/remote violence’. The majority of the armed clashes in Logar were attacks by the Taliban
on Afghan security forces, including military, police and NDS personnel as well as members of progovernment militias or so-called arbakis (the term arbaki is locally often used to refer to members of
the Afghan local police or other pro-government militias).2512 Examples of such incidents included
assaults on security checkpoints/outposts and headquarters in different areas near the provincial

2504 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 94
2505 Civilian casualty data for 2020 have not yet been published by UNAMA.
2506 SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, 30 April 2020, url, p. 69
2507 SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, 30 July 2020, url, p. 72
2508 Sweden, Lifos/Migrationsverket, Säkerhetsläget i Afghanistan (Version 2.0), 7 April 2020, url, p. 192509 Ruttig, T., Sabawoon, A.M., A Threat at Kabul’s Southern Gate: a Security Overview of Logar, AAN, 18 July 2020, url
2510 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus; Afghanistan; Logar; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
2511 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, Afghanistan - Logar, url
2512 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Logar; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url222 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

capital Pul-e Alam in May 20192513, in August 20192514 and in April 20202515, in Azra district in July
20192516, in different areas (such as near the Mes Aynak copper mine) in Mohammad Agha district inAugust 20192517, in March 20202518 and in April 20202519, also in April 2020 in Charkh district2520 and in
Baraki Barak district2521; as well as attacks/ambushes on police convoys/vehicles in several areas
around the provincial capital Pul-e Alam in July 20192522 and in April 2020.2523 No civilian casualties
were reported in these incidents.
Operations and attacks by Afghan security forces against AGEs were also registered under armed
clashes by ACLED.2524 These incidents involved several operations in Mohammad Agha district, such as
the killing of a prominent Taliban commander and several other militants in March 20192525, the killingof dozens of Taliban militants (according to the Taliban, the people killed were civilians) in June
20192526 and the killing and wounding of more than a dozen Taliban militants in a Special Forces’ raid
in May 2020.2527 In the area of the provincial capital Pul-e Alam, several Taliban leaders and militants
were arrested and killed in operations in March2528, April2529, June2530 and September2531 2019. In
Charkh district, dozens of AGEs were killed and wounded in several ANDSF operations in March2532 andAugust 20192533 and in January2534 and April2535 2020. In operations in Azra district in July 2019 and in
Baraki Barak district in August 2019 a militant’s training centre was destroyed2536 and dozens ofmembers from the Taliban’s Red Unit were killed.2537 Some operations resulted in civilian casualties,

2513 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 3-9, 9 May 2019, url
2514 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: Aug. 23-29, 29 August 2019, url
2515 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 2020, 2 April 2020 (updated 30 April 2020), url
2516 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 25-Aug. 1, 1 August 2019, url
2517 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 5 September 2019 (updated 26 September 2019), url
2518 Pajhwok Afghan News, 10 Security Forces Killed in Logar, Helmand Attacks, 3 March 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War

Casualty Report: March 2020, 5 March 2020 (updated 26 March 2020), url
2519 Reuters, Clashes Across Afghanistan Kill Dozens of Security Force Members, Militants, 22 April 2020, url; Al Jazeera,
Trump, Qatar's Emir Talk Amid Taliban Attacks Across Afghanistan, 23 April 2020, url
2520 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 2020, 2 April 2020 (updated 30 April 2020), url; RFE/RL, Taliban Kills Nine
Afghan Soldiers in Attack on Army Post, 16 April 2020, url
2521 Tolonews, 7 Afghan Forces Killed in Taliban Attack in Logar: Tribal Elders, 26 April 2020, url; Ariana News, Taliban
Captures Police Outpost - Logar, 26 April 2020, url
2522 Pajhwok Afghan News, ALP Commander for Logar Killed in Taliban Attack, 7 July 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty
Report: July 5-11, 11 July 2019, url
2523 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 2020, 2 April 2020 (updated 30 April 2020), url
2524 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Logar; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
2525 Khaama Press, Prominent Taliban Commander Identified as Shafiullah Killed in Logar Province, 11 March 2019, url
2526 Pajhwok Afghan News, 18 Militants Killed in Logar Offensive, 7 June 2019, url; Khaama Press, Taliban Militants Suffer
Heavy Casualties in Logar Operations, 8 June 2019, url; Khaama Press, Taliban Militants Suffer Heavy Casualties in Special
Forces Raid in Logar, 17 June 2019, url
2527 Khaama Press, 11 Taliban Militants Killed, 4 Wounded in Special Forces Raid in Logar, 10 May 2020, url; Pajhwok AfghanNews, Nearly a Dozen Taliban Killed in Logar Raid, 11 May 2020, url
2528 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban Commander Who Killed 10 Police Detained in Logar, 27 March 2019, url
2529 Khaama Press, 3 Prominent Taliban Leaders Arrested by Afghan Forces in Logar Province, 26 April 2019, url
2530 Pajhwok Afghan News, 3 Militants Killed, 7 Captured in Logar Operation, 19 June 2019, url
2531 Khaama Press, Special Forces Kill 11 Taliban Militants, Destroy Weapons Cache in Logar, 21 September 2019, url
2532 Khaama Press, Taliban Commander Among Dozens Killed in Latest Military Operations, 8 March 2019, url
2533 Khaama Press, Chechen and Chinese Militants Among Dozens Killed, Wounded in Logar Operation, 2 August 2019, url;
Tolonews, 12 Chechen Fighters Affiliated to Al-Qaida Killed in Afghanistan, 2 August 2019, url
2534 Khaama Press, Afghan Military Operations Kill 8 Taliban Militants, 17 January 2020, url
2535 Tolonews, Afghan Forces Launch Operation in Taliban-Held District in Logar, 22 April 2020, url
2536 Khaama Press, Afghan Special Forces Destroy Suicide Bombers Training Centre in Logar, 13 August 2019, url
2537 Pajhwok Afghan News, Logar: 56 Militants Eliminated in Azra Offensive, 13 July 2019, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 223

such as a CIA-backed operation in the Padkhab area of the provincial capital in May 20192538 and an
NDS operation in Daudkhel village in the outskirts of Pul-e Alam City in August 2019.2539
Air/drone strikes represented 16 % of all reported violent incidents in Logar. Most air/drone strikes
were carried out in Pul-e Alam district (one out of three), followed by Baraki Barak and Charkh districts.
The majority of these air/drone strikes were carried out by Afghan military forces, some were
attributed to NATO forces.2540 While these air/drone strikes mostly inflicted losses among AGEs in the
aforementioned districts2541, some also caused civilian casualties -such as an American drone striketargeting a gathering of tribal elders in the Padkhab-e Shana area of Pul-e Alam City, in April 20192542;
an American drone strike targeting a Taliban gathering in the Kamalkhel neighbourhood of Pul-e Alam
City killing two children, in July 20192543; and an American air strike targeting a tent of Kuchi nomads
in the Khaki Dag area of Baraki Barak district, in July 2019.2544 In November 2019, four ANA soldiers
were reportedly killed in ‘friendly fire’ from an American air strike in the Bazar-e Zekher area of Pul-e
Alam City.2545
AGEs using roadside bombs or IEDs, often targeting the Afghan security forces, represented 10 % of allreported security incidents in Logar. The majority of IED incidents were registered in the districts of
Pul-e Alam and Mohammad Agha, followed by Baraki Barak and Charkh.2546 For example in March
2019, the police chief of Baraki Barak was killed and several other police officers were wounded whena bomb attached to their vehicle exploded in the Sherwazi area of the district.2547 In August 2019, a
police vehicle on patrol was hit by a roadside bomb in the Mes Aynak area of Mohammad Agha district,resulting in several ANP casualties.2548 Some of these incidents resulted in casualties among civilians.
This happened in June 2019 in Charkh district, when a roadside bomb planted by the Taliban hit acivilian vehicle.2549 In September 2019, several civilians were killed by Taliban-claimed car bombs2550
and by a bomb detonating near a mosque after Friday prayer2551 in Pul-e Alam district.

2538 Pajhwok Afghan News, 6 Civilians Killed in Logar Raid, NATO Denies, 5 May 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report:

May 3-9, 9 May 2019, url
2539 Tolonews, Investigative Report Confirms Civilian Casualties in Logar, 29 August 2019, url
2540 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Logar; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
2541 Khaama Press, Coalition Airstrike Kills Taliban Leader Mullah Amin Gul and His 3 Comrades in Logar, 7 April 2019, url;
Khaama Press, Airstrike Kills Taliban Shadow for Governor for Logar and His Two Deputies, 28 June 2019, url; Khaama Press,
U.S. Airstrikes Kill Top Taliban Leaders in Logar Province, 16 July 2019, url; Khaama Press, U.S. Airstrikes Kill At Least 30
Taliban Militants in Logar Province, 8 August 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Mastermind Behind Kabul Bombings Killed,
26 October 2019, url; Tolonews, 'Taliban Commander' Killed in Logar Airstrike, 10 November 2019, url; Khaama Press,
Video: Precision Airstrikes Kill 10 Taliban Militants, Wound 16 in Logar, 19 April 2020, url
2542 Pajhwok Afghan News, Tribal Elders Among 4 Killed in Logar Airstrike, 7 April 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty
Report: April 5-11, 11 April 2019, url
2543 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 12-18, 18 July 2019, url
2544 RFE/RL, At Least Seven Civilians Killed in Air Strike in Eastern Afghanistan, 22 July 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty
Report: July 19-25, 25 July 2019, url
2545 VoA, Officials: US Airstrike Mistakenly Kills 4 Afghan Soldiers, 12 November 2019, url
2546 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Logar; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
2547 Pajhwok Afghan News, Baraki Barak Police Chief Killed in Bomb Blast, 18 March 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty
Report: March 15-21, 22 March 2019, url
2548 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 5 September 2019 (updated 26 September 2019), url
2549 Pajhwok Afghan News, 4 Civilians Killed in Landmine Blast in Logar, 6 June 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report:
May 31-June 6, 6 June 2019, url
2550 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 5 September 2019 (updated 26 September 2019), url; Tolonews,
Explosion in Logar Kills Four Civilians, 5 September 2019, url
2551 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 5 September 2019 (updated 26 September 2019), url224 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATIONACLED coded 6 % of the violent incidents in Logar as ‘shelling, artillery and missile attacks’.2552 Someof these incidents resulted in civilian casualties -for example in December 2019, when a mortar firedby the American forces hit a civilian house in Baraki Barak district2553; in February and March 2020,
when mortar shell leftovers exploded in Charkh2554 and Azra2555 districts, killing two children; and in
May 2020, when a Taliban-fired mortar landed on a civilian house in Azra district.2556 In June 2020, a
rocket fired by the Taliban impacted the provincial hospital in Pul-e Alam district.2557 In July 2020,
several mortars were fired at Ashraf Ghani and his delegation when the President visited his homeprovince; no casualties were reported.2558
ACLED categorised 5 % of all reported violent incidents in Logar as ‘violence against civilians’.2559 These
incidents involved shootings by unidentified gunmen of a well-known religious scholar in the main
mosque of Pul-e Alam in May 20192560, of the executive head of Mohammad Agha district also in May
20192561, of an appellate court judge for Paktya province in his home in Mohammad Agha district in
September 20192562 and of a civil society activist in Pul-e Alam in March 20202563; Taliban ambushes
and killings of two engineers working for the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs in Pul-e Alam City inJune 20192564 and of several judges and a court staff member in Mohammad Agha district in November
20192565; a night raid carried out by Afghan and foreign forces in the Babos area of Pul-e Alam City inAugust 2019, killing one civilian and wounding four others2566; the execution of two sisters by the
Taliban in Mohammad Agha district in June 20202567; the kidnapping and killing of a former senator for
Logar province by the Taliban also in June 20202568; and the shooting of a female provincial council
member in Pul-e Alam in July 2020.2569
Logar’s voter turnout as percentage of its registered voters for the presidential elections on
28 September 2019 reached around 15 %.2570 AAN related Logar’s below average voter registration tothe ‘high insecurity’ in the province.2571 At the end of polling day, Minister of Defence Asadullah Khaledmentioned Logar as one of the seven ‘most threatened provinces’ on 28 September.2572 In the Asia
Foundations 2019 Survey of the Afghan People, 51-75 % of respondents in Logar province reported to2552 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus; Afghanistan; Logar; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
2553 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: December 2019, 5 December 2019 (updated 30 December 2019), url; Tolonews,'Four Civilians Killed in Logar Mortar Attack': Residents, 10 December 2019, url
2554 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: February 2020, 6 February 2020 (updated 27 February 2020), url
2555 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 2020, 5 March 2020 (updated 26 March 2020), url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 2Children Killed, 8 Injured in Logar Mortar Shell Blast, 10 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan - Weekly Humanitarian
Update (9 - 15 March 2020), 15 March 2020, url
2556 Afghanistan Times, Child killed in Taliban Mortar Attack in Logar, 9 May 2020, url
2557 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Midyear Report 2020: 1 January - 30 June 2020, 27 July
2020, url, p. 19
2558 Tolonews, Ghani, Fired at During Logar Visit, Pledges Increased Security, 1 July 2020, url
2559 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Logar; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
2560 Pajhwok Afghan News, Deputy Head of Logar Ulema Council Shot Dead, 8 May 2019, url; NYT, Seeking Revenge, Taliban
Target Afghan Soldiers’ Families, 10 July 2019, url
2561 Pajhwok Afghan News, Mohammad Agha District Official Gunned Down, 4 May 2019, url
2562 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 5 September 2019 (updated 26 September 2019), url
2563 Pajhwok Afghan News, Civilians, Civil Society Activists gunned Down in Pul-i-Alam, 29 March 2020, url
2564 Pajhwok Afghan News, Logar: 2 Engineers Killed in Taliban Attack, 26 June 2019, url
2565 Pajhwok Afghan News, 4 Appellant Court Judges Killed in Taliban Ambush, 7 November 2019, url
2566 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: Aug. 23-29, 29 August 2019, url
2567 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban Execute 2 Young Sisters in Logar, 7 June 2020, url
2568 Ariana News, Taliban Kill Former Afghan Senator in Logar: Local Officials, 9 June 2020, url
2569 Tolonews, Logar Provincial Council Member Shot, Wounded, 6 July 2020, url
2570 SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, 30 January 2020, url, p. 98
2571 Warden, S., Past as Prologue? What the Parliamentary Election Results Tell Us About the September Presidential
Election, AAN, 23 August 2019, url
2572 Ruttig, T. and Bjelica, J., Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (11): A First Look at How E-Day Went, AAN, 28 September 2019, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 225

have experienced fear while voting.2573 According to the Free and Fair Election Foundation of
Afghanistan (FEFA), Logar was one out of seven provinces where most polling stations remained closed
on voting day.2574 Without providing further details, Pajhwok Afghan News reported on the killing ofan unspecified number of Taliban militants on polling day in Logar province.2575
In September and October 2019, dozens of schools were reportedly closed down by the Taliban in
Logar province. According to government officials, the forced closures were a response from themilitants to newly established government checkpoints in the area.2576 Logar’s Director of Education
related the closures to the presidential elections, confirming that the Taliban had warned school
authorities to close their facilities.2577 A member of Logar’s provincial council suggested a punitive
reason, resulting from a possible reduced Taliban recruitment in the region or from the militant group’s
unacceptance of government influence over the schools in the areas under their control. A Taliban
spokesperson stated the religious educational centres and madrasas were closed down because they
were not in line with the group’s doctrine.2578 In its January 2020 Monthly Humanitarian Update,
UNOCHA listed Logar as third in the top three provinces with the highest number of schools closed ordamaged by conflict.2579
In November 2019, the alleged sexual abuse of hundreds of boys from several schools in rural areas of
Logar province by teachers, older students, authority figures and extended family members wasreported by an Afghan civil society organisation.2580 According to an administrator of one of the schools
cited by the New York Times, ‘three boys who had reported rapes were later killed by the Taliban, whocondemn the sexual abuse as anti-Islamic.’2581 After the allegations were made public, two activists in
Logar were detained by the Afghan intelligence service2582 and forced to confess their accusations were
untrue2583. After pressure from the US and international human rights groups, the activists werereleased2584 and reportedly left the country short after.2585 At the end of January 2020, Afghanistan’s
Attorney General’s Office (AOG) opened an investigation.2586 According to UNAMA, it is unclear
whether this case has a conflict-nexus, however the UN mission continues to follow up on the
allegations and investigation.2587

2.22.3.2 Displacement
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, reporting 1 925 persons displaced
from Logar, from whom the majority (1 155) found refuge within the province itself (in Pul-e Alam
district). The remaining 770 IDPs from Logar sought shelter in the neighbouring provinces of Kabul(Kabul district), Khost (Khost Matun district) and Paktya (Gardez district). The majority of IDPs in Logar
province were displaced from Baraki Barak district (1 176 individuals), followed by the districts ofMohammad Agha, Charkh, Kharwar and Khoshi. In the first three days of January 2020, UNOCHA

2573 Asia Foundation (The), A Survey of the Afghan People - Afghanistan in 2019, 2 December 2019, url, p. 622574 AIHRC, Human Rights Research & Investigation Unit, Political Rights Monitoring Report Presidential Elections 2019, 28

September 2019, url, p. 112575 Pajhwok Afghan News, 32 Killed, 123 Wounded in Election Day Attacks, 28 September 2019, url
2576 UNOCHA, Humanitarian Regional Team (HRT) - Central Region - Meeting Summary, 6 October 2019, url, p. 1; SIGAR,
Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, 30 October 2019, url, p. 154
2577 1TV, Taliban Force Schools in Central Afghan District to Close, 21 September 2019, url
2578 Tolonews, Taliban Close 29 Government-Sponsored Madrasas in Logar, 17 October 2019, url
2579 UNOCHA, Afghanistan - Monthly Humanitarian Update (January 2020), 11 February 2020, url, p. 1
2580 Guardian (The), Afghanistan Paedophile Ring May Be Responsible for Abuse of 500 Boys, 13 November 2019, url
2581 NYT, 3 Afghan Schools, 165 Accounts of Students Being Raped, 25 November 2019, url
2582 Guardian (The), Whistle-blowers on School Paedophile Ring in Afghanistan Arrested, 25 November 2019, url
2583 NYT, U.S. Envoy Says Afghans Coerced Retraction of Rape Allegations, 26 November, url
2584 RFE/RL, Afghanistan Releases Activists Who Exposed Alleged Paedophile Ring, 27 November 2019, url
2585 Guardian (The), Investigation Begins into Alleged Abuse of More Than 500 Boys in Afghanistan, 29 January 2020, url
2586 Guardian (The), Investigation Begins into Alleged Abuse of More Than 500 Boys in Afghanistan, 29 January 2020, url
2587 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 107

226 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

registered a peak of 490 IDP’s coming from Baraki Barak, Mohammad Agha and Kharwar districts, allfinding refuge in Pul-e Alam district.2588
No conflict-induced internal displacement to Logar province from other provinces was reported by
UNOCHA for the period 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020.2589
In the last week of October 2019, local authorities in Logar reported to UNOCHA about the arrival ofaround 130 IDP families in Pul-e Alam district, coming from insecure areas in Khoshi, Charkh and Baraki
Barak districts.2590 During the last two weeks of March 2020, UNOCHA reported on the displacementof approximately 350 families due to conflict in Logar province.2591
IOM ranked Pul-e Alam district 20th out of the countrywide top 25 districts hosting the most returnees
and IDPs, adding that over 85 % of IDPs from Logar have not returned home.2592 A 2019 study from theNorwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) related
the prolonged displacement of IDPs from Logar province to insecurity, lack of employment
opportunities and inadequate access to public services such as education.2593 According to IOM
displacement data published in August and October 2019, most IDPs and returnees in Logar province
resided in Pul-e Alam district, followed by Khoshi and Mohammad Agha districts.2594

2588 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict

Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
2589 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
2590 UNOCHA, Afghanistan - Weekly Humanitarian Update (28 October - 3 November), 3 November 2019, url, p. 22591 UNOCHA, Afghanistan - Weekly Humanitarian Update (30 March - 5 April 2020), 5 April 2020, url, p. 22592 IOM, Baseline Mobility Assessment: Summary Results March - June 2019, 1 July 2019, url, pp. 6-7
2593 NRC and IDMC, Stuck in the Mud: Urban Displacement and Tenure Security in Kabul’s Informal Settlements, 2019, url, p.
62594 IOM, Afghanistan - Logar Baseline Mobility Assessment Summary Results Round 7 (October - December 2018), 1 August
2019, url, pp. 1, 2, 6; IOM, DTM Afghanistan Baseline Mobility Assessment I District Level I Total Inflow (Returnees+IDPs) I
June 2019 I Province: Logar, 9 October 2019, url

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2.23 Nangarhar
2.23.1 General description of the province

Map 23: Afghanistan – Nangarhar province, source: UNOCHA2595

Nangarhar is located in eastern Afghanistan, along the Afghan-Pakistani border. It borders Laghman
and Kunar to the north, Pakistan to the east and south, and Logar and Kabul to the west.2596 The
provincial capital of Nangarhar is Jalalabad.2597 The province is divided into the following administrative
units: Achin, Batikot, Behsud, Chaparhar, Dara-i Nur, Dehbala (also known as Haska Mena), Durbaba,
Goshta, Hesarak, Jalalabad, Kama, Khogyani, Kot, Kuzkunar, Lalpur, Muhmand Dara, Nazyan,
Pachieragam (sometimes spelled ‘Pachir Wa Agam’2598), Rodat, Sherzad, Shinwar (also known as
Ghanikhel) and Surkhrod.2599 The NSIA also mentions a district named Spinghar but defines it as‘temporary’.2600
According to the NSIA, the population of Nangarhar is estimated at 1 701 698 for 2020/21. The rural
population accounts for about 80 % of the total.2601 The population is composed mainly of Pashtuns,
followed by Pashai, Arabs and Tajiks.2602 As for the local Sikh and Hindu community, which used to beparticularly present in and nearby Jalalabad, many of its members have been leaving Afghanistan due

2595 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Nangarhar Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url;
2596 US, Naval Postraduate School, Nangarhar Provincial Overview, n.d., url
2597 Afghanistan, Office of the President, Provincial Profile Nangarhar, n. d., url
2598 Ali, O., Hit from Many Sides 1: Unpicking the recent victory against the ISKP in Nangrahar, 1 March 2020, url
2599 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated population of Afghanistan 2020-2021, June 2020, url, pp. 14-15; Afghanistan, IEC,

Afghanistan 2019 Presidential Elections – Final results by Polling Stations: Province Nangarhar, 2020, url; UNOCHA,
Afghanistan: Nangarhar Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url; US, Naval Postgraduate School, Nangarhar Provincial
Overview, n.d., url ; Kazemi, S. R. and Sorush, R., One Land, Two Rules (4): Delivering public services in embattled Achin
district in Nangrahar province, AAN, 25 March 2019, url
2600 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated population of Afghanistan 2020-2021, June 2020, url, p. 152601 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated population of Afghanistan 2020-2021, June 2020, url, p. 42602 US, Naval Postgraduate School, Nangarhar Provincial Overview, n.d., url

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to insecurity and government’s indifference. In late September 2018, only 60 families of the community
still lived in Nangarhar.2603 According to Afghanistan’s expert Antonio Giustozzi, as of May 2019, there
were also about 100 000 nomad families in Nangarhar.2604
The Regional Highway 05 (RH05) starts from Kabul2605 and passes through the districts of Surkhrod,
Jalalabad, Behsud, Rodat, Batikot, Shinwar, Muhmand Dara, before reaching the Afghan-Pakistaniborder at Torkham.2606 An improvement project of the Kabul-Jalalabad Highway, conducted by aChinese company, has fallen behind for years, reportedly due to corruption and negligence.2607 In
August 2019, Turkish news site TRTWorld reported that the road going through Surkhrod, Khogyani
and Sherzad districts was mostly paved but remained ‘one of the most dangerous’ in the country due
to the presence of several militant groups and numerous IEDs.2608
The province, which borders the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan2609 (nowmerged with Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province)2610, has served as an unofficial crossing-point
for local and foreign militants.2611 As of 2020, London School of Economics’ expert David Mansfield
listed Garo, Dawtakhel, Ghwaraky, Kama Dakah, Sasobai and Tabai as unofficial crossings, some of them
being hubs for all types of illicit traffics, such as cooking products or car parts.2612
According to the 2018 UNODC Opium Survey, Nangarhar was the leading poppy-cultivating province inthe eastern region, even though the cultivation rate had decreased by 9 %, compared to 2017.2613
Based on updated data supplied by UNODC, AAN mentioned that during 2019, the area under poppy
cultivation had dropped by 82 % in Nangarhar. This ‘unprecedented’ decrease was attributed to bothfalling prices and ongoing conflict.2614 Nevertheless, a May 2020 UN Security Council report mentionedthat narcotic networks were still active in Nangarhar and smuggled drug into Pakistan ‘with thereported acquiescence of security officials’.2615 Tolonews also reported about the illegal mining of
precious and semi-precious stones in Goshta district.2616

2.23.2 Conflict background and actors in Nangarhar
Several sources stated between 2016 and 2018 that Nangarhar had been observing a deterioration of
its political and security situation since 2011.2617

2603 Foschini, F., The Other Fold of the Turban: Afghanistan‘s Hindus and Sikhs, AAN, 23 September 2013, url; AustralianInstitute of International Affairs, A Precarious State: the Sikh Community in Afghanistan, 11 July 2018, url; Salam Watandar,
Sikhs and Hindus of Nangarhar leaving Afghanistan, 23 September 2018, url
2604 Giustozzi, A., Nomad-settler conflict in Afghanistan today, AREU, 13 November 2019, url, p. 142605 Italy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Evaluation Report - Afghanistan: Rehabilitation of Maidan Shar – Bamyan Road, 2014,
url, p. 72606 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Nangarhar Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url
2607 Pajhwok Afghan News, ‘Construction of second lane Kabul-Jalalabad Road faces hurdles, 22 April 2019, url
2608 TRTWorld, On the frontiers of Afghanistan’s most dangerous districts for civilians, 2 August 2019, url
2609 Osman, B., Descent into chaos: Why did Nangarhar turn into an IS hub?, AAN, 27 September 2016, url
2610 International Crisis Group, Shaping a New Peace in Pakistan’s Tribal Areas, 20 August 2018, url
2611 Osman, B., Descent into chaos: Why did Nangarhar turn into an IS hub?, AAN, 27 September 2016, url; New Arab (The),In Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, violence is committed by all sides, 25 January 2018, url
2612 Mansfield, D., Business as Usual: The Uninterrupted Illicit Supply Chain across the Borders of Afghanistan, Medium, 5
May 2020, url; Mansfield, D., Mules, Pick-ups and Container Traffic: Cross-Border Production and Trade and the Shaping of
the Political Economy of Nangarhar, AREU, 6 July 2020, url, p. 16
2613 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, p. 23
2614 Bjelica, J., New World Drug Report: Opium production in Afghanistan remained the same in 2019, AAN, 25 June 2020,
url
2615 UN Security Council, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant
to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 27 May 2020, url, p. 152616 Tolonews, Report Shows Illegal Mining in Nangarhar, 28 March 2020, url
2617 Osman, B., Descent into chaos: Why did Nangarhar turn into an IS hub?, AAN, 27 September 2016, url; TBIJ, Nangarhar:
Descent into chaos, 30 July 2018, url; New Arab (The), In Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, violence is committed by all
sides, 25 January 2018, url

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ISKP has been active in Nangarhar since 2015, when it formally announced its foundation. It was
originally composed of Pakistani militants who had settled in the south-eastern districts of the province
after the Pakistani army had ousted them from the tribal areas.2618 In several reports focused on therise of ISKP, AAN underscored the impact of the corruption of the provincial elite (especially under
governor Gul Agha Sherzai’s rule between 2005 and 2013), and of the concentration of development
projects and aid funds in Jalalabad area. It undermined the people’s trust in the Afghan government
and left the population unprotected against insurgents. Moreover, the decrease in international
combat forces in the province, starting from 2013, led to a considerable loss of territorial control by
the Afghan government, mainly in the districts along the Spin Ghar mountain range in the south andthe east of the province. Meanwhile, the local Taliban were ‘fractured as well and lacked control overtheir forces’, with fighters engaging in criminal activities and violence against civilians. Consequently,
the Taliban could never take advantage of the political and military vacuum in the province, many of
their fighters eventually defecting to ISKP. ISKP also benefitted from the breakdown of rural society andthe erosion of tribal social structures in Nangarhar (particularly in the traditional area of the Shinwari
tribe). Local communities were indeed left vulnerable to pressure from local and foreign insurgents.2619
Resorting to extreme violence, ISKP was able to stay in control of remote areas of Nangarhar – notablyin Achin – for several years, despite intense air strike campaigns which targeted its local commanders.
It also transformed villages into training and logistical centres.2620 Nangarhar University, in Jalalabad,
was among the three universities which provided ISKP with the most recruits.2621 In this regard, Foreign
Policy reported in January 2020 that in both Nangarhar and Kunar provinces, some Salafist madrasas,
funded by Gulf states-based NGOs, were supporting ISKP activities.2622Although Nangarhar was still
described as one of the ISKP ‘strongholds’ in Afghanistan by February 20192623, from the fall of 2019,
military operations simultaneously led by ANDSF, coalition forces and the Taliban pressured the group
into leaving the areas under its control in southern Nangarhar and in Kunar.2624 Meanwhile, ANDSF
made ‘hundreds of arrests’ during operations against ISKP sleeper cells in Jalalabad and Kabul.
According to the UN Security Council, between September and November 2019, ISKP fighters werereduced from 1 750 across seven districts of Nangarhar to less than 200, concentrated in the Takhto
area of Achin district.2625 By November 2019, ISKP had been ‘nearly eradicated from its main Afghanbase in Nangarhar’.2626 In this regard, Obaid Ali stressed the importance of ISKP’s unpopularity in
Nangarhar in its defeat, since it could not rely of locals’ support.2627
The UN Security Council added that by the end of February 2020, over 1 400 ISKP members – mainly
families – had surrendered after the group had been driven out of Nangarhar.2628 However, Obaid Ali
noted that in early 2020, ‘small groups of 15-20 ISKP fighters [were still operating] in some remote2618 Osman, B., The Islamic State in ‘Khorasan’: How it began and where it stands now in Nangarhar, AAN, 27 July 2016, url
2619 Osman, B., Descent into chaos: Why did Nangarhar turn into an IS hub?, AAN, 27 September 2016, url ; Kazemi, S. R.

and Sorush, R., One Land, Two Rules (4): Delivering public services in embattled Achin district in Nangrahar province, AAN,
25 March 2019, url ; Osman, B., Bourgeois Jihad: Why Young, Middle-Class Afghans Join the Islamic State, USIP, 1 June
2020, url, p. 222620 Washington Post (The), Afghanistan claims the Islamic State was ‘obliterated.’ But fighters who got away could stage aresurgence, 9 February 2020, url
2621 Osman, B., Bourgeois Jihad: Why Young, Middle-Class Afghans Join the Islamic State, USIP, 1 June 2020, url, p. 112622 FP, In Afghanistan, Religious Schools Are a Breeding Ground for Islamic State Influence, 24 January 2020, url
2623 UN Secretary-General, Eighth report of the Secretary-General on the threat posed by ISIL (Da’esh) to international
peace and security and the range of United Nations efforts in support of Member States in countering the threat, 1
February 2019, url, p. 72624 USDOD, Enhancing Security & Stability in Afghanistan, June 2020, url, p. 282625 UN Security Council, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant
to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 27 May 2020, url, pp. 17-19
2626 UN Security Council, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant
to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 27 May 2020, url, pp. 3-4 ; Diplomat (The),
Islamic State’s Lingering Legacy in Afghanistan, 5 February 2020, url
2627 Ali, O., Hit from Many Sides 1: Unpicking the recent victory against the ISKP in Nangrahar, AAN, 1 March 2020, url
2628 UN Security Council, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant
to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 27 May 2020, url, p. 17

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areas of Deh Bala, Pachir wa Agam and Khogyani districts’2629, while their presence was also reported
in the mountainous areas of Achin district.2630 In April 2020, an NDS official quoted by the Diplomat
stated that ISKP fighters still hiding in Nangarhar had been left without command centre.2631
Regarding the Taliban, as of May 2020, the UN Security Council listed Mullah Mohammad Essa,
originally affiliated to the Peshawar Shura network, as the shadow governor of Nangarhar. He wasappointed after the ‘reshuffle’ of the Taliban government structure during the 2019-2020 winter, aheadof the 2020 fighting season.2632 According to an Afghanistan analyst interviewed in January 2020 by
Lifos, Sweden’s Country of Origin Information Centre, the Taliban were able to consolidate theirpresence in areas that they cleared from ISKP and thus were the strongest armed group in
Nangarhar.2633 However, in March 2020, AAN’s expert Obaid Ali assessed the movement as ‘weak’ in
Nangarhar – as it had to mobilize troops from other provinces to expel ISKP – and expressed doubts
about its ability to gain more territory.2634 The Taliban reportedly set up a system of taxation of
smuggling goods across eight of Nangarhar’s southern districts, Hesarak and Sherzad districts being the
local centre of their narcotics activity.2635 The UN Security Council indeed suggested that behind the
Taliban’s determination to dislodge ISKP from Nangarhar was their will to retake control of local
smuggling routes and poppy-cultivating areas.2636 According to a USIP survey conducted in eight Afghan
provinces throughout 2018, Nangarhar was the province with the highest number of IDPs respondents
indicating that the Taliban had approached them for recruitment (one third out of 20).2637 Over 2019,
UNAMA documented one case of child recruitment by the Taliban in Nangarhar.2638
In March 2019, the Afghan Ministry of Interior reported the arrest of a commander of the Haqqani
Network, who purportedly headed a group of 40 fighters in Nangarhar.2639
As listed by AAN in a 2016 report, other Afghan militant groups operating in the province were then:the Tora Bora Jihadi Front, mostly active in Khogyani, Sherzad and Pachieragam, which was integrated
into the mainstream Taliban movement in October 2015; Hezb-e Islami, mainly operating in Chaparhar,
Kot and Sherzad; several Salafi groups, whose influence within the eastern provinces was significant
and who were mainly operating in Chaparhar, Kot and Batikot; Fedaiy Karwan, a semi-autonomous
group within the Taliban movement, mostly operating in Khogiani and Sherzad districts; and the
Siahpushan (plural, ‘black-clad and masked’), whose alliance was not clear and who were active in
Khogyani, Pachieragam and Sherzad.2640
In May 2020, the UN Security Council listed Nangarhar as one of the twelve provinces where Al Qaeda
was ‘covertly active’.2641 UNAMA added that its main tasks consist in ‘training, including weapons andexplosives, and mentoring’.2642 The Diplomat observed that in April 2020, Al Qaeda claimed to havesupported the Taliban in their fight against ISKP in Nangarhar in late 2019.2643

2629 Ali, O., Hit from Many Sides 1: Unpicking the recent victory against the ISKP in Nangrahar, AAN, 1 March 2020, url
2630 AAN, Voices from the Districts, the Violence Mapped (1): What has happened since the reduction in violence ended?,

21 March 2020, url
2631 Diplomat (The), The Islamic State Remains Alive in Afghanistan, 27 April 2020, url
2632 UN Security Council, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant
to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 27 May 2020, url, pp. 8-9, 27
2633 Sweden Lifos, Säkerhetsläget i Afghanistan (version 2.0.), 7 April 2020, url, p. 41
2634 Ali, O., Hit from Many Sides 1: Unpicking the recent victory against the ISKP in Nangrahar, 1 March 2020, url
2635 UN Security Council, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant
to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 27 May 2020, url, p. 152636 UN Security Council, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant
to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 27 May 2020, url, pp. 16-17
2637 USIP, Displacement and the Vulnerability to Mobilize for Violence: Evidence from Afghanistan, 8 January 2020, url, p. 20
2638 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 24
2639 Khaama Press, Prominent Haqqani Network commander arrested in Jalalabad city, 7 March 2019, url
2640 Osman, B., Descent into chaos: Why did Nangarhar turn into an IS hub?, AAN, 27 September 2016, url
2641 UN Security Council, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant
to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 27 May 2020, url, p. 122642 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, pp. 85-86
2643 Diplomat (The), The Taliban and al-Qaeda: Enduring Partnership or Liability?, 16 June 2020, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 231

As of May 2020, Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Jaish-e Mohammad (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT)
were listed among the foreign groups mostly present in eastern Afghanistan, notably in Nangarhar,
under the leadership of the Afghan Taliban. TTP’s forces were then estimated at 180 fighters situatedin Lalpur district, while JeM and LeT respectively numbered 200 and 800 fighters, ‘colocated with
Taliban forces’ in Muhmand Dara, Durbaba and Sherzad districts. These groups reportedly ‘act asadvisers, trainers and specialists in IEDs’, while ‘carrying out targeted assassinations against
government officials and others’.2644 In April 2020, the Afghan security forces claimed to have destroyed
JeM bases in Nangarhar and added that the group had been active over the past fifteen years in the
Ghoraki area of Muhmad Dara district, along the border.2645 Other foreign groups primarily active in
Nangarhar include two split factions of Pakistani Jamaat ul-Ahrar (which is itself a splinter group of
TTP).2646 One of them, Hizbul Ahrar, was attacked by ANDSF in February 2020.2647 In 2016, AAN reported
the presence of Lashkar-e Islam (cooperating with ISKP); the Salafi-oriented group Amr bil ma’ruf Wa
Nahi An Al-Munkar; and Ansar ul-Islam, a Pakistani pro-government group. All of them were said tooperate in Nazyan and Achin districts.2648
In terms of the presence of government security forces, Nangarhar province is under the responsibilityof the 201st ANA Corps, which falls under Train, Advise, and Assist Command - East (TAAC-E), led by US
and Polish forces.2649 In 2017, Nangarhar reportedly numbered 18 ALP units – more than any otherprovince –, although in 2019, AAN could not verify that all of them were actually active.2650 In a 2020
report, AAN also noted the presence of eight newly established ANA-TF units, along with NDS-backed‘uprising forces’, in ten districts of Nangarhar (among which Nazyan, Khogyani, Sherzad, Pachieragam
and Achin2651), where ‘they appeared to be much more visible and active than the ALP.’2652 In June 2020,
the US Department of Defence stressed the ‘most notable contribution’ of the ANA-TF to the anti-ISKP
campaign in the south of Nangarhar, where it has been tasked to keep the liberated districts secure.2653
Besides, the 02 unit of NDS Special Forces (‘NDS-02’) is said to operate in Nangarhar and to conduct
counter-terrorism operations under the supervision of the CIA. It has been accused of killing civilians
in several raids across the province.2654 Finally, in June 2019, the New York Times reported that the US
Special Forces held several outposts in Nangarhar.2655
On their previous attempts to dislodge ISKP, ANDSF had not been able to keep the liberated areas under
their control.2656 However, AAN’s Obaid Ali noted that, after their respective operations against ISKP inlate 2019, both the Taliban and the Afghan government had expanded their control in Nangarhar – theformer in the ‘remote, mountainous parts where ISKP had most of its remaining bases’, the latter inlower-altitude areas. According to Ali, as of March 2020, the government controlled almost entirely 10
out of Nangarhar’s 22 districts (Achin, Batikot, Behsud, Dara-i Nur, Durbaba, Kama, Kot, Muhmand

2644 UN Security Council, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant

to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 27 May 2020, url, p. 20
2645 Tolonews, Militant Group Jaish-e-Mohammad's Bases Destroyed: ANA, 22 April 2020, url
2646 Osman, B., Descent into chaos: Why did Nangarhar turn into an IS hub?, AAN, 27 September 2016, url; UN Security
Council, Letter dated 10 June 2019 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution
1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 13 June 2019, url, p. 18; See also: EASO, EASO Country of
Origin Information Report, Pakistan, Security Situation, October 2019, url, pp. 26-27
2647 BBC News, Crackdown on militants as US and Afghan Taliban seek deal, 15 February 2020, url
2648 Osman, B., Descent into chaos: Why did Nangarhar turn into an IS hub?, AAN, 27 September 2016, url
2649 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan, June 2020, url, p. 132650 Clark, K. et al., Ghosts of the Past: Lessons from Local Force Mobilisation in Afghanistan and Prospects for the Future,
AAN & Global Public Policy Institute, July 2020, url, pp. 37, 89
2651 Le Monde, A Nangarhar, au sein d’une milice coincée entre l’EI et les talibans [In Nangarhar, inside a militia wedged
between IS and the Taliban], 27 August 2019, url
2652 Clark, K. et al., Ghosts of the Past: Lessons from Local Force Mobilisation in Afghanistan and Prospects for the Future,
AAN & Global Public Policy Institute, July 2020, url, pp. 40, 75
2653 USDOD, Enhancing Security & Stability in Afghanistan, June 2020, url, p. 60
2654 HRW, “They’ve Shot Many Like This” Abusive Night Raids by CIA-Backed Afghan Strike Forces, 31 October 2019, url
2655 NYT, U.S. Special Forces Battle Against ISIS Turns to Containment, and Concern, 14 June 2019, url
2656 UN Security Council, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant
to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 27 May 2020, url, p. 17

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Dara, Pachieragam and Shinwar) and ruled about 70-80 % of 8 other districts (Chaparhar, Dehbala,
Goshta, Kuzkunar, Lalpur, Nazyan, Rodat and Spinghar). The remaining districts were said to be under
the Taliban or Pakistani AGE’s control, with the Taliban being the dominant force in Hesarak, Khogyani,
Sherzad and Surkhrod, where ANDSF were only present in the district centres and theirsurroundings.2657 Indeed, according to Tolonews information quoted by AAN, as of 2019, the civilian
administration of Sherzad and Heserak had to operate from Jalalabad.2658
According to information collected by LWJ and presented in a map, the Taliban shut down health clinics
in Hesarak, Khogyani, Lalpur, Sherzad and Surkhrod in January 2020, indicating that they control these
districts. LWJ also relied on undated Resolute Support information to assess Achin, Batikot, Chaparhar,
Dehbala, Nazyan, Pachieragam and Rodat as contested. The remaining districts are presented asundetermined or government-controlled.2659

2.23.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population
2.23.3.1 General
In 2019, UNAMA documented 1 070 civilian casualties (356 deaths and 714 injured) in Nangarhar.
Although this represents a decrease of 41 % compared to 2018, the province ranked second only to
Kabul in this regard. UNAMA explained this ‘significant decrease’ by a drop in ground engagements
initiated by ISKP in Nangarhar over 2019, even though the number of incidents attributed to ISKP (suchas IED discoveries, detonations and armed clashes) has been increasing. In 2019, leading causes ofcasualties were non-suicide IEDs, followed by ground engagements and suicide IEDs.2660 In its midyear
report, UNAMA provided civilian casualties numbers for the five most affected provinces between
1 January and 30 June 2020, Nangarhar ranking third with 281 casualties.2661 As for Resolute Support,
it recorded between 101 and 125 civilian casualties in Nangarhar in the first quarter of 2020. In thesecond quarter of 2020, RS indicated Nangarhar as the province that experienced the highest numberof civilian casualties countrywide, with 259 civilian casualties recorded. This represents a 236 %increase compared to the previous quarter. 2662
Regarding the severity of the conflict, Nangarhar was listed as one of the most active areas of conflictby the UN Secretary General in September 2019 and March 2020 reports.2663 Resolute Support
recorded between 501 and 1 000 enemy-initiated attacks in Nangarhar province over the full year
2019, in line with 2018.2664 While both the Afghan government and the Taliban have taken credit forhaving ousted ISKP from Nangarhar in late 2019, UNAMA indicated that ‘from available evidence, therecord of the Taliban in pressuring ISIL-KP is mixed and considerably less than that of operations by

2657 Ali, O., Hit from Many Sides 1: Unpicking the recent victory against the ISKP in Nangrahar, 1 March 2020, url
2658 Tolonews, 64 Administrative Units Partially Paralyzed In 19 Provinces, 30 June 2019, url ; Ali, O., Hit from Many Sides 1:

Unpicking the recent victory against the ISKP in Nangrahar, 1 March 2020, url
2659 LWJ, Mapping Taliban Control in Afghanistan, n. d., url However the source does not systematically specify when andwhich information of the aforementioned map was last updated.
2660 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, pp. 36, 69, 94
2661 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Midyear Report : 1 January – 30 June 2020, 27 July 2020,
url, p. 52662 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 April 2020, url, p. 69 ; SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the UnitedStates Congress, 30 July 2020, url, pp. 71-72
2663 UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, 3 September 2019, url, p.
6; UNSG, The Situation in Afghanistan and Its Implications for International Peace and Security, A/74/753–S/2020/210, 17
March 2020, url, p. 52664 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 January 2020, url, p. 69

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international military forces and Afghan national security forces.’2665 The US military suspended air
strikes against Taliban involved in fighting with ISKP but denied any further coordination with them.2666
In May 2020, Afghan security officials interviewed by Tolonews reported that over the previous twomonths, the Taliban, Al Qaeda and JeM had increased their military activities in eastern Afghanistan
especially in the border areas in Nangarhar, Kunar and Nuristan.2667 However, according to local
residents interviewed by AAN in April 2020, Surkhrod and Achin had remained calm since ISKP was
driven out of the region.2668 In May and June 2020, UNOCHA described the situation as ‘volatile’, withongoing fighting between the ANDSF and AGEs, causing civilian casualties.2669
In the period from 1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, ACLED collected data on 705 violent events in
Nangarhar province from open sources: 387 coded as ‘battles’ (55 %), 293 as ‘explosions/remoteviolence’ (41 %) and 25 as ‘violence against civilians’ (4 %).2670

Figure 25. Nangarhar - Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians
from 1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, based on ACLED data2671

Across these three categories, Khogyani (with the highest ‘Battles’ and ‘Explosions/remote violence’
numbers), Sherzad, Achin and Jalalabad stood as the most as the most violence-affected districts.
Between 25 and 50 incidents were recorded in Batikot, Dehbala, Muhmand Dara, Pachieragam,
Shinwar and Surkhrod districts, and less than 20 in the remaining ones.2672
Regarding events coded as ‘battles’ by ACLED, an overwhelming majority of them were ‘armed
clashes’, initiated in equal proportions by ANDSF and the Taliban. The highest numbers were recorded
in March-April 2019, September-October 2019 and February 2020, with a very sharp drop from April
2020 until the end of the reporting period. Khogyani, Sherzad, Achin, Surkhrod (which neighbours theprovincial capital, Jalalabad) and Muhmand Dara were the most affected districts by this type of

2665 RFE/RL/Gandhara, Doubts Surround U.S. Envoy’s Claim Of Taliban Role In IS Defeat, 4 December 2019, url ; UNAMA,

Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 37
2666 USDOD, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel – Lead Inspector General Report to the United States Congress (January 1, 2020
– March 31, 2020), May 2020, url, p. 142667 Tolonews, Al Qaeda, Jaish-e-Mohammad Align With Taliban in East: Officials, 12 May 2020, url
2668 Clark, K., Voices from the Districts, the Violence Mapped (2): Assessing the conflict a month after the US-Taleban
agreement, AAN, 8 April 2020, url
2669 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (28 April – 4 May 2020), 7 May 2020, url ; UNOCHA, Afghanistan:
Weekly Humanitarian Update (15 June – 21 June 2020), 24 June 2020, url
2670 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Nangarhar ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url For more information on ACLED’s methodology, see: Introduction – Sources.
2671 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Nangarhar ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
2672 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Nangarhar ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url

234 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

violence.2673 ISKP accounted for 12 initiated armed clashes, mostly against the Taliban in Sherzad andDehbala districts during the summer of 20192674, as reported by media sources.2675 Overall, many
armed clashes are connected to aforementioned anti-ISKP operations led by ANDSF and the Taliban.
Conversely, a maximum of five armed clashes were recorded in Behsud, Durbaba, Goshta, Kama, Kot,
Kuzkunar and Rodat.2676
Also coded as an ‘armed clash’ was an attack by AGEs against the Independent Election Commissionof Afghanistan office in Jalalabad City in September 2019, in the run-up to the presidential election.
Two civilians and two police officers were killed, and twelve others were wounded.2677
In terms of incidents coded by ACLED as ‘Explosions/Remote violence’, the most represented subcategories were clearly ‘Air/drone strikes’ (48 %) and ‘Remote explosive/Landmine/IED’ (43 %). Five
districts accounted for 120 of the 142 strikes carried out by ANDSF and their allies against ISKP and the
Taliban: Khogyani, Achin, Dehbala, Pachieragam and Sherzad. Conversely, based on ACLED data, otherNangarhar’s districts were hardly affected by this type of violence, if at all.2678 Consistently with the US
airforce-backed ANDSF operations2679, half of the documented strikes took place between September
and November 2019. Among such incidents, Reuters reported that on 19 September 2019, in the Wazir
Tangi area of Khogyani district, a US drone fired at 150 civilians who had gathered to harvest pine nuts
and were reportedly mistaken for ISKP fighters. The strike caused at least 30 deaths (of which UNAMA
verified at least 20) and wounded another 40 people. UNAMA expressed concerns about ‘themeasures that were taken to verify the targets’.2680
As for ‘Remote explosive/Landmine/IED’, Jalalabad district recorded the highest numbers (34),followed by Batikot (17) and Khogyani (16).2681 For instance, on 13 May 2019, the provincial capital
was struck by a round of quasi simultaneous explosions (3 deaths, 20 wounded). Their perpetrators
have remained unidentified.2682 On 13 June 2019, a suicide attacker killed 5 civilians and 4 local police
officers, while wounding at least 12 people, as he targeted a police vehicle in Jalalabad City.2683 On
19 August 2019, as people were celebrating the hundredth anniversary of the national independence,ten blasts across Jalalabad injured over 50 persons.2684 On 23 August 2019, a roadside bomb explosion
killed one civilian and wounded 14 others in a bazar of Khogyani district.2685 On 7 October 2019, 112673 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus; Afghanistan; Nangarhar ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
2674 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Nangarhar ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
2675 Khaama Press, Taliban’s Red Unit militants clash with ISIS fighters in Nangarhar province, 22 September 2019, url
2676 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Nangarhar ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
2677 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 26 September 2019, url
2678 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Nangarhar ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
2679 Pajhwok Afghan News, Anti-Daesh operation to follow uplift projects in Achin, 7 October 2019, url ; Ali, O., Hit from
Many Sides 1: Unpicking the recent victory against the ISKP in Nangrahar, AAN, 1 March 2020, url
2680 Reuters, U.S drone strike killed 30 pine nut farm workers in Afghanistan, 19 September 2019, url ; NYT, Afghan War
Casualty Report: September 2019, 26 September 2019, url; UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict
Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, pp. 55-56
2681 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Nangarhar ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
2682 Le Figaro, Afghanistan : explosions à Jalalabad, au moins trois morts [Explosions in Jalalabad, at least three deaths][Source: AFP], 13 May 2019, url
2683 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 7-13, 13 June 2019, url
2684 RFE/RL,Dozens Wounded In Blasts As Afghanistan Marks Independence Day, 19 August 2019, url
2685 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: Aug. 23-29, 29 August 2019, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 235

people (2 civilians) were killed and 32 injured (20 civilians) when a vehicle-borne IED hit a bus carrying
ANDSF members. UNOCHA added that the attacked had been claimed by ISKP.2686
ACLED coded six other events as ‘Suicide bomb’ attacks across five districts (two in Jalalabad).2687 In
October 2019, ISKP was thought to have carried out a suicide attack in a Jowdara village’s mosque,Dehbala district, during Friday prayers. It caused 119 civilian casualties (73 killed).2688 On 12 July 2019,
nine people were killed, and twelve others wounded after a child was used to carry out a suicide attack
during a wedding party in Pachieragam district. The attack was claimed by ISKP and reportedly targeteda pro-government militia commander.2689 On 12 May 2020, in another suicide attack carried out by
ISKP during the funerals of a pro-government militia commander, 32 civilians were killed and 133
others wounded.2690
Finally, Jalalabad was the most affected district by violent events against civilians (7), followed by
Khogyani (4). ACLED attributed almost half of these 25 incidents to ANDSF and their NATO allies.2691
These included the killing of 13 civilians in Hesarak, in March 20192692 and of 8 others in Surkhrod, inFebruary 2020, both by US air strikes.2693 Moreover, in September 2019, during an operation in
Jalalabad, the NDS-02 Special Forces unit shot at close range four brothers from a single familysuspected to be ISKP members. About 800 people gathered in Jalalabad to deny any connection
between the victims and ISKP and demand justice. It eventually led to the resignation of the head of
NDS.2694
Among the AGEs-attributed attacks against civilians, in December 2019, unidentified gunmen shot
Dr Tetsu Nakamura, Director of Peace Japan Medical Services, and six other civilians in December 2019
in Jalalabad City. Dr Nakamura’s murder prompted public outcry, as he had been working in
Afghanistan for decades and greatly improved the irrigation infrastructures in Nangarhar.2695 In thefirst half of 2019, a dozen of civilians, religious and tribal elders and government officials were thevictims of a wave of targeted killings in Jalalabad, attributed to mafia networks by activists, or to AGEs
by provincial authorities.2696 According to a Western senior analyst interviewed in 2017 by Belgium’s
CEDOCA, the criminality in Jalalabad has been increasing since at least 2016.2697
In its annual report, UNAMA expressed concern over ‘Taliban attacks and actions targeting healthfacilities and protected personnel’.2698 By August 2019, Nangarhar was indeed one of the threeprovinces having witnessed the most events of direct and indirect violence against humanitarian
personnel or facilities.2699 The World Health Organization reported that three health care workers were
killed and four were injured in Nangarhar between January and November 2019, but recorded no2686 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (7 October – 13 October 2019), 16 October 2019, url
2687 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus; Afghanistan; Nangarhar ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
2688 NYT, Afghan Village of 70 Families Faces Ruin With Mosque Massacre, 19 October 2019, url; UNAMA, Afghanistan
Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 47
2689 BBC News, Afghanistan war: child used in suicide attack, 12 July 2019, url
2690 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report : May 2020, 28 May 2020, url
2691 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Nangarhar ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
2692 NYT, 13 Civilians Reported Killed in U.S. Airstrikes in Afghanistan, 10 March 2019, url
2693 RFE/RL,Eight Afghan Civilians Killed In Air Strike [Source: AFP and Reuters], 15 February 2020, url ; NYT, Afghan War
Casualty Report: February 2020, 27 February 2020, url
2694 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, pp. 66-67
2695 NYT, ‘He Showed Us Life’: Japanese Doctor Who Brought Water to Afghans Is Killed, 4 December 2019, url
2696 Pajhwok Afghan News, Nangarharis say targeted killings continue unabated, 6 May 2019, url
2697 Belgium, CEDOCA, COI Focus – Afghanistan - Veiligheidssituatie in Jalalabad, Behsud en Surkhrod [Security Situation in
Jalalabad, Behsud and Surkhrod], 12 March 2020, url, p. 16
2698 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 29
2699 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Monthly Humanitarian Update (August 2019), 24 September 2019, url, p. 2

236 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

similar incident between January and May 2020.2700 In January 2020, it was reported that the Taliban
had closed all health centres in Sherzad, Hesarak, Khogyani, Surkhrod and Lalpur districts. The groupargued that it was a retaliatory measure against the closure of health centres by the authorities in theirareas.2701 Fifteen health centres were reopened a month later in Khogyani, Surkhrod, Lalpur, Muhmand
Dara and Achin districts, but several others remained closed.2702 In August 2019, during an
immunisation campaign in eastern Afghanistan, access to AGE-controlled areas proved to be ‘a key
challenge’ in Nangarhar, among other provinces.2703 UNAMA also documented a case of ANDSF
members threatening the medical personnel of the Khogyani public hospital in April 2020.2704 UNAMA
mentioned educational facilities impacted by the conflict as well: in July 2019, during a search
operation, the NDS-02 strike force destroyed a high school in Sherzad district, depriving over 1 300
students of education.2705

2.23.3.2 Displacement
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 38 640 persons
displaced from Nangarhar – the fourth highest provincial numbers recorded over the period. Except
for a couple of hundreds IDPs who were headed to Kabul, Khost and Laghman provinces, all of themfound refuge within the province.2706 Overall, the main districts of origin of IDPs were Sherzad (20 623)
and Surkhrod (9 856), distantly followed by Muhmand Dara (3 556) and Khogyani (3 271). The four ofthem accounted for 97 % of Nangarhar’s IDPs.2707 Massive waves of displacements in Khogyani and
Sherzad districts are linked to ongoing fighting during March-April 2019 (between the Taliban and
ISKP)2708, in May-June 20192709, and in early 2020 (between ANDSF and AGEs).2710 Conflict forced over
6 000 people to flee within Surkhrod district in August 20192711, and displaced several other thousandsof people in Muhmand Dara in early January 2020.2712 UNOCHA also reported a peak of displacements
in November 2019 from Achin to Jalalabad (844)2713, coinciding with the military operations against
ISKP that took place in the district.2714 Other noted factors of displacement were threats, intimidationand shelling.2715
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 48 339 persons
displaced to Nangarhar province. Most of them went to Surkhrod (16 801), Jalalabad (8 316), Khogyani(7 035) and Behsud (6 700) districts. Outside of the aforementioned 38 000 people displaced within
Nangarhar, 10 155 came from Kunar and mainly settled in Nangarhar’s neighbouring districts, such as
Behsud, Dara-i Nur and Kuzkunar.2716
2700 World Health Organization, Afghanistan – Attacks on Health Care in 2019 as of 17 November, 18 November 2019, url;

World Health Organization, Afghanistan – Attacks on Health Care (January 28, 2020 – May 23, 2020), 23 May 2020, url
2701 Tolonews, Taliban Closes Health Centers In Nangarhar Districts, 21 January 2020, url
2702 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (3 February – 9 February 2020), 12 February 2020, url
2703 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (5 August – 11 August 2019), 14 August 2019, url
2704 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict – Special Report : Attacks on Healthcare during the
COVID-19 Pandemic, 20 June 2020, url, p. 122705 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 28
2706 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
2707 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
2708 UNOCHA, Kunar Conflict - Update (as of 3 April 2019), 4 April 2019, url; Reuters, Heavy fighting flares between Taliban,
Islamic State in Afghanistan, 24 April 2019, url
2709 Tolonews, Taliban-Daesh Clashes Displace Over 13,000 Families In Nangarhar, 11 June 2019, url
2710 UNOCHA, Afghanistan : Weekly Humanitarian Update (3 February – 9 February 2020), 12 February 2020, url
2711 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (9 September – 15 September 2019), 18 September 2019, url
2712 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (6 January – 12 January 2020), 15 January 2020, url
2713 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
2714 Ali, O., Hit from Many Sides 1: Unpicking the recent victory against the ISKP in Nangrahar, AAN, 1 Marc 2020, url
2715 UNOCHA, Weekly Humanitarian Update (18 August – 25 August 2019), 25 August 2019, url
2716 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION

2.24 Nimroz
2.24.1 General description of the province— 237

238 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

Map 24: Afghanistan – Nimroz province, source: UNOCHA2717

Nimroz province is located in the south-west of Afghanistan, alongside the border with Iran andPakistan.2718 The province borders Farah to the north, Helmand to the east, Pakistan to the south andIran to the west.2719 Nimroz is divided into the following districts: provincial capital Zaranj, Kang, Aslee Chakhansur, Char Burjak, Khashrod and Dularam.2720
According to NSIA, the population of Nimroz is estimated at 183 554 for 2020/21. Urban population,living in provincial capital Zaranj, constitutes 16 % of all inhabitants.2721 The population is composed
mainly of Balochs, followed by Pashtuns, Tajiks2722, Brahui and Uzbeks.2723 Balochs living in Afghanistan
are primary nomadic.2724
The province’s topography consists of flat and mostly desert terrain.2725 In 2019 Pajhwok Afghan News
reported about the negative impact of ‘the worst drought in living memory’ in Nimroz province, as
many farmers lost significant amounts of livestock2726 and suffered from shortages of food and highlevels of malnutrition, especially among women and children.2727 The Afghan government started theconstruction of water dams on Helmand River. Kamal Khan dam in Charburjak is nearly completed andis expected to irrigate 175 000 hectares of Nimroz’s farmland. It should also generate electricity which
would replace the power imported from Iran. Iran was accused of sabotaging the project allegedly bysupporting the local Taliban and bribing some officials in order to delay the opening of the dam. Iranreportedly is afraid that the dam would reduce its own water supplies. The construction site is currently
protected by hundreds of security officers.2728
A national highway, starting from Delaram and intersecting Highway One, passes through the districtsof Khashrod, Chakhansur and Zaranj; it leads to Zaranj City, at the Afghan-Iranian border.2729 The cityof Zaranj hosts an airport, which was served by domestic scheduled passenger flights as of March
2019.2730
The province is of strategic position for smuggling because of its proximity to Iran, Pakistan andHelmand. The Zaranj – Dularam road and the south-western highways have been used as transit routes
for drugs trafficking.2731 According to Foreign Policy, Nimroz province, which was considered‘Afghanistan’s drug-smuggling hub’, served as a ‘financial artery’ for the Taliban. Zaranj City wasdescribed as ‘Afghanistan’s smuggling capital’.2732 Moreover, Taliban militants purportedly set up
checkpoints along the Zaranj-Dularam Highway and charged taxes on vehicles carrying goods.2733
In 2018, local media reported that Nimroz was also considered a key route for human trafficking andmigrant smugglers. People fleeing the country are directed to Zaranj City where they usually spend a
few days in very harsh conditions with little food or other basic facilities, waiting for the possibility to2717 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Nimroz Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url
2718 Pajhwok Afghan News, Background profile of Nimroz, n.d., url
2719 US, Naval Postgraduate School, Nimroz Provincial Overview, n.d., url
2720 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Nimroz Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url; Afghanistan NSIA, Estimated Population of

Afghanistan 2020-2021, url, p. 44
2721 Afghanistan NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-2021 url, p. 442722 Pajhwok Afghan News, Background profile of Nimroz, n.d., url
2723 US, Naval Postgraduate School, Nimroz Provincial Overview, n.d., url
2724 US, Naval Postgraduate School, Nimroz Provincial Overview, n.d., url
2725 US, Naval Postgraduate School, Nimroz Provincial Overview, n.d., url
2726 Pajhwok Afghan News, Nimroz farmers in despair as drought kills livestock, 2 January 2019, url
2727 Relief International, Saving Lives and Securing Futures in Drought-Stricken Afghanistan, 26 August 2019, url
2728 Los Angeles Times, God, gas and heroin. Now, the fight’s over water, 6 February 2020, url
2729 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Nimroz Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url
2730 Austria, BFA-Staatendokumentation, Afghanistan - Airports [Map], 25 March 20192731 IWPR, Drugs Trade Thrives in Afghan Province, 19 February 2018, url
2732 Foreign Policy, On the Edge of Afghanistan, 12 September 2017, url
2733 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban running ‘customs check-point‘ on Nimroz road, 20 January 2018, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 239

cross the border to Iran, and further to Europe. People who illegally cross were deported from Iran ona daily basis through the border crossing in Nimroz.2734
The province was facing a significant drug problem due to a growing local rate of addiction. The highaddiction rate was attributed to the large numbers of returnees from Iran, who started using drugs
while working there.2735 It is reported that drug addiction also affects increasingly women.2736
According to UNODC data obtained by AAN, poppy cultivation in Nimroz province decreased by 38 %in 2019, compared to 2018.2737 All villages in Nimroz producing poppy are paying taxes to Taliban orother anti-governmental elements.2738
Since 25 March 2020, a lockdown has been introduced in Nimroz due to an increase of COVID-19 cases,
mostly imported from neighbouring Iran.2739 A curfew has been imposed and the border crossing point
has been closed. Food import from Iran has been stopped.2740

2.24.2 Conflict background and actors in Nimroz
In terms of the presence of government security forces, Nimroz province is under the responsibility of
the 215th ANA Corps, which falls under Task Force Southwest (TF Southwest), led by US forces.2741
Certain districts of the province remain an area of substantial Taliban activity. According to Taliban
sources, their troops have been present along natural and administrative boundaries and infrastructure
over past two years.2742 According to the Long War Journal, most areas in the province are controlled
by Taliban, apart from the district centres and the province capital, Zaranj which are under
governmental control.2743According to sources quoted by Le Figaro, in 2018 Iran supported the Taliban
financially, militarily and also by providing them with training units organised by the Quds Force, abranch of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. In return, Taliban fighters had to intensify their operations
against ISKP and US troops.2744
Taliban fighters loyal to Mullah Rasul, the leader of a Taliban splinter group active in western
Afghanistan, have been operating in Nimroz province; they were reported to fight against the main
Taliban faction for control of drug-trafficking route.2745

2.24.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population
2.24.3.1 General
In 2019, UNAMA documented 62 civilian casualties (30 deaths and 32 injured) in Nimroz province. This
represents a decrease of 24 % compared to 2018. Leading causes of casualties were air strikes, followed

2734 Tolonews, Nimroz Identified As Key Human Trafficking Route, 13 September 2018, url
2735 IWPR, Drugs Trade Thrives in Afghan Province, 19 February 2018, url; BD News, More Afghan women find solace indrugs as coronavirus, migration upends life, 03 April 2020, url
2736 BD News, More Afghan women find solace in drugs as coronavirus, migration upends life, 03 April 2020, url
2737 Bjelica J., New World Drug Report: Opium production in Afghanistan remained the same in 2019, AAN, 25 June 2020, url
2738UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN , Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018 – socio-economic report, July 2019, url, p. 63-64
2739 Anadolu Agency, COVID-19: Afghanistan lockdowns frontline provinces, 25 March 2020, url
2740 The National, Afghanistan’s doctors brace for impact as first positive coronavirus case detected, 25 February 2020, url
2741 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan, 1 June 2020, url, p. 13
2742ACLED, The World According to the Taliban: New Data on Afghanistan, 19 December 2020, url
2743 LWJ, Mapping Taliban Control in Afghanistan, n.d., url. The source, however, does not specify when and which
information of the aforementioned map was last updated.
2744 Le Figaro, En Afghanistan, l‘Iran accroît son aide aux talibans, 19 September 2018, url, p. 31
2745 RFE/RL, Taliban Infighting Leaves Dozens Of Militants Dead In Afghanistan, 30 November 2018, url240 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

by ground engagements and explosive remnants of war.2746 Resolute Support recorded between 0 and25 civilian casualties in Nimroz during both the first and second quarters of 2020.2747
In the period from 1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, ACLED reported a total 142 incidents related tosecurity in Nimroz province, of which 109 were coded as battles, 30 as remote violence, 3 as violenceagainst civilians.2748

Figure 26. Nimroz - Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians from
1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, based on ACLED data2749

During the reported period, US forces in Afghanistan tried to hit drug labs and other infrastructure
belonging to Taliban in the province. The campaign was called Operation Iron Tempest. In 2019, US
forces carried out some 200 strikes against heroin labs.2750
In March 2019, NDS forces stormed and destroyed a hideout, prison, and drug lab of Taliban in Delaram
and Khashrod districts. Drugs and weapons and military equipment were confiscated.2751 On
5 May 2019, US forces hit more than 60 alleged drug production sites in Farah province andneighbouring Nimroz province.2752 According to UN investigation, at least 39 civilians were killed,among them 14 children and one woman. The multiple air strikes took place in the Bakwa district ofFarah province and in the Delaram district of Nimroz province. Reports of at least 37 additional civilian
casualties were not confirmed but UN tried to verify them.2753 The US denied the civilian casualties,
claiming that USFOR-A had targeted the ‘Taliban-run methamphetamine labs’ which helped to fundthe militant activities of AGEs. However, according to the UN, ‘drug labs and associated workers cannot
lawfully be designated as targets because the personnel working inside the drug production facilities
were not performing combat functions.’2754 UNAMA and OHCHR established through independent
investigation that ‘both the sites and individuals targeted in the USFOR-A air strikes on 5 May 2019 in
Bakwa district of Farah province and Delaram district of Nimroz province were civilian and, as such,should have been protected from attack.’2755

2746 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 94
2747 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 April 2020, url, p. 69; SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The UnitedStates Congress, 30 July 2020, url, p. 72
2748 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus - Afghanistan; Nimroz; Event types: battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020, url
2749 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus - Afghanistan; Nimroz; Event types: battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020, url
2750 BBC, US meth lab strikes in Afghanistan killed at least 30 civilians, says UN, 9 October 2019, url
2751 SATP, Nimroz: Timeline – March 2019, url
2752 BBC, US meth lab strikes in Afghanistan killed at least 30 civilians, says UN, 9 October 2019, url
2753 UNHR, UN Report find alleged drug facilities were not lawful targets - airtrikes caused significant civilian casualties, 9
October 2019, url
2754 BBC, US meth lab strikes in Afghanistan killed at least 30 civilians, says UN, 9 October 2019, url
2755 UNAMA, Special Report on Airstrikes on Alleged Drug-Processing Facilities, October 2019, url, p. 15

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 241

According to ACLED data, three civilians were killed in Kashrod district by NATO and Afghan militaryforces on 22 August and 8 December 2019.2756
Two civilians died in a mine explosion allegedly planted by the Taliban in Khashrod district on
4 January 2020. The bomb exploded when victims were travelling the road from Shahrak district to
Khashrod district.2757
On 22 July 2019, a prosecutor was killed by unknown militants in Zaranj City and on
25 September 2019, deputy police chief of Kang district was killed by a Taliban-planted bomb.2758
There were also reports on clashes between Afghan forces and Taliban, mainly in Kashrod and Delaram
districts during the year, usually not causing any civilian victims. The Taliban often attacked militaryand police checkpoints in the province.2759 On 19 January 2020, five Taliban insurgents were killed byNATO drone raids in Khashrod.2760 On 17 February 2020 Taliban spokesman insisted that an Afghan
military helicopter had been shot down in Nimroz province. However, Afghan government claimed
that the helicopter was not attacked and had made an emergency landing.2761 On 15 and 18 April 2020
Taliban conducted two attacks: on security outposts in Khashrod and on armoured personnel carrier
next to market place in Delaram, killing two soldiers.2762 Local officials claimed that in Khashrod seven
Taliban fighters were also killed.2763

2.24.3.2 Displacement
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 2 557 persons
displaced within Nimroz province. All of them were displaced within Zaranj City in 2019. Additionally,
597 persons were displaced to Nimroz’s provincial capital, Zaranj from Farah province.2764
Displacement in the province in the reporting period was induced by conflict and droughts.2765

2756 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus - Afghanistan; Nimroz; Event types: Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, url
2757 SATP, Nimroz: Timeline – 2020, url
2758 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus - Afghanistan; Nimroz; Event types: Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, url
2759 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus - Afghanistan; Nimroz; Event types: Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, url
2760 SATP, Nimroz: Timeline – 2020, url
2761 The Medialine, Taliban Attacks Continue Despite Truce Reports, 17 February 2020, url
2762 Voice of Jihad, 2 killed as APC destroyed in Nimroz, 16 April 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 2020, 30
April 2020, url
2763 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 2020, 30 April 2020, url
2764 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 03 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 28 June 2020, url
2765 Relief International, Saving Lives and Securing Futures in Drought-Stricken Afghanistan, 26 August 2019, url

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2.25 Nuristan
2.25.1 General description of the province

Map 25: Afghanistan – Nuristan province, source: UNOCHA2766

Nuristan is located in eastern Afghanistan, on the Afghan-Pakistani border. It borders Badakhshan to
the north, Pakistan to the east, Kunar and Laghman to the south and Panjshir to the west.2767 RFE/RL’s
Gandhara noted that it was ‘more closely joined’ with its southern neighbours.2768 The provincial capitalof Nuristan is Parun. The province is divided into the following administrative units: Barg-e-Matal,
Duab, Kamdesh, Mandol, Nurgeram, Parun, Wama and Waygal.2769 According to local residents
interviewed by the magazine The Diplomat, Waygal district’s actual name is Want.2770
Nuristan is mostly mountainous and one of ‘the most remote, under-served and unknown provinces’of Afghanistan. It is divided into three isolated valleys: the Alingar River valley in the west, the PechRiver valley in the centre and the Landay Sin River valley in the east. Because its inhabitants were nonMuslim, the province was called Kafiristan (‘Land of the infidels’) until the mid-1890s, when its
population converted to Islam and it was renamed Nuristan (‘Land of light’).2771

2766 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Nuristan Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url
2767 US, Naval Postgraduate School, Nuristan Provincial Overview, n.d., url
2768 RFE/RL/Gandhara, Afghan Province Looks To Islamic Schools To Prevent Youth From Joining Militants, 8 November

2019, url
2769 Afghanistan, IEC, Afghanistan 2019 Presidential Elections – Final results by Polling Stations: Province Nuristan, 2020, url;
Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated population of Afghanistan 2020-2021, June 2020, url, p. 25; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Nuristan
Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url; Afghanistan, Office of the President, Provincial Profile Nuristan, n. d., url; Ali, O., etal., The 2018 Elections Observed (5) in Nuristan: Disfranchisement and lack of data, AAN, 17 November 2018, url
2770 Diplomat (The), Waigal, Afghanistan: ‘This War Will Never End Here’, 13 June 2019, url
2771 Ali, O., et al., The 2018 Elections Observed (5) in Nuristan: Disfranchisement and lack of data, AAN, 17 November 2018,
url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 243

According to the NSIA, the population of Nuristan is estimated at 163 814 for 2020/21.2772 It is
composed mainly of Nuristani, with smaller Pashai, Pashtuns, Gujars, Tajiks, Pashtuns2773 and Pashai
communities.2774 Although the Nuristani people are mostly considered as a single ethnic group, de facto
they comprise numerous ethnic and sub-ethnic communities that speak different Indo-European
languages, sometimes subsumed under the Dardic languages branch.2775 Before the communist
regime, religious leaders were respected and influenced politics. However, in areas of the provincesuch as the Landay Sin valley, power was shared through community democracy, with a body of elders
and a body of policemen appointed annually in order to define policies and enforce community law.2776
An international NGO interviewed by LIFOS stated that it was difficult for outsiders – both militants andcivilians – to settle in Nuristan.2777
Most of the province’s roads are only served by pack animals and, despite construction work in several
districts during the early 2000s, remain in poor conditions to this day.2778 Some of them may becompletely inaccessible in winter due to floods or snowfalls.2779 Even so, Nuristan became a key supply
route from Pakistan for mujahideen groups in the past and remains so for the numerous insurgentsactive in the area today. Moreover, it connects Kabul and the Panjshir valley in the central region
through the provinces of Kapisa and Laghman. Given its strategic position, road building projects werealready carried out during mujahideen-times and continued by the international coalition and theAfghan government after 2001 to fight the insurgency.2780
Shortly after the NATO coalition withdrew from Kunar’s Dara-i Pech area, in 2014, local tribal leadersmanaged to reopen the road connecting Asadabad, Kunar’s capital, to Nuristan.2781
Although the Diplomat described Nuristan as ‘mostly neglected’ by the Afghan government since20012782, several rehabilitation and expansion works have been launched on the local road network in
2019. Among them, the rehabilitation of 15 kilometres of the Parun-Kunar road started in May2783 and,according to a former executive of the National Security Council, was still underway in November
2019.2784 In June, the local authorities began to expand a paved road from Parun to the remote districtsof Kamdesh and Barg-e-Matal.2785
There is no functioning airstrip in Nuristan.2786 According to the most recent UNODC Opium Survey(2018), Nuristan has maintained poppy-free status since 2013, with the exception of 2017, when
121 hectares were cultivated.2787 A 2017 report by the German think tank Bonn International Centerfor Conversion (BICC) mentioned the involvement of various AGES in the illegal exploitation of mineral
resources, such as precious stones, and in the taxation of timber, in both Kunar and Nuristan
provinces.2788

2772 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated population of Afghanistan 2020-2021, June 2020, url, p. 42773 US, Naval Postgraduate School, Nuristan Provincial Overview, n.d., url
2774 Pajhwok Afghan News, Background Profile of Nuristan, n.d., url
2775 Ali, O., et al., The 2018 Elections Observed (5) in Nuristan: Disfranchisement and lack of data, AAN, 17 November 2018,url
2776 MEI, Social Change in Eastern Nuristan, 23 December 2012, url
2777 Sweden, Lifos/Migrationsverket, Säkerhetsläget i Afghanistan (version 2.0), 07/04/2020, url, p. 422778 Ali, O., et al., The 2018 Elections Observed (5) in Nuristan: Disfranchisement and lack of data, AAN, 17 November 2018,url
2779 DLCA, Afghanistan Road Network, 4 July 2018, url
2780 Ali, O., et al., The 2018 Elections Observed (5) in Nuristan: Disfranchisement and lack of data, AAN, 17 November 2018,

url; Foschini, F., New Battles and Old Wants in Nuristan, AAN, 2 June 2012, url
2781 RFE/RL/Gandhara, Peace Returns To Afghanistan’s ‘Valley Of Death’, 22 August 2019, url
2782 Diplomat (The), Waigal, Afghanistan: ‘This War Will Never End Here’, 13 June 2019, url
2783 Pajhwok Afghan News, Rehabilitation work on Nuristan-Kunar road kicks off, 20 May 2019, url
2784 Ghorzang, T. [Twitter], posted on : 25 November 2019, url
2785 Pajhwok Afghan News, Road connecting 2 districts with Paroon being built, 24 June 2019, url
2786 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Humanitarian Needs Overview 2020 (December 2019), 17 December 2019, url, p. 112787 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN , Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, p. 23
2788 Mielke, K., Miszak, N., Making sense of Daesh in Afghanistan: A social movement perspective, BICC, June 2017, url, pp.
38 ; 42

244 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

2.25.2 Conflict background and actors in Nuristan
Conservative religious groups, such as Wahabis and Salafis, have been active in the province for
decades. The Islamic clergy started to mobilize in the province after 1978, when the pro-Soviet People’s
Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) failed to establish its rule. In this regard, the Daulat-e Inqilabiye Islam-ye Nuristan (Islamic Revolutionary State of Nuristan) emerged in northern Nuristan under theleadership of the religious scholar Mawlawi Muhammad Afzal, who also supported the Taliban
movement and was therefore given the freedom to rule over the province. The escalation of hostilities
with Hezb-e Islami and Jamiat-e Islami in 1997 forced him to flee the province, where the Hezb-e Islami
eventually became more influential.2789 After 2001, various counter-insurgency operations werecarried out throughout the province by the US military and coalition forces, until the US withdrew their
troops in 2009, following some defeats. Subsequently, the Taliban expanded their control over large
areas of the province. By 2018, governmental presence had often been defined as ‘token’ in a
mountainous and remote province where villages are isolated from each other, as well as from the
district centres. The community elders still play an important role, as they are said to take most of thedecisions.2790
As of May 2020, the UN Security Council listed Mawlawi Esmatullah, originally affiliated to thePeshawar Shura network, as the Taliban shadow governor in Nuristan. He was appointed after the‘reshuffle’ of the Taliban government structure during the 2019-2020 winter, ahead of the 2020 fighting
season.2791 Quoting an AGE source, the Diplomat observed that the Nuristani Taliban had ‘an Al Qaeda
mindset’, meaning that they shared more extreme positions regarding jihad than the bulk of the Islamic
Emirate fighters. The Diplomat also reported that almost all of Taliban fighters operating in Waygal
were locals. Poverty, lack of job opportunities or personal reasons (such as hostility towards someone
linked to the government) were presented as the main motivations of locals joining the insurgency.
Nonetheless, the magazine expressed some doubts about the actual number of Taliban fighters in the
district, deeming the 1 000 – 1 500 estimates exaggerated.2792
In June 2020, AAN’s expert Obaid Ali stated that ISKP was ‘likely present’ in parts of Nuristan
province.2793 It has reportedly been the case since 2016, when many of its fighters (including
foreigners2794) came to the province, pushed out of neighbouring Nangarhar.2795 According to the BICC
report, ISKP first established in Waygal and Barg-e-Matal districts in late 2015 or early 2016.2796 In June
2017, a governmental source quoted by AAN reported ISKP presence in the districts of Mandol, Duab,
Nurgeram, Waygal and Wama.2797 The US Combating Terrorism Center (CTC) stated that ISKP launchedattacks in Nuristan in 2017, but endured significant losses in this province the following year2798,

2789 Ali, O., et al., The 2018 Elections Observed (5) in Nuristan: Disfranchisement and lack of data, AAN, 17 November 2018,

url; MEI, Social Change in Eastern Nuristan, 23 December 2012, url
2790 Ali, O., The 2018 Elections Observed (5) in Nuristan: Disfranchisement and lack of data, AAN, 17 November 2018, url
2791 UN Security Council, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant
to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 27 May 2020, url, pp. 8-9, 27
2792 Diplomat (The), Waigal, Afghanistan: ‘This War Will Never End Here’, 13 June 2019, url
2793 RFE/RL/Gandhara, The Taliban, The Government, And Islamic State: Who Controls What In Afghanistan?, 1 June 2020,
url
2794 VoA, Islamic State Seeks Foothold in Eastern Afghan Provinces, 7 August 2017, url
2795 Ali, O., The 2018 Elections Observed (5) in Nuristan: Disfranchisement and lack of data, AAN, 17 November 2018, url;Dawn, ISKP: another emerging giant?, 16 October 2017, url; LWJ, Islamic State‘s emir for its Khorasan province killed, 26
August 2018, url; VoA, Afghans Dispute Russia‘s Islamic State Claims, 27 June 2018, url
2796 Mielke, K., Miszak, N., Making sense of Daesh in Afghanistan: A social movement perspective, BICC, June 2017, url, p. 222797 Ali, O., et al., The 2018 Elections Observed (5) in Nuristan: Disfranchisement and lack of data, AAN, 17 November 2018,url
2798 Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, Broken but not defeated – An examination of State-led operations against
Islamic State Khorasan in Afghanistan and Pakistan (2015-2018), March 2020, url, pp. 51-52

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 245

notably from the Taliban.2799 However, in May 2019, Afghan reporter Bilal Sarwary noted that ISKP had
made significant territorial gains in both Kunar and Nuristan provinces, thus getting access to naturaland mineral resources.2800 ISKP has allegedly been dealing with the local communities in a nonviolent
way and delegated the recruitment task to the Taliban commanders who defected to it. In 2017, thegroup was said to tax timber and precious metals or minerals smuggled to Pakistan.2801 As of August
2019, ISKP was reportedly recruiting fighters in Nuristan2802, with the support of Salafi enclaves in theeastern provinces of Nangarhar, Kunar and Nuristan.2803 Some local clerics also accepted to spread
ISKP’s message, out of fear of reprisals.2804 In November 2019, Nuristan tribal leaders called for thecreation of local madrasas, in order to prevent young people to be indoctrinated and recruited as jihadi
fighters in radical Pakistani Quranic schools.2805
As of May 2020, Nuristan was listed by the UN Security Council as one of the twelve provinces were Al
Qaeda was ‘covertly active’. The report mentioned that Al Qaeda intended to form a joint unit of 2 000
fighters with the Haqqani Network, headed by Shir Khan Manga in the operational zone composed ofKunar and Nuristan.2806 UNAMA added that Al Qaeda’s main tasks consist in ‘training, including
weapons and explosives, and mentoring’, while ‘being engaged in internal Taliban discussions over the
movement’s relationships with other jihadists entities’.2807 Already in 2012, Nuristan had been
described as a stronghold Al Qaeda.2808 In 2018-2019, it was said to operate training camps in theprovince.2809
While the Taliban have denied that Al Qaeda was fighting along them2810, LWJ pointed out that Qari Zia
Rahman, a commander said to operate in Kunar and Nuristan provinces, as well as in several Pakistani
tribal agencies, was affiliated to both movements.2811 In a May 2020 report, the UN Security Council
listed Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Jaish-e Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e Tayyiba (LeT) as Pakistaniarmed groups centred in eastern Afghan provinces, such as Nuristan, ‘where they operate under theumbrella of the Afghan Taliban’.2812 As of 2016, along with Salafi group Jamaʿat al-Daʿwa ila al-Quranwa-l-Sunna (JDQS), TTP reportedly controlled the Bajaur-Kunar-Nuristan corridor and used it to bringfighters and equipment into Afghanistan.2813
In terms of presence of government security forces, Nuristan province is under the responsibility of the
201st ANA Corps, which falls under Train, Advise, and Assist Command - East (TAAC-E), led by US andPolish forces.2814 According to a local lawmaker, the Afghan National Police and the Afghan Local Police

2799 Telegraph (The), Taliban claim to be preparing onslaught to drive Islamic State from Afghan stronghold, 7 August 2018,

url; National (The), Taliban prepare ‘decisive‘ anti-ISIS operation in eastern Afghanistan, 5 August 2018, url; Difesa &Sicurezza, Afghanistan, i talebani si preparano a cacciare Isis da Nangarhar, 8 August 2018, url
2800 Sarwary, B. [Twitter], posted on : 3 May 2019, url
2801 Mielke, K., Miszak, N., Making sense of Daesh in Afghanistan: A social movement perspective, BICC, June 2017, url, p. 42‫[ افزایش نگرانی ها از عسکرگیری داعشیان در نورستان‬unofficial translation: Rising concerns on the
recruitment of fighters by Daesh in Nooristan], 24 August 2019, url
2803 taz, „Islamischer Staat“ und Taliban : Der afghanische Terrorwettbewerb [‚Islamic State‘ and Taliban: the Afghan terror
competition], 1 February 2018, url
2804 Mielke, K., Miszak, N., Making sense of Daesh in Afghanistan: A social movement perspective, BICC, June 2017, url, p. 222805 RFE/RL/Gandhara, Afghan Province Looks To Islamic Schools To Prevent Youth From Joining Militants, 8 November
2019, url
2806 UN Security Council, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant
to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 27 May 2020, url, pp. 12-13
2807 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, pp. 85-86
2808 LWJ, Bin Laden advised relocation of some leaders to Afghanistan due to drone strikes in Waziristan, 3 May 2012, url
2809 Khaama Press, Taliban militants killed in U.S. drone strike in Nuristan province, 24 October 2018, url; LWJ, Taliban
promotes training camp for ‘Commando Mujahidin‘, 22 January 2019, url
2810 Tolonews, Al Qaeda, Jaish-e-Mohammad Align With Taliban in East: Officials, 11 May 2020, url
2811 LWJ, Female Pakistani Taliban suicide bomber hits hospital, 21 July 2019, url
2812 UN Security Council, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant
to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 27 May 2020, url, p. 20
2813 Mielke, K., Miszak, N., Making sense of Daesh in Afghanistan: A social movement perspective, BICC, June 2017, url, p. 38
2814 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan, June 2020, url, p. 132802 Ariana News,246 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

are in insufficient numbers in Nuristan.2815 In this regard, the Diplomat reported that the ANP and ALP
had 250 men combined in Waygal district and focused on preventing the Taliban to get into the district
centre from the mountains.2816 The NDS-04, a unit of the NDS paramilitary strike forces, operates in
Nuristan, Kunar and other provinces of North-East Afghanistan. In a 2019 report, Human Rights Watch
explained that, although they are technically subordinated to the NDS, these forces are trained,
equipped and overseen by the CIA. They conduct brutal night raids, targeting alleged insurgents andoften injuring or killing civilians. These operations have grown increasingly frequent since late 2017.2817
According to AAN’s Kate Clark, in 2017, the NDS-04 unit numbered 250 men trained by US Special
Forces.2818
An AAN report stated that, in November 2018 almost all the districts of Nuristan province weresomehow under control or influence of the Taliban and that the police’s presence was limited to district
centres.2819 In January 2020, French daily newspaper Le Figaro described Nuristan as ‘a virtuallyinaccessible Taliban stronghold’2820, while Afghan news agency Khaama asserted that the Taliban wereactive in ‘some districts’ of the province (without specifying which ones) and ‘often conduct terrorist
related activities’.2821 In a 2019 article, the Diplomat stated that outside of the district centre and its
immediate surroundings, most of Waygal was under Taliban’s control.2822 According to informationcollected by LWJ and presented in a map, Kamdesh district is ‘traditionally a hotbed of Taliban activity’.
Kamdesh, Wama, Mandol (as of August 20192823), Waygal and Duab districts are assessed as contestedby the Afghan government and the Taliban. The three remaining districts, Nurgeram, Parun and Barge Matal, are presented as controlled by the government or undetermined.2824

2.25.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population
2.25.3.1 General
In 2019, UNAMA documented 22 civilian casualties (8 deaths and 14 injured) in Nuristan. This
represents a decrease of 8 % compared to 2018. Only Bamyan and Panjsher provinces recorded lesscasualties over 2019. Leading causes of casualties were ground engagements, targeted/deliberate
killings and non-suicide IED.2825 According to a SIGAR analysis of data provided by Resolute Support,
from January to May 2019, relatively to its population, Nuristan was the second most dangerous
province for civilians (0.17 casualties per thousand inhabitants).2826 At the end of the third quarter,
although the ratio had increased to 0,22, Nuristan was now only in line with the national average.2827
Resolute Support recorded between 0 and 50 civilian casualties in Nuristan in the first half of 2020,
reporting similar numbers over the two first quarters.2828
In regard with the severity of the conflict, over the full year 2019, Resolute Support recorded less than150 enemy-initiated attacks in Nuristan province – one of the five lowest provincial numbers.2829 In
2815 Tolonews, Governor Rejects Rumors On Daesh Presence In Nuristan, 23 August 2019, url
2816 Diplomat (The), Waigal, Afghanistan: ‘This War Will Never End Here’, 13 June 2019, url
2817 HRW, “They’ve Shot Many Like This” Abusive Night Raids by CIA-Backed Afghan Strike Forces, 31 October 2019, url
2818 Clark, K., CIA-proxy militias, CIA-drones in Afghanistan: “Hunt and kill” déjà vu, AAN, 26 October 2017, url
2819 Ali, O., The 2018 Elections Observed (5) in Nuristan: Disfranchisement and lack of data, AAN, 17 November 2018, url
2820 Le Figaro, Afghanistan: à Taranak, l’alliance secrète des talibans et de l’armée contre l’État islamique [In Taranak, theTaliban and the army's secret alliance against the Islamic State], 30 January 2020, url
2821 Khaama Press, 550 kgs of explosives discovered from a vegetables truck in Nuristan province, 11 June 2019, url
2822 Diplomat (The), Waigal, Afghanistan: ‘This War Will Never End Here’, 13 June 2019, url
2823 LWJ, Taliban threatens Panjshir province, 4 August 2019, url
2824 LWJ, Mapping Taliban Control in Afghanistan, n. d., url However the source does not systematically specify when andwhich information of the aforementioned map was last updated.
2825 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 94
2826 SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, 30 July 2019, url, p. 71
2827 SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, 30 October 2019, url, p. 75
2828 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 April 2020, url, p. 69 ; SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the UnitedStates Congress, 30 July 2020, url, p. 72 At the time of writing, UNAMA provincial data for 2020 was not available.
2829 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 January 2020, url, p. 69

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 247

January 2020, Pajhwok ranked Nuristan and Panjshir as the two provinces least affected by the conflictover 2019, with only two attacks recorded in each one of them.2830 However, at the end of 2019 and in
January 2020, UNOCHA reported ongoing fighting in ‘various districts’ of several eastern provinces,among which Nuristan.2831 Afghan journalist Bilal Sarwary noted that, soon after the signature of the
US-Taliban agreement in Doha (February 2020), the Taliban had resumed their attacks on Afghan
security forces, notably in Nuristan’s Barg-e Matal district.2832 Afghan security officials also reported
increasing Taliban military activity between March and May 2020 in eastern Afghanistan, particularly
in Nangarhar, Kunar and Nuristan.2833 UNOCHA confirmed that fighting continued in Nuristan and othereastern provinces in early May 2020, although it did not specifically mention the Taliban.2834
In the period from 1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, ACLED collected data on 52 violent events in
Nuristan province from open sources: 39 coded as ‘battles’ (75 %), 11 as ‘explosions/remote violence’(21 %) and 2 as ‘violence against civilians’ (4 %).2835

Figure 27. Nuristan - Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians
from 1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, based on ACLED data2836

Across these three categories, Kamdesh (18 incidents) and Nurgeram (13) stood out as the districts
where most violent incidents were reported between 1 March 2019 and 30 June 2020, accounting foralmost two thirds of the total number. Less than 10 violent events were recorded in Barg-e Matal,
Duab, Wama and Waygal, and none in Mandol and Parun.2837
Regarding events coded as ‘battles’ by ACLED, all of them were ‘armed clashes’. Half of these took
place in Kamdesh and Nurgeram districts. Out of 39 clashes, 25 were attributed to the Taliban andconducted against ANDSF.2838 Such events include a Taliban attack on the Afghan military in April 2019,
in Nurgeram, resulting in the killing of 13 assailants.2839 In October 2019, the Taliban briefly took over

2830 Pajhwok Afghan News, 22,300 people killed, injured in Afghanistan last year, 7 January 2020, url
2831 UNOCHA, Afghanistan : Weekly Humanitarian Update (23 December – 29 December), 31 December 2019, url ;UNOCHA, Afghanistan : Weekly Humanitarian Update (30 December 2019 – 5 January 2020), 8 January 2020, url ; UNOCHA,
Afghanistan : Weekly Humanitarian Update (6 January – 12 January 2020), 15 January 2020, url
2832 Sarwary, B. [Twitter], posted on : 2 March 2020, url
2833 Tolonews, ANDSF Repels Scores of Taliban Attacks in Past 24 Hours: MoD, 4 May 2020, url ; Tolonews, Al Qaeda, Jaishe-Mohammad Align With Taliban in East: Officials, 11 May 2020, url
2834 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (4 May – 10 May 2020), 13 May 2020, url
2835 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Nuristan ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url For more information on ACLED’s methodology, see: Introduction – Sources.
2836 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Nuristan ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
2837 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Nuristan ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
2838 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Nuristan ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
2839 Khaama Press, 3 Taliban commanders and their 10 fighters killed in Nuristan province, 21 April 2019, url

248 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATIONan ALP outpost in the Pasha Gul area of Nurgeram district, killing six police officers.2840 Moreover,Taliban attacks on Waygal’s district centre in April 20192841 and in April 20202842 were repulsed.
Regarding the most recent one, Tolonews reported on Twitter that ‘hundreds’ of Taliban fighters had
been involved.2843 Over the course of 2019, State news agency Bakhtar News also reported several
clashes involving the border police and the Taliban or other AGEs2844, some of them being purportedly
Pakistani.2845 Most of them took place in the frontier area of Kamdesh district.2846
In terms of incidents coded by ACLED as ‘Explosions/Remote violence’, seven out of eleven were
‘Remote explosive/Landmine/IED’, carried out by the Taliban against ANDSF.2847
Over the reporting period, the two recorded events of violence against civilians were documented by
Taliban’s Voice of Jihad.2848 In one instance, Afghan forces were accused of randomly firing at civilians
and injuring one in Waygal district in April 2019.2849 In April 2020, the National Security Council
spokesman, quoted by Pajhwok, claimed that the Taliban had killed 30 civilians across several
provinces, including Nuristan, in the previous days.2850
The conflict has significantly affected local health infrastructures. UNAMA indeed reported thatbetween April and May 2019, the Taliban had forced 13 health clinics to close in 4 districts of Nuristan,
until a mediation led by community elders secured their reopening.2851 By June 2019, another dozenof clinics run by an Afghan aid organisation in Duab, Mandol, Nurgeram, Kamdesh and Barg-e Matal
districts – representing a quarter of the 43 health centres operating in Nuristan – had been forced toclose by the Taliban, who claimed to have received complaints about the quality of the services
provided by the NGO.2852 In November 2019, one the three health centres closed due to insurgent
threats was reopened.2853 Other NGO-run health centres had to close because of ongoing fighting in
2020.2854 In August 2019, a polio immunisation campaign was disrupted in some NSAG-controlled areasof Nuristan and other eastern provinces.2855
Nuristan has been one of the five most affected provinces by the closing of polling centres decided by
the Afghan Ministry of Interior ahead of the presidential election of September 2019, because Afghan

2840 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 31 October 2019, url ; Pajhwok Afghan News, 6 ALP personnel killed in

Nurisitan [sic] attack, 17 October 2019, url
2841 Diplomat (The), Waigal, Afghanistan: ‘This War Will Never End Here’, 13 June 2019, url
2842 Afghanistan Times (The) [Twitter], posted on : 8 April 2020, url ; Tolonews [Twitter], posted on: 8 April 2020, url ;Sarwary, B. [Twitter], posted on : 8 April 2020, url
2843 Tolonews [Twitter], posted on: 8 April 2020, url
2844 Bakhtar News, Border Policemen Shelling on Taliban in Nooristan, 12 May 2019, url
2845 Bakhtar News, Pakistan Terrorists Killed in Nooristan, 15 December 2019, url
2846 Bakhtar News, Six Rebels Residents of Pakistan Kill [sic] in Nooristan, 16 September 2019, url ; Bakhtar News, Taliban
Killed By Border Police Officials in Nooristan, 13 October 2019, url; Bakhtar News, Taliban Militants Killed By Border Police
in Nooristan, 3 December 2019, url ; Bakhtar News, Border PF Kill Taliban Militants in Nooristan, 16 January 2020, url
2847 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Nuristan ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
2848 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Nuristan ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url‫نڅاروينووژلن‬۳۵‫ن‬،‫ننکلیوالنژوبل‬۳‫نوانتنوایګلننکنندندښمنننتوپونون‬:‫[ نورستان‬Nuristan: 1 villager
wounded, 3 animals killed by enemy artillery in Want Waigal], 29 April 2019, url
2850 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban kill 30 civilians in a week : NSC, 12 April 2020, url
2851 UNAMA, Midyear Update On The Protection Of Civilians In Armed Conflict: 1 January To 30 June 2019, 30 July 2019, url,
p. 52852 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban close 12 NGO-run health clinics in Nuristan, 11 May 2019, url ; NYT, Taliban Target Aid
Groups, in an Ominous Turn in Afghanistan, 13 May 2019, url
2853 UNOCHA, Afghanistan : Weekly Humanitarian Update (4 November – 10 November 2019), 13 November 2019, url
2854 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Humanitarian Access Snapshot (February 2020), 29 March 2020, url, ; UNOCHA, Afghanistan:
Humanitarian Access Snapshot (March 2020), 13 April 2020, url
2855 UNOCHA, Afghanistan : Weekly Humanitarian Update (5-11 August 2019), 14 August 2019, url
2849 Voice of Jihad,

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 249

security forces could not ensure their protection.2856 Twenty polling centres (about a third of theprovincial total number) were supposed to be kept closed in Nuristan.2857

2.25.3.2 Displacement
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 551 persons displaced
from Nuristan – one of the lowest provincial figures recorded over the period. Only 39 IDPs werereported during the first half of 2020. Half of the IDPs were displaced within the province, while theother half was headed to Panjshir province.2858 Overall, the main districts of origin of IDPs were Mandol(259), Kamdesh (92) and Nurgeram (78). The three of them accounted for almost 80 % of Nuristan’s
IDPs.2859 The highest displacement figures were recorded during the summer of 2019. According to
IDPs interviewed in September 2019 by RFE/RL’s Gandhara, frequent fighting between thegovernment forces and insurgents, but also clashes between the Taliban and ISKP, had forced them toflee. Others stated that, as government supporters, they had no other option but to leave.2860
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 1 696 persons
displaced to Nuristan province. Outside of the aforementioned 292 people displaced within theprovince, 1 404 IDPs came from neighbouring Kunar and primarily settled in Parun and Wama
districts.2861 Most of them fled Kunar’s Chapadara district in March and April 2019, where the Taliban
and ISKP were then reportedly clashing.2862
Although UNAMA data does not reflect this information, in September 2019, Gandhara reported thatsome Nuristani civilians had taken shelter in Kunar and Nangarhar.2863

2856 AAN, Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (10): What to watch out for on election day, 26 September 2019, url
2857 Tolonews, Security Report On Polling Centers Sparks Backlash, 19 September 2019, url; AAN, Afghanistan’s 2019

Election (10): What to watch out for on election day, 26 September 2019, url
2858 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
2859 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
2860 RFE/RL/Gandhara, Insecurity Prompts Thousands To Flee Homes In Eastern Afghan Province, 13 September 2019, url
2861 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
2862 UNOCHA, Afghanistan : Kunar Conflict – Update (as of 3 April 2019), 4 April 2019, url
2863 RFE/RL/Gandhara, Insecurity Prompts Thousands To Flee Homes In Eastern Afghan Province, 13 September 2019, url

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2.26 Paktika
2.26.1 General description of the province

Map 26: Afghanistan – Paktika province, source: UNOCHA2864

2864 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Paktika Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 251

A part of Loya Paktya (i.e. ‘Greater Paktya’), an area also encompassing the provinces of Paktya andKhost2865, Paktika is located in eastern Afghanistan, on the Afghan-Pakistani border. It borders Ghazni
to the north-west, Paktya and Khost to the north, Pakistan to the south and east and Zabul to the southwest.2866 The provincial capital of Paktika is Sharana. The province is divided into the following
administrative units: Bermel, Dila (also Khushamand), Gomal, Gyan, Janikhel, Matakhan, Naka, Omna,
Sarobi, Sarrawzah, Sharan, Turwo, Urgun, Wazakhah, Wormamay, Yahyakhel, Yosufkhel, Zarghunshahr(also Khairkot) and Ziruk.2867 As reported by the official website of the Office of the Afghan President,
the province also has the following four non-official districts: Shakeen, Bak Khil, Charbaran and Shakhil
Abad.2868
The province is composed of three sub-regions: the northern-central sub-region, the south-east subregion along the Afghan-Pakistani border and the south-west sub-region, called Katawaz, which waspreviously part of Ghazni. Paktika became a separate province under President Daud’s rule (19731978), and there is still a strong sense of belonging to one of the three sub-regions among the
population.2869 Moreover, local tribal relations still play an important role in the province.2870
According to the NSIA, the population of Paktika is estimated at 775 498 for 2020/21. The rural
population accounts for 99 % of the total.2871 The province is composed mainly of Pashtuns, with a Tajik
minority in the cities of Sharana and Urgun.2872 RFE/RL’s Gandhara also pointed out that, in 2014,
military operations in North Waziristan forced 7 000 Pakistani families to seek shelter in Khost andPaktika, primarily in Urgun and Bermel districts.2873
The National Highway 11 (‘NH11’) connects Ghazni province to Paktika’s Sharan and continues toPaktya’s Zurmat.2874 As of December 2018 the Ghazni-Paktika Highway had been closed for six months,
following Taliban attacks in Ghazni province.2875 In November 2019, the Taliban were still blocking the
highway and had diverted the traffic to an unpaved road through Ghazni’s Andar district, although they
denied to have abducted people and extorted money from drivers.2876 Furthermore, in May 2019,according to RFE/RL, the Taliban ‘heavily damaged’ the gravel road linking Ghazni province to Paktika’s
Urgun district, in an attempt to cut off villages from provincial capitals.2877 In May 2019 as well, Afghan
security forces led ‘route clearance operations’ in unspecified Paktika districts.2878 At last, as of March
2020, the highway crossing Wazakhah district had reportedly been blocked by the Taliban for several
years in Goshta area.2879

2865 Ruttig, T., Loya Paktia‘s Insurgency: The Haqqani Network as an Autonomous Entity, in: Giustozzi, A. (ed.), Decoding the

New Taliban. Insights from the Afghan Field, Columbia, Hurst, 2009, url, p. 57
2866 US, Naval Postgraduate School, Paktika Provincial Overview, n.d., url
2867 Afghanistan, IEC, Afghanistan 2019 Presidential Elections – Final results by Polling Stations: Province Paktika, 2020, url;
Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated population of Afghanistan 2020-2021, June 2020, url, p. 21; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Paktika
Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url Pajhwok Afghan News, Back ground Profile of Paktika, n.d., url; Muzhary, F., The
2018 Election Observed (4) in Paktika: Pre-election fraud and relatively peaceful polling, AAN, 13 November 2018, url
2868 Afghanistan, Office of the President, Provincial Profile Paktika, n. d., url
2869 Muzhary, F., The 2018 Election Observed (4) in Paktika: Pre-election fraud and relatively peaceful polling, AAN, 13
November 2018, url
2870 Clark, K. and Muzhary, F., How to Set up a ‘Good ALP‘: The experience of Yahyakhel district, Paktika and how it became
more peaceful, AAN, 11 December 2018, url
2871 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated population of Afghanistan 2020-2021, June 2020, url, p. 42872 Muzhary, F., The 2018 Election Observed (4) in Paktika: Pre-election fraud and relatively peaceful polling AAN, 13
November 2018, url
2873 RFE/RL/Gandhara, In Afghanistan, Lockdown Hits Waziristan Refugees Hard, 21 April 2020, url
2874 Italy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Evaluation Report - Afghanistan: Rehabilitation of Maidan Shar – Bamyan Road, 2014,
url, p. 8; Pajhwok Afghan News, 6 months on, Ghazni-Paktika highway remains closed, 13 December 2018, url
2875 Pajhwok Afghan News, 6 months on, Ghazni-Paktika highway remains closed, 13 December 2018, url
2876 Muzhary, F., One Land, Two Rules (7): Delivering public services in insurgency-affected Andar district in Ghazni
province, AAN, 13 June 2019, url ; Pajhwok Afghan News, 18 months on, Ghazni-Paktika road remains shut, 3 November
2019, url
2877 RFE/RL, Afghan Teen Loses Her Eye Waiting To Prove Horrific Injury Was From War, 25 May 2019, url
2878 Khaama Press, 8 Taliban militants killed, 24 IEDs destroyed in Balkh, Farah and Paktika provinces, 25 May 2019, url
2879 Pajhwok Afghan News, Police officer accused of torture, extortion, 19 March 2020, url

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There is an unofficial motorable crossing point to Pakistan in Angur Ada, Bermel district. Besides, since
the full reopening of Khost’s Ghulam Khan border point, in August 2019, the residents of Paktya, Paktika
and Khost are allowed to get into Pakistan with their tazkera, under the condition that they haverelatives living on the other side of the Durand Line.2880
According to the 2018 UNODC Opium Survey, Paktika has maintained poppy-free status since 2014.2881

2.26.2 Conflict background and actors in Paktika
In some parts of Paktika, such as Yahyakhel district2882, solid intra-tribal relations ‘hampered theemergence of mujahedin factions and strongmen and the sort of severe intra-factional conflicts that
arose in other districts in Paktika and elsewhere in the 1980s and 1990s’.2883 However, according to an
AAN analysis from December 2018, the Taliban were then predominant in many areas of Paktika
province. Some districts were either fully under Taliban control or contested.2884 In July 2019, intraTaliban clashes in Gyan district suggested potential internal dissensions.2885
As of May 2020, the UN Security Council listed Mullah Nasar, originally affiliated to the Peshawar Shura
network, as the Taliban shadow governor in Paktya, while Mawlawi Qasam Farid was listed as the headof the military commission in Loya Paktya.2886
In December 2019, Pajhwok reported that a Taliban training centre had been destroyed by the Afghan
security forces in Wazakhah district.2887 Nonetheless, in April 2020, a Taliban spokesman publishedpictures of a training camp, named Tariq bin Ziyad Camp, in Paktika.2888 The Taliban have also been able
to send fighters from Pakistan’s Waziristan to several provinces, including Paktika, from their ‘transit
hub’ in Zabul.2889
Moreover, Paktika is one of the provinces where the UN Security Council observed ‘strong ties’
between the Taliban and organised criminal groups involved in heroin and hashish traffics or local
businesses extorsion.2890
In April 2020, Long War Journal described Paktika as ‘a bastion of the Haqqani Network’.2891 The group
started to expand in Loya Paktya some years before 20112892, mainly in the Zadran valley between
Paktya, Paktika and Khost, which served as a corridor from Pakistan to Ghazni and Logar through the
districts of Spera in Khost, Gyan in Paktika and Zurmat in Paktya.2893 As of June 2019, according to
Afghan officials quoted in a UN Security Council report, 1 800 – 2 000 fighters of the network were2880 Sabawoon, A. M., The Gates of Friendship: How Afghans cross the Afghan-Pakistani border, AAN, 28 January 2020, url
2881 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN , Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, p. 212882 Clark, K. and Muzhary, F., How to Set up a ‚Good ALP‘: The experience of Yahyakhel district, Paktika and how it became

more peaceful, AAN, 11 December 2018, url; Muzhary, F., The 2018 Election Observed (4) in Paktika: Pre-election fraud andrelatively peaceful polling, AAN, 13 November 2018, url
2883 Clark, K. et al., Ghosts of the Past: Lessons from Local Force Mobilisation in Afghanistan and Prospects for the Future,
AAN & Global Public Policy Institute, July 2020, url, p. 51
2884 Clark, K. and Muzhary, F., How to Set up a ‘Good ALP‘: The experience of Yahyakhel district, Paktika and how it became
more peaceful, AAN, 11 December 2018, url
2885 Khaama Press, Clashes reported among Taliban militants in Paktika province, 16 July 2019, url
2886 UN Security Council, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant
to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 27 May 2020, url, pp. 25, 27
2887 Pajhwok Afghan News, 7 Taliban killed in Paktika operations, 19 December 2019, url
2888 LWJ, Taliban touts more elite ‘Red Unit’ fighter training on social media, 8 April 2020, url
2889 UNSG, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution
1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 27 May 2020, url, pp. 21-22
2890 UN Security Council, Letter dated 10 June 2019 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant
to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 13 June 2019, url, p. 122891 LWJ, Taliban touts more elite ‘Red Unit’ fighter training on social media, 8 April 2020, url
2892 Clark, K., 2001 Ten Years on (3): The fall of Loya Paktia and why the US preferred warlords, AAN, 24 November 2011, url
2893 Ruttig, T., Loya Paktia‘s Insurgency: The Haqqani Network as an Autonomous Entity, in: Giustozzi, A. (ed.), Decoding the
New Taliban. Insights from the Afghan Field, Columbia, Hurst, 2009, url, p. 9. See also: UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Paktika
Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url

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reportedly leading the Taliban operations in Loya Paktya, with the help of militants belonging to the
Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan. The report added that the Haqqani Network was then holding all the main
shadow government positions (provincial governors and district governors) in the region.2894 As of May
2020, the Haqqani Network was allegedly working with Al Qaeda on a joint unit of 2 000 fighters,
headed by Hafiz Azizuddin Haqqani in Loya Paktya.2895
In 2019, Al Qaeda was reportedly trying to strengthen its positions in the Afghanistan-Pakistan borderregion, for instance in Paktika’s Bermel district. As stated by a UN Security Council report, themovement was then closely cooperating with Lashkar-e Tayyiba and the Haqqani Network, whileproviding training and religious instruction to Taliban fighters and their families.2896 In May 2019, Al
Qaeda released a video flaunting its involvement in an attack launched along the Taliban on an ANA
convoy, purportedly in Wazakhah district.2897
Links between the Haqqani Network and foreign groups connected to Al Qaeda in eastern Afghanistan(such as the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan and the Islamic Jihadi Union) had been reported by LWJ
in 2012.2898 In a June 2019 report, the UN Security Council listed other foreign groups active in Loya
Paktya, where they benefitted from the ‘remote terrain’ and the limited capacity of the security forces
to reach these areas. Among them is the TTP, with more than an estimated 3 500 fighters spread acrossKunar, Paktya and Paktika provinces.2899 In February 2020, one of TTP’s leaders was killed in Kabul after
travelling from Paktika. The province also appears to shelter a few logistics and religious leaders of theEastern Turkistan Islamic Movement, although it is mainly located in the north-eastern regions.2900
Pakistan’s paramilitary forces have also been reported to make forays into Paktika, notably in Gomal
district, where they set up barbed wire along the border, thus capturing parcels of Afghan territory, in
November 2019.2901
In terms of the presence of government security forces, Paktika province is under the responsibility of
the 203th ANA Corps, which falls under Task Force Southeast (TF Southeast), led by US forces.2902 As for
the ALP, it has been commended for expelling the Taliban from Yahyakhel district and maintaining
stability there since 2012. Although there has been reports of ‘abusive commanders and forced
recruitments’ in some places of Paktika, the robust and ‘relatively egalitarian’ tribal structures of Loya
Paktya and its tradition of local defence groups (arbaki) have contributed to ‘more instances ofeffective, less abusive forces’.2903 According to Human Rights Watch, the Khost Protection Force (KPF)
reportedly possesses a battalion in Paktika’s Sharan district.2904 Another pro-government armed group,
based in Paktika, emerged in 2019, and is locally referred to as ‘Shaheen Forces’. Also known as 904
Unit, they are headquartered at Shaheen Camp in Urgun district. As the KPF, Shaheen Forces operate
outside of official security forces chains of command, with the coalition forces’ ground and air support.
UNAMA added that Shaheen Forces were thought to operate in ‘close coordination’ with the NDS
special forces and enjoyed impunity for their abuses, despite occasional investigations ordered by thegovernment, which contributes to ‘anti-Government sentiment and spark protests among the civilian
2894 UNSG, Letter dated 10 June 2019 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution

1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 13 June 2019, url, p. 172895 UNSG, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution
1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 27 May 2020, url, p. 132896 UNSG, Letter dated 10 June 2019 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution
1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 13 June 2019, url, p. 92897 LWJ, Al Qaeda video emphasizes unity with Taliban’s Islamic emirate, 11 May 2019, url
2898 LWJ, Al Mujahir Jihadi Studio‘ releases video of attack on base in Paktika, 7 September 2012, url
2899 UNSG, Letter dated 10 June 2019 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution
1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 13 June 2019, url, pp. 17-18
2900 UNSG, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution
1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 27 May 2020, url, pp. 20-21
2901 Pajhwok Afghan News, Pakistani forces stray into Gomal district of Paktika, 8 November 2019, url
2902 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan, June 2020, url, p. 142903 Clark, K. et al., Ghosts of the Past: Lessons from Local Force Mobilisation in Afghanistan and Prospects for the Future,
AAN & Global Public Policy Institute, July 2020, url, pp. 44, 46-47, 52-53
2904 HRW, “They’ve Shot Many Like This” Abusive Night Raids by CIA-Backed Afghan Strike Forces, 31 October 2019, url254 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

population’. Along with the KPF, the Shaheen Forces have been held responsible for the majority ofcivilian casualties by pro-government armed groups recorded across the country in 2019.2905 As amatter of fact, Paktika is not new to abuses committed by these groups. Referring to a HRW report andBritish reporter Julius Cavendish’s investigation, AAN’s expert Kate Clark indeed mentioned that as thehead of a Counterterrorism Pursuit Team supported by the CIA, Colonel Azizullah Karwan (murderedin Kabul in June 20182906) had been accused of extrajudicial killings of civilians, collective punishment
and retaliatory killings from 2008 to early 2010.2907
According to information collected by LWJ and presented in a map, Bermel, Janikhel, Matakhan, Turwo,
Urgun, Wormamay, Yahyakhel, Yosufkhel and Ziruk districts are ‘contested’, while Dila, Gomal, Gyan,
Naka, Omna and Wazakhah districts are under Taliban control. LWJ noted that in July 2019, the Afghan
government had admitted of not being in control of the district centres of Gomal, Gyan and Naka.
Finally, Sarobi, Sarrawzah, Sharan and Zarghunshahr districts are listed as government-controlled orundetermined.2908 While LWJ claimed that Dila district had been overrun in July 20192909, the UN
Secretary General stated that the takeover had only been temporary.2910 As for Wazakhah district,Pajhwok reported in March 2020 that for several years, due to the Taliban’s blockage of the main road,it had been forced to airlift essential supplies.2911 Older information presented in a November 2018
AAN’s report described the Taliban as fully controlling Naka and Omna districts, and the authorities asstrong around the provincial capital and in Matakhan, Yosufkhel, Khairkot (Zarghunshahr), Urgun andYahyakhel.2912

2.26.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population
2.26.3.1 General
In 2019, UNAMA documented 168 civilian casualties (128 deaths and 40 injured) in Paktika province.
This represents an increase of 11 % compared to 2018. Leading causes of casualties were search
operations, non-suicide IEDs and air strikes.2913 In its mid-2019 report, UNAMA had already pointed a‘notable increase’ in civilian casualties in Paktika, ‘with an especially high proportion of deaths
compared to injured persons’.2914 Resolute Support recorded between 26 and 75 civilian casualties in
Paktika in the first half of 2020, reporting an increase during the second quarter compared to thefirst.2915
In regard with the severity of the conflict, as in 2018, Resolute Support recorded between 301 and 500
enemy-initiated attacks in Paktika province over the full year 2019.2916 In July 2019, Afghan news
agency Khaama stated that ‘the security situation in Paktika province [had] deteriorated during therecent months.’2917 Moreover, UNOCHA reported that in December 2019, Paktika was among ‘the top

2905 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, pp. 53, 56, 58,

65, 74, 84
2906 Tolonews, Who Was Commander Karwan Of Paktika?, 29 June 2018, url
2907 Clark, K., CIA-proxy militias, CIA-drones in Afghanistan: “Hunt and kill” déjà vu, AAN, 26 October 2017, url
2908 LWJ, Mapping Taliban Control in Afghanistan, n. d., url However the source does not systematically specify when andwhich information of the aforementioned map was last updated.
2909 LWJ, Mapping Taliban Control in Afghanistan, n.d., url; LWJ, however, does not specify when and which information of
the aforementioned map was last updated.
2910 UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, 3 September 2019, url, p. 6
2911 Pajhwok Afghan News, Police officer accused of torture, extortion, 19 March 2020, url
2912 Muzhary, F., The 2018 Election Observed (4) in Paktika: Pre-election fraud and relatively peaceful polling, AAN, 13
November 2018, url
2913 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 94
2914 UNAMA, Midyear Update on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict : 1 January to 30 June 2019, 30 July 2019, url,
p. 32915 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 April 2020, url, p. 69 ; SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the UnitedStates Congress, 30 July 2020, url, p. 72 At the time of writing, UNAMA provincial data for 2020 was not available.
2916 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 January 2020, url, p. 69
2917 Khaama Press, Clashes reported among Taliban militants in Paktika province, 16 July 2019, url

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three provinces with the highest number of closed or damaged schools’. At the time, 117 schools hadreportedly been forced to close due to insecurity.2918 However, despite the ‘volatile’ situation prevailingin the province, RFE/RL noted that during the 2019 presidential election, Paktika had been one of theprovinces with either a single polling centre closed or none at all.2919 Nevertheless, on polling day,mortar grenades were launched near polling sites in Paktika, Paktya and Kunar provinces.2920
In the period from 1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, ACLED collected data on 325 violent events in
Paktika province from open sources: 214 coded as ‘battles’ (66 %), 87 as ‘explosions/remote violence’(27 %) and 24 as ‘violence against civilians’ (8 %).2921

Figure 28. Paktika - Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians from
1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, based on ACLED data2922

Across these three categories, Sharan (41 incidents), Bermel (35) Sarrawzah (35) and Matakhan (29)stood out as the districts where most violent events were reported between 1 March 2019 and
30 June 2020. In each of Wazakhah, Dila, Ziruk, Sarobi, Janikhel, Zarghunshahr, Yosufkhel, Yahyakhel
and Wormamay districts, between 10 and 20 events were recorded. Based on ACLED data, the least
affected districts were Turwo (1 event), Gyan (4), Naka (5), Omna (7), Urgun (8) and Gomal (9).2923
Regarding events coded as ‘battles’ by ACLED, an overwhelming majority of them were ‘armed
clashes’. Sarrawzah (29), Sharan (22) and Matakhan (20) were the most affected districts by this typeof violence. Conversely, Gomal, Urgun, Naka, Omna, Gyan and Turwo recorded less than five armed
clashes. The remaining districts experienced levels of clashes ranging from 8 to 17. Of the 213 armed
clashes that ACLED collected information about, 140 were said to have been initiated by the Taliban,
and 8 others by them or an unidentified group.2924 Taliban attacks mainly focused on Sarrawzah,
Sharan and Matakhan districts and only targeted ANDSF2925, except for one intra-Taliban clash in July
2019.2926 As for the approximatively 60 armed clashes initiated by the Afghan security forces and allied
militias, they were spread out across most of Paktika districts, with peaks of 12 attacks in Bermel, 9 in
2918 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Monthly Humanitarian Update (January 2020) 11 February 2020, url
2919 RFE/RL, 'Ample Opportunities' For Fraud Bedevil Afghan Presidential Election, 9 October 2019, url
2920 Bjelica, J. and Ruttig, T., Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (11): A first look at how E-Day went, AAN, 28 September 2019, url
2921 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus; Afghanistan; Paktika ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url For more information on ACLED’s methodology, see: Introduction – Sources.
2922 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Paktika ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
2923 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Paktika ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
2924 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Paktika ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
2925 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Paktika ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
2926 Khaama Press, Clashes reported among Taliban militants in Paktika province, 16 July 2019, url

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Sharan and 7 in Wazakhah.2927 Examples of such incidents include two police raids ending in the killingof seven Taliban in Wazakhah and Sarobi districts, in December 2019.2928 During the second quarter of
2019, Sarobi district police chief was injured by unidentified gunmen in the bazar of Urgun district.2929
In June 2019, Bermel police district chief was killed by the Taliban.2930
In terms of incidents coded by ACLED as ‘Explosions/Remote violence’, the two most represented subcategories were ‘Air/drone strikes’ (61 %) and ‘Remote explosive/Landmine/IED’ (26 %). Bermel
district clearly stood out as the most affected district by air/drone strikes (18 recorded out of 53
overall), followed by Sharan (7) and Matakhan (6).2931 In April 2019, 18 people were killed in an air
strike in Naka district. Afghan authorities assured that the victims were Taliban fighters, but the local
population claimed they all were civilians.2932 The most lethal strikes took place in Wormamay district,when about 105 Taliban fighters were reportedly killed over two consecutive days, in September
20192933, although the group denied that it had lost that many members.2934 In December 2019, six
members of the Haqqani Network were killed in an air strike in Bermel.2935
Out of 23 ‘Remote explosive/Landmine/IED’ incidents recorded by ACLED, all of them were attributed
to AGEs. Fourteen took place in Sharan, Sarrawzah and Ziruk districts. Three of these events madecivilian fatalities and were said to have been carried out by an undetermined militant group.2936 On
23 July 2019, in provincial capital Sharan, two civilians were killed (including a child) and six others
injured after a car bomb struck the vehicle of a police commander of Matakhan district.2937 In
November 2019, at least seven civilians were killed when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb inSarrawzah district.2938 The Taliban were also held responsible for three grenade attacks across theprovince.2939 The most recent one happened in Zarghunshar (Khairkot) district, on 3 May 2020, whena hand grenade thrown into a mosque wounded 20 worshipers.2940
In terms of attacks on civilians, relatively speaking, Sharan, Zarghunshahr and Bermel districts were themost affected (3 to 4 incidents each). Out of these 24 events, 17 have been attributed to Afghan forces
and their NATO allies, and 7 to the Taliban.2941 In March 2019, at least seven persons were killed by theAfghan police in Bermel.2942 The New York Times reported that on 24 May 2019, ten civilians were killed

2927 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus; Afghanistan; Paktika ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
2928 Pajhwok Afghan News, 7 Taliban killed in Paktika operations, 19 December 2019, url
2929 Pajhwok Afghan News, Paktika’s Sarobi district chief shot injured, 18 April 2019, url
2930 Pajhwok Afghan News, Paktika’s Barmal district police chief killed in Taliban attack, 19 June 2019, url
2931 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Paktika ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
2932 Pajhwok Afghan News, Paktika residents say civilians killed in Nika airstrike, 3 April 2019, url
2933 Ziar Khan Yaad [Twitter], posted on: 14 September 2019, url; Afghanistan, Ministry of Interior Affairs, 90 Taliban
Terrorists Killed In Paktika, 16 September 2019, url; Reuters, Two Afghan Taliban shadow governors killed as air strikes stepup, 15 September 2019, url
2934 Reuters, Two Afghan Taliban shadow governors killed as air strikes step up, 15 September 2019, url
2935 Pajhwok Afghan News, 6 Haqqani rebels eliminated in Paktika airstrike, 17 December 2019, url
2936 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Paktika ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
2937 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 19-25, 25 July 2019, url
2938 Ariana News, Seven civilians killed in Paktika blast, 2 November 2019, url; Afghanistan Times (The), Seven civilians killed
in Paktika roadside bomb, 2 November 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: November 2019, 2 December 2019, url
2939 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Paktika ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
2940 Reuters, Taliban Truck Bombing Kills At Least Five At Afghan Military Center, 4 May 2020, url
2941 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Paktika ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
2942 Pajhwok Afghan News, 7 civilians killed in Paktika raid, security forces deny, 10 March 2019, url

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during a raid led by Afghan and US forces in Urgun district.2943 In this regard, from March 2019, UNAMA
recorded 15 incidents and 62 civilian casualties (58 killed, 4 injured) attributed to the Paktika-based
Shaheen Forces. As in 2018, violent incidents attributed to the KPF were not restricted to Khost
province and affected Paktya and Paktika too. UNAMA expressed concern over the killing of several
men, sometimes at close range, by pro-government groups during night raids at peoples’ homes, calling
it a ‘disturbing pattern’.2944
Incidentally, in March 2020, Pajhwok reported on the brutality of Wazakhah district police chief, Barat,
towards local dwellers, who accused him of killing and beating people, extorting money fromshopkeepers and drug smuggling.2945
Taliban acts of violence against civilians include the killing of three civilians (including a child) in
Zarghunshar district, in May 2020.2946
According to the UN Secretary General, during the second quarter of 2020, three human rights
defenders were kidnapped and mistreated by the Taliban in Paktika.2947
Concerning health facilities, Pajhwok reported that in March 2019, unidentified persons had dynamiteda health centre of Bermel district, a month after a similar incident had taken place in the same
district.2948 Besides, according to the World Health Organization, four health care providers were killed
in Paktika between January and November 2019.2949

2.26.3.2 Displacement
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 2 317 persons
displaced from Paktika – one of the lowest provincial figures recorded over the period. Except for 300
residents from Urgun and Gyan districts who were headed to Khost province, 86 % found refuge within
the province.2950 Overall, the main districts of origin of IDPs were Dila (315), Gyan (287), Urgun (245),
Sarobi (224) and Omna (210). The five of them accounted for almost 60 % of Paktika’s IDPs. The highest
displacement figures were recordedin July 2019, September through December 2019 andFebruary 2020.2951 In several reports from late 2019 and early 2020, UNOCHA suggested that ongoing
conflict was responsible for many displacements in Paktika.2952
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 2 016 persons
displaced to Paktika province. All of them were displaced within the province, mainly to Sharan(1 155), home to the provincial capital, and Urgun (686) districts.2953

2943 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 24-30, 30 May 2019, url
2944 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, pp. 58, 66
2945 Pajhwok Afghan News, Police officer accused of torture, extortion, 19 March 2020, url
2946 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 2020, 28 May 2020, url
2947 UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, A/74/897–S/2020/549, 17

June 2020, url, p. 92948 Pajhwok Afghan News, Health clinic dynamited in Paktika’s Barmal district, 31 March 2019, url
2949 World Health Organization, Afghanistan – Attacks on Health Care in 2019 as of 17 November, 18 November 2019, url
2950 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
2951 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
2952 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (30 September – 6 October 2019), 9 October 2019, url ; UNOCHA,
Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (28 October – 3 November 2019), 6 November 2019, url ; UNOCHA, Afghanistan:
Weekly Humanitarian Update (10 February – 16 February 2020), 19 February 2020, url
2953 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url

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2.27 Paktya
2.27.1 General description of the province

Map 27: Afghanistan – Paktya province, source: UNOCHA2954

A part of Loya Paktya (i.e. ‘Greater Paktya’), an area also encompassing the provinces of Khost andPaktika2955, Paktya is located in eastern Afghanistan, on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.2956 It borders
Logar to the north, Pakistan to the east, Khost to the south-east, Paktika to the south and Ghazni to
the west.2957 The provincial capital of Paktya is Gardez. The province is divided into the following
administrative units: Ahmadaba, Alikhel (or Jaji), Chamkani, Dand Wa Patan, Garda Siray, Gardez,
Janikhel, Lija Ahmad Khel, Laja Mangel, Mirzaka, Rohany Baba, Sayedkaram, Shawak, Zadran andZurmat.2958 As of June 2020, the NISA described Garda Siray, Laja Mangel, Mirzaka and Rohany Baba as‘temporary’ districts2959, meaning that they have been created by previous regimes or, more recently,
under Presidents Karzaï and Ghani, and that their status has not been approved by the Afghanparliament yet.2960 In 2018, AAN added that Rohany Baba had been created out of Zurmat district.2961
However, in its 2014 provincial atlas, UNOCHA respectively presented Sayedkaram/Mirzaka and Lija
Ahmad Khel/Laja Mangel as different names referring to the same district.2962

2954 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Paktya Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url
2955 Ruttig, T., Loya Paktia‘s Insurgency: The Haqqani Network as an Autonomous Entity, in: Giustozzi, A. (ed.), Decoding the

New Taliban. Insights from the Afghan Field, Columbia, Hurst, 2009, url, p. 57
2956 US, Naval Postgraduate School, Paktya Provincial Overview, n.d., url
2957 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Paktya Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url
2958 Afghanistan, IEC, Afghanistan 2019 Presidential Elections – Final results by Polling Stations: Province Paktya, 2020, url;
Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated population of Afghanistan 2020-2021, June 2020, url, p. 222959 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated population of Afghanistan 2020-2021, June 2020, url, p. 222960 Ruttig, T., The Afghanistan Election Conundrum (12): Good news and bad news about district numbers, AAN, 16 August
2018, url
2961 Khan P. & Ruttig, T., The 2018 Election Observed (1) in Zurmat, Paktia: Real voting only in the district centre, AAN, 29
October 2018, url
2962 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Paktya Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url;

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According to the NSIA, the population of Paktya is estimated at 611 952 for 2020/212963 and iscomposed mainly of Pashtuns, followed by Tajiks.2964 As reported by AAN, a small Shia community ofmostly bilingual (Dari as a first language and Pashtu as a second) residents lives in Khwajah Hassan, inthe north-east of the provincial capital. They belong to a group called Sadat (singular Sayyed), who aresaid to have been living in the area without conflict with the Sunni (Tajik and Pashtun) communities ofthe province and have actually fought along them to defend Gardez, since the Soviet invasion.2965
According to the BBC, there used to be a Sikh and Hindu minority in Paktya, Gardez City, but most ofthem have fled the province, with allegedly only one Sikh individual left in Gardez in the last years.2966
The Kabul-Gardez Highway connects the provincial capital to Kabul City crossing through Logar.2967
Another highway, called the G-K or Gardez-Khost Highway, passes through the districts of Shawak andZadran as well as through Khost province, and reaches the road leading to Ghulam Khan at the AfghanPakistani border.2968 Since the full reopening of the Ghulam Khan border point, in August 2019, theresidents of Paktya, Paktika and Khost are allowed to get into Pakistan with their tazkera, under thecondition that they have relatives living on the other side of the Durand Line.2969
In July 2018, Taliban militants were reported to search vehicles and look for government employees on
the Gardez-Kabul Highway2970, abduct civilians2971 and attack officials convoys.2972 Moreover, theGhazni-Paktya Highway was closed by Taliban militants after fights with the Afghan security forces in
Ghazni province, in May 2018.2973 In March 2019, the Afghan authorities announced that they were
now in full control of the 50 kilometre-road linking Paktya’s Dand Wa Patan district to Khost’s
Jajimaydan district. For the previous five years, the highway had been under the influence of the Taliban
and the Haqqani Network.2974
In August 2019, local residents complained that the 30 kilometre-long Gardez-Zurmat road, whose
construction work was launched in April 2018, was still yet to be built, allegedly due to indifference
from Afghan authorities and to attacks by the Taliban, who are said to be hostile to the project. 2975
However, AAN also noted that they organised the rehabilitation of a part of the 52 kilometre-long
Gardez-Ghazni road, requesting the local population to fund and take part to the construction work.2976
According to the 2018 UNODC Opium Survey, Paktya has maintained its poppy-free status since2013.2977

2963 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated population of Afghanistan 2020-2021, June 2020, url, p. 42964 US, Naval Postgraduate School, Paktya Provincial Overview, n.d., url; Afghanistan, Office of the President, Provincial

Profile Paktia, n. d., url
2965 Foschini, F., Hitting Gardez: A vicious attack on Paktia‘s Shias, AAN, 18 August 2018, url‫تنهانبازماندهناقلیتنسیکندرنپکتیا‬: ‫[نیمخواهمنازنشهرمنبرومن‬The only survivor of the Sikh minority in
Paktia: I don't want to leave my city], 6 October 2019, url
2967 Pajhwok Afghan News, Insecurity growing on Kabul-Gardez highway‘, 18 July 2018, url; Foschini, F., Hitting Gardez: A
vicious attack on Paktia‘s Shias, 18 August 2018, AAN, url
2968 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Paktya Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Reconstructed GardezKhost highway inaugurated, 15 December 2015, url; US, USAID, Gardez-Khost National Highway, November 2016, url
2969 Sabawoon, A. M., The Gates of Friendship: How Afghans cross the Afghan-Pakistani border, AAN, 28 January 2020, url
2970 Pajhwok Afghan News, ‘Insecurity growing on Kabul-Gardez highway‘, 18 July 2018, url;
2971 Khaama Press, Taliban militants kidnap 22 passengers from Kabul-Gardez highway, 31 July 2018, url
2972 Pajhwok Afghan News, ‚Insecurity growing on Kabul-Gardez highway‘, 18 July 2018, url
2973 LWJ, Taliban blockade of Ghazni-Paktia highway enters second month, 9 June 2018, url
2974 Tolonews, Afghan Forces Hold ‘Full Control’ Of Key Highway In Southeast, 31 March 2019, url
2975 Pajhwok Afghan News, 18 months on, Paktians await work on Gardez-Zurmat road, 25 August 2019, url; Ali, O., Sadat, S.
A. and Bleuer, C., One Land, Two Rules (8): Delivering public services in insurgency-affected insurgent-controlled Zurmat
district, AAN, 4 September 2019, url
2976 Ali, O., Sadat, S. A. and Bleuer, C., One Land, Two Rules (8): Delivering public services in insurgency-affected insurgentcontrolled Zurmat district, AAN, 4 September 2019, url
2977 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN , Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, p. 19
2966 BBC News,

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2.27.2 Conflict background and actors in Paktya
Paktya, a conservative province, mainly inhabited by Pashtuns, played a significant role during theSoviet invasion in the 1980s, the civil war and Taliban rule in the 1990s, as well as during the post-2001
years.2978 The province is home to many ex-mujahideen commanders who were members of theHarakat-e Enqelab-e Islami-e Afghanistan (The Islamic Revolutionary Movement of Afghanistan), a
traditionalist Sunni tanzim, or mujahideen-party, with a local and rural social base. Founded in 19791980 in Peshawar, it operated mainly in Paktya and Logar provinces, until many of its fighters joined
the Taliban in the mid-1990s.2979 As of December 2015, the Harakat party has returned to the politicalscene as a more moderate movement among different tanzims. It has thus been seen by many as a‘bridge’ for peace talks with the Taliban, due to its ‘special relationship’ with them.2980
Although Paktya province is witnessing an active insurgency2981, a 2011 academic article quoted by
AAN stated that historically, the majority of local tribes tried to avoid supporting one of the warring
parties but kept contacts with all of them: ‘In other words, the tribal system in Paktya obstructs or atleast constrains the emergence of warlordism as well as the influence of the State.’2982 The fact that thehostility of ‘even a minor community’ would be counterproductive for the AGEs ‘discourages acts thatwould antagonise whole communities’.2983 For instance, in June 2018 Gardez City hosted a pro-peace
gathering with tribal elders from Paktya, Paktika and Khost provinces, who pleaded the Taliban to agree
to an extended ceasefire.2984 According to the aforementioned 2011 academic article, quoted by AAN,
the exception appears to be the Zurmat district, where the weakened tribal structure provided AGEs
with more opportunities to gain a foothold.2985
By 2011, according to AAN, even though Loya Paktya ‘had not been Taleban heartland, […] the Taliban
had dealt with it reasonably well’. Important senior Taliban members, like Jalaluddin Haqqani, alsocame from Paktya province. Even so, in the first stage after 2001, the people from Loya Paktya
overthrew the Taliban through tribal councils and supported the Afghan government. However, thismindset changed after the tribal elders of the region were excluded from the state-building process,which was mainly controlled by the new politicians in Kabul and Northern Alliance members.2986 In
Zurmat district, a strategic ‘transit corridor’ for fighters from Pakistan to Ghazni2987, the Taliban had
first to coexist with a powerful local family, the Mansurs, who joined them and obtained high-ranking
positions within the Islamic Emirate, while retaining some autonomy until their influence graduallyvanished.2988

2978 Clark, K., Khost Protection Force Accused of Fresh Killings: Six men shot dead in Zurmat, AAN, 21 January 2019, url;

Ruttig, T., A Bridge for the Taliban? Harakat, a former mujahedin party, leaps back into action, AAN, 14 December 2015, url;
Clark, K., 2001 Ten Years on (3): The fall of Loya Paktia and why the US preferred warlords, AAN, 24 November 2011, url
2979 Ruttig, T., A Bridge for the Taliban? Harakat, a former mujahedin party, leaps back into action, AAN, 14 December 2015,url See also: Clark, K., Khost Protection Force Accused of Fresh Killings: Six men shot dead in Zurmat, AAN, 21 January 2019,url
2980 Ruttig, T., A Bridge for the Taliban? Harakat, a former mujahedin party, leaps back into action, AAN, 14 December 2015,
url
2981 Foschini, F., Hitting Gardez: A vicious attack on Paktia‘s Shias, AAN, 18 August 2018, url
2982 Ali, O., Sadat, S. A. and Bleuer, C., One Land, Two Rules (8): Delivering public services in insurgency-affected insurgentcontrolled Zurmat district, AAN, 4 September 2019, url
2983 Foschini, F., Hitting Gardez: A vicious attack on Paktia‘s Shias, AAN, 18 August 2018, url
2984 Salaam Times, Hundreds of Taliban refuse to return to battlefield following ceasefire, 3 July 2018, url
2985 Ali, O., Sadat, S. A. and Bleuer, C., One Land, Two Rules (8): Delivering public services in insurgency-affected insurgentcontrolled Zurmat district, AAN, 4 September 2019, url
2986 Clark, K., 2001 Ten Years on (3): The fall of Loya Paktia and why the US preferred warlords, AAN, 24 November 2011, url
2987 Ruttig, T., Loya Paktia’s Insurgency: The Haqqani Network as an Autonomous Entity, in: Giustozzi, A. (ed.), Decoding the
New Taliban. Insights from the Afghan Field, Columbia, Hurst, 2009, url, p. 34
2988 Bleuer, C., Sadat, S. A., Ali, O., One Land, Two Rules (8): Delivering public services in insurgency-affected insurgentcontrolled Zurmat district, 4 September 2019, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 261

In October 2018, AAN’s Thomas Ruttig described Paktya province as a ‘Taliban stronghold’.2989 As of
May 2020, the Taliban shadow governor in Paktya was said to be Abdul Rahman Bilal, originallyaffiliated to the Peshawar Shura network. He was appointed after the ‘reshuffle’ of the Taliban
government structure during the 2019-2020 winter, ahead of the 2020 fighting season. Furthermore,
Paktya was one of the provinces were Taliban forces were provided with ‘increased supplies of
ammunition and explosive materials’. The UN Security Council also named Mawlawi Qasam Farid as
the head of the military commission in Loya Paktya.2990 At least in Zurmat district, Pakistani and Central
Asian fighters have been reported to fight within Taliban ranks.2991 According to security officials
interviewed by RFE/RL in June 2020, some of the local Taliban freed by the authorities in the frame of
the USA/Taliban agreement had resumed fighting soon after.2992
Moreover, Paktya is one of the provinces where the UN Security Council observed ‘strong ties’ between
the Taliban and organised criminal groups involved in heroin and hashish traffics or local businesses
extorsion.2993 The Taliban have also been reported to collect taxes from truck drivers going from Paktya
to Ghazni.2994
The Haqqani Network started to expand in Loya Paktya some years before 20112995 and has now
become powerful in Paktya province.2996 As of June 2019, according to Afghan officials quoted in a UN
Security Council report, 1 800 – 2 000 fighters of the network were reportedly leading the Taliban
operations in Loya Paktya, supported by Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants. The network was also
said to hold all of the main Taliban shadow government positions (provincial governors and district
governors) in Loya Paktya.2997 As of May 2020, the Haqqani Network was rumoured to plan a joint unitof 2 000 fighters with Al Qaeda, headed by Hafiz Azizuddin Haqqani in Loya Paktya.2998
In June 2019, the UN Security Council noted that many foreign terrorist fighters were active in Loya
Paktya, where they benefitted from the ‘remote terrain’ and the limited capacity of the security forces
to reach these areas.2999 Among these foreign AGEs, the UN Security Council listed the TTP, with 3 500
fighters across Kunar, Paktya and Paktika provinces3000, and Al Qaeda, said to number 400 to 600
fighters across 12 provinces and to be ‘covertly active’ in Paktya.3001 UNAMA added that its main tasks
consist in ‘training, including weapons and explosives, and mentoring’.3002

2989 taz, Nicht nur die Taliban als Problem [Not only the Taliban as a problem], 21 October 2018, url
2990 UNSG, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution

1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 27 May 2020, url, pp. 8-9, 25, 27
2991 Ali, O., Sadat, S. A. and Bleuer, C., One Land, Two Rules (8): Delivering public services in insurgency-affected insurgentcontrolled Zurmat district, AAN, 4 September 2019, url
2992 RFE/RL/Gandhara, For Now, Fewer Former Afghan Prisoners Returning To The Battlefield, 23 June 2020, url
2993 UN Security Council, Letter dated 10 June 2019 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant
to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 13 June 2019, url, p. 122994 Ali, O., Sadat, S. A. and Bleuer, C., One Land, Two Rules (8): Delivering public services in insurgency-affected insurgentcontrolled Zurmat district, AAN, 4 September 2019, url
2995 Clark, K., 2001 Ten Years on (3): The fall of Loya Paktia and why the US preferred warlords, AAN, 24 November 2011, url
2996 Clark, K., Khost Protection Force Accused of Fresh Killings: Six men shot dead in Zurmat, AAN, 21 January 2019, url
2997 UNSG, Letter dated 10 June 2019 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution
1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 13 June 2019, url, pp. 17-18
2998 UNSG, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution
1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 27 May 2020, url, p. 13
2999 UNSG, Letter dated 10 June 2019 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution
1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 13 June 2019, url, p. 173000 UNSG, Letter dated 10 June 2019 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution
1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 13 June 2019, url, p. 183001 UNSG, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution
1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 27 May 2020, url, p. 123002 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, pp. 85-86

262 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATIONAs of July 2019, the UN Security Council described ISKP attempts to expand in Paktya as‘unsuccessful’.3003
In terms of presence of government security forces, Paktya province is under the responsibility of the203th ANA Corps, which falls under Task Force Southeast (TF Southeast), led by US forces.3004 As for the
ALP, Paktya is often listed as one of the provinces where it is working well, due to the robust tribal
structures of Loya Paktya and its tradition of local defence groups (arbaki).3005 However, in Zurmat
district, due to abuses against civilians, the ALP unit has been disbanded in 2018.3006 According to AAN
and Human Rights Watch, the 01 unit of NDS Special Forces (‘NDS 01’) and the Khost Protection Force(‘KFP’) operate in Patkya. Backed by the CIA, both have been accused of killing civilians in several raids
in Zurmat.3007 In another report, AAN added that the KPF and NDS-supported ‘uprising forces’ holdposts along the Gardez-Tamir road.3008 Another pro-government armed group, the Paktika-based
Shaheen Forces, also appeared to conduct operations in Paktya.3009
According to information collected by LWJ and presented in a map, Ahmadaba Alikhel (Jaji), Dand Wa
Patan, Lija Ahmed Khel and Sayedkaram, districts were ‘contested’. The Taliban were reported to fully
control three of them, apart from the district centre. LWJ also listed Chamkani, Gardez, Shawak andZadran districts as government-controlled or undetermined, and Janikhel and Zurmat districts as under
Taliban control.3010 Regarding Zurmat district, in several 2019 reports, AAN described it as a Taliban
stronghold, the withdrawal of the ANA leaving only the district centre under the government’s
control.3011

2.27.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population
2.27.3.1 General
In 2019, UNAMA documented 218 civilian casualties (78 deaths and 140 injured) in Paktya province.
This represents a decrease of 49 % compared to 2018. Leading causes of casualties were groundengagements, followed by targeted/deliberate killings and search operations.3012 Resolute Support
recorded between 102 and 150 civilian casualties in Paktya in the first half of 2020, reporting a marked
increase during the second quarter compared to the first.3013
In regard with the severity of the conflict, Resolute Support recorded between 501 and 1 000 enemyinitiated attacks in Paktya province over the full year 2019 – an increase in comparison with 2018(301 – 500).3014 In 2020, interviewed by AAN after the February ‘reduction in violence’ period had

3003 UNSG, Letter dated 15 July 2019 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999),

1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals,
groups, undertakings and entities addressed to the President of the Security Council, 15 July 2019, url, p. 153004 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan, June 2020, url, p. 143005 Clark, K. et al., Ghosts of the Past: Lessons from Local Force Mobilisation in Afghanistan and Prospects for the Future,
AAN & Global Public Policy Institute, July 2020, url, pp. 46-47, 93
3006 Ali, O., Sadat, S. A. and Bleuer, C., One Land, Two Rules (8): Delivering public services in insurgency-affected insurgentcontrolled Zurmat district, AAN, 4 September 2019, url
3007 Ruttig, T., “Murder Is Always”: The Kulalgo night raid killings, AAN, 17 August 2019, url; HRW, “They’ve Shot Many LikeThis” Abusive Night Raids by CIA-Backed Afghan Strike Forces, 31 October 2019, url
3008 Ali, O., Sadat, S. A. and Bleuer, C., One Land, Two Rules (8): Delivering public services in insurgency-affected insurgentcontrolled Zurmat district, AAN, 4 September 2019, url
3009 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 58
3010 LWJ, Mapping Taliban Control in Afghanistan, n. d., url However the source does not systematically specify when andwhich information of the aforementioned map was last updated.
3011 Ruttig, T., “Murder Is Always”: The Kulalgo night raid killings, AAN, 17 August 2019, url; Ali, O., Sadat, S. A. and Bleuer,C., One Land, Two Rules (8): Delivering public services in insurgency-affected insurgent-controlled Zurmat district, AAN, 4September 2019, url
3012 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 94
3013 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 April 2020, url, p. 69 ; SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the UnitedStates Congress, 30 July 2020, url, p. 72 At the time of writing, UNAMA provincial data for 2020 was not available.
3014 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 January 2020, url, p. 69

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 263

ended, a local journalist stated that the Taliban had soon resumed attacks against security forces postsin the districts of Jaji (Alikhel), Zurmat, Sayedkaram and Rohani Baba (Zurmat).3015 In April 2020, a
resident of Shawak district observed that violence had remained ‘somewhat reduced’, due to weather
conditions and longing of Taliban for peace. In Zurmat, a local elder noted that the Taliban had stopped
pressuring people for food or questioning them about their travels.3016
In the period from 1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, ACLED collected data on 651 violent events in Paktya
province from open sources: 450 coded as ‘battles’ (69 %), 176 as ‘explosions/remote violence’ (27 %)and 25 as ‘violence against civilians’ (4 %).3017

Figure 29. Paktya - Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians from
1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, based on ACLED data3018

Across these three categories, Gardez (177 incidents) and Zurmat (137) stood out as the districts wheremost violent incidents were reported between 1 March 2019 and 30 June 2020, accounting for almost
half of the total number. Between 30 and 70 violent events were recorded in Lija Ahmed Khel, Alikhel(Jaji), Ahmadaba, Zadran, Dand Wa Patan and Chamkani districts, and less than 10 in Laja Mangel,
Mirzaka and Shawak.3019
Regarding events coded as ‘battles’ by ACLED, an overwhelming majority of them were ‘armed
clashes’. Half of these took place in Gardez and Zurmat districts, followed by Lija Ahmed Khel (45clashes), Ahmadaba (32) and Alikhel (Jaji) (30). 85 % of the armed clashes were recorded as initiatedby the Taliban against the ANDSF.3020 Examples of such incidents include a long-lasting clash, in June
2019, between Taliban and a police unit in Ahmadaba district. The overall death toll ranged from 35
to 50.3021 On 29 May 2020, despite the extension of the Eid ceasefire, Taliban fighters killed 14 border3015 AAN, Voices from the Districts, the Violence Mapped (1): What has happened since the reduction in violence ended?,

21 March 2020, url
3016 Clark, K., Voices from the Districts, the Violence Mapped (2): Assessing the conflict a month after the US-Taleban
agreement, AAN, 8 April 2020, url
3017 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Paktya ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url For more information on ACLED’s methodology, see: Introduction – Sources.
3018 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Paktya ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
3019 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Paktya ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
3020 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Paktya ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
3021 NYT, Dozens Killed as Taliban Bombs in 4 Humvees Rip Through Afghan District, 30 June 2019, url ; Pajhwok AfghanNews, 18 security personnel killed, 17 injured in Paktia attack, 30 June 2019, url264 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

security agents while attacking a checkpoint in Dand Wa Patan district. According to security officials
quoted by Tolonews, the Taliban ‘suffered heavy casualties’ too.3022
The Afghan security forces, along with coalition forces and pro-government militia groups, initiated 62
armed clashes, half of them recorded in Alikhel (Jaji), Ahmadaba and Zurmat districts.3023 For instance,
during the summer of 2019, Afghan press agency Khaama reported that several Afghan special forces
operations had taken place in the Taliban-controlled district of Zurmat.3024 During the first part of 2020,
ACLED recorded 8 of the 16 ANDSF-initiated armed clashes between 8 and 17 May.3025
In terms of incidents coded by ACLED as ‘Explosions/Remote violence’, the two most represented subcategories were ‘Remote explosive/Landmine/IED’ (44 %) and ‘Air/drone strikes’ (39 %). Provincial
capital Gardez was clearly the most affected district by explosive/IED attacks (30 incidents out of 78
recorded in Paktya), followed by Lija Ahmad Khel and Dand Wa Patan. All of them were attributed to
the Taliban and, for a minor part, to unidentified armed groups.3026 For instance, in January 2020, a
magnetic IED planted by an unidentified armed group killed one civilian and injured eight others in
Gardez.3027
The only two suicide attacks recorded in Paktya also took place in Gardez, in March3028 and May 2020,
when the Taliban took responsibility for the explosion of a suicide truck near an ANA facility, in a
populated area of the city, killing 5 people (including 3 civilians) and injuring at least 14.3029 Zurmat
district accounted for 27 of the 68 NATO and ANDSF-initiated air/drone strikes, with Alikhel (Jaji) and
Sayedkaram as distant followers.3030 Most notably, in two separate incidents in Alikhel, 14 civilians
were killed by drone strikes in November 2019.3031 Meanwhile, the Taliban claimed responsibility formost of the recorded shelling/artillery/missile attacks. They primarily targeted ANDSF bases andcheckpoints and took place in Zadran district.3032
Out of the 25 recorded events of violence against civilians, 14 were attributed to Afghan security forces
and its NATO allies, primarily in Gardez, Jaji and Zurmat districts.3033 Such events include the killing offive civilians from a single family by the KPF, during a search operation against the Taliban in Zurmat
district in March 2019. This incident prompted local residents to organise a protest in front of the3022 Pajhwok Afghan News, 14 security personnel killed in Paktia attack, 29 May 2020, url; Tolonews, 14 Border Forces Killedin ‘Taliban Attack’ Despite Ceasefire, 30 May 2020, url
3023 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Paktya ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
3024 Khaama Press, Afghan forces storm another Taliban prison in Zurmat district of Paktiya, 6 June 2019, url ; Khaama Press,
Afghan forces killed, wound 34 Taliban militants in Khost, Paktiya: 203rd Thunder Corps, 13 July 2019, url ; Khaama Press,
NDS Special Forces kill 2 Taliban leaders and their fighters during a raid in Paktiya, 12 August 2019, url
3025 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Paktya ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
3026 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Paktya ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
3027 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (27 January - 2 February 2020), 2 February 2020, url
3028 Pajhwok Afghan News, 2 injured in Gardez suicide bombing, 23 March 2020, url
3029 Pajhwok Afghan News, 5 killed, 34 injured in Gardez truck bombing, 14 May 2020, url ; Reuters, Truck bomb in eastern
Afghan city kills five, Taliban claim responsibility, 14 May 2020, url
3030 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Paktya ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
3031 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: November 2019, 2 December 2019, url
3032 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Paktya ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
3033 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Paktya ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 265

provincial governor headquarters.3034 Also illustrating this trend is the killing of 11 civilians on
11 August 2019, during a night raid carried out by the NDS-01 Special Forces Unit and US forces, in the
Kulalgo area of Zurmat district. While Afghan officials claimed that the victims were Taliban fighters,
family members and local elders denied it and added that they should have been questioned insteadof being shot from close range. The Afghan authorities ordered an investigation on the matter but,several months later, its conclusions had not yet been made public.3035 UNAMA expressed concern
over several similar incidents involving NDS Special Forces, the KPF and Paktika-based Shaheen Forces,
but noted that the 25 civilian deaths attributed to the KPF across Khost, Paktya and Paktika in 2019represented a ‘significant drop’ from 2018 and that almost all of them had been reported during thefirst quarter of 2019 alone. KPF search operations appeared to be less frequent during the remainderof the year.3036
The Taliban were held responsible for six events of violence against civilians by ACLED.3037 These
included the murder of tribal elders in August 2019 and June 2020, respectively in Zadran3038 and Jaji
(Alikhel) district.3039 Besides its high numbers across the three ACLED categories detailed above, Gardez
capital district has also been the scene of increasing criminality. In June 2019, the city dwellers
expressed concerns about the growing pattern of targeted killings by unidentified gunmen androbberies. This prompted the local police chief to announce increased efforts to tackle violence.3040
According to Pajhwok, in early 2020, the Taliban were preventing Paktya’s health centres to receive
medical supplies, reportedly because of their discontent towards the quality of services provided by
the NGO in charge of medical supplies.3041 In mid-February 2020, UNOCHA noted that 45 health carefacilities had forcedly been closed by anti-government groups in Paktya, depriving up to one million
people from basic health services.3042
During the September 2019 presidential election, local sources told AAN that only 5 of 22 polling
centres in Zurmat district were actually open (and not 18, as claimed by the authorities), with ‘very
little’ turnout, presumably due to fear of a Taliban attack. On polling day, mortar grenades werelaunched near voting sites in Paktika, Paktya and Kunar provinces.3043 The day after the election, atruck driver carrying ballot boxes to Gardez was injured by the Taliban in Zurmat district.3044

2.27.3.2 Displacement
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 2 541 persons
displaced from Paktya – one of the lowest provincial figures recorded over the period. Except for acouple of hundred IDPs who were headed to Khost, Wardak and Herat provinces, 90 % found refuge
within the province, more specifically in Gardez capital district.3045 Overall, the main districts of origin
of IDPs were Sayedkaram (798), Zurmat (567), Alikhel (497) and Janikhel (343). The four of them3034 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 64
3035 Ruttig, T., “Murder Is Always”: The Kulalgo night raid killings, AAN, 17 August 2019, url ; NYT, U.S. Seeks to Reassure

Afghan Military Amid Uncertainty Over a Peace Deal, 15 August 2019, url ; HRW, “They’ve Shot Many Like This” Abusive
Night Raids by CIA-Backed Afghan Strike Forces, 31 October 2019, url
3036 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, pp. 57-58, 64
3037 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Paktya ; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
3038 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: Aug. 23-29, 29 August 2019, url
3039 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 2020, 2 July 2020, url
3040 Pajhwok Afghan News, Rising targeted killings spark concerns in Gardez, 16 June 2019, url
3041 Pajhwok Afghan News, Medical supplies to Paktia clinics yet to resume, 30 January 2020, url
3042 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (10 February – 16 February 2020), 19 February 2020, url
3043 Bjelica, J. and Ruttig, T., Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (11): A first look at how E-Day went, AAN, 28 September 2019, url
3044 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict – Special Report : 2019 Election-Related Violence,
October 2019, url, p. 53045 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url

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accounted for almost 90 % of Paktya’s IDPs.3046 UNAMA attributed the displacements recorded in JulyAugust 2019 to insecurity.3047 As of 30 June 2020, all the displacements recorded in 2020 occurred in
January and February, for the most part in Sayedkaram, Zurmat, Alikhel and Janikhel.3048
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 2 464 persons
displaced to Paktya province, all of them to Gardez district. Outside of the aforementioned 2 303
people displaced within Paktya, 161 came from Logar.3049

2.28 Panjsher
2.28.1 General description of the province

Map 28: Afghanistan – Panjsher province, source: UNOCHA3050

Panjsher province is located in the central region of Afghanistan and has borders with the provinces of
Takhar to the north, Badakhshan to the north-east, Nuristan to the east, Laghman to the south-east,
Kapisa to the south, Parwan to the west and Baghlan to the north-west.3051 Nearly the entire province
consists of mountainous or semi-mountainous terrain3052, located between the southern and southeastern Hindu Kush mountain ranges.3053 The province is divided into the following administrative units:3046 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict

Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
3047 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (5 - 11 August 2019), 14 August 2019, url
3048 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
3049 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
3050 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Panjsher Province - District Atlas, April 2014, url
3051 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Panjsher Province - District Atlas, April 2014, url
3052 Afghanistan, MRRD, National Area Based Development Program - Panjshir Provincial Profile, n.d., url, p. 13053 Pajhwok Afghan News, Elections 2019: Panjsher Province Background Profile, n.d., url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 267

Bazarak, Dara (or Hes-e Duwumi), Ab Shar (listed as temporary district by NSIA), Khenj (Hes-e Awal),
Onaba (or Anawa), Paryan, Rukha and Shutul. The provincial capital is Bazarak.3054
According to estimates for 2020-21 by NSIA, Panjsher province has a population of 169 926.3055 The
main ethnic group in the province is Tajik.3056 Other groups present include a minority of Hazara, Pashai,
Nuristani and Ghilzai Pashtun.3057 A very small population of Kuchi is also reported to reside in
Panjsher.3058
A road passing through Bagram district of neighbouring Parwan province connects Panjsher with
Kabul.3059 The distance between Kabul and Bazarak is about 150 kilometres.3060 The deep and narrowgorge at the beginning of the Panjsher Valley, described as ‘tailor-made for obstruction and ambush’,has kept the province isolated and difficult to access.3061 Panjsher province has no functioning airstrip
and air traffic is regularly interrupted by bad weather conditions.3062
According to UNODC’s Opium Survey from 2018, Panjsher province has maintained its poppy-freestatus since 2013.3063 UNODC data obtained by AAN in June 2020 indicated a 52 % reduction in opiumpoppy cultivation in the provinces of the central region (including Panjsher province) and the central
highlands.3064 Together with Balkh, Panjsher province is reportedly famous for its high quality Afghan
hashish or chars, also known as shirak. According to AAN Shirak-e Panjsher has become ‘the mostsought-after and expensive product on the Afghan market’.3065

2.28.2 Conflict background and actors in Panjsher
Certain regions in Afghanistan, like Panjsher province3066 and the area of the central highlands, havebeen described as relatively safe and less affected by conflict-driven violence.3067 According to an
Afghan military expert cited by Tolonews, the relative stability of Panjsher as well as the central
highland region is related to the social cohesion among its inhabitants, as most of them belong to thesame ethnic or tribal group.3068
Panjsher province led the resistance against the Soviets and the Taliban during the 1980s and the1990s. The province is home to Tajik Ahmad Shah Massoud, called the Lion of Panjsher, who fought
against the Soviets and headed the Northern Alliance against the Taliban.3069 In September 2019,3054 Afghanistan, IEC, Afghanistan 2019 Presidential Elections - Final Results by Polling Stations: Province Panjshir, 2020, url;

Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21, June 2020, url, p. 173055 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21, June 2020, url, p. 43056 NYT, Recalling Past Threats, Afghans in Tranquil Valley Work to Keep It That Way, 13 January 2014, url
3057 Pajhwok Afghan News, Elections 2019: Panjsher Province Background Profile, n.d., url; US, Naval Postgraduate School,
Panjsher Provincial Overview, n.d., url
3058 Afghanistan, MRRD, National Area Based Development Program - Panjshir Provincial Profile, n.d., url, p. 23059 Fox News, Afghanistan‘s Beautiful ‘Green Zone‘ Offers Emeralds, Peace, 23 May 2017, url
3060 Tagesspiegel (Der), Das Panjshrital in Afghanistan: Mit dem Stolz der Löwen, 4 March 2015, url
3061 NYT, Recalling Past Threats, Afghans in Tranquil Valley Work to Keep It That Way, 13 January 2014, url
3062 UNOCHA, Humanitarian Needs Overview Afghanistan 2020, 17 December 2019, url, p. 113063 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, p. 193064 Bjelica, J., New World Drug Report: Opium Production in Afghanistan Remained the Same in 2019, AAN, 25 June 2020,
url
3065 Foschini, F. et al., The Myth of ‘Afghan Black’ (2): The Cultural History of Hashish Consumption in Afghanistan, AAN, 10
January 2019, url
3066 Fox News, Afghanistan‘s Beautiful ‘Green Zone‘ Offers Emeralds, Peace, 23 May 2017, url; Tolonews, Local Forces
Mobilize to Purge Taliban Threats in Panjshir, 2 August 2019, url; NYT, At a Maternity Center Near a War Zone, 20 Births in
One Day, 12 September 2019, url
3067 National (The), Fears of Violence and Fraud Hang over Afghan Presidential Election, 26 September 2019, url; Aninternational organisation Landinfo spoke to in October 2019. Norway, Landinfo, Afghanistan: Sikkerhetssituasjon og
konfliktmonster i 2019, 22 January 2020, url, p. 13; Sweden, Lifos/Migrationsverket, Säkerhetsläget i Afghanistan (Version2.0), 7 April 2020, url, pp. 12, 51
3068 Pajhwok Afghan News, 2017 Causalities: Nearly 25,000 People Killed, Wounded in Afghanistan, 14 January 2018, url
3069 NYT, Recalling Past Threats, Afghans in Tranquil Valley Work to Keep It That Way, 13 January 2014, url; Washington Post
(The), ‘The Lion of Kandahar‘: Was Slain Commander a Hero or Part of the Problem?, 29 November 2018, url

268 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

Ahmad Shah Massoud’s son, Ahmad Massoud, was reported to have started a new political movementin Panjsher, aiming to establish an anti-Taliban and pro-decentralisation front, following the footstepsof his father’s Northern Alliance.3070
The Panjsheris, as the ethnic Tajiks of the Panjsher Valley are called, are known for their historical
opposition to the Taliban and went on to dominate the initial post-Taliban order in both politics andsecurity forces. After the 2001 attacks, they were recruited by the first CIA operatives in Afghanistan.3071
In 2012, about 70 % of NDS personnel originated from Panjsher or was connected to the Northern
Alliance.3072 In 2014, new and reinforced Afghan police checkpoints, mainly controlled by NDS agents,
were set up across the road into Panjsher.3073 Many Panjsheris have been members of the Afghan
political and military elite, like former CEO and current chairman of the High Council of National
Reconciliation Dr Abdullah Abdullah or former NDS chief/Minister of Interior and now Vice-President
Amrullah Saleh.3074 Panjsher’s political spectrum is dominated by the Jamiat-e Islami party.3075
An LWJ assessment mapping Taliban control in Afghanistan in a frequently updated map and based on
open-source information, consulted on 2 July 2020, indicated all districts of Panjsher province as‘government-controlled’ or ‘undetermined’.3076 After Kuran Wa Munjan district of neighbouring
Badakhshan province was overrun by the Taliban at the end of July 2019, the militant group reportedly
threatened Panjsher’s Paryan district in the beginning of August 2019. LWJ referred to Paryan district
as surrounded by several other districts controlled or contested by the militant group, such as Pul-e
Hissar and Khost Wa Firing districts in Baghlan province and Mandol district in Nuristan province.
According to Taliban sources cited by LWJ, there has been a long-term military interest of the militantgroup in gaining control over strategic areas such as Panjsher province.3077 In response to this possible
Taliban infiltration in Paryan district in August 2019, dozens of former mujahideen fighters andmembers of public uprising forces were reported mobilizing alongside the Afghan national security
forces, to defend the area.3078 Also in August 2019, the Taliban’s deputy shadow governor for Panjsher,known as Abdul Ahad or Zulfiqar, was killed in Nejrab district of Kapisa province. Zulfiqar was reportedly
a member of the Taliban’s military commission for Panjsher and involved in activities of the militantgroup in several provinces in the region.3079
In March 2018, Afghan news agency Pasbanan reported on ISKP-affiliated individuals, belonging to two
Iraqi families and operating under the shield of the pan-Islamic Tahrir Party, recruiting fighters in
Panjsher province. They were reported to have settled in Dara (or Ab Shar or Hes-e Duwumi) district,after entering Panjsher through neighbouring Nuristan and Laghman provinces. The families were
purportedly interested in getting control over the emerald and azure mines in Panjsher.3080 No security
incidents specifically attributed to ISKP have been recorded in Panjsher province between

3070 Asia Times, Afghanistan: Ahmad Massoud Seizes Father’s Torch, 5 September 2019, url; RFE/RL, Son of Afghanistan's'Lion of Panjshir' Takes up Father's Fight against Taliban, 10 September 2019, url
3071 NYT, Recalling Past Threats, Afghans in Tranquil Valley Work to Keep It That Way, 13 January 2014, url
3072 Christian Science Monitor (The), Why Afghanistan‘s Intelligence Agency Has a Major Blind Spot, 23 April 2012, url
3073 NYT, Recalling Past Threats, Afghans in Tranquil Valley Work to Keep It That Way, 13 January 2014, url
3074 Telegraph (The), Afghanistan‘s Former Spy Chief: ‘Never Trust the Taliban‘, 13 August 2011, url; NYT, Recalling Past
Threats, Afghans in Tranquil Valley Work to Keep It That Way, 13 January 2014, url; NYT, Afghan Rivals Sign Power-Sharing
Deal as Political Crisis Subsides, 17 May 2020, url
3075 NYT, Players Say Soccer Chief Sexually Abused Them for Years. He May Still Win., 18 March 2019, url
3076 LWJ, Mapping Taliban Control in Afghanistan, n.d., url; (LWJ, however, does not specify when and which information of
the aforementioned map was last updated.)
3077 LWJ, Taliban Threatens Panjshir Province, 4 August 2019, url
3078 Tolonews, Local Forces Mobilize to Purge Taliban Threats in Panjshir, 2 August 2019, url; LWJ, Taliban Threatens
Panjshir Province, 4 August 2019, url
3079 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’s Shadow Deputy Governor for Panjsher Killed: MoI, 4 August 2019, url; Ariana News,
Taliban’s Shadow Deputy Governor for Panjsher Killed, 4 August 2019, url
3080 Pasbanan, Panjshir Is threatened by ISIS Recruitment, 8 March 2018, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 269

1 March 2019 and 30 June 2020 by ACLED.3081 In a 2020 USIP report, analyst Borhan Osman mentioned
Panjsher as an area where ISKP has been recruiting for its Kabul cell.3082
In terms of the presence of government security forces, Panjsher is under the responsibility of the201th ANA Corps. Panjsher province is included in the Train, Advise and Assist Command - East (TAACE), which is part of NATO’s Resolute Support Mission within Afghanistan. TAAC-E is led by US and Polishforces and has its headquarters in Laghman province.3083

2.28.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population
2.28.3.1 General
In 2019, UNAMA documented no civilian casualties in Panjsher province.3084 Resolute Support3085
recorded between 0 and 50 civilian casualties in Panjsher province in the first half of 2020, with novariation between the first and second quarter of the year.3086
ACLED collected data on six violent events in Panjsher province from 1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020
from reports in open sources, of which four were coded as ‘battles’, one as ‘explosions/remoteviolence’ and one as ‘violence against civilians’. Four incidents were recorded in the western district ofBazarak. The other two incidents were registered in the southern district of Dara. In the rest of theprovince, no violent incidents were recorded.3087

Figure 30. Panjsher - Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians
from 1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, based on ACLED data3088

The four ‘battles’ recorded by ACLED in Panjsher were all ‘armed clashes’ between Taliban militantsand ANDSF forces, recorded in Bazarak and Dara districts in the second, third and fourth quarters of
2019.3089 The incident categorised as ‘violence against civilians’ was reported as a Taliban gunfire

3081 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus; Afghanistan; Panjsher; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
3082 Osman, B., Bourgeois Jihad: Why Young, Middle-Class Afghans Join Islamic State, USIP, June 2020, url, pp. 4, 11-12
3083 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan - June 2020, 1 July 2020, url, p. 133084 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 94
3085 Civilian casualty data for 2020 have not yet been published by UNAMA.
3086 SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, 30 April 2020, url, p. 69; SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the UnitedStates Congress, 30 July 2020, url, p. 72
3087 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Panjsher; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
3088 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, Afghanistan - Panjsher, url
3089 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Panjsher; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url

270 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

attack on an UNAMA vehicle, in November 2019. No casualties were reported.3090 The incident
categorized as ‘explosions/remote violence’ was reported as a rocket attack by unidentified militantson Bazarak City, in August 2019.3091 Additionally, Pajhwok Afghan News reported on three rockets thatlanded near the house of Panjsher’s provincial governor in July 2019, no casualties were reported.3092
Panjsher’s voter turnout as percentage of its registered voters for the presidential elections on
28 September 2019 reached around 25 %.3093 In the Asia Foundation’s 2019 Survey of the Afghan
People, 0-25 % of respondents in Panjsher province reported to have experienced fear while voting.3094
In June 2019, the Kabul-Panjsher Highway was reportedly closed in Onaba (Anawa) district byprotesters demanding the release of an arrested criminal.3095

2.28.3.2 Displacement
No conflict-induced internal displacement from Panjsher province was reported by UNOCHA for theperiod 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020.3096
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, reporting 1 057 persons displaced
to Panjsher province. The majority of these IDPs (749 individuals) came from Kuran Wa Munjan districtof Badakhshan province, with a peak in April-May 2019 and a smaller number in August 2019, allfinding refuge in Panjsher’s Paryan district. 259 IDPs coming from Nuristan’s Mandol district3097 in April,
May and August 2019 found refuge in Panjsher’s Bazarak district. A small number of 49 IDPs fromDawlatshah district3098 in Laghman province found refuge in Panjsher’s Rukha district in April 2019.3099
Additionally, UNOCHA reported on displaced families from Tala Wa Barfak district in Baghlan province
seeking shelter in Panjsher in June 2019.3100
According to IOM displacement data published in August and October 2019, most IDPs and returnees
in Panjsher province resided in Khenj (Hes-e Awal) district, followed by Rukha and Bazarak districts.3101
According to UNHCR, Panjsher is one of the four provinces with the highest percentage of returnees
who originate there but choose to live somewhere else once they return.3102

3090 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus; Afghanistan; Panjsher; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url; Pajhwok Afghan News, UNAMA Vehicle under Attack in Panjsher, 14 November 2019, url
3091 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Panjsher; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url; Bakhtar News, Rocket Attacks on Panjshir Province, 20 August 2019, url
3092 Pajhwok Afghan News, 3 Rockets Land in Panjsher, Causing No Casualties, 13 July 2019, url
3093 SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, 30 January 2020, url, p. 98
3094 Asia Foundation (The), A Survey of the Afghan People - Afghanistan in 2019, 2 December 2019, url, p. 623095 Pajhwok Afghan News, Panjsher Residents Protest for Release of Khurasani, 29 June 2019, url
3096 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
3097 UNOCHA, Operational Coordination Team (OCT) - Panjsher Province - Meeting Summary, 11 June 2019, url, p. 1
3098 UNOCHA, Operational Coordination Team (OCT) - Panjsher Province - Meeting Summary, 11 June 2019, url, p. 1
3099 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
3100 UNOCHA, Operational Coordination Team (OCT) - Panjsher Province - Meeting Summary, 11 June 2019, url, p. 1
3101 IOM, Afghanistan - Panjsher Baseline Mobility Assessment Summary Results Round 7 (October - December 2018), 1
August 2019, url, pp. 1, 2, 6; IOM, DTM Afghanistan Baseline Mobility Assessment I District Level I Total Inflow(Returnees+IDPs) I June 2019 I Province: Panjsher, 9 October 2019, url
3102 UNHCR, Returnee and Internally Displaced Persons Monitoring Report - Final Report, May 2018, url, p. 19

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2.29 Parwan
2.29.1 General description of the province

Map 29: Afghanistan – Parwan province, source: UNOCHA3103

Parwan province is located in the central region of Afghanistan and has borders with the provinces ofBaghlan to the north, Panjsher and Kapisa to the east, Kabul and Wardak to the south and Bamyan to
the west.3104 More than two thirds of the province consists of mountainous or semi-mountainous
terrain.3105 The province is divided into the following administrative units: Bagram, Charikar, Ghorband(or Siya Gird), Jabalus Saraj, Koh-e Safi, Salang, Saydkhel, Shekhali, Shinwari and Surkh-e Parsa. The
provincial capital is Charikar.3106
According to estimates for 2020-21 by NSIA, Parwan province has a population of 737 700.3107 The main
ethnic group in Parwan is Tajik, with a presence in every district of the province. Other groups present
include Pashtun, Uzbek, Qizilbash, Kuchi and Hazara.3108 Shinwari district has a Pashtun majority andGhorband district a significant Pashtun population3109, as well as Koh-e Safi district.3110 Parwan’s Hazara
mainly reside in the districts of Shekhali3111 and Surkh-e Parsa. According to AAN analyst Thomas Ruttig,

3103 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Parwan Province - District Atlas, April 2014, url
3104 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Parwan Province - District Atlas, April 2014, url
3105 Afghanistan, MRRD, National Area Based Development Program - Parwan Provincial Profile, n.d., url, p. 1
3106 Afghanistan, IEC, Afghanistan 2019 Presidential Elections - Final Results by Polling Stations: Province Parwan, 2020, url;

Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21, June 2020, url, p. 113107 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21, June 2020, url, p. 43108 US, Naval Postgraduate School, Parwan Provincial Overview, n.d., url
3109 Ruttig, T., Ghorband - A Valley Once Friendly, AAN, 19 July 2011, url
3110 Pajhwok Afghan News, Elections 2019: Parwan Province Background Profile, n.d., url
3111 Pajhwok Afghan News, Elections 2019: Parwan Province Background Profile, n.d., url

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Surkh-e Parsa is inhabited by a Sunni Hazara population, who ‘traditionally are at odds with their Shiite
fellow-Hazaras in neighbouring Bamian and therefore have always supported Hezb-e Islami (HIG)’.3112
The Salang Pass tunnel, located between the provinces of Parwan and Baghlan and purportedly usedby more than 10 000 vehicles daily3113, connects Kabul to northern Afghanistan.3114 3115 The roads
leading to the tunnel have been in a bad condition and lack proper maintenance. Restauration projects
are being assessed by the government.3116 In April 2020, USAID completed a power-infrastructure
project next to the strategically located tunnel, through which reportedly over 80 % of Afghanistan’s
north-south trade passes.3117
A highway from Kabul runs through the districts of Charikar, Jabalus Saraj and Salang to Kunduz
province. Another highway connecting Parwan to Bamyan province runs through the districts ofCharikar, Shinwari, Ghorband, Shekhali and the Shibar Pass.3118
According to UNODC’s Opium Survey from 2018, Parwan province has maintained its poppy-free status
since 2013.3119 UNODC data obtained by AAN in June 2020 indicated a 52 % reduction in opium-poppy
cultivation in the provinces of the central region (including Parwan province) and the central
highlands.3120

2.29.2 Conflict background and actors in Parwan
Parwan province is described as among the relatively calm provinces in Afghanistan.3121 Remote areas,such as the Ghorband Valley3122, have been reported as the most insecure regions of the province.3123
In 2011, AGEs started to expand their activities into Parwan’s Siya Gird (or Ghorband) and Shinwari
districts, where the majority of the residents are Pashtun, and into Surkh-e Parsa district, where theSunni Hazara majority sympathized with Hezb-e Islami (HIG) forces. The Pashtun areas of the Ghorband
Valley have traditionally supported Hezb-e Islami during the civil war, but some of these structures
have been absorbed by the Taliban since their regime in the 1990s. The Taliban in Parwan have also
appointed Tajiks into their ranks to avoid limiting the insurgency exclusively to the Pashtun ethnicity.
According to AAN analyst Thomas Ruttig, Parwan province has witnessed a long-established rivalry
between Jamiat-e Islami and Hezb-e Islami (HIG), as several ethnic Tajiks affiliated with Jamiat werepowerful strongmen and had important networks throughout the area. Many of them were in controlof Parwan’s administration and have reportedly actively contributed to the insecurity in the region.3124

3112 Ruttig, T., Ghorband - A Valley Once Friendly, AAN, 19 July 2011, url
3113 Xinhua, Feature: Afghanistan's Vital Salang Pass Tunnel in Dire Need of Restoration, 17 September 2019, url
3114 Telegraph (The), Through Mountain Passes and Taliban Land: the Longest Journey in the World for Covid-19 Samples,

10 June 2020, url
3115 Diplomat (The), Fixing the Salang Pass Tunnel, 21 October 2015, url; Tolonews, Road Works Underway on Salang Pass, 1
September 2018, url
3116 Tolonews, Govt Reports Back on New Salang Tunnel Progress, 18 June 2018, url; Xinhua, Feature: Afghanistan's Vital
Salang Pass Tunnel in Dire Need of Restoration, 17 September 2019, url
3117 USAID, Salang Tunnel Substation Overview, 5 December 2019, url; SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the United States
Congress, 30 April 2020, url, p. 142; SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, 30 July 2020, url, p. 147
3118 Ruttig, T., Ghorband - A Valley Once Friendly, AAN, 19 July 2011, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Parwan Province - District
Atlas, April 2014, url; Afghanistan, IDC - MOPW, Application of Road Numbering System National Highways, 16 October
2015, url, p. 53119 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, p. 19
3120 Bjelica, J., New World Drug Report: Opium Production in Afghanistan Remained the Same in 2019, AAN, 25 June 2020,
url
3121 Khaama Press, Airstrike Destroys Car Bomb in Bagram District of Parwan Province, 8 May 2019, url; Sweden,
Lifos/Migrationsverket, Säkerhetsläget i Afghanistan (Version 2.0), 7 April 2020, url, pp. 51-52
3122 Al Jazeera, Life in the City: Tackling Kabul's Urban Challenges, 11 July 2019, url
3123 Khaama Press, Airstrike Destroys Car Bomb in Bagram District of Parwan Province, 8 May 2019, url
3124 Ruttig, T., Ghorband - A Valley Once Friendly, AAN, 19 July 2011, url

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In December 2019, a clash between two former Jamiat-e Islami commanders in Siya Gird district
resulted in several civilian casualties.3125
The Kabul-Bamyan Highway, going through Jalrez district in Wardak province, has many side roads andmountain paths leading to several districts in Wardak, Parwan and Kabul provinces. According to AAN
analyst Ehsan Qaane, these serve as ‘supply and escape routes’ providing safe havens to militant groups
and impeding the movement of government forces. For example, the unpaved road connecting
Sanglakh in Jalrez district to Surkh-e Parsa district in Parwan is a difficult pass, neither safe noraccessible for military vehicles.3126
An LWJ assessment mapping Taliban control in Afghanistan in a frequently updated map consulted on
2 July 2020, indicated Saydkhel, Koh-i Safi, Surkh-e Parsa, Shinwari and Ghorband (or Siya Gird) districts
as ‘contested’. A USDOD assessment of July 2019, reported by LWJ in the same map, designatedShinwari and Ghorband (or Siya Gird) districts as ‘government-influenced’. Parwan’s remaining districts
were categorised as ‘government-controlled’ or ‘undetermined’ in this assessment.3127
Sources in 2019 and 2020 reported on a Taliban presence in the districts of Shinwari3128, Ghorband (orSiya Gird)3129, Saydkhel3130 and Koh-e Safi.3131 In August 2019, the Taliban reportedly closed eightreligious schools in the districts of Siya Gird and Shinwari. According to Parwan’s provincial governor,
all eight closed madrasas were located in areas under Taliban control.3132 In the same month, local
residents of Shinwari district, reportedly fed up with the Taliban presence in their area, set fire to ahideout/base of the militants in the village of Qala-e Qorhir.3133 Several prominent Taliban figures werereported to have been killed or arrested in Parwan.3134 In May 2019, a key Taliban member, identified
as Hameedullah and purportedly involved in activities of the militant group in Ghorband district, wasarrested in the district of Shinwari.3135 In September 2019, a Taliban commander, known as Mullah
Qudus, was killed in an operation near the provincial capital Charikar City.3136 In April 2020, the Taliban’shead of intelligence for Shinwari district, known as Noor Mohammad or Omari, was killed during an
operation in the Azgard area.3137 According to a May 2020 UN Security Council report, the Talibanordered increased supplies of ammunition and explosive materials for their forces in Parwan
province.3138
ACLED recorded one security incident specifically attributed to ISKP in Parwan between 1 March 2019and 30 June 2020.3139 In April 2020, ISKP claimed responsibility for a rocket attack targeting Bagram

3125 Pajhwok Afghan News, Father, Son Killed as Ex-Commanders Clash in Parwan, 31 December 2019, url
3126 Qaane, E., One Land, Two Rules (9): Delivering Public Services in Insurgency-Affected Jalrez District of Wardak Province,

AAN, 16 December 2019, url
3127 LWJ, Mapping Taliban Control in Afghanistan, n.d., url; (LWJ, however, does not specify when and which information of
the aforementioned map was last updated.)
3128 Salaam Times, Fed Up with Taliban, Parwan Residents Torch Militants' Hideout, 29 August 2019, url
3129 Salaam Times, Fed Up with Taliban, Parwan Residents Torch Militants' Hideout, 29 August 2019, url; Emergency - Life
Support for Civilian War Victims, A Quiet Revolution: the Emergency Anabah Maternity Centre and Female Empowerment,
16 October 2019, url, p. 27
3130 Pajhwok Afghan News, Robbers Snatch Guns from Parwan Police Officers, 23 August 2019, url
3131 Emergency - Life Support for Civilian War Victims, A Quiet Revolution: the Emergency Anabah Maternity Centre andFemale Empowerment, 16 October 2019, url, p. 27
3132 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban Order Shutdown of 8 Seminaries in Parwan, 28 August 2019, url
3133 Tolonews, Residents Set Fire To Taliban’s Stronghold In Parwan, 22 August 2019, url; Salaam Times, Fed Up with
Taliban, Parwan Residents Torch Militants' Hideout, 29 August 2019, url
3134 See sources mentioned below.
3135 Ariana News, Taliban Shells Missiles on Bagram Airfield, 23 May 2019, url
3136 RFE/RL, Afghan Officials: Taliban Suffers Heavy Casualties in Several Provinces, 22 September 2019, url
3137 Pajhwok Afghan News, Parwan: Taliban’s District Intelligence Head Killed, 28 April 2020, url
3138 UNSC, Eleventh Report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team Submitted Pursuant to Resolution
2501 (2019) Concerning the Taliban and Other Associated Individuals and Entities Constituting a Threat to the Peace,
Stability and Security of Afghanistan, 27 May 2020, url, p. 93139 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Parwan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url

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Airbase, no casualties were reported.3140 Additionally, ACLED recorded one incident in December 2019
in which Afghan military forces responded to an attack by suspected Taliban and/or ISKP militants in
Bagram district, as well as several incidents in which Taliban and/or ISKP militants were wounded or
killed during air strikes or military operations in Bagram, Jabalus Saraj and Ghorband districts.3141 In a2020 USIP report, analyst Borhan Osman mentioned Ghorband district as an area where ISKP has been
recruiting for its Kabul cell.3142
In terms of the presence of government security forces, Parwan is under the responsibility of the 201st
ANA Corps. Parwan province is included in the Train, Advise and Assist Command - East (TAAC-E), whichis part of NATO’s Resolute Support Mission within Afghanistan. TAAC-E is led by US and Polish forces
and has its headquarters in Laghman province.3143 NDS unit 01, a paramilitary CIA-backed militia
accused of human rights abuses, is reported to operate in the central region, including in Parwan
province.3144 Parwan’s Bagram district hosts Bagram Airbase, the largest NATO military base in
Afghanistan.3145 Bagram town depends on the military base for its economy and supplies the base witha local work force, reportedly making it a preferred target for the Taliban.3146
In December 2018, Pajhwok Afghan News reported on a growing number of Parwan’s wealthy
residents, such as high government officials, lawmakers, provincial council members and businessmen,leaving the province due to an increasing insecurity and incidents of extortion, intimidation and armed
robbery. Some families reportedly moved abroad, the majority shifted to the capital Kabul andtransferred their wealth to other provinces. According to a civil society activist, the armed groupscausing these threats were reportedly often connected to local commanders and strongmen with close
relations to officials in the central government.3147

2.29.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population
2.29.3.1 General
In 2019, UNAMA documented 246 civilian casualties (65 deaths and 181 injured) in Parwan province.
This represents an increase of 500 % compared to 2018. Leading causes of casualties were suicide IEDs,
followed by ground engagements and search operations.3148 Resolute Support3149 recorded between 0
and 25 civilian casualties in Parwan province in the first quarter of 2020. According to Resolute Support,
Parwan was one of the three provinces were the highest number of civilian casualties was recorded in
the fourth quarter of 2019. However, this number declined significantly in the first quarter of 2020.3150
In the second quarter of 2020, Resolute Support recorded between 26 and 50 civilian casualties in
Parwan province.3151
ACLED collected data on 187 violent events in Parwan province from 1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020
from reports in open sources, of which 93 were coded as ‘battles’, 81 as ‘explosions/remote violence’and 13 as ‘violence against civilians’. Bagram in the eastern region of the province stood out as the3140 RFE/RL, No Casualties in Rocket Attack on Largest U.S. Afghan Base, 9 April 2020, url
3141 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus; Afghanistan; Parwan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
3142 Osman, B., Bourgeois Jihad: Why Young, Middle-Class Afghans Join ISKP, USIP, June 2020, url, pp. 4, 11-12
3143 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan - June 2020, 1 July 2020, url, p. 133144 Clark, K., CIA-Backed Afghan Paramilitaries Accused of Grave Abuses: New Human Rights Watch Report, AAN, 31
October 2019, url
3145 LWJ, Taliban Suicide Bomber Kills 3 Czech Soldiers, 5 August 2018, url; Ruttig, T., First Breakthrough Toward Peace? A
Look at the Seven-Day ‘Reduction of Violence’, AAN, 17 February 2020, url
3146 NYT, A Growing U.S. Base Made This Afghan Town. Now It’s Dying., 12 January 2020, url
3147 Pajhwok Afghan News, Feeling Unsafe, Traders & Well-Off Persons Flee Parwan, 1 December 2018, url
3148 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 94
3149 Civilian casualty data for 2020 have not yet been published by UNAMA.
3150 SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, 30 April 2020, url, p. 69
3151 SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, 30 July 2020, url, p. 72

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district where most incidents were reported, with 69 incidents recorded, followed by the centrally
located districts of Charikar (where the provincial capital is located), Shinwari and Ghorband. Eight orless incidents were recorded in Koh-e Safi, Jabalus Saraj, Shekh Ali and Sayed Khel districts. In the restof the province, no violent incidents were reported. Most violent incidents in Parwan province wererecorded in the third and fourth quarters of 2019.3152

Figure 31. Parwan - Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians from
1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, based on ACLED data3153

ACLED coded around 50 % of the violent incidents in Parwan as ‘battles’, all ‘armed clashes’. This
category represented the most prevalent incident type in nearly all of Parwan’s districts -with the
exception of Bagram district, where most incidents were registered under the category of‘explosions/remote violence’. The majority of the armed clashes in Parwan were attacks by the Taliban
on Afghan security forces, including military, police and NDS personnel as well as members of progovernment militias or so-called arbakis (the term arbaki is locally often used to refer to members of
the Afghan local police or other pro-government militias).3154 Examples of such incidents included thetargeted killings of military, police and NDS personnel by gunmen in Bagram district in July 20193155, in
Charikar district in June 20193156 and October 20193157 and in Jabalus Saraj district in December
20193158; as well as ambushes on police convoys, such as a Taliban attack on an ANP convoy on the
Kabul-Parwan Highway in March 20203159; assaults on security checkpoints, for example in Siya Gird
district in May 20203160 and in Koh-e Safi district in June 20203161; and attacks on military bases, suchas a Taliban assault on a medical facility attached to Bagram Airbase in December 2019, resulting indozens of civilian casualties.3162

3152 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus; Afghanistan; Parwan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
3153 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, Afghanistan - Parwan, url
3154 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Parwan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
3155 Pajhwok Afghan News, NDS Employee Shot Dead in Parwan, 27 July 2019, url
3156 Pajhwok Afghan News, One army Officer Shot Dead, Another Wounded in Parwan, 17 June 2019, url
3157 Pajhwok Afghan News, NDS Personnel Killed, Weapons, Explosives Recovered in Parwan, 11 October 2019, url
3158 Pajhwok Afghan News, Kapisa Police Officer Gunned Down, 29 December 2019, url
3159 Tolonews, 'Taliban' Attack ANP Convoy in Bagram, 1 ANP Killed, 7 March 2020, url
3160 Tolonews, At Least 7 Afghan Forces Killed in 'Taliban' Attack in Parwan, 28 May 2020, url; National (The), Afghanistan:First Deadly Attacks Since Ceasefire Kill 14, 28 May 2020, url; RFE/RL, Taliban Delegation in Kabul for Talks as Officials Blame
Militants for Deadly Attacks, 28 May 2020, url
3161 Tolonews, '17 Taliban Killed' in Parwan Attack: Official, 30 June 2020, url
3162 RFE/RL, Taliban Assault on Key U.S. Base in Afghanistan Kills Two, Wounds Dozens, 11 December 2019, url; Al Jazeera,
At Least Two Killed in Taliban Suicide Attack near US Base, 11 December 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 2 Killed in
Bagram Attack, Taliban Claim Credit, 11 December 2019, url

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Operations and attacks by Afghan security forces against AGEs were also registered under armed
clashes by ACLED.3163 These involved operations in Charikar district in April3164 and September 2019,
killing a Taliban commander and several other militants.3165 Two civilians were also reported killed in
the April operation in two villages on the outskirts of Charikar City.3166 In Bagram district, five Taliban
militants, reportedly planning IED emplacements, were killed in an ANDSF raid in April 20193167 and a
proclaimed Taliban attack coordinator was killed during an operation in June 2019.3168 In Ghorband
district, 40 Taliban militants were reportedly killed during an operation of the Afghan Special Forces in
July 2019.3169
ACLED coded 20 % of the violent incidents in Parwan as ‘shelling, artillery and missile attacks’.3170 For
example in May 2019, the Taliban fired several missiles at the US military base of Bagram.3171 In April
2020, an ISKP-claimed rocket attack shelled the same base.3172 In May 2020, several missiles were fired
at transmission towers in the Gul Ghondi area of Charikar City.3173 No civilian casualties were reported
in these incidents. At the end of May 2020, three children were killed when a mortar shell fired by the
Taliban (who reportedly denied their involvement in the attack) hit a civilian house instead of an ANDSF
checkpoint in Ghorband district.3174
AGEs using roadside bombs or IEDs, often targeting the Afghan security forces, represented 17 % of allreported security incidents in Parwan.3175 For example in April 2019, a Taliban-claimed vehicle-borne(VB) IED attack close to Bagram Airbase killed and injured several American service members.3176 Near
the same military base in Bagram district, car bomb explosions were reported in August 20193177 andin March 2020.3178 In August 2019, the platoon commander of a special unit was killed in a magnetic
bomb blast in the second police district of Charikar.3179 Some of these IED incidents resulted incasualties among civilians. This happened in September 2019, when an explosion in Charikar district
killed one child and wounded nearly a dozen more.3180 In May 2020, explosives detonated at the siteof electricity transmission towers in Charikar City, causing several civilian casualties among employees
from the country’s state electricity company Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS).3181

3163 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus; Afghanistan; Parwan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
3164 Tolonews, Two Civilians Killed in Parwan Operation: Official, 27 April 2019, url
3165 RFE/RL, Afghan Officials: Taliban Suffers Heavy Casualties in Several Provinces, 22 September 2019, url
3166 Tolonews, Two Civilians Killed in Parwan Operation: Official, 27 April 2019, url
3167 Khaama Press, 5 Taliban Explosives Facilitators Killed in Parwan, 28 April 2020, url
3168 Khaama Press, Afghan Special Forces Kill Taliban Attack Coordinator in Bagram, 25 June 2019, url
3169 Khaama Press, Special Forces Kill 40 Taliban Militants, Arrest 13 Others in Parwan Province, 29 July 2019, url
3170 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Parwan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
3171 Ariana News, Taliban Shells Missiles on Bagram Airfield, 23 May 2019, url
3172 RFE/RL, No Casualties in Rocket Attack on Largest U.S. Afghan Base, 9 April 2020, url
3173 Tolonews, 1 Killed in Latest of 4 Attacks on Power Pylons: DABS, 5 May 2020, url
3174 Tolonews, 3 Civilians Killed in Shelling in Parwan, 31 May 2020, url
3175 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Parwan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
3176 NYT, Three Americans Killed in Afghan Blast, Despite Continuing Peace Talks, 8 April 2019, url; Al Jazeera, Three US
troops, One Contractor Killed in Afghanistan Explosion, 8 April 2019, url; Tolonews, Foreign Forces Convoy Attacked near
Bagram Airbase, 8 April 2019, url
3177 Tolonews, US Forces Convoy Attacked in Parwan, 24 August 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Suicide Bomber Targets
NATO Convoy in Parwan, 24 August 2019, url
3178 Khaama Press, Mini Truck Packed with Explosives Goes Off Close to Bagram Airfield, 22 March 2020, url
3179 Pajhwok Afghan News, Platoon Commander Killed in Parwan, 31 August 2019, url
3180 Khaama Press, 12 Children Killed, Wounded in Parwan IED Explosion, 22 September 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War
Casualty Report: September 2019, 5 September 2019 (updated 26 September 2019), url
3181 Tolonews, 1 Killed in Latest of 4 Attacks on Power Pylons: DABS, 5 May 2020, url; National (The), Why Blackouts Are So
Common in Afghanistan, 27 May 2020, url

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Air/drone strikes represented 4 % of all reported violent incidents in Parwan. Most air/drone strikes
were carried out in Bagram district, for example in May 2019.3182 Two air/drone strikes were reported
in Charikar district, one in Ghorband (or Siya Gird)3183 and Jabalus Saraj districts each. The majority ofthese air/drone strikes were carried out by Afghan military forces, some were attributed to NATO
forces.3184 While these air/drone strikes mostly inflicted losses among AGEs in the aforementioned
districts3185, some also caused civilian casualties - such as a drone strike on the village of Qala Jali inBagram district in November 2019, according to the Taliban.3186
ACLED categorised 7 % of all reported violent incidents in Parwan as ‘violence against civilians’.3187
These incidents involved the killing of Parwan’s provincial prosecutor by the Taliban in Charikar districtin October 20193188; the shooting of an off-duty NDS employee and two civilians while travelling by car
in the Qala-i Naw area of Charikar City in February 20203189; the killing of six local contractors working
at Bagram Airbase in April 20203190; the storming of a mosque in the Khala Zayi area of Charikar City
by unknown gunmen (the government blamed the Taliban, while the militants accused thegovernment)3191 in May 2020, causing more than a dozen casualties among worshippers3192; and theshooting of a tribal elder by unknown gunmen in Charikar City in June 2020.3193
Parwan’s voter turnout as percentage of its registered voters for the presidential elections on
28 September 2019 reached around 15 %.3194 In the Asia Foundations 2019 Survey of the Afghan
People, 26-50 % of respondents in Parwan province reported to have experienced fear while voting.3195
In the lead-up to polling day, on 17 September 2019, the Taliban carried out a suicide attack in
Parwan’s provincial capital Charikar City near an ANP training centre where an election rally for
President Ashraf Ghani was taking place.3196 The attack caused 81 civilian casualties (30 deaths and 51
injured)3197, President Ghani remained unharmed.3198 Commenting on the attack, the Taliban statedthey ‘deliberately aimed at disrupting elections’3199 and they ‘had warned people not to attend election

3182 Khaama Press, Airstrike Destroys Car Bomb in Bagram District of Parwan Province, 8 May 2019, url; Ariana News,

Taliban Shells Missiles on Bagram Airfield, 23 May 2019, url
3183 Khaama Press, Airstrikes Kill 8 Taliban Militants in Takhar, Wardak and Parwan Provinces, 13 July 2019, url
3184 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Parwan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
3185 Khaama Press, Airstrikes Kill 8 Taliban Militants in Takhar, Wardak and Parwan Provinces, 13 July 2019, url
3186 Voice of Jihad, War Crimes of the Foreign Occupying Forces and Their Internal Mercenaries (November 2019), 4
December 2019, url
3187 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Parwan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
3188 RFE/RL, Afghan Government Official Shot and Killed in Kabul, 13 October 2019, url
3189 Pajhwok Afghan News, 1 Killed, NDS Worker Injured in Parwan Attack, 1 February 2020, url; EASO analysis based on
publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the Caucasus; Afghanistan;
Parwan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020), url
3190 RFE/RL, Gunmen Kill Six Local Contractors near Main U.S. Base in Afghanistan, 17 April 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War
Casualty Report: April 2020, 2 April 2020 (updated 30 April 2020), url
3191 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 2020, 21 May 2020, url
3192 Al Jazeera, Gunmen Attack Afghanistan Mosque Killing Many Worshippers, 19 May 2020, url; Khaama Press, Taliban’s
Claims Regarding the Deadly Mosque Attack in Parwan Province, 19 May 2020, url; Tolonews, Death Toll Rises to 11 in
Parwan Mosque Attack: Residents, 20 May 2020, url
3193 Tolonews, Tribal Elder Killed in Attack by Unknown Gunmen in Parwan, 11 June 2020, url
3194 SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, 30 January 2020, url, p. 98
3195 Asia Foundation (The), A Survey of the Afghan People - Afghanistan in 2019, 2 December 2019, url, p. 62
3196 Pajhwok Afghan News, 25 Dead, 42 Wounded in Blast near Ghani Rally, 17 September 2019, url; NYT, Taliban Make
Good on Pledge to Strike Afghan Election Campaign, 17 September 2019, url; BBC News, Afghanistan War: Taliban Bombs
Election Rally and Kabul Square, 17 September 2019, url
3197 UNAMA, Afghanistan: Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict. Special Report: 2019 Election-Related Violence, October
2019, url p. 33198 Al Jazeera, Taliban Suicide Attacks Kill at least 48 before Afghan Elections, 17 September, url
3199 Guardian (The), Taliban Suicide Attacks in Afghanistan Leave Dozens Dead, 17 September 2019, url

278 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

gatherings as they were considered military targets’.3200 The Taliban claimed to have blocked roads
and attacked security forces personnel transporting election material the day before polling day in
Parwan.3201 Without providing further details, Pajhwok Afghan News reported on seven election
related assaults on polling day in Parwan province, including the threatening of two observers in Siya
Gird district3202 and a clash in the provincial capital Charikar City resulting in the killing of one
individual.3203 The Taliban reportedly fired rockets towards a school used as polling centre in Siya Gird
district on the day of 28 September. One of the rockets landed on a residential home, causing several
civilian casualties.3204 In the evening of election day, eight employees from the Independent Election
Commission (IEC) were abducted by the Taliban in the Namak Aab area of Shinwari district.3205 Afterthe mediation from tribal elders, they were released in December 2019.3206
On the highways connecting Parwan to its neighbouring provinces and to the capital security incidents
have been reported, such as clashes between Taliban militants and Afghan security forces.3207 In April
2019, the Kabul-Parwan Highway, passing through Charikar City, was reportedly closed due to protests
after several civilians were killed in an ANDSF operation.3208

2.29.3.2 Displacement
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, reporting 42 persons displaced
from Parwan province, constituting a group of 6 families coming from Shinwari district and finding
refuge within the province itself (in Charikar district) in August 2019.3209
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, reporting 441 persons displaced
to Parwan coming from other provinces. Almost half of the IDPs (210 individuals) were displaced from
Qaysar district in Faryab3210 province in May and July 2019 and found refuge in Parwan’s Charikar
district. Smaller numbers of people displaced from the provinces of Kapisa3211 (Tagab district), Kunduz(Chardara and Aliabad districts), Badakhshan (Kuran Wa Munjan district), Baghlan (Nahrin district),
Kunar3212 (Shigal Wa Sheltan district) and Laghman (Dawlatshah district) found refuge in Parwan’s
Charikar, Bagram and Jabalus Saraj districts.3213
According to IOM displacement data published in August and October 2019, most IDPs and returnees
in Parwan province resided in Bagram district, followed by Koh-e Safi and Charikar districts.3214

3200 UNAMA, Afghanistan: Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict. Special Report: 2019 Election-Related Violence, October

2019, url p. 33201 Reuters, Taliban Worries Loom as Afghanistan Prepares to Vote for a President, 27 September 2019, url
3202 Pajhwok Afghan News, 2 Observers Killed, Many Beaten on Polling Day, 17 October 2019, url
3203 Pajhwok Afghan News, 32 Killed, 123 Wounded in Election Day Attacks, 28 September 2019, url
3204 UNAMA, Afghanistan: Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict. Special Report: 2019 Election-Related Violence, October
2019, url, pp. 4-53205 Reuters, Afghan Election Set to See Big Drop in Voter Numbers, 29 September 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Efforts
Ongoing for Release of Election Workers, 1 October 2019, url; UNAMA, Afghanistan: Protection of Civilians in Armed
Conflict. Special Report: 2019 Election-Related Violence, October 2019, url p. 53206 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban Free 8 Election Workers in Parwan, 9 December 2019, url
3207 Pajhwok Afghan News, Parwan-Bamyan Highway Closed amid Fierce Clash, 27 July 2017, url; Pajhwok Afghan News,
Taliban Suffer Heavy Casualties in Parwan, 25 April 2018, url
3208 Pajhwok Afghan News, Protestors Close Kabul-Parwan Highway after Civilian Deaths, 27 April 2020, url; Tolonews, Two
Civilians Killed in Parwan Operation: Official, 27 April 2019, url
3209 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
3210 UNOCHA, Operational Coordination Team (OCT) - Parwan Province - Meeting Summary, 30 May 2019, url, p. 1; Pajhwok
Afghan News, Faryab Families Displaced to Parwan in Need of Help, 8 July 2019, url
3211 UNOCHA, Operational Coordination Team (OCT) - Parwan Province - Meeting Summary, 30 May 2019, url, p. 1
3212 UNOCHA, Operational Coordination Team (OCT) - Parwan Province - Meeting Summary, 30 May 2019, url, p. 1
3213 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
3214 IOM, Afghanistan - Parwan Baseline Mobility Assessment Summary Results Round 7 (October - December 2018), 1
August 2019, url, pp. 1, 2, 6; IOM, DTM Afghanistan Baseline Mobility Assessment I District Level I Total Inflow(Returnees+IDPs) I June 2019 I Province: Parwan, 9 October 2019, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 279

2.30 Samangan
2.30.1 General description of the province

Map 30: Afghanistan – Samangan province, source: UNOCHA3215

Samangan province is located in the north of Afghanistan and has borders with Balkh province to thenorth and north-east, Baghlan to the east, Bamyan to the south and Sar-e Pul to the west. Samanganprovince is divided into the following administrative units: Aybak, Dara-i-Suf-e-Payin (Lower Dara-i-Suf),
Dara-i-Suf-e-Bala (Upper Dara-i-Suf), Feroznakhchir, Hazrat-e-Sultan, Khuram Wa Sarbagh and Ruy-eDuab.3216 The provincial capital of Samangan is Samangan City, formerly known and still often referred
to as Aybak.3217
According to estimates for 2020-2021 by NSIA, the province has a population of 430 489, 118 537 ofwhom live in the provincial capital, Aybak.3218 Ethnic groups present in Samangan province are Tajiks,
Uzbeks, Pashtuns, Hazaras, Arabs, Tatars3219 and Aimaq.3220
The province lies strategically, to the north of the Hindu Kush.3221 A section of the Ring Road (HighwayOne) from Kabul to Mazar-e Sharif crosses Samangan’s districts of Khuram wa Sarbagh, Aybak and
Hazrat-e-Sultan and connects Samangan to the northern provinces until Herat.3222

3215 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Samangan Province - District Atlas, April 2014, url
3216 Afghanistan, IEC, Afghanistan 2019 Presidential Elections – Final results by Polling Stations: Province Samangan, 2020,

url; Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21, June 2020, url, p. 30
3217 AAN, Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (22): Glances at Kunduz, Baghlan, Samangan, 30 October 2019, url
3218 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21, June 2020, url, p. 30
3219 US, Naval Postgraduate School, Samangan Provincial Review, n.d., url
3220 Afghanistan, Office of the President, Provincial Profile Samangan, 1 February 2017, url
3221 RFE/RL, Afghanistan‘s New Northern Flash Points, n.d., url
3222 Afghanistan, MOPW, Application of Road Numbering System National Highways, 16 October 2015, url; UNOCHA,
Afghanistan: Samangan Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url; Diplomat (The), Kabul‘s Plan to Realize Afghanistan‘s
Geographic Dividend, 5 December 2017, url

280 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATIONIn October 2018, the Taliban reportedly increased taxes on trucks transporting coal from mines in Darai-Suf district.3223 By December 2019 provincial council members and truck drivers accused both security
forces and Taliban from extorting money.3224
Afghanistan Analyst Obaid Ali points out that control of Dara-I Suf-e Payin district’s coal mines is adriving force that exacerbates the conflict in that district.3225 According to The Liaison Office (TLO), Dane Toor and Gramak areas of the district are housing most illegally mined coals deposits in Afghanistan.
Over 350 illegal mines are overseen by politicians, warlords and local power brokers.3226
According to the 2018 UNODC Opium Survey, Samangan province lost its poppy-free status in 2017.
Opium poppy-cultivation decreased by 2 % and therefore remained stable compared to 2017. The main
opium poppy-cultivating districts were Lower Dara-I Suf and Upper Dara-I Suf.3227

2.30.2 Conflict background and actors in Samangan
Having been more secure in comparison to neighbouring Baghlan, more attacks, incursions by the
Taliban and fighting were reported from early 2016 onwards in Samangan province.3228
Around the time of the presidential elections in September 2019 the Taliban’s presence and control in
Dara-i-Suf-e-Payin district had grown. It was the only district, out of six, in Samangan province that was
mostly controlled by the Taliban. In the other districts the government presence was higher. In previous
years control over Dara-I Suf-e Payin’s district centre had switched several times between government
forces and the Taliban.3229 Taliban claims of having taken control over the district on 27 September 2019were denied by a local government official3230, but in October 2019, a provincial council representative
claimed that the Taliban controlled the Dara-i-Suf - Aybak and Dara-i-Suf - Mazar-e-Sharif Highways,
adding that they had also been in control of Dara-i-Suf-e-Bala and Dara-i Suf-e Payin districts’ roads
that connect both districts with Samangan City for the last three years and had taken control of roads
between the two districts and Mazar-e-Sharif City.3231 In that same month the district governor claimed
that all areas of Dara-i-Suf-e Payin were under control of the Taliban except for the district centre.3232
In May 2020, Afghanistan analyst Thomas Ruttig reported frequent Taliban activity in mostly Talibancontrolled Dara-i Suf-e Payin and government-controlled Dara-i Suf-e Bala districts.3233 As of 2 July 2020
an assessment by the Long War Journal presented in a frequently updated map and based on opensource information, indicated Dara-i Suf-e Payin district as ‘Taliban-controlled’, Aybak district as‘contested’ and the remaining districts in Samangan province as ‘government-controlled’.3234
According to governmental sources quoted by Pajhwok Afghan News in April 2018, ‘dozens’ of illegal
armed groups were active in Samangan3235, as were pro-government militias.3236

3223 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban increase tax on coal trucks in Samangan, 29 October 2019, url
3224 Pajhwok Afghan News, Security forces, Taliban extort money on Mazar-Dara-i-Suf road, 9 December 2019, url;

Tolonews, Drivers Protest Extortion on Key Northern Highway, 20 December 2019, url
3225 AAN, Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (22): Glances at Kunduz, Baghlan, Samangan, 30 October 2019, url
3226 TLO, The Real Cost of Coal, n.d., url
3227 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, p. 25
3228 AAN, Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (22): Glances at Kunduz, Baghlan, Samangan, 30 October 2019, url
3229 AAN, Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (22): Glances at Kunduz, Baghlan, Samangan, 30 October 2019, url
3230 AAN, Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (22): Glances at Kunduz, Baghlan, Samangan, 30 October 2019, url; Pajhwok AfghanNews, Security forces among 17 killed in Samangan attack, 27 September 2019, url
3231 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban increase tax on coal trucks in Samangan, 29 October 2019, url
3232 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban increase tax on coal trucks in Samangan, 29 October 2019, url
3233 Ruttig, T., The case of Mawlawi Mehdi and Balkhab District: Are the Taleban attracting Hazaras?, AAN, 23 May 2020, url
3234 LWJ, Mapping Taliban Control in Afghanistan, n.d., url. The source, however, does not specify when and which
information of the aforementioned map was last updated.
3235 Pajhwok Afghan News, Dozens of illegal armed group active in Samangan, 8 April 2018, url
3236 Al Jazeera, Taliban launch deadly attacks as they attend Afghan peace talks, 5 February 2019, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 281

No security incidents specifically attributed to ISKP were recorded by ACLED in Samangan between
1 March 2019 and 30 June 2020.3237
In terms of the presence of government security forces, Samangan province is under the responsibilityof the 209th ANA Shaheen corps. Samangan province is included in the area of responsibility of theTrain Advise Assist Command – North (TAAC – North), which is part of NATO's Resolute Support
Mission within Afghanistan. TAAC-North is led by German forces and has its headquarters in Mazar-e
Sharif, Balkh province.3238

2.30.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population
2.30.3.1 General
In 2019, UNAMA documented 45 civilian casualties (11 deaths and 34 injured) in Samangan. This
represents a decrease of 2 % compared to 2018. Leading causes of casualties were groundengagements, followed by targeted/deliberate killings and non-suicide IEDs.3239 Resolute Support
recorded between 0 and 50 civilian casualties in Samangan in the first half of 2020, reporting similar
numbers of civilian casualties between the first and the second quarter of 2020.3240
ACLED collected data on 84 violent events in Samangan province between 1 March 2019 and
30 June 2020 from reports in open sources, 70 of which were coded as battles, 10 as
explosions/remote violence and 4 as violence against civilians.3241 Dara-i Suf-e Payin stood out as the
district where most incidents were reported, with 31 incidents, registered by ACLED. No violent eventswere registered by ACLED in Feroznakhchir district.3242

Figure 32. Samangan - Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians
from 1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, based on ACLED data3243

3237 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus; Afghanistan; Samangan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
3238 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability In Afghanistan. December 2019, 23 January 2020, url, pp. 11-12, p. 50; USDOD,
Enhancing Security and Stability In Afghanistan. June 2020, 1 July 2020, url, p. 143239 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 94. No
UNAMA data on civilian casualties in Samangan province were available for the first half of 2020.
3240 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 April 2020, url, p. 69; SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The UnitedStates Congress, 30 July 2020, url, p. 72
3241 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Baghlan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
3242 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Baghlan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; Geoprecision
code: 1 & 2; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020), url
3243 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, Afghanistan - Samangan, url

282 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATIONACLED coded 83 % of the violent incidents in Samangan province as battles, nearly all armed clashes.
The majority of those incidents were attacks by the Taliban on Afghan security forces3244, including
military, police or NDS personnel and members of pro-government militias or local uprising forces3245,
or attacks on their facilities such as checkpoints3246 and military bases.3247 As a result of a Taliban attack
on a village in Samangan City on 1 May 2019 that killed three pro-government militia members, thehead of the Junbish political party was also killed.3248
Operations and attacks carried out by Afghan security forces against AGEs, such as in Dara-i Suf-e Payin
district in March and December 20193249 in Samangan/Aybak City in October 20193250, were also
registered under armed clashes.3251
The Taliban attacked Dara-i-Suf-e-Payin district a few times in the reporting period.3252 In January 2020
the a Taliban group attack on the centre of Dara-iSuf-e Payin was repelled.3253 According to Afghanistan
analyst Thomas Ruttig the Taliban attacked Dara-i-Suf-e Bala district several times in April 2020.3254
In April 2019 a clash broke out between members of two illegal armed groups in Samangan/Aybak City.
Two members were killed as a result.3255
Out of ten incidents categorised by ACLED under explosions/remote violence, six were air strikes
carried out by Afghan forces in both Dara-i Suf districts3256, inflicting losses among AGEs.3257 ACLED
registered three incidents which involved the use IEDs, including the detonation of an IED inside amosque during Friday prayers on 28 June 2019. Sources told UNAMA the Taliban were targeting themullah for praising the ANDSF. As a result of the explosion 14 civilians were injured.3258 Rocket attacks

3244 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus; Afghanistan; Samangan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
3245 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 5-11, 11 July 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 3-9, 9 May 2019,
url; NYT,Afghan War Casualty Report: May 10-16, 16 May 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 1-7, 7 March
2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 5 pro-govt militiamen killed in Jawzjan, Samangan, 26 June 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War
Casualty Report: January 2020, 2 January 2020, url; Al Jazeera, Taliban kills 13 Afghan soldiers in Balkh province, 1 May
2020, url
3246 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 5 September 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 2127, 27 June 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 24-30, 30 May 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report:
March 8-14, 14 March 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 8 police killed and wounded in Samangan attack, 12 March 2019,
url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 20 Taliban, 2 police killed in Badghis, Samangan clashes, 2 April 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News,
4 local security personnel killed in Samangan attack, 24 April 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 2020, 2 April
2020, url
3247 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 24-30, 30 May 2019, url
3248 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 26-May 2, 2 May 2019, url
3249 Pajhwok Afghan News, 5 Taliban killed in Samangan operation, 22 March 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’s
military leader among 11 killed in Samangan clash, 28 December 2019, url
3250 Pajhwok Afghan News, 6 militants killed, 11 wounded in Samangan operation, 20 October 2019, url
3251 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Samangan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
3252 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 25-Aug. 1, 1 August 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 4October 2019, url
3253 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’s groups attack on Dara-i-Souf Paen district repulsed, 3 January 2020, url
3254 Ruttig, T., The case of Mawlawi Mehdi and Balkhab District: Are the Taleban attracting Hazaras?, AAN, 23 May 2020, url
3255 Pajhwok Afghan News, 23 April 2019, url
3256 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Samangan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’s shadow governor killed in airstrike, 15 September 2019, url
3257 UN Security Council, Letter dated 19 May 2020 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant
to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 27 May 2020, url, p. 10; Khaama Press, Taliban
militants suffer heavy casualties in preemptive airstrikes in Samangan, 30 April 2020, url
3258 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Samangan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url; UNAMA, Midyear Update On The Protection Of Civilians In Armed Conflict: 1 January To 30 June
2019, 30 July 2019, url, p. 7

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 283

launched by the Taliban on 11 May 2019 in Dara-i Suf-e Payin district hit the house of the family of a
pro-government militia commander, killing five family members and injuring 10.3259
Four incidents categorised by ACLED as violence against civilians included the kidnapping of 60 truck
drivers in April 2019 in Dara-i Suf-e Bala district for refusing to pay toll at the checkpoint set up by the
Taliban3260, the killing of civilians by the Taliban in an area under their control in Dara-iSuf-e Payin
district in January 20203261 and the sexual assault on a midwife working at a clinic in Ruy-e Duab districtin May 2019.3262 Nine individuals were detained in connection to the assault on the midwife.3263 In
addition to those registered by ACLED, UNAMA documented two other incidents of abduction by the
Taliban. After setting up a checkpoint on a main road in Dara-i Suf-e Payin district on 29 July 2019, they
abducted 25 truck drivers who were transporting coal. The men were released once they had paid the
Taliban.3264 The Taliban abducted five staff members of an international demining agency in Ruy-e Duabdistrict on 14 September 2019. The men were released two weeks later.3265 Also official sources
informed about the kidnapping of Dara-i Suf-e Bala district chief and two of his guards in Dara-i Suf-e
Payin district on 24 February 2020.3266
There were reports from the northern region, which includes Samangan province, about electricity
and mobile phone networks being interrupted before and during the presidential election in
September 2019. Private mobile companies were warned to close down their networks until after thepresidential election. By the end of September, early October 2019 all networks started functioning
again.3267
Analyst Obaid Ali described the security situation in Samangan in the presidential election period as
relatively better as compared to Kunduz or Baghlan. Insecurity, in particular Taliban shelling,
reportedly hindered the conduct of the elections in some parts of Ruy-e Duab, Khuram wa Sarbagh
and Hazrat-e-Sultan districts, but especially in Dara-i Suf-e Payin where only in 2 out of 17 polling
centres the election was held. However no large-scale attacks were carried out against ANDSF onelection day in Samangan.3268
AGEs closed 19 health facilities in Dara-i Suf-e Payin district on 14 October 2019. As a result, nearly
200 000 people were denied access to health, according to UNOCHA.3269 After more than two weeks
of continued negotiations the health facilities reopened in the second week of November 2019.3270

2.30.3.2 Displacement
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 3 570 persons displaced
due to conflict from Samangan province, mainly from Ruy-e Duab, Aybak and Dara-i Suf-e Payin

3259 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 10-16, 16 May 2019, url
3260 Ariana News, Taliban Abducted 60 Truck Drivers in Samangan, 11 April 2019, url; Qatar Tribune, Taliban abduct 60

Afghan truck drivers for failing to pay toll, 12 April 2019, url
3261 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: January 2020, 2 January 2020, url
3262 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Samangan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
3263 Pajwok Afghan News, 9 detained for allegedly gang-raping midwife in Samangan, 21 May 2019, url; Khaama Press, 9arrested for alleged gang-rape of a mid-wife and a nurse in Samangan province, 21 May 2019, url
3264 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 49
3265 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 49
3266 Pajhwok Afghan News, Insurgents kidnap district chief in Samangan, 2 February 2020, url; 1TV, Taliban abduct Afghan
district governor in Samangan: MoI, 24 February 2020, url; RFE/RL, At Least Six Killed In Afghanistan Despite 'Reduction Of
Violence' Deal, 24 February 2020, url
3267 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Monthly Humanitarian Update (September 2019), 18 October 2019, url; AAN, Afghanistan’s
2019 Election (22): Glances at Kunduz, Baghlan, Samangan, 30 October 2019, url
3268 AAN, Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (22): Glances at Kunduz, Baghlan, Samangan, 30 October 2019, url
3269 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (14 October – 20 October 2019), 24 October 2019, url; UNOCHA,
Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (21 October – 27 October 2019), 30 October 2019, url
3270 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (4 – 10 November 2019), 13 November 2019, url

284 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

districts. More than 95 % were displaced within the province itself. A few dozen were displaced to
Balkh and Kabul provinces.3271
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 3 444 persons
displaced within Samangan province. Samangan/Aybak district hosted all.3272

3271 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict

Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2020, last updated: 12
July 2020, url
3272 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2020, last updated: 12
July 2020, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION

2.31 Sar-e Pul
2.31.1 General description of the province

Map 31: Afghanistan – Sar-e Pul province, source: UNOCHA3273

3273 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Sar-e Pul Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url— 285

286 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

Sar-e Pul province is located in the north of Afghanistan and has borders with Jawzjan to the north,Balkh to the north-east, Samangan to the east, Bamyan and Ghor to the south and Faryab to thewest.3274 The province is divided into the following administrative units: Balkhab, Gosfandi, Kohestanat,
Sancharak, Sar-e Pul, Sayad and Sozmaqala.3275 It became province of its own in 1988, when Jawzjan
ceded it.3276 The provincial capital is Sar-e Pul.3277
According to estimates for 2020-2021 by NSIA, the province has a population of 621 002, 176 994 ofwhom live in the provincial capital, Sar-e Pul.3278 The main ethnic group in the province are Uzbeks.3279
Other groups present include Hazaras, Tajiks, Pashtun, Arabs, Aimaq and Balochs.3280
A highway from Shiberghan, Jawzjan province, connects the provincial capital of Sar-e Pul with theMazar-e Sharif– Herat section of the Ring Road (Highway One).3281
According to the 2018 UNODC Opium Survey, poppy cultivation in Sar-e Pul province decreased by 81 %in 2018, compared to 2017. The districts with the highest rate of opium-poppy cultivation were Sayad,
Sancharak and the Sar-e Pul provincial centre. Moreover, the 2018 drought affected the rain-fed
agricultural area.3282
As reported by Reuters in January 2019, oil wells near Sar-e Pul City are an important source of income
for the province, and the Taliban try to either control or destroy them.3283

2.31.2 Conflict background and actors in Sar-e Pul
Sar-e Pul province is said to have become a ‘Taliban stronghold’ since 2012. The administration as well
as military structure of the Taliban network in Sar-e Pul has consisted mainly of non-Pashtun locals,
reflecting the multi-ethnic character of the province. The insurgency used to get its fighters from theprevailing ethnic groups in the districts. For instance, in Kohestanat, the movement was mainly led by
Aimaq and Tajiks, whereas in Sozmaqala it was mostly controlled by Uzbeks.3284 On 22 April 2020 the
Taliban shared a video introducing the Taliban governor of Balkhab district, Mawlawi Mehdi Mujahed,a Shia Hazara.3285 This evoked surprise in some comments on Twitter and in Afghan media reports, thatstressed the fact that this was the first time a Shia Hazara Taliban commander was presented.3286 Thisethno-religious group is barely represented in the Taliban movement. Looking into the Taliban presencein Balkhab district and Mehdi’s background, Afghanistan analyst Thomas Ruttig considered this was an
exceptional case but concluded that with only a small group of fighters under his command and nothaving a presence in the district, Mehdi’s military relevance was low and his appointment could hardly

3274 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Sar-e Pul Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url
3275 Afghanistan, IEC, Afghanistan 2019 Presidential Elections – Final results by Polling Stations: Province Sarepul, 2020, url;

Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21, June 2020, url, p. 323276 Pajhwok Afghan News, Background Profile of Sar-i-Pul province, n.d., url
3277 Afghanistan, Office of the President, Provincial Profile Sar e Pul, 1 February 2017, url
3278 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21, June 2020, url, p. 32
3279 US, Naval Postgraduate School, Sar-i-Pul Provincial Review, n.d., url; Ali. O., Non-Pashtun Taleban in the North (2): Casestudies of Uzbek Taleban in Faryab and Sar-e Pul, AAN, 17 March 2017, url
3280 Afghanistan, Office of the President, Sar e Pul, 1 February 2017, url; Ali. O., Non-Pashtun Taleban in the North (2): Casestudies of Uzbek Taleban in Faryab and Sar-e Pul, AAN, 17 March 2017, url
3281 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Sar-e Pul Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url; Afghanistan, MOPW, Application of Road
Numbering System National Highways, url, p. 53282 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN , Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, p. 26
3283 Reuters, Taliban threaten oil fields in northern Afghanistan, 4 January 2019, url
3284 Ali, O., Non-Pashtun Taleban in the North (2): Case studies of Uzbek Taleban in Faryab and Sar-e Pul, AAN, 17 March
2017, url‫ر‬‫ر‬3285 Voice of Jihad, ‫دنجهادنغږ‬, ‫من(مولوینمهدینمجاهد)نبهننشن‬‫ناالمارةنبانمسئولنولسوایلنبلخابنوالیتنرسپلنمحت‬‫مصاحبهناستدیوی‬‫ی‬‫[ رسیدن‬informal translation: Al Emarah Studio has published the interview with Mawlawi Mahdi Mujahid, responsible for
Balkhab district of Sar-e Pul province’], 22 April 2020, url; Voice of Jihad, Video: Interview with governor of Balkhab –Mawlawi Mahdi Mujahid, 24 April 2020, url
3286 Nasr, W. (@SimNasr), [Twitter], posted on 22 April 2020, url; Mehsud, I. T. (@IhsanTipu), [Twitter], posted on 22 April
2020, url; Khaama Press, Taliban appoints first Shia Hazara as shadow district chief of the group, 28 April 2020, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 287change the perception and mistrust among Hazaras of the Taliban. However it showed how switchingalliances, even between unexpected sides, could occur as a result of complicated local power
balance.3287
As reported by AAN in mid-2018, Taliban militants controlled half of the province, mostly the westernand southern parts and some parts of Sayad, Balkhab and Sancharak districts.3288 In 2019 the provincial
council chief of Sar-e Pul claimed 60 % of the province was under Taliban control.3289 An Afghanistan
analyst contacted by the Swedish Migrations Agency (Migrationsverket) in January 2020, consideredSar-e Pul and Faryab to be the most Taliban-controlled or influenced provinces in the northern
region.3290
As of 2 July 2020 an assessment by the Long War Journal presented in a frequently updated map andbased on open-source information, indicated Kohestanat district as ‘Taliban-controlled’, Balkhab
district as ‘government-controlled’ and the remaining districts in Sar-e Pul province as ‘contested’.3291
According to AAN, Central Asian militants from the Islamic Jihad Union (IJU) have been active in Sar-e
Pul province and operating alongside the Taliban since 2015. IJU militants are mainly Uzbeks fromUzbekistan, who have settled in Kohestanat district. Their main activity in the province has consistedof offering military training to new Taliban recruits.3292 AAN found no evidence of the presence ofmilitants affiliated with ISKP in Sar-e Pul province, as claimed by several sources mid-2018, noting thatexisting reporting and locals may have confused ISKP with the IJU.3293 No security incidents specificallyattributed to ISKP were recorded by ACLED in Sar-e Pul province between 1 March 2019 and
30 June 2020.3294
In terms of the presence of government security forces, Sar-e Pul province is under the responsibilityof the 209th ANA Shaheen corps. Sar-e Pul province is included in the area of responsibility of the Train
Advise Assist Command – North (TAAC – North), which is part of NATO's Resolute Support
Mission within Afghanistan. TAAC-North is led by German forces and has its headquarters in Mazar-e
Sharif, Balkh province.3295

2.31.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population
2.31.3.1 General
In 2019, UNAMA documented 217 civilian casualties (48 deaths and 169 injured) in Sar-e Pul. This
represents an increase of 115 % compared to 2018. Leading causes of casualties were groundengagements, followed by explosive remnants of war and non-suicide IEDs.3296 Resolute Support
recorded between 26 and 75 civilian casualties in Sar-e Pul in the first half of 2020, reporting an
increase in the number of civilian casualties in the second quarter of 2020, compared to the first.3297
3287 Ruttig, T., The case of Mawlawi Mehdi and Balkhab District: Are the Taleban attracting Hazaras?, AAN, 23 May 2020, url
3288 Ali, O., New Confusion about ISKP: A case study from Sar-e Pul, AAN, 7 September 2018, url; Ali. O., Non-Pashtun

Taleban in the North (2): Case studies of Uzbek Taleban in Faryab and Sar-e Pul, AAN, 17 March 2017, url
3289 Pajhwok Afghan News, Security forces, Taliban suffer casualties in Sar-i-Pul clash, 9 April 2019, url
3290 Sweden, Lifos/Migrationsverket, Säkerhetsläget i Afghanistan, 2020, 7 April 2020, url, p. 47
3291 LWJ, Mapping Taliban Control in Afghanistan, n.d., url. The source, however, does not specify when and which
information of the aforementioned map was last updated.
3292 Ali, O., New Confusion about ISKP: A case study from Sar-e Pul, AAN, 7 September 2018, url
3293 Ali, O., New Confusion about ISKP: A case study from Sar-e Pul, AAN, 7 September 2018, url
3294 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Sar-e Pol; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
3295 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability In Afghanistan. December 2019, 23 January 2020, url, pp. 11-12, p. 50; USDOD,
Enhancing Security and Stability In Afghanistan. June 2020, 1 July 2020, url, p. 143296 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 94. No
UNAMA data on civilian casualties in Sar-e Pul province were available for the first half of 2020.
3297 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 April 2020, url, p. 69; SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The UnitedStates Congress, 30 July 2020, url, p. 72

288 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATIONACLED collected data on 142 violent events in Sar-e Pul province between 1 March 2019 and
30 June 2020 from reports in open sources, 117 of which were coded as battles, 17 as
explosions/remote violence and 8 as violence against civilians.3298 While ACLED registered violent
events in all of Sar-e Pul’s districts, Sar-e Pul and Sayad stood out as districts where most incidents
were reported, with 50 and 31 incidents respectively.3299

Figure 33. Sar-e Pul Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians from
1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, based on ACLED data3300

ACLED coded 82 % of the violent incidents in Sar-e Pul province as battles, nearly all armed clashes.3301
The majority of those incidents were attacks by the Taliban on Afghan security forces, including
military, police or NDS personnel, and members of pro-government militias3302, or government
representatives3303, attacks on their facilities such as checkpoints3304, and military bases3305 and attacks
on convoys.3306 At times these incidents resulted in civilian casualties, as for example on
17 February 2020, when the Taliban attacked military bases and houses in Sayad district, killing a childand injuring two other civilians.3307 Relatives of the Sayad district chief were killed in December 20193298 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus; Afghanistan; Sar-e Pol; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
3299 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Baghlan; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; Geoprecision
code: 1 & 2; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020), url
3300 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, Afghanistan – Sar-e Pol, url
3301 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Sar-e Pol; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
3302 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: February 2020, 6 February 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 12-18,
18 July 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 21-27, 27 June 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June
28-July 4, 4 July 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Pro-govt commander shot dead in Sar-i-Pul, 14 July 2019, url; Pajhwok
Afghan News, 6 security personnel killed in Taliban ambush, 4 February 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May
2020, 7 May 2020, url
3303 Pajhwok Afghan News, 2 killed in attack on district chief residence, 2 December 2019, url
3304 NYT, 1 August 2019, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 25-Aug. 1, 1 August 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report:
May 31-June 6, 6 June 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 5-11, 11 April 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty
Report: January 2020, 2 January 2020, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Policemen among 5 killed in Sar-i-Pul firefight, 14 March
2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 7 Taliban killed, 13 wounded in Sar-i-Pul clashes, 11 May 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News,
Policeman, 3 Taliban killed in Sar-i-Pul clash, 10 October 2019, url; Tolonews, Afghan Forces Take Casualties in Sar-e Pul
Clash, 21 February 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 2020, 2 April 2020, url
3305 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 4 October 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 24-30, 30
May 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 5-11, 11 April 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: January
2020, 2 January 2020, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Security forces, Taliban suffer casualties in Sar-i-Pul clash, 9 April 2019,
url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 2020, 2 April 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 2020, 4 June
2020, url
3306 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 1-7, 7 March 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 20 security forces suffer
casualties in Sar-i-Pul attack, 2 March 2019, url
3307 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: February 2020, 6 February 2020, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 289

as a result of a Taliban attack on his house.3308 Retreating under resistance from the security forces
after their attack on security posts, the Taliban looted nearly 100 sheep from residents in Gosfandi
district in April 2019, according to a local official cited by local media.3309 Two civilians were killed andanother was wounded by crossfire in Gosfandi district in March 2020.3310
Operations and attacks carried out by Afghan security forces against AGEs, as for example in Sancharak
district in October 20193311, were also registered under armed clashes. Such operations could result in
the displacement of people from their villages, as happened in Tabar and Taghikhwa villages ofSancharak district in March 2019.3312
There were reports of the Taliban capturing villages and localities in Sancharak district in March andApril 2019.3313 In December 2019 government forces reportedly managed to regain control overvillages in Sar-e Pul district.3314
Civilian casualties were reported in a number of the 17 reported incidents of explosions/remoteviolence in Sar-e Pul province registered by ACLED between 1 March 2019 and 30 June 20203315, suchas incidents of rocket or mortar fire both by Taliban and ANDSF in Sayad and Sar-e Pul districts.3316 A
premature detonation of a car bomb in Sayad district on 28 November 2019 inflicted injuries on 13
civilians and damage on 10 houses.3317 Five children were killed when an unexploded rocket shell went
off while they were playing in Sar-e Pul district in July 2019.3318 Three civilians were killed and fourothers when a civilian vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in Sar-e Pul district on 2 June 2020.3319
Eight incidents categorised by ACLED as violence against civilians included the killing of civilians by boththe Taliban and ANDSF for refusing to follow orders3320 and the killing of civilians for unknown or
unclear reasons.3321 The Taliban also killed an election commission employee3322 and an incident of
3308 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: December 2019, 5 December 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 2 killed in attack on

district chief residence, 2 December 2019, url
3309 Khaama Press, Taliban militants loot Gosfandi district in Sar-e Pul province, snatch 100 sheep from local residents, 14
April 2019, url; Ariana News, Taliban Militants Looted 100 Sheep of Villagers in Sar-e Pol, 14 April 2019, url
3310 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 2020, 5 March 2020, url
3311 Pajhwok Afghan News, 5 killed, 7 wounded in fresh wave of violence, 7 October 2019, url
3312 Pajhwok Afghan News, Seeking aid, dozens of Sar-i-Pul IDPs rally against govt, 5 March 2019, url
3313 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 12-18, 18 April 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, ‘Taliban overrun Gajwae
locality in Sar-i-Pul’s Sancharak district’, 3 March 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Sar-i-Pul: Taliban besiege Sancharak
district center, 15 April 2019, url
3314 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Sar-e Pol; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
3315 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Sar-e Pol; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url
3316 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: November 2019, 7 November 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 5-11,
11 July 2019, url
3317 Khaama Press, Premature car bomb explosion damages 10 houses, injures 13 civilians in Sar-e Pul, 28 November 2019,url
3318 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 12-18, 18 July 2019, url; EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data.
ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the Caucasus; Afghanistan; Sar-e Pol; Event types: Battles;
Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020), url; Pajhwok Afghan News,
Unexploded rocket kills 4 Sar-i-Pul children, 17 July 2019, url
3319 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 2020, 4 June 2020, url
3320 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: December 2019, 5 December 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October
2019, 4 October 2019, url
3321 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Sar-e Pol; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020), url; Khaama Press, Couple shot dead by Taliban militants in Sar-e Pul province, 20 April 2019, url;
Pajhwok Afghan News, ‘Taliban behead a handicapped farmer in Sar-i-Pul’, 4 August 2019, url; Khaama Press, Taliban
militants behead a disabled man in Sar-e Pul province, 4 August 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 2020, 4June 2020, url
3322 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 4 October 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban kill poll panel
worker in Sar-i-Pul, 8 October 2019, url

290 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

flogging of women in Sancharak district in March 2019 was picked up by the international press.3323 In
addition to the incidents registered by ACLED the New York Times reported about the killing in
February 2020 of three former Taliban members who were living a civilian life in Sar-e Pul district.3324
Also Afghan news agency Pajhwok reported about the kidnapping and release after a few days of fivemembers of a health care team in Kohestanat district in January 2020.3325
There were reports from the northern region, which includes Sar-e Pul province, about electricity andmobile phone networks being interrupted before and during the presidential election in September
2019. Private mobile companies were warned to close down their networks until after the presidential
election. By the end of September, early October 2019 all networks started functioning again.3326 The
New York Times reported about 19 Taliban attacks on polling sites across Sar-e Pul province on
28 September 2019, election day.3327 One child was killed and 20 other civilians were wounded when
the Taliban fired a mortar round towards a polling centre. The polling centre had to close.3328
Security incidents, such as attacks on security checkpoints or on a police vehicle, were reported in Sare Pul province, on the highway connecting the province to Jawzjan in March and August 2019 and in
January and March 2020.3329
Within the framework of its attacks on health care initiative, the World Health Organisation (WHO) did
not register such attacks in Sar-e Pul province in 2019.3330

2.31.3.2 Displacement
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 7 357 persons displaced
due to conflict from Sar-e Pul province, 79 % of whom were displaced within the province itself, whileothers sought refuge in Balkh, Jawzjan and to a lesser extent in Kabul, Faryab and Ghor provinces. Most
IDPs were registered as displaced from Sancharak district, followed by Sayad, Sozmaqala and Sar-e Pul
districts.3331
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 7 938 persons displaced
to Sar-e PulSar-e Pul province. Sar-e Pul district hosted all. Almost three out of four were displaced
within the province. In April 2019 and January 2020 Sar-e Pul province also hosted IDPs from Faryab
and Jawzjan.3332

3323 The Guardian, 'I lost consciousness': woman whipped by the Taliban over burqa without veil, 18 April 2019, url
3324 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: February 2020, 6 February 2020, url
3325 Pajhwok Afghan News, Sar-i-Pul province, 16 January 2020, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Around 58,000 Sar-i-Pul children

to miss polio drops, 27 January 2020, url
3326 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Monthly Humanitarian Update (September 2019), 18 October 2019, url
3327 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 4 October 2019, url
3328 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 71
3329 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 8-14, 14 March 2019, url; Afghan Islamic Press, [Twitter], posted on: 6 August
2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: January 2020, 2 January 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March
2020, 5 March 2020, url
3330 WHO, Afghanistan. Attacks on Health Care in 2019 as of December 31, 2019, 31 December 2019 url
3331 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2020, last updated: 12
July 2020, url
3332 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2020, last updated: 12
July 2020, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION

2.32 Takhar
2.32.1 General description of the province

Map 32: Afghanistan – Takhar province, source: UNOCHA3333

3333 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Takhar Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url— 291

292 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

Takhar province is located in the north-eastern part of Afghanistan and has borders with Badakhashan
to the east, Panjshir and Baghlan to the south and south-west and Kunduz to the west and aninternational border with Tajikistan to the north.3334 Takhar province is divided into the following
administrative units: Baharak, Bangi, Chahab, Chal, Darqad, Dasht-e-Qala, Eshkamesh, Farkhar, Hazar
Sumuch, Kalafgan, Khwajabahawuddin (Khwaja Bahawuddin), Khwajaghar (also Khwaja Ghar),Namakab, Rostaq, Taloqan, Warsaj and Yangi Qala.3335 The provincial capital is Taloqan.3336
According to estimates for 2020-2021 by NSIA, the province has a population of 1 093 092, 258 724 ofwhom live in the provincial capital, Taloqan.3337 The main ethnic group in the province are Uzbeks andTajiks.3338 Other groups present include Pashtuns3339, Hazaras3340 and Arabs3341.
The Kunduz-Takhar Highway runs through the districts of Kalafgan, Taloqan and Bangi.3342
According to the 2018 UNODC Opium Survey, Takhar was poppy-free from 2008 until 2017. In 2018 theprovince lost its poppy-free status, as 251 hectares of opium poppy were cultivated in Rostaq, Kalafganand Farkhar districts.3343 Drug smuggling routes leading into Central Asia run through some districts of
Takhar province.3344

2.32.2 Conflict background and actors in Takhar
In 2017, AAN reported that the Taliban had been unable to ‘establish a stronger foothold’ in Takhar,
despite some territorial gains starting in 2014, which prevented them from ‘connecting their fronts in[…] the west and south-west on the one hand, and […] the east on the other’.3345 In May 2019, journalist
Bilal Sarwary noted an increased Taliban presence in Takhar province.3346 According to Afghanistan
analysts Obaid Ali and Thomas Ruttig their presence had grown in most parts of Takhar over the past
few years and several offensives in the province in 2019 enabled them to expand their control towards
Taloqan City3347, raising concern among the local people.3348
Reporting on the presidential elections of 28 September 2019, AAN described Khwajabahawuddin,
Khwajaghar, Yangi Qala and Dasht-e Qala districts as ‘heavily contested’.3349 According to a November
2019 assessment by AAN, following six districts were under government control: Rostaq, Farkhar,
Warsaj, Kalafgan, Hazar Sumuch and Chal. The remaining districts were either ‘heavily contested orlargely under Taleban control, or the government was only visible in the district centre and immediate
vicinity’.3350 As of 2 July 2020 an assessment by the Long War Journal presented in a frequently updated

3334 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Takhar Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url
3335 Afghanistan, IEC, Afghanistan 2019 Presidential Elections – Final results by Polling Stations: Province Takhar, 2020, url;

Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21, June 2020, url, p. 283336 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Takhar Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Background profile of
Takhar province, n.d., url
3337 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21, June 2020, url, p. 28
3338 Clark, K., A Maelstrom of Militias: Takhar, a case study of strongmen co-opting the ALP, AAN, 14 November 2019, url
3339 Clark, K., A Maelstrom of Militias: Takhar, a case study of strongmen co-opting the ALP, AAN, 14 November 2019, url
3340 Pajhwok Afghan News, Background profile of Takhar province, n.d., url; US, Naval Postgraduate School, Takhar
Provincial Review, n.d., url
3341 Afghanistan, Office of the President, Provincial Profile Takhar, 1 February 2017, url
3342 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Takhar Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url; Diplomat (The), Kabul‘s Plan to Realize
Afghanistan‘s Geographic Dividend, 5 December 2017, url
3343 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN , Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, p. 273344 Ali, O., The Non-Pashtun Taleban of the North (3): The Takhar case study, AAN, 29 July 2017, url; RFE/RL, In The Dark:
Tajik Border Residents Live Not Knowing What Lies Beyond, 22 November 2018, url ; Clark, K., A Maelstrom of Militias:
Takhar, a case study of strongmen co-opting the ALP, AAN, 14 November 2019, url
3345 Ali, O., The Non-Pashtun Taleban of the North (3): The Takhar case study, AAN, 29 July 2017, url
3346 Sarwary, B., [Twitter], posted on: 22 May 2019, url
3347 Ali, O., Ruttig, T., Taleban attacks on Kunduz and Pul-e Khumri: Symbolic operations, AAN, 11 September 2019, url
3348 Afghanistan Times, Rampant insecurity stymies peace in Takhar, 8 April 2020, url
3349 AAN, Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (13): Observations from Kandahar, Takhar, Wardak and Balkh, 4 October 2019, url
3350 Clark, K., A Maelstrom of Militias: Takhar, a case study of strongmen co-opting the ALP, AAN, 14 November 2019, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 293

map and based on open-source information, indicated Baharak, Chahab, Khwajaghar and Yangi Qala
districts as ‘Taliban-controlled’, Bagi, Darqad, Dasht-e Qala, Eshkamesh, Khwajabahawuddin and
Taloqan districts as ‘contested’ and the remaining districts in Takhar province as ‘governmentcontrolled’.3351
Besides the Taliban, militants from ISKP, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), drug runners andcriminals were reportedly active along the Tajik border in 20183352, as well as members of the terrorist
movement Jundullah, a splinter group of IMU, mainly composed of non-Pashtun3353 Afghans.3354
According to a February 2019 AAN report, Jundullah’s military wing, Jabha-ye Qariha, was operating insome northern districts of Takhar province.3355 Purportedly, a small number of Islamic Jihad Union
fighters, a movement mainly composed of Uzbeks from Uzbekistan, were active in parts of theprovince in 2018. These fighters were part of an independent front called Imom Buxoriy Katiba (Imam
Bukhari’s Battalion), operating in northern and north-eastern Afghanistan.3356 According to
information submitted to the UN Security Council for its June 2019 report, in Afghanistan Central Asiangroups are under the direct operational and financial control of the Taliban, with about 50 fighters of
the Islamic Jihad Group in Takhar and Badakhshan provinces.3357
Taliban fighters started to emerge in 2010 in Darqad, a Pashtun dominated district, coming from
Kunduz with a mix of Takharis and outsiders in their ranks.3358 Militants affiliated to IMU, Jundullah
and the Taliban fought alongside each other against the Afghan security forces until the end of 2014.
In mid-2015, the IMU allied with the IS. Consequently, the already precarious relations between the
Pashtun and the non-Pashtun AGEs worsened and the Taliban ordered the disarmament and even thekilling of some Uzbek Jundullah fighters in order to prevent them from allying with the IS, as IMU
did.3359
Throughout the years the Taliban appointed more local Uzbek and Tajik commanders to key positions
in order to broaden their base in the ‘largely non-Pashtun’ province and to prevent it from becoming
an IS stronghold.3360 This policy was interrupted with the replacement of the former Uzbek shadow
governor of the province by a Pashtun, which led to a further deterioration of the relations between
the two ethnic groups. Although the situation improved after an Uzbek, the former Talibancommander Mawlawi Nurullah, was appointed as the new shadow governor of Takhar in 2017, AGEs
affiliated with IMU and Jundullah continued to fight autonomously from the Taliban. Although thethree groups share the same religious views, as they all follow the Hanafi school of law, the IMU and
Jundullah ignore local culture, such as the role of elders in conflict resolution and in other important
issues.3361
While a researcher for the Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies (AISS) mentioned small pockets of ISKP
emerging in Takhar and Badakhshan provinces in August 20193362, no security incidents specifically3351 LWJ, Mapping Taliban Control in Afghanistan, n.d., url. The source, however, does not specify when and which

information of the aforementioned map was last updated.
3352 RFE/RL, In The Dark: Tajik Border Residents Live Not Knowing What Lies Beyond, 22 November 2018, url
3353 Ali, O., The Non-Pashtun Taleban of the North (3): The Takhar case study, AAN, 29 July 2017, url
3354 Ali, O., Precarious Consolidation: Qari Hekmat‘s IS-affiliated ‚island‘ survives another Taleban onslaught, AAN, 4 March
2018, url
3355 Ali, O., One Land, Two Rules (3): Delivering public services in insurgency-affected Dasht-e Archi district in Kunduz
province, AAN, 26 February 2019, url
3356 Ali, O., New Confusion about ISKP: A case study from Sar-e Pul, AAN, 7 September 2018, url
3357 UN Security Council, Letter dated 10 June 2019 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant
to resolution 1988 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council, 13 June 2019, url, p. 183358 Ali, O., The Non-Pashtun Taleban of the North (3): The Takhar case study, AAN, 29 July 2017, url; Clark, K., A Maelstromof Militias: Takhar, a case study of strongmen co-opting the ALP, AAN, 14 November 2019, url
3359 Ali, O., The Non-Pashtun Taleban of the North (3): The Takhar case study, AAN, 29 July 2017, url
3360 Ali, O., The Non-Pashtun Taleban of the North (3): The Takhar case study, AAN, 29 July 2017, url; Clark, K., A Maelstromof Militias: Takhar, a case study of strongmen co-opting the ALP, AAN, 14 November 2019, url
3361 Ali, O., The Non-Pashtun Taleban of the North (3): The Takhar case study, AAN, 29 July 2017, url
3362 National (The), ISIS recruitment is growing in Afghanistan as US and Taliban work for peace, 8 August 2019, url

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attributed to ISKP were recorded by ACLED in Takhar province between 1 March 2019 and
30 June 2020.3363
In terms of the presence of government security forces, Takhar province is under the responsibility of
the 217th ANA corps after ANA’s 20th Division, previously under the ANA 209th Corps, was reassigned
in April 2019 to become a new corps, the 217th Corps.3364 The 217th Corps has its headquarters in
Kunduz.3365 As of 30 April 2020, Takhar province was still included in the area of responsibility of theTrain Advise Assist Command – North (TAAC–North), which is part of NATO's Resolute Support
Mission within Afghanistan. TAAC-North is led by German forces and has its headquarters in Mazar-e
Sharif, Balkh province.3366
According to Afghanistan analyst Kate Clark in November 2019, the ANA Territorial Force wasestablished in Taloqan City and was also planned for Khwajabahawuddin district.3367
ALP, local uprising forces and pro-government militias are present and active in some of Takhar’s
districts.3368 The Takhar ALP is cited among the worst of the ALP units, due to the power of local
strongmen over it and the involvement of some of its units in drug smuggling or abuses of the local
population. Replacing all ALP commanders earlier in 2019 in Takhar seemed not to have brought actualchanges. Like the ALP, local uprising forces are said to be controlled and mobilised by local strongmen.
Afghanistan analyst Kate Clark describes Takhar as a province where ‘the commander class thatemerged during Afghanistan’s long years of war is particularly strong’. Experts interviewed by Kate Clark
mentioned deep historical grievances and conflict between several commanders in Takhar. While they
can cooperate in case of a big external threat, they start fighting each other again once that threat isgone, in turn presenting a threat to the local people themselves and making Takhar a vulnerable
province to the Taliban.3369
In December 2019 residents and civil society activists from Takhar expressed concern about increasing
crime in the province, attributing it to a rise in the number of illegal gunmen and unemployment.3370

2.32.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population
2.32.3.1 General
In 2019, UNAMA documented 192 civilian casualties (60 deaths and 132 injured) in Takhar. This
represents an increase of 70 % compared to 2018. Leading causes of casualties were groundengagements followed by air strikes and non-suicide IEDs.3371 Resolute Support recorded between 77
and 125 civilian casualties in Takhar in the first half of 2020, reporting an increase in the number ofcivilian casualties in the second quarter of 2020, compared to the first.3372

3363 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus; Afghanistan; Takhar; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
3364 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 July 2019, url, p. 78
3365 USDOD, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. Lead Inspector General Report To The United States Congress. April 1, 2019‒
June 30, 2019, 16 August 2019, url, p. 5
3366 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability In Afghanistan. December 2019, 23 January 2020, url, pp. 11-12; 50; USDOD,
Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. Lead Inspector General Report To The United States Congress. April 1, 2019‒June 30, 2019,16 August 2019, url, pp. 27-28; USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability In Afghanistan. June 2020, 1 July 2020, url, p. 143367 Clark, K., A Maelstrom of Militias: Takhar, a case study of strongmen co-opting the ALP, AAN, 14 November 2019, url
3368 Khaama Press, Taliban’s ambush in Takhar kills 20 members of public uprising forces, 29 December 2019, url; Pajhwok
Afghan News, 17 pro-government militiamen killed in Takhar assault, 29 December 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News,
Takhar: 2 uprising members killed in Taliban attack, 15 January 2020, url
3369 Clark, K., A Maelstrom of Militias: Takhar, a case study of strongmen co-opting the ALP, AAN, 14 November 2019, url
3370 Pajhwok Afghan News, In Takhar, rising crime graph sparks concerns, 2 December 2019, url
3371 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 94. No
UNAMA data on civilian casualties in Takhar province were available for the first half of 2020.
3372 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 April 2020, url, p. 69; SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The UnitedStates Congress, 30 April 2020, url, p. 72

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 295

Figure 34. Takhar - Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians from
1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, based on ACLED data3373

ACLED collected data on 292 violent events in Takhar province between 1 March 2019 and
30 June 2020 from reports in open sources, 205 of which were coded as battles, 76 as
explosions/remote violence and 11 as violence against civilians. Two out of three incidents occurredin following five districts: Eshkamesh, Baharak, Darqad, Dasht-e Qala and Khwajaghar. No violent
events were registered by ACLED in Hazar Sumuch and Warsaj districts.3374
ACLED coded 70 % of the violent events in Takhar province as battles, mainly armed clashes.3375 The
majority of those armed clashes were attacks by the Taliban on Afghan security forces, including police,
military or NDS personnel and members of pro-government militias or so-called Arbakis (the term
‘Arbaki’ is often used locally and by the Taliban in reference to members of the Afghan Local Police orother pro-government militias)3376, or attacks on military or police facilities such as checkpoints3377,
bases3378 and headquarters3379 and on vehicles3380 and convoys.3381 Some of those incidents resulted incivilian casualties, such as clashes between Taliban and government forces in Khwajaghar district inApril 2019, in Eshkamesh district in June 2019 or in Dasht-e Qala district in February 2020.3382 One
civilian was killed in a Taliban attack on the residence of the Khwajaghar district police chief on3373 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, Afghanistan - Takhar, url
3374 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus; Afghanistan; Takhar; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
3375 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Takhar; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
3376 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 4 October 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September
2019, 5 September 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 2020, 2 April 2020, url
3377 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: February 2020, 6 February 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: December
2019, 5 December 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: November 2019, 7 November 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War
Casualty Report: October 2019, 4 October 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 5 September
2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: August 2-8, 8 August 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 3-9, 9
May 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 5-11, 11 April 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 15 policemen killed,
13 injured in Taliban attack, 25 July 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 3 ALP personnel killed, 7 wounded in Takhar attack, 16
March 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 2020, 7 May 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April
2020, 2 April 2020, url
3378 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 5 September 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: July 1925, 25 July 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 2020, 2 April 2020, url
3379 NYT,Afghan War Casualty Report: December 2019, 5 December 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 1218, 18 April 2019, url
3380 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 28-july 4, 4 July 2019, url
3381 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 19-25, 25 April 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: January 2020, 2
January 2020, url; NYT,Afghan War Casualty Report: March 2020, 5 March 2020, url
3382 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 19-25, 25 April 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 14-20, 20 June
2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: February 2020, 6 February 2020, url

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30 March 2020.3383 Fighting destroyed the houses of four families in Baharak district in May 2020.3384
At least one civilian was killed during clashes following a Taliban attack in Chahab district in late June
2020.3385
Operations and attacks carried out by Afghan security forces against AGEs, as for example in Dasht-e
Qala in April 20193386, were also registered under armed clashes. With the approval of the Ministry of
Defence’s Operation Khalid on 2 April 2019, Takhar was one of the provinces in the north-east that
security forces’ operations focused on.3387 Several of the security operations were backed by air
strikes.3388
Clashes between pro-government militias in Kalafgan district in March 2019 and in Chahab district inAugust 2019 also caused civilian casualties.3389
In the reporting period the Taliban carried out several attacks on parts of various districts in Takhar
province, such as an attack on Taloqan City in July 20193390 and on Khwajaghar district centre in Juneand September 20193391, prompting residents and civil society activists from Takhar to gather in Kabul
in early October 2019, to express concern that Taloqan might fall to the Taliban, while officials denied
this threat.3392 Control over Yangi Qala and Darqad districts has been changing hands between the
Taliban and the government in the reporting period.3393 The Taliban attacked Darqad district centre in
November 20193394 and April 20203395, took over Chahab district centre for a few hours on
30 August 20193396 and attacked a village in Baharak district in January 2020.3397
Air/drone strikes represented 21 % of all violent incidents registered by ACLED in Takhar province
between 1 March 2019 and 30 June 2020.3398 Most were carried out in Eshkamesh district, followedby Darqad district. The majority of air strikes were carried out by Afghan forces, some were attributed

3383 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban raid leaves 14 security forces dead in Takhar, 30 March 2020, url; Tolonews, Attacks in

Takhar, Zabul Kill 19 ANDSF, 30 March 2020, url
3384 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (4 May – 10 May 2020), 13 May 2020, url
3385 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 2020, 4 June 2020, url; Afghan Islamic Press (@aip_news), [Twitter], posted on:
24 June 2020, url
3386 Pajhwok Afghan News, 28 Taliban rebels killed in Takhar operation, 24 April 2019, url
3387 UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, A/73/902–S/2019/493
14 June 2019, url, p. 53388 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Takhar; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url; Khaama Press, 6 Taliban militants killed in Special Forces raid, airstrike in Takhar province, 6 July 2019,url
3389 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: August 2-8, 8 August 2019, url; NYT,Afghan War Casualty Report: March 22-28, 29
March 2019, url
3390 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 28-july 4, 4 July 2019, url
3391 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 4 October 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 7-13, 13
June 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban lose 15 fighters in battle for Khwaja Ghar district, 12 June 2019, url;
Tolonews, Heavy Clashes Ongoing In Takhar’s Khwaja Ghar District, 9 September 2019, url
3392 Tolonews, Residents Take Protest To Kabul As Takhar Security Deteriorates, 3 October 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News,
Residents worried as clashes approach Taloqan, 3 October 2019, url
3393 Ruttig, T., Van Bijlert, M., et. al., Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (10): What to watch out for on election day, AAN, 26
September 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 5 September 2019, url; Sarwary, B., [Twitter],posted on: 10 September 2019, url; Gandhara (RFE/RL), Taliban Capture Key Afghan Districts Bordering Central Asia, 10
September 2019, url; Khaama Press, Afghan forces fully clear 2 districts of Taliban militants in Farah and Takhar, 13
September 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Afghan forces retake Darqad district, Taliban refute, 25 October 20199, url
3394 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: November 2019, 7 November 2019, url
3395 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 2020, 2 April 2020, url
3396 Ali, O., Ruttig, T., Taleban attacks on Kunduz and Pul-e Khumri: Symbolic operations, AAN, 11 September 2019, url;
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban storm Cha Ab district in Takhar, 30 August 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 21 security
personnel killed in Takhar attacks, 30 August 2019, url
3397 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: January 2020, 2 January 2020, url
3398 These do not include air strikes carried out during operations categorised by ACLED under ‘battles’. For more
information on ACLED’s methodology, please consult the introduction.

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to NATO forces.3399 While those air strikes inflicted losses among AGEs3400, some also caused civilian
casualties, for example in Yangi Qala district on 18 September 20193401 or in Eshkamesh district on
23 December 2019.3402
The remaining incidents of explosions/remote violence registered by ACLED included incidents where
the Taliban or unidentified armed groups used roadside bombs and IEDs or rockets and shelling totarget security forces or government officials.3403 Some of these incidents caused civilian casualties asfor example in Darqad district on 5 September 2019 when shelling by the Taliban killed two civilians,
and injured two, on 2 November 2019 when school children were killed and wounded after stepping
on a road side bomb3404 or on 12 January 2020 when a rocket fired by the Taliban hit a house, killing
one child and injuring two.3405 Seven civilians were injured when a bomb exploded in a hotel inEshkamesh district in October 2019.3406 A Taliban roadside bomb exploded prematurely in Taloqan on
20 March 2020, killing not only four of their own members, but also two children.3407 At least nine
students were killed, as a result of a bomb explosion inside a religious school in Eshkamesh district inJune 2020.3408
Eleven incidents categorised by ACLED as violence against civilians included the killing of civilians by
Afghan security forces, as for example in in Dasht-e Qala district in June 20193409 or the killing ofcivilians in Darqad district by the Tajikistan border police on 25 December 2019.3410 The killing of a
doctor in Rostaq district in March 2019 was attributed to unidentified armed men. The Taliban killedcivilians during an attack on Yangi Qala bazaar.3411 They also killed a civilian working as a cook on amilitary base in Dasht-e Qala district in March 20203412 and kidnapped and beheaded a tribal elder in
Taloqan City in April 2020.3413 Unknown armed men killed an imam and the Taliban kidnapped andkilled a former jihadi commander in Chahab district in June 2020.3414
There were reports from the north-eastern region, including from Takhar province, about electricity
and mobile phone networks being interrupted before and during the presidential election in

3399 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus; Afghanistan; Takhar; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url
3400 Khaama Press, Airstrikes kill more than 40 Taliban militants in Takhar and Kunduz provinces, 11 September 2019, url;
Khaama Press, Precision airstrike kills deputy commander of the Red Unit of Taliban in Takhar, 15 February 2020, url
3401 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 5 September 2019, url
3402 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: December 2019, 5 December 2019, url
3403 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Takhar; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 30 June 2020), url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: December 2019, 5 December 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty
Report: April 2020, 2 April 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 2020, 5 March 2020, url
3404 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: November 2019, 7 November 2019, url; Al Jazeera, Nine children killed in
Afghanistan landmine blast, 2 November 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 9 schoolchildren dead in Takhar explosion, 2November 2019, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Monthly Humanitarian Update (October 2019), 23 November 2019, url
3405 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: January 2020, 2 January 2020, url
3406 Bakhtar News, Mine Blast Wounds Seven Civilians in Takhar, 23 October 2019, url
3407 Pajhwok Afghan News, 2 children among 6 killed in Taloqan bombing, 20 March 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty
Report: March 2020, 5 March 2020, url
3408 Pajhwok Afghan News, Takhar seminary blast leaves 10 students dead, 18 June 2020, url;
3409 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June 28-july 4, 4 July 2019, url
3410 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: December 2019, 5 December 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 3 Takhar residents
shot dead by Tajik border guards, 26 December 2019, url
3411 Xinhua, Over 40 including 3 civilians killed within one day in Afghan fighting, 4 March 2019, url
3412 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 2020, 5 March 2020, url
3413 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: April 2020, 2 April 2020, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban behead influential elder
in Takhar, 4 April 2020, url
3414 RFE/RL (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty), At Least 17 Killed In Attacks Across Afghanistan, 13 June 2020, url; Pajhwok
Afghan News, Takhar: Imam shot dead by unidentified gunmen, 13 June 2020, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: June
2020, 4 June 2020, url

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September 2019.3415 Following through on an earlier warning, the Taliban destroyed towers of cell
phone companies in Takhar province.3416 Cell phone networks and internet were largely not
functioning between 27 September and 2 October 2019.3417 Several attacks by the Taliban werereported in various parts of Takhar province on 28 September 2019, the day of the presidential
election.3418 The head of the Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan (FEFA) told Pajhwok thatfive of their agents were held hostage during a Taliban attack in Chahab district on election day.3419
There were reports of security incidents and occasional closures due to clashes on the Kunduz-Takhar
Highway road in the reporting period. At times the Taliban blocked the highway to obstruct security
reinforcements, but preventing the movement of civilians at the same time.3420 In June 2019 theTaliban destroyed a bridge connecting several of Takhar’s districts with provincial capital Taloqan. As
a result all routes from 20 villages to Taloqan City were blocked, impacting access to food andhospitals.3421 In order to prevent the security forces from tracking them, the Taliban destroyed several
other bridges in or around Taloqan in April 2020, again cutting off hundreds of families from thecapital.3422 Sources told AAN that in the aftermath of the 31 August 2019 attack on Kunduz the Taliban
continued to set up mobile checkpoints on the Kunduz-Takhar Highway.3423 In two seperate incidents
on that same highway five people were reportedly abducted and a woman was killed at illegal
checkpoints in April 2020.3424 The Taliban reportedly set up checkpoints on the Takhar-Baghlan Highway
in February 2020.3425
On 16 March 2019 clashes broke out between Afghan police and soldiers inside a health facility in
Darqad district.3426 Sources reported about the closure of several health facilities by the Taliban,
including in Darqad, Khwajabahawuddin, Khwajaghar, Baharak, Rostaq and Cha-ab districts in March
2020, depriving people of health services.3427 The Taliban ascribe the closure to non-availability offacilities and corruption.3428 At the time of writing, no updated information regarding the closure or
reopening of those facilities was available. Fighting between the Taliban and ANDSF nearby,
inflicted/caused damage to a local hospital in Dasht-e Qala district on 24 March 2020.3429
On 3 February 2020 the Taliban reportedly set fire to the Bodala Girls School in Taloqan City.3430

3415 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Monthly Humanitarian Update (September 2019), 18 October 2019, url; Norway, Landinfo,

Afghanistan: Sikkerhetssituasjon og konfliktmønster i 2019, 22 January 2020, url, p. 10; NYT, To Disrupt Elections, Taliban
Turn to an Old Tactic: Destroying Cell Towers, 2 October 2019, url
3416 NYT, To Disrupt Elections, Taliban Turn to an Old Tactic: Destroying Cell Towers, 2 October 2019, url
3417 AAN, Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (13): Observations from Kandahar, Takhar, Wardak and Balkh, 4 October 2019, url
3418 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 4 October 2019, url; Tolonews, Afghan Forces Repulse Taliban Attack
In Taluqan, Takhar, 30 September 2019, url; AAN, Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (13): Observations from Kandahar, Takhar,
Wardak and Balkh, 4 October 2019, url
3419 Pajhwok Afghan News, 2 observers killed, many beaten on polling day, 17 October 2019, url
3420 Xinhua, Roundup: 20 killed in Afghanistan within 24 hours amid violence reduction in Afghanistan, 3 March 2020, url;
NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 5 September 2019, url; NYT,Afghan War Casualty Report: January 2020,
2 January 2020, url; Afghan Islamic Press, [Twitter], posted on: 3 March 2019, url ; Afghan Islamic Press, [Twitter], posted
on: 3 March 2019, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (16 December – 22 December 2019), 26
December 2019, url
3421 Salaam Times, Taliban's destruction of key bridge cuts off 20 villages in Takhar Province, 4 July 2019, url
3422 Salaam Times, Taliban blow up bridge in Takhar, cutting off thousands of villagers, 29 April 2020, url
3423 Ali, O., Ruttig, T., Taleban attacks on Kunduz and Pul-e Khumri: Symbolic operations, AAN, 11 September 2019, url
3424 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (13 April – 20 April 2020), 22 April 2020, url; UNOCHA,
Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (20 April – 26 April 2020), 29 April 2020, url
3425 Tolonews, 2 Confirmed Attacks on Afghan Forces on Second Day of RIV, 23 February 2020, url
3426 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 15-21, 22 March 2019, url
3427 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (24 February – 1 March 2020), 4 march 2020, url ; Xinhua, Afghan
militants shut down health clinics in northern Takhar province: Official, 7 March 2020, url
3428 Afghan Islamic Press (@aip_news), [Twitter], posted on 9 March 2020, url
3429 UNAMA, Afghanistan. Protection Of Civilians In Armed Conflict First Quarter Report: 1 January - 31 March 2020, 27 April
2020, url, p. 73430 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban set fire to girls’ school in Takhar: Rahimi, 3 February 2020, url; Khaama Press, Girls
school set on fire in the northern Takhar, 3 February 2020, url; Salaam Times, Taliban blow up bridge in Takhar, cutting off
thousands of villagers, 29 April 2020, url

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In its report covering 2019 UNAMA noted that in certain parts of Afghanistan, including Takhar, several
private telecommunications companies, with the exception of Salaam Telecommunications, shut down
their services in the evening following up on orders issued by the Taliban in order to prevent being
tracked down or targeted during operations.3431 According to a Twitter post by journalist Bilal Sarwary
in May 2019 the Taliban asked major mobile service provider companies to stop services in Taloqan
City.3432 A short break during the week of reduction in violence at the end of February 2020 aside, alltelecom operators, except for the Salaam Telecom, had to shut down services between 6 p.m. and6 a.m. in Takhar, because of Taliban threats and intimidation. This impacted online education andaccess to health facilities in times of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.3433
Electricity pylons providing power from Tajikistan to Takhar province were destroyed on
23 September 2019 due to clashes between the Talban and security forces. As a result Takhar province
had no electricity for about a week.3434
Within the framework of the attacks on health care initiative, the World Health Organisation (WHO)did not register such attacks in Takhar province in 2019.3435 UNAMA documented the abduction by the
Taliban of three healthcare workers in Khwajaghar district between March and May 2020. The
organisation they worked for was accused of failing to pay the salaries to their employees.3436 Also amortar round fired during fighting between the Taliban and Afghan forces, caused damage to a hospitalin Dasht-e Qala district on 24 March 2020.3437

2.32.3.2 Displacement
UNOCHA reported regularly about continued clashes between AGEs and the ANDSF in Takhar causing
displacement in the reporting period.3438
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 85 127 persons
displaced by conflict from Takhar province, 96 % of whom were displaced within the province itself,while others sought refuge in Kunduz province and to a lesser extent in Kabul and Kapisa provinces. It
makes Takhar the province where conflict caused the largest displacement in the reporting period.3439
More than half of all reported IDPs from Takhar were displaced from Baharak district, in particular inJune 2019 when Afghan security forces stepped up their operations in Takhar, often with air
support3440 and in September 2019, due to clashes.3441 The second largest group of IDPs was displaced
from Eshkamesh district, mainly in June and August 2019, due to heavy clashes and operations in the3431 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, pp. 109-110;

Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban continue telecom services shutdown in Baghlan, 14 August 2019, url
3432 Sarwary, B., [Twitter], posted on 22 May 2019, url
3433 Salaam Times, Taliban resume telecom restrictions in Takhar, hindering coronavirus response, 22 April 2020, url
3434 AAN, Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (13): Observations from Kandahar, Takhar, Wardak and Balkh, 4 October 2019, url
3435 WHO, Afghanistan. Attacks on Health Care in 2019 as of December 31, 2019, 31 December 2019 url
3436 UNAMA, Special Report: Attacks On Healthcare During The Covid-19 Pandemic, 20 June 2020, url, pp. 9; 203437 UNAMA, Special Report: Attacks On Healthcare During The Covid-19 Pandemic, 20 June 2020, url, p. 143438 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (9 - 15 September 2019), 18 September 2019, url; UNOCHA,
Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (7 October – 13 October 2019), 16 October 2019, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan:
Weekly Humanitarian Update (6 April – 12 April 2020), 16 April 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian
Update (11 May – 17 May 2020), 20 May 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (25 May – 31 May
2020), 3 June 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (23 - 29 September 2019), 2 October 2019,
url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (30 September – 6 October 2019), 9 October 2019, url; UNOCHA,
Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (18 - 25 August 2019), 27 August 2019, url; UNOCHA (United Nations Office for
the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (8 June – 14 June 2020), 17 June
2020, url
3439 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 14 June 2020, url
3440 Khaama Press, Special Forces fully clear Baharak district of Takhar from the presence of Taliban militants, 6 July 2019,
url; Ali, O., Ruttig, T., Taleban attacks on Kunduz and Pul-e Khumri: Symbolic operations, AAN, 11 September 2019, url
3441 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (23 - 29 September 2019), 2 October 2019, url; UNOCHA,
Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (30 September – 6 October 2019), 9 October 2019, url

300 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

district.3442 Most were displaced to Taloqan, but many also within the district or to Kunduz province.3443
Conflict also caused the displacement of over 5 000 residents of Namakab and Darqad districts.3444 Of
all IDPs registered by UNOCHA from Takhar province in the reporting period, most were registered in
the second half of 2019. So far in 2020, May was the only month in which UNOCHA registered IDPs
from Takhar. However in the last days of June 2020 UNOCHA noted the ‘most significant displacement
since March 2020’ in three north-eastern provinces, including Takhar.3445
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 84 112 persons
displaced by conflict to Takhar province, nearly all from within the province and nearly all seeking
refuge in Taloqan and Farkhar districts. In November and December 2019 Taloqan also hosted IDPs
from Guzargah-e-Nur district in Baghlan.3446

2.33 Uruzgan
2.33.1 General description of the province

Map 33: Afghanistan – Uruzgan province, source: UNOCHA3447

3442 Tolonews, Takhar Needs Reinforcements To Push Back Taliban: Officials, 3 August 2019, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan:

Weekly Humanitarian Update (29 July - 04 August 2019), 7 August 2019, url; UNSG, The situation in Afghanistan and its
implications for international peace and security, A/73/990–S/2019/703, 3 September 2019, url, p. 11; UNOCHA,
Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (5 - 11 August 2019), 14 August 2019, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly
Humanitarian Update (18 - 25 August 2019), 27 August 2019, url
3443 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 14 June 2020, url
3444 ERM, Household Assessment report, 21 June 2019, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (7 October– 13 October 2019), 16 October 2019, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (9 - 15 September 2019), 18
September 2019, url
3445 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Weekly Humanitarian Update (22 June – 28 June 2020), 1 July 2020, url
3446 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 14 June 2020, url
3447 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Uruzgan Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 301

Uruzgan province is located in the central part of Afghanistan and is also known by the name ‘Rozgan’or ‘Uruzganis’.3448 Uruzgan borders on Daykundi in the north, Ghazni in the east, Zabul and Kandahar
in the south and Helmand in the west. Uruzgan is divided into the following administrative units:
Tirinkot with the provincial capital Tirinkot City (also known as Tarinkot), Dehraoud, Chora (alsoChinarto), Shahidhassas (also Shahid-e Hassas, Charchino), Khasuruzgan (also Khas Uruzgan) andTirinkot.3449 The district of Gizab, which was formerly part of Daykundi province, now falls within theadministration of Uruzgan.3450 Chinarto and Surab are two new districts of the province; their status
has not been officially recognised yet.3451 According to NSIA, the population of Uruzgan is estimated at
436 079 for 2020/21. Urban population, living in provincial capital Tirinkot and two other small towns
Dehraoud and Gizab, constitutes less than 4 % of all inhabitants.3452 Nearly all population of theprovince is agrarian and Uruzgan is one of the least developed provinces in terms of education, healthfacilities and infrastructure.3453
The Kandahar-Uruzgan Highway runs through the districts of Chora and Tirinkot.3454 Taliban militants
purportedly set up check-points along the highway and they searched or abducted travellers.3455
Moreover, passengers complained about the ‘shabby condition’ of the road, which extended the travel
time and had a negative impact on vehicles and security.3456 Military operations were ongoing in
February 2019, in order to clear the road from Taliban insurgents.3457 The city of Tirinkot hosts anairport, which was served by domestic scheduled passenger flights as of March 2019.3458
According to the UNODC data obtained by AAN, poppy cultivation in Uruzgan province decreased by
38 % in 2019, compared to 2018.3459 According to the Jordanian news website Al Bawaba, any dwellers
relied economically on poppy cultivation and the number of addicts, including women and children,
reached up to 15 000.3460

2.33.2 Conflict background and actors in Uruzgan
In terms of the presence of government security forces, Uruzgan province is under the responsibilityof the 205th ANA Corps, which falls under Train Advise Assist Command-South (TAAC-S), led by USforces.3461 The ANA soldiers are usually originated from the other provinces and they do not usuallyleave military bases. In practice, their main task is not to defend local people but not to surrender thebase or checkpoint to Taliban. The responsibility to protect the locals against the AGEs was put mainlyon police forces, ANP and especially on ALP.3462
At the same time, army and police checkpoints, bases, and office buildings which represent the only
government’s presence and control in the countryside, are the main target of repeated Taliban attacks.

3448 Pajhwok Afghan News, Brief introduction of Uruzgan province, n.d., url
3449 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-2021, url, p. 35
3450 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN , Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, p. 63451 Pajhwok Afghan News, Uruzgan administrative units, n.d., url
3452 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-2021, url, p. 35
3453 Pajhwok Afghan News, Brief introduction of Uruzgan province, n.d., url
3454 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Uruzgan Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url; Tolonews, Taliban Abducts 19 Bus Passengers

and Police On Uruzgan Highway, 28 February 2018, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Dilapidated Kandahar road gives passengers
bumpy ride, 14 November 2018, url
3455 Tolonews, Taliban Abducts 19 Bus Passengers and Police On Uruzgan Highway, 28 February 2018, url; Pajhwok AfghanNews, Dilapidated Kandahar road gives passengers bumpy ride, 14 November 2018, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Lecturer
among 5 passengers killed on Uruzgan-Kandahar highway, 25 April 2018, url
3456 Pajhwok Afghan News, Dilipidated Kandahar road gives passengers bumpy ride, 14 November 2018, url;
3457 Khaama Press, Militants suffer heavy casualties in ANDSF operations in Kandahar and Zabul, 7 February 2019, url
3458 Austria, BFA-Staatendokumentation, Afghanistan - Airports [Map], 25 March 20193459 Bjelica J., New World Drug Report: Opium production in Afghanistan remained the same in 2019, AAN, 25 June 2020, url
3460 Al Bawaba, In Uruzgan, Afghan Mothers Feed Their Children Opium to Make Them Sleep, 2 November 2017, url
3461 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan, 1 June 2020, url, p. 133462 The Canaberra Times, Lessons to be learnt from failures in Uruzgan 26 June 2019, url

302 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

Soldiers have to protect military bases, sometimes without any outside reinforcement. The only
effective option for maintaining the military posts, are air strikes.3463
According to local people, the central government appoints top provincial officials without consulting
the locals. The top officials take the decision without any coordination and they are often busy withinternal infightings. The corruption is widespread among police chiefs in the region. In one case, aformer police chief was accused of stealing 58 000 litres of oil during four months which should havebeen used for police transport and generators.3464 In January 2020, provincial police chief wasdismissed for the extortion of bribes from his subordinates and for stealing money intended for
employees' remuneration.3465
Uruzgan was one of the first provinces affected by Taliban resurgence after 2001.3466 According to LWJ,
only one Uruzgan district, Chora, is fully controlled by Taliban, others are contested.3467 In practice,
the central authority is limited to the provincial capital, Tirinkot and AGEs took initiatives in the rest of
the province.3468 The central administration is not present in most district centres and towns andpeople felt let alone with no choice but to cooperate with Taliban.3469 The government administration
has been evacuated to other place at least in two districts, according to Tolonews Survey.3470 However,in some districts of the province, like Khas Uruzgan, Hazara communities used to live in self-governed
enclaves under local agreements with the Taliban, which so far have ensured them the stability.3471
According to Pajhwok Afghan News, ISKP has been active in the province, particularly in Chora district,recruiting new supporters, even among women. Purportedly, ISKP fighters in the province have been
former Taliban militants.3472

2.33.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population
2.33.3.1 General
In 2019, UNAMA documented 145 civilian casualties (73 deaths and 72 injured) in Uruzgan province.
This represents a decrease of 16 % compared to 2018. Leading causes of casualties were groundengagements, followed by air strikes and non-suicide IEDs.3473 Resolute Support recorded between 0
and 25 civilian casualties in Uruzgan in the first quarter of 2020, reporting an increase in the numberof civilian casualties in the second quarter of the year, with 26-50 casualties recorded (from 1 April to
30 June 2020).3474
In the period from 1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, ACLED reported total 642 incidents related tosecurity in Uruzgan province, of which 435 battles, 199 remote violence, 8 cases of violence against
civilians.3475

3463 RFE/RL/Gandhara , In Remote Afghan Corner, Besieged Afghan Troops Cry For Help 06 August 2019, url
3464 Arab News, Afghans turn to Taliban in forgotten province, 09 February 2020, url
3465 Pajhwok, Uruzgan police chief sacked, summoned to Kabul, 17 January 2020, url
3466 Bijlert M., The Taliban in Zabul and Uruzgan, ed .Bergen P., Tiedemann K., Talibanistan: Negotiating the Borders

Between Terror, Politics, and Religion, Oxford University Press, 2013, url
3467 LWJ, Mapping Taliban Control in Afghanistan, n.d., url; LWJ, however, does not specify when and which information of
the aforementioned map was last updated.
3468 The Canaberra Times, Lessons to be learnt from failures in Uruzgan 26 June 2019, url
3469Arab News, Afghans turn to Taliban in forgotten province, 09 February 2020, url
3470 Tolonews, 64 Administrative Units Partially Paralyzed In 19 Provinces, 01 July 2019, url
3471 Adili, A., Y. and van Bijlert, M., Taleban Attacks on Khas Uruzgan, Jaghori and Malestan (I): A new and violent push into
Hazara areas, AAN, 28 November 2018, url
3472 Pajhwok Afghan News, Uruzgan: 3 women from Chora district join Daesh, 18 April 2018, url
3473 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 94
3474 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 April 2020, url, p. 69; SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The UnitedStates Congress, 30 July 2020, url, p. 72
3475 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus - Afghanistan; Nimroz; Event types: Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 303

Figure 35. Uruzgan - Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians
from 1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, based on ACLED data3476

In 2018, Taliban extended their operations to new areas like the district of Khas Uruzgan where mixed
Pashtun and Hazara population live. This caused battles between the Hazara ALP leader, Hakim Shujai,
his militiamen and the Taliban.3477 The fighting, accounting for many civilian casualties and internallydisplaced people, mostly among the Hazara civilian population, went on for almost one month untillate November 2018.3478 There are many theories about the reasons for the Taliban expansion into newareas: some observers point to their desire to gain more territory to improve their position in the peacetalks, others point to their move to expand their influence among all ethnic groups and, third, somebelieve that the Taliban want to establish their own administration and collect taxes.3479 In 2019 and2020 there were numerous reports of clashes and air strikes in Khas Uruzgan. Although most victims
were AGEs fighters or ANSF staff, civilians also suffered from the acts of violence.3480 Most of themwere killed by Afghan security services supported by NATO forces during air strikes (for example 11
civilians were killed on 22 July 2019, 9 civilians were killed on 5 September 2019 and 7 civilians were
killed on 4 April 2020).3481
Throughout 2019 and 2020, Taliban militants were active also in other districts in the province.3482 To
prevent AGEs attacks, multiple air strikes were conducted by US and Afghan forces at the suburbs ofprovincial capital Tirinkot during the reporting period.3483 Some civilian victims were reported,
including women and children (2 April 2019 13 civilians were killed, 10 June 2019 eight children were
killed, 4 August 2019 13 civilians killed, 31 January 2020 - five children, two women and one man were
killed).3484
In August 2019, AGEs besieged military base in Charchino (Shahid-e-Hassas).3485 On 2 September 2019a prayer leader and six madrasa students were killed by Afghan security and NATO forces in the same

3476 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus - Afghanistan; Nimroz; Event types: Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, url
3477 Adili, A., Y. and van Bijlert, M., Taleban Attacks on Khas Uruzgan, Jaghori and Malestan (I): A new and violent push into
Hazara areas, AAN, 28 November 2018, url; Adili, A. Y. and van Bijlert, M., Taleban Attacks on Khas Uruzgan, Jaghori andMalestan (II): A new and violent push into Hazara areas, AAN, 29 November 2018, url; Reuters, Afghan Shi‘ite militia battles
Taliban, raising sectarian fears, 3 November 2018, url
3478 Adili, A., Y. and van Bijlert, M., Taleban Attacks on Khas Uruzgan, Jaghori and Malestan (I): A new and violent push into
Hazara areas, AAN, 28 November 2018, url
3479 Adili, A., Y. and van Bijlert, M., Taleban Attacks on Khas Uruzgan, Jaghori and Malestan (II): A new and violent push into
Hazara areas, AAN, 29 November 2018, url
3480 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus - Afghanistan; Uruzgan; Event types: Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, url
3481 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus - Afghanistan; Uruzgan; Event types: Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, url
3482 RFE/RL/Gandhara, In Remote Afghan Corner, Besieged Afghan Troops Cry For Help 06 August 2019, url
3483 SATP, Uruzgan Timeline 2019, url; Khaama Press, Taliban commander, in charge of high-tech weapons, among 23 killed
in Uruzgan, 16 May 2020, url
3484 MENA FN, Afghanistan- 50 civilians killed, injured in airstrikes last month, 8 February 2020, url
3485 RFE/RL/Gandhara, In Remote Afghan Corner, Besieged Afghan Troops Cry For Help 06 August 2019, url304 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

district and three days later 26 civilians were killed at the air strikes there.3486 16 December 2019security forces have rescued at least 12 civilians from a Taliban-run detention centre in Charchino(Shahid-e Hassas), according to the Ministry of Defense.3487
In October 2019, heavy battles took place in Gizab district.3488ACLED reported also about killing ofcivilians accused of cooperation with government by Taliban. Children were also victims of this act ofrevenge. This incident took place in Deh Rahwod district on 2 December 2019.3489

2.33.3.2 Displacement
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 4371 persons displaced
in Uruzgan province. Most of them were resettled within the province. Some families however left
Uruzgan for Herat City and Kandahar City. In November 2019, 377 persons arrived to provincial capitalof Uruzgan - Trinkot - from Shah Wali Kot district in Kandahar province.3490

2.34 Wardak
2.34.1 General description of the province

Map 34: Afghanistan – Wardak province, source: UNOCHA3491

3486 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus - Afghanistan; Uruzgan; Event types: Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, url
3487 Pajhwok, 12 civilians freed from Taliban prison in Uruzgan, 16 December 2019, url; Xinhua, Afghan forces storm Taliban
hideout in S. Afghanistan, set free 12 detainees, 16 December 2019, url
3488 Tolonews, Heavy Clashes Ongoing In Uruzgan with Casualties on Both Sides, 21 October 2019, url
3489 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus - Afghanistan; Uruzgan; Event types: Violence against civilians; 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, url
3490 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 03 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 28 June 2020, url
3491 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Wardak Province - District Atlas, April 2014, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 305

Wardak province, also known as Maydan Wardak, is located in the central region of Afghanistan andhas borders with the provinces of Bamyan to the north-west, Parwan to the north, Kabul and Logar to
the east and Ghazni to the south and south-west.3492 Wardak province is divided into the following
administrative units: Chak, Daymirdad, Hesa-i Awal-e Behsud, Jaghatu, Jalrez, Markaz-e Behsud (orHesa-i Duwum-e Behsud), Maydan Shahr, Nerkh and Saydabad. The provincial capital is Maydan Shahr,located approximately 40 kilometres south-west of Kabul.3493 3494
According to estimates for 2020-21 by NSIA, Wardak province has a population of 660 258.3495 The main
ethnic group in Wardak is Pashtun, followed by Hazara and Tajik enclaves.3496 The local Pashtun
population belongs to a variety of Ghilzai tribes, primarily the Wardak, Kharoti and Hotak tribes.3497
The districts of Hesa-i Awal-e Behsud, Markaz-e Behsud and Daymirdad are predominantly inhabitedby Hazara, as well as periodically visited by migrating Kuchi nomads (see below).3498 Wardak province
is inhabited by Sunni, as well as Shia Muslims.3499
Wardak is described as a politically and strategically important province, due to its proximity to Kabul
and its location on a crossroad of highways connecting the west and the east, as well as the north andthe south of Afghanistan.3500 The Kabul-Kandahar Highway passes through Wardak province, traversing
the districts of Maydan Shahr, Nerkh and Saydabad. A provincial road runs west from Maydan Shahr
to Bamyan province, through the districts of Jalrez, Hesa-i Awal-e Behsud and Markaz-e Behsud.3501
The areas around the Kabul-Kandahar Highway are densely populated.3502 Wardak province has nofunctioning airstrip and air traffic is regularly interrupted by bad weather conditions.3503
According to UNODC’s Opium Survey from 2018, Wardak province has maintained its poppy-freestatus since 2013.3504 UNODC data obtained by AAN in June 2020 indicated a 52 % reduction in opiumpoppy cultivation in the provinces of the central region (including Wardak province) and the central
highlands.3505 Central Afghanistan, including Wardak province, is mentioned as home to the ephedra
sinica plant, which contains the natural stimulant ephedrine, used to make the drug
methamphetamine and expected to take up a central role in Afghanistan’s drug economy soon.3506

3492 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Wardak Province - District Atlas, April 2014, url
3493 Washington Post (The), Taliban Blocks Major Afghan Highway in Expanding Attacks, 26 October 2016, url
3494 Afghanistan, IEC, Afghanistan 2019 Presidential Elections - Final Results by Polling Stations: Province Wardak, 2020, url;

Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21, June 2020, url, p. 123495 Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21, June 2020, url, p. 43496 AREU, The Political Economy of Education and Health Service Delivery in Afghanistan, January 2016, url, p. 33; Arab
News, In the Line of Fire: Wardak Residents Struggle to Stay Afloat in Afghanistan, 23 June 2019, url; Adili, A. Y.,
Afghanistan’s 2019 Elections (29): A Statistical Overview of the Preliminary Results, AAN, 8 February 2020, url
3497 AREU, The Political Economy of Education and Health Service Delivery in Afghanistan, January 2016, url, p. 33
3498 ACCORD, Query Response on Afghanistan: Wardak Province, Behsud District: Land Disputes, 6 August 2019, url;
Giustozzi, A., Nomad-Settler Conflict in Afghanistan Today, AREU, October 2019, url, pp. 8, 19, 21
3499 US, Naval Postgraduate School, Wardak Provincial Overview, n.d., url
3500 Goodhand, J., Hakimi, A., Counterinsurgency, Local Militias and State Building in Afghanistan, USIP, January 2014, url,
pp. 17-18; Arab News, In the Line of Fire: Wardak Residents Struggle to Stay Afloat, 23 June 2019, url
3501 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Wardak Province - District Atlas, April 2014, url
3502 Goodhand, J., Hakimi, A., Counterinsurgency, Local Militias and State Building in Afghanistan, USIP, January 2014, url, p.
173503 UNOCHA, Humanitarian Needs Overview Afghanistan 2020, 17 December 2019, url, p. 113504 UNODC and Afghanistan, MCN, Afghanistan Opium Survey 2018, November 2018, url, p. 193505 Bjelica, J., New World Drug Report: Opium Production in Afghanistan Remained the Same in 2019, AAN, 25 June 2020,
url
3506 Economist (The), Meth in the Madness. Afghan Drug Barons Are Branching Out into Methamphetamines, 5 September
2019, url; Mansfield, D., and Soderholm, A., Long read: the Unknown Unknowns of Afghanistan’s New Wave of
Methamphetamine Production, 30 September 2019, url; SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, 30 October
2019, url, p. 164; Undark, The Wild Shrub at the Root of the Afghan Meth Epidemic, 20 May 2020, url

306 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

2.34.2 Conflict background and actors in Wardak
Wardak is described as ‘among the relatively volatile provinces’ in the central region of the country3507,
as an ‘area of high insecurity’3508 and ‘a hotbed for the insurgency’.3509 Intense fighting between militantgroups and government forces has been reported in several parts of the province, with civilians oftencaught in the crossfire.3510
The Taliban reportedly re-emerged and gained influence in Wardak province from 2006-2007, amid
power struggles among rival militias. By 2009, the militant group controlled much of the Pashtundominated southern and eastern districts of the province. Some districts, such as Chak and Saydabad,
have reportedly gone back and forth between Taliban and government control since then.3511 According
to several sources reporting in 2019 and 2020, the Taliban in Wardak have been strengthening theirpresence3512, influence and control3513 and ‘enjoy widespread support’3514 in their ‘strongholds’ in theprovince.3515 The militant group’s Khalid bin Walid training camp has reportedly been training recruits
in Wardak.3516 In May 2020, the UN Security Council reported on a reorganisation of the Taliban
shadow governance and military structure in several provinces, with key new appointments made in
Wardak province. According to the same report, the Taliban have ordered increased supplies of
ammunition and explosive materials for their forces in Wardak province.3517 Taliban groups from
Pakistan reportedly use the route through the southern district of Shamulzayi in Zabul province todeploy their forces further into Ghazni and Wardak provinces.3518
According to an HRW study published in July 2020, the Taliban’s control over Wardak province is lesssecure and less visible compared to provinces like Kunduz or Helmand. However, the militant’s ‘Vice
and Virtue’ policing is reportedly active in the province, with people being questioned, beaten anddetained for offenses against the Taliban’s rules. The Taliban in Wardak are reported to haveestablished a regulated system to collect taxes.3519
An LWJ assessment mapping Taliban control in Afghanistan in a frequently updated map and based on
open-source information, consulted on 2 July 2020, indicated Saydabad district as ‘Taliban-controlled’and Daymirdad, Chak, Jaghatu, Nerkh, Maydan Shahr and Jalrez districts as ‘contested’. A USDOD

3507 Khaama Press, Taliban Commander Involved in High Profile Attacks, Assassinations Has Been Killed in Wardak, 9 March

2019, url; Khaama Press, 18 Taliban Militants Killed in Airstrikes Conducted in Wardak Province, 22 April 2019, url; Khaama
Press, 6 Taliban Militants Killed, 4 Wounded in Wardak Operations: Thunder Corps, 20 April 2020, url
3508 Warden, S., Past as Prologue? What the Parliamentary Election Results Tell Us About the September Presidential
Election, AAN, 23 August 2019, url; PBS, What Life is Like for Afghans under Taliban Control, 31 December 2019, url
3509 Christian Science Monitor (The), Inside the Taliban: What These Jihadis Say about Long-Sought Peace, 28 February
2020, url
3510 International Crisis Group, Intensifying Violence Dulls Afghans’ Hopes for Peace, 5 July 2019, url; Qaane, E., One Land,
Two Rules (9): Delivering Public Services in Insurgency-Affected Jalrez District of Wardak Province, AAN, 16 December 2019,
url; PBS, What Life is Like for Afghans under Taliban Control, 31 December 2019, url
3511 Qaane, E., One Land, Two Rules (9): Delivering Public Services in Insurgency-Affected Jalrez District of Wardak Province,
AAN, 16 December 2019, url; HRW, “You Have No Right to Complain”: Education, Social Restrictions, and Justice in TalibanHeld Afghanistan, 30 June 2020, url, pp. 31-32
3512 Arab News, In the Line of Fire: Wardak Residents Struggle to Stay Afloat in Afghanistan, 23 June 2019, url; Tolonews,
Maidan Wardak Faces Imminent Threat as Taliban Expands Presence, 26 June 2020, url
3513 PBS, What Life is Like for Afghans under Taliban Control, 31 December 2019, url; An Afghan analyst Lifos spoke to in
January 2020. Sweden, Lifos/Migrationsverket, Säkerhetsläget i Afghanistan (Version 2.0), 7 April 2020, url, p. 52
3514 NYT, Afghan Town’s First Female Mayor Awaits Her Assassination, 4 October 2019, url
3515 International Crisis Group, Intensifying Violence Dulls Afghans’ Hopes for Peace, 5 July 2019, url
3516 LWJ, Taliban Promotes Its ‘Preparation for Jihad’, 14 August 2019, url
3517 UNSC, Eleventh Report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team Submitted Pursuant to Resolution
2501 (2019) Concerning the Taliban and Other Associated Individuals and Entities Constituting a Threat to the Peace,
Stability and Security of Afghanistan, 27 May 2020, url, pp. 8-93518 Sabawoon, A. M., Government Rule Confined to District and Provincial Centres: Zabul’s Capital under Threat, AAN, 5
November 2019, url
3519 HRW, “You Have No Right to Complain”: Education, Social Restrictions, and Justice in Taliban-Held Afghanistan, 30 June
2020, url, pp. 48-52

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assessment of July 2019, reported by LWJ in the same map, designated Saydabad district as ‘contested’
and Maydan Shahr district as ‘government-influenced’. Markaz-e Behsud and Hesa-i Awal-e Behsud
districts were categorised as ‘government-controlled’ or ‘undetermined’ in this assessment.3520
Sources in 2019 and 2020 reported on a Taliban presence in the districts of Jalrez3521, Saydabad3522,
Chak3523, Daymirdad3524 and Nerkh.3525 According to a May 2019 USIP report, the Afghan government
had a limited presence in the districts of Saydabad and Chak, retaining compounds in the district
centres and controlling the main roads, however its control remained confined to its bases andcheckpoints. Residents from both districts stated Taliban militants have returned soon whenever thegovernment’s military operations were concluded.3526 In May 2019, Chak district was reportedly
assaulted by 200 Taliban fighters.3527 A June 2019 LWJ article indicated Saydabad as one of the more
insecure areas in Wardak, with the Taliban imposing a strict form of Sharia law in much of the
district.3528 In July 2019, the Taliban reportedly banned shops and bakeries in the bazaar of Chak’s
district centre.3529 In April 2020, the area of Seebak Bazar in Chak district was reported under Taliban
control, with militants patrolling the village.3530 In June 2020, the Tangi Valley in Saydabad was
described as a haven for the Taliban in Wardak province.3531
According to a December 2019 dispatch from AAN analyst Ehsan Qaane, Jalrez district’s geographicallystrategic position has made it prone for conflict and guerrilla activity for decades. Qaane related the
district’s importance to its proximity to Kabul, its location along the Kabul-Bamyan Highway and its
many side roads and mountain paths leading to various districts in Wardak, Parwan and Kabul
provinces. Several of those reportedly served as ‘supply and escape routes’, providing safe havens tomilitant groups and impeding the movement of government forces. In 2003, Jalrez was among the firstplaces where the Taliban re-emerged and started to reorganise its fighters. Since 2006, the district has
been highly contested, with an increased Taliban activity reported from 2014 onwards. According to
Qaane, in December 2019, half of Jalrez district was under Taliban control, with the other half
controlled by the Afghan government. The district centre remained highly contested and has been
regularly attacked by the Taliban, for example in August and September 2019. During larger offensives,
the local Taliban in Jalrez received support from fighters from other districts, particularly form Nerkh.
20 kilometres of the Kabul-Bamyan Highway, traversing Jalrez district, have reportedly been under

3520 LWJ, Mapping Taliban Control in Afghanistan, n.d., url; (LWJ, however, does not specify when and which information of

the aforementioned map was last updated.)
3521 HRW, Taliban Linked to Murder of Afghan Rights Defender, 6 September 2019, url; HRW, World Report 2020:
Afghanistan - Events of 2019, 14 January 2020, url; According to international sources Landinfo spoke to in October 2019.
Norway, Landinfo, Afghanistan: Sikkerhetssituasjon og konfliktmonster i 2019, 22 January 2020, url, p. 26; AAN, The‘Reduction in Violence’ Week: What Did (Some of the) People Think?, 28 February 2020, url; Clark, K., Voices from theDistricts, the Violence Mapped (2): Assessing the Conflict a Month after the US-Taleban Agreement, AAN, 8 April 2020, url;
Tolonews, Maidan Wardak Faces Imminent Threat as Taliban Expands Presence, 26 June 2020, url
3522 Jackson, A., Perspectives on Peace from Taliban Areas of Afghanistan, USIP, May 2019, url, p. 4; Arab News, In the Lineof Fire: Wardak Residents Struggle to Stay Afloat in Afghanistan, 23 June 2019, url; Christian Science Monitor (The), Inside
the Taliban: What These Jihadis Say about Long-Sought Peace, 28 February 2020, url; Clark, K., Voices from the Districts, theViolence Mapped (2): Assessing the Conflict a Month after the US-Taleban Agreement, AAN, 8 April 2020, url; Tolonews,
Maidan Wardak Faces Imminent Threat as Taliban Expands Presence, 26 June 2020, url; HRW, “You Have No Right toComplain”: Education, Social Restrictions, and Justice in Taliban-Held Afghanistan, 30 June 2020, url, pp. 31-36, 48-52
3523 Jackson, A., Perspectives on Peace from Taliban Areas of Afghanistan, USIP, May 2019, url, p. 4; Arab News, In the Lineof Fire: Wardak Residents Struggle to Stay Afloat in Afghanistan, 23 June 2019, url; RFE/RL, Afghans Celebrate Partial Truce
In Frontline Provinces, 24 February 2020, url; HRW, “You Have No Right to Complain”: Education, Social Restrictions, andJustice in Taliban-Held Afghanistan, 30 June 2020, url, pp. 31-36, 48-52
3524 According to international sources Landinfo spoke to in October 2019. Norway, Landinfo, Afghanistan:
Sikkerhetssituasjon og konfliktmonster i 2019, 22 January 2020, url, p. 263525 Tolonews, Maidan Wardak Faces Imminent Threat as Taliban Expands Presence, 26 June 2020, url
3526 Jackson, A., Perspectives on Peace from Taliban Areas of Afghanistan, USIP, May 2019, url, p. 63527 RFE/RL, IS Claims Deadly Blast near Afghan Military Academy, 30 May 2019, url
3528 LWJ, Taliban Kills 2 US Soldiers in Eastern Afghanistan, 26 June 2019, url
3529 Pajhwok Afghan News, People Suffer As Security Forces Shut Chak-Kabul Road, 17 July 2019, url
3530 RFE/RL, How Afghan Women Fare under Taliban Rule, 28 April 2020, url
3531 LWJ, Analysis: Taliban is Caught in a Lie by Denying Al Qaeda’s Presence in Afghanistan, 17 June 2020, url

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Taliban control, with militant’s checkpoints stopping vehicles and kidnapping passengers suspected ofworking for the Afghan government, NGOs or international troops.3532 In December 2019, the Pul-e
Hawayi area of Zaiwalat was reported as one of the most dangerous parts of Jalrez, where passers-by
were regularly killed at temporary checkpoints. Kot-e Ashro, 5 kilometres from the provincial capital,
was reportedly the main frontline in Jalrez, alongside other frontlines such as Bazar Jalrez, Seyah Petap
and Aysa Khakbad. The Afghan Local Police (ALP) is mentioned as the main pro-government actor
fighting the Taliban in Jalrez, alongside a strong Taliban resistance from Wardak’s Hazara community.
Qaane’s research indicated the Taliban’s direct intervention in several areas of service delivery in Jalrez
and their operation of a separate justice system.3533
Several prominent Taliban figures were killed or arrested in the aforementioned districts.3534 In March
2019, a key Taliban commander, reportedly involved in facilitating several high profile attacks andassassinations of government employees, was killed in Saydabad district.3535 In July 2019, the Taliban
shadow district chief of Nerkh district3536, known as Aminullah, was killed.3537 In the same district,several senior Taliban leaders, including a Red Unit commander, an intelligence chief and anothershadow district chief, known as Mullah Qayum or Obaid, were killed in August3538 and September3539
2019. In October 2019, the Taliban’s shadow district chief of Chak district, known as Mullah Jan or Abidand reportedly also acting as the group’s shadow provincial governor, was killed.3540 In November 2019,a Taliban commander, known as Asad and reportedly involved in the militant group’s activities on
Highway One in Wardak, was killed.3541 In January 2020, the Taliban deputy shadow intelligence chieffor Jalrez district was arrested in an NDS Special Forces’ raid on hideouts of the militant group in thevillages of Ahmad Khel and Mohammad Noor Khel.3542 In April 2020, the shadow governor for Wardak,
known as Wali Jan or Hamza, was killed.3543 In the same month, the Taliban’s shadow police district
chief of Saydabad district, known as Qari Jawid or Mansoor and reportedly in charge of a group of 50
militants, was killed.3544 In June 2020, a key member of the Taliban’s Red Unit, known as Qari Zalmai or
Ansar, was killed in Jalrez district.3545
The Haqqani Network reportedly expanded to Wardak province in the past and merged there withjihadist groups who were operating south of Kabul. In Wardak, the Haqqani Network has mainly
provided indirect support in the form of funds, training, sanctuary and the appointment of local Islamist
militant leaders.3546

3532 HRW, Taliban Linked to Murder of Afghan Rights Defender, 6 September 2019, url; HRW, World Report 2020:

Afghanistan - Events of 2019, 14 January 2020, url
3533 Qaane, E., One Land, Two Rules (9): Delivering Public Services in Insurgency-Affected Jalrez District of Wardak Province,
AAN, 16 December 2019, url
3534 See sources mentioned below.
3535 Khaama Press, Taliban Commander Involved in High Profile Attacks, Assassinations Has Been Killed in Wardak, 9 March
2019, url
3536 According to an article from Salaam Times, the district chief of Nerkh district, also referred to as Aminullah, was killed in
October 2019. Salaam Times, Sustained Annihilation of Taliban Leaders Throws Group into Disarray, 5 November 2019, url
3537 Khaama Press, Taliban’s Shadow District Chief and His 6 Security Guards killed in Wardak, 7 July 2019, url
3538 Khaama Press, Airstrike Kills Top Taliban Leaders Including the Group’s Intelligence Chief in Wardak, 20 August 2019, url
3539 Reuters, Taliban Suicide Bomber Kills at Least 10 Civilians, Two NATO Troops in Kabul, 5 September 2019, url; Pajhwok
Afghan News, Key figures Among 22 Rebels Killed in Maidan Wardak, 5 September 2019, url
3540 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’s District Chief killed in Wardak Airstrike, 17 October 2019, url
3541 Khaama Press, Infighting among Taliban Militants Leaves 4 Dead in Wardak Province, 23 November 2019, url
3542 Xinhua, Afghan Intelligence Agency Captures 6 Taliban Militants Near Kabul, 27 January 2020, url
3543 Khaama Press, Afghan Forces Kill the Shadow Governor of Taliban for Wardak Province, 12 April 2020, url; UNSC,
Eleventh Report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team Submitted Pursuant to Resolution 2501 (2019)
Concerning the Taliban and Other Associated Individuals and Entities Constituting a Threat to the Peace, Stability andSecurity of Afghanistan, 27 May 2020, url, p. 103544 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’s District Police Chief Among 7 killed in Wardak Firefight, 5 April 2020, url; Khaama
Press, Prominent Taliban Leader Killed in Wardak Province, 5 April 2020, url
3545 Khaama Press, Key Taliban Red Unit Group Member Killed in Wardak Clash, 16 June 2020, url
3546 Stanford University, Mapping Militant Organizations: Haqqani Network, 8 November 2017, url

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Mid-July 2016, UNAMA reported on groups claiming allegiance to ISKP as operational in Wardak.3547 In
2017, a possible emergence of ISKP was reported in the Takana area in Jalrez district.3548 ACLED
recorded one incident specifically attributed to ISKP in Wardak province between 1 March 2019 and
30 June 2020. In October 2019, ISKP militants reportedly fired missiles at ANDSF forces in Chak district,no casualties were reported. Additionally, ACLED recorded more than 25 incidents in which Taliban
and/or ISKP militants were wounded and/or killed during military operations in the districts of Nerkh,
Saydabad, Chak, Daymirdad, Jalrez and Maydan Shahr; and two incidents in which Taliban and/or ISKP
militants were wounded and/or killed when ANDSF forces repulsed their attacks in Nerkh and Chak
districts.3549
In terms of the presence of government security forces, Wardak is under the responsibility of the 203st
ANA Corps. Wardak province is included in the Task Force Southeast (TF-Southeast), which is part ofNATO’s Resolute Support Mission within Afghanistan. TF-Southeast is led by US forces and has its
headquarters in Paktya province.3550 NDS unit 01, a paramilitary CIA-backed militia accused of humanrights abuses, is reported to operate in the central region, including in Wardak province.3551
During spring and summer, migrations of Kuchi nomads regularly result in violent clashes caused byland disputes in Wardak’s predominantly Hazara districts of Hesa-i Awal-e Behsud, Markaz-e Behsud
and Daymirdad.3552 When the tensions between Kuchi nomads and local Hazara residents intensified
in 2015, a public uprising force, called the Resistance Front, was created by Hazara commander Abdul
Ghani Alipur.3553 In November 2018, Alipur was arrested by the Afghan intelligence service on charges
of human rights abuses and corruption. His militia group was accused of attacking security forces 3554,
as well as of extorting, harassing and kidnapping Pashtun passengers on the highway between Maydan
Shar and Jalrez, reportedly in retaliation for attacks on Hazaras.3555 His supporters claimed that Alipur
had been fighting the Taliban3556, patrolling and ensuring the safety of Hazara travellers on the mainhighway leading to Kabul.3557 After violent Hazara protests broke out in several parts of the country,
Alipur was released from NDS custody.3558 According to AAN analyst Fabrizio Foschini, the Taliban have
exploited local land disputes between ethnic Hazaras and Kuchis to gain the latter’s support.3559 In May
2019, the Taliban attacked the Hazara populated neighbourhood of Mirhazar in Markaz-e Behsud (orHesa-i Duwum-e Behsud) district (see below), reportedly as a sign of support for the Pashtun Kuchi
people in the area.3560 In June 2020, dozens of road construction workers were reportedly abducted3547 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Midyear Report 2016, July 2016, url, p.73
3548 Qaane, E., One Land, Two Rules (9): Delivering Public Services in Insurgency-Affected Jalrez District of Wardak Province,

AAN, 16 December 2019, url
3549 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Wardak; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
3550 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan - June 2020, 1 July 2020, url, p. 143551 Clark, K., CIA-Backed Afghan Paramilitaries Accused of Grave Abuses: New Human Rights Watch Report, AAN, 31
October 2019, url
3552 ACCORD, Query Response on Afghanistan: Wardak Province, Behsud District: Land Disputes, 6 August 2019, url;
Giustozzi, A., Nomad-Settler Conflict in Afghanistan Today, AREU, October 2019, url, pp. 8, 19, 21; Tolonews, Govt Team
Probes Prolonged Violent Feuding in Wardak, 8 July 2020, url
3553 Tolonews, Alipoor Says He Is 'Ready to Hand Over All Weapons', 27 November 2018, url
3554 Tolonews, Alipoor Says He Is 'Ready to Hand Over All Weapons', 27 November 2018, url
3555 Tolonews, NDS Chief Says Claims Against Alipoor Will Be Investigated, 27 November 2018, url; Qaane, E., One Land, Two
Rules (9): Delivering Public Services in Insurgency-Affected Jalrez District of Wardak Province, AAN, 16 December 2019, url
3556 Tolonews, Alipoor Supporters Protest for the Second Day in Kabul, 26 November 2018, url
3557 Washington Post (The), Afghan Authorities Free Hazara Fighter Whose Arrest Ignited Street Clashes, 27 November
2018, url
3558 RFE/RL, Afghan Authorities Release Militia Leader after Violent Demonstrations, 26 November 2018, url
3559 Foschini, F., The Kuchi-Hazara Conflict, Again, AAN, 27 May 2010, url
3560 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 10-16, 16 May 2019, url

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and abused by armed men from Alipur’s Hazara militia3561, and the killing of more than a dozen people
due to armed confrontations between local residents and Kuchi nomads was reported.3562

2.34.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population
2.34.3.1 General
In 2019, UNAMA documented 184 civilian casualties (108 deaths and 76 injured) in Wardak province.
This represents a decrease of 18 % compared to 2018. Leading causes of casualties were groundengagements, followed by air strikes and search operations.3563 Resolute Support3564 recorded between
0 and 25 civilian casualties in Wardak province in the first quarter of 20203565 and between 26 and 50
civilian casualties in the second quarter of 2020.3566 In a June 2020 UN Secretary General report,
Wardak is indicated as one of the four provinces where ‘the highest amount of conflict activity’occurred in the second quarter of 2020.3567
ACLED collected data on 604 violent events in Wardak province from 1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020
from reports in open sources, of which 388 were coded as ‘battles’, 184 as ‘explosions/remote violence’and 32 as ‘violence against civilians’. Saydabad stood out as the district where most incidents werereported, with 190 incidents recorded, followed by the districts of Maydan Shahr, Chak, Nerkh, Jaghatu
and Jalrez. In Wardak’s remaining districts, 13 or less incidents were reported. Most violent incidents
in Wardak province were recorded in the third and fourth quarters of 2019.3568

Figure 36. Wardak - Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians from
1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, based on ACLED data3569

ACLED coded around 64 % of the violent incidents in Wardak as ‘battles’, all ‘armed clashes’. This
category represented the most prevalent incident type in all of Wardak’s districts. Several of the armed
clashes in Wardak were attacks by the Taliban on Afghan security forces, including military, police andNDS personnel as well as members of pro-government militias or so-called arbakis (the term arbaki islocally often used to refer to members of the Afghan local police or other pro-government militias).3570
Examples of such incidents included assaults on security checkpoints/outposts and headquarters in
3561 Pajhwok Afghan News, Alipour’s Men Kidnap, Beat Road Workers in Wardak, 23 June 2020, url
3562 Tolonews, Team to Investigate Maidan Wardak Clashes, 25 June 2020, url
3563 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 94
3564 Civilian casualty data for 2020 have not yet been published by UNAMA.
3565 SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, 30 April 2020, url, p. 69
3566 SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, 30 July 2020, url, p. 72
3567 UNSG, The Situation in Afghanistan and Its Implications for International Peace and Security, A/74/897–S/2020/549, 17

June 2020, url, p. 53568 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Wardak; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
3569 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, Afghanistan - Wardak, url
3570 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Wardak; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 311

different areas near the provincial capital Maydan Shahr in May 20193571, in May 20203572 and in June
20203573, in Saydabad district in May 20193574, in April 20203575 and in May 20203576, in Chak district in
May 20193577, in Hesa-i Awal-e Behsud district in May 20193578, in Nerkh district in April 20203579 and in
May 20203580, and in Jalrez district in June 20203581; as well as attacks/ambushes on security
convoys/vehicles in Saydabad district in September 20193582 and in Nerkh3583 and Jalrez3584 districts in
March 2020. These incidents resulted in several casualties among the security forces. Apart from the
bodyguard of the governor of Bamyan province who was killed in the attack on a security outpost in
Maydan Shar in May 20193585, no civilian casualties were reported in the aforementioned incidents.
Operations and attacks by Afghan security forces against AGEs were also registered under armed
clashes by ACLED, representing a substantial share of this category of incidents recorded in Wardak.3586
These incidents involved several ANDSF operations in Saydabad district in March 20193587, in June
20193588, in August 20183589, in October 20193590 and in November 20193591, reportedly killing andarresting dozens of Taliban militants. In Chak district, dozens of AGEs were killed and detained inSpecial Forces’ clearing operations in June 20193592, in August 20193593, in October 20193594 and in
November 2019.3595 In operations in Nerkh district in July 20193596, in August 20193597 and in September
20193598, several prominent Taliban figures were killed (see above). In several operations in Jaghatu
district in May 20193599 and in Jalrez district in January 20203600, Taliban encampments were raided
and militants were killed, wounded and arrested. Some operations resulted in civilian casualties -such
as a CIA-backed NDS Special Forces’ night raid on the Tangi Saidan health clinic run by the Swedish
Committee for Afghanistan (SCA) in Daymirdad district in the beginning of July 2019, in which several
doctors were killed and the head of the hospital went missing.3601 According to UNAMA, the level of3571 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 24-30, 30 May 2019, url
3572 Khaama Press, Afghan Forces Repulse Taliban Attack in Wardak Province: 203rd Thunder Corps, 6 May 2020, url
3573 Tolonews, [Twitter], posted on: 26 June 2020, url
3574 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban Claims Inflicting Casualties on Security Forces in Maidan Wardak, 7 May 2019, url
3575 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’s District Police Chief Among 7 killed in Wardak Firefight, 5 April 2020, url
3576 Pajhwok Afghan News, 23 Taliban Killed in Maidan Wardak, Logar Clashes, 1 May 2020, url
3577 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban Claims Inflicting Casualties on Security Forces in Maidan Wardak, 7 May 2019, url
3578 Pajhwok Afghan News, 5 Pro-Govt Fighters Killed in Maidan Wardak Attack, 12 May 2019, url
3579 Khaama Press, 6 Taliban Militants Killed, 4 Wounded in Wardak Operations: Thunder Corps, 20 April 2020, url
3580 Pajhwok Afghan News, 23 Taliban Killed in Maidan Wardak, Logar Clashes, 1 May 2020, url
3581 Khaama Press, Key Taliban Red Unit Group Member Killed in Wardak Clash, 16 June 2020, url
3582 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 5 September 2019 (updated 26 September 2019), url; NYT, U.S.

Soldier Killed in Afghanistan Just Over a Week After Trump Scraps Peace Talks, 16 September 2019, url
3583 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 2020, 5 March 2020 (updated 26 March 2020), url
3584 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 2020, 5 March 2020 (updated 26 March 2020), url
3585 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 24-30, 30 May 2019, url
3586 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Wardak; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
3587 Khaama Press, Taliban Commander Involved in High Profile Attacks, Assassinations Has Been Killed in Wardak, 9 March
2019, url
3588 Khaama Press, Special Forces Kill 13 Militants, Detain 9 More in Wardak Operations, 30 June 2019, url
3589 Khaama Press, Special Forces Kill, Detain 9 Taliban Militants in Wardak Province, 10 August 2019, url
3590 Khaama Press, Special Forces Kill, Detain 38 Taliban Militants in Daykundi and Wardak, 31 October 2019, url
3591 Pajhwok Afghan News, 11 Taliban Killed in Maidan Wardak Raid, Airstrike, 9 November 2019, url
3592 Khaama Press, 9 Militants Killed, Roadside Bombs and House-borne IED Destroyed in Kapisa and Wardak, 29 June 2019,
url; Khaama Press, Special Forces Kill 13 Militants, Detain 9 More in Wardak Operations, 30 June 2019, url
3593 Khaama Press, Special Forces Kill, Detain 9 Taliban Militants in Wardak Province, 10 August 2019, url
3594 Pajhwok Afghan News, Clearing operation Ongoing in Maidan Wardak, 24 October 2019, url
3595 Pajhwok Afghan News, 11 Taliban Killed in Maidan Wardak Raid, Airstrike, 9 November 2019, url
3596 Khaama Press, Taliban’s Shadow District Chief and His 6 Security Guards killed in Wardak, 7 July 2019, url
3597 Khaama Press, Special Forces Kill, Detain 13 Taliban Militants During the Operations in Wardak, 6 August 2019, url
3598 Pajhwok Afghan News, Key figures Among 22 Rebels Killed in Maidan Wardak, 5 September 2019, url
3599 Khaama Press, Afghan Special Forces Inflict Casualties on Taliban Militants in Wardak Province, 20 May 2019, url
3600 Xinhua, Afghan Intelligence Agency Captures 6 Taliban Militants Near Kabul, 27 January 2020, url
3601 Al Jazeera, Air, Ground Attacks Kill Civilians Hours After Afghans Talk Peace, 9 July 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War Casualty
Report: July 5-11, 11 July 2019, url; Intercept (The), A CIA-Backed Militia Targeted Clinics in Afghanistan, Killing Medical

312 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

civilian harm caused during search operations, particularly those carried out by NDS special forces andother CIA-backed militia groups, is rising.3602 Together with Paktya province, Wardak is mentioned asa ‘hot spot’ for these kind of operations.3603
Air/drone strikes represented 15 % of all reported violent incidents in Wardak. Most air/drone strikes
were carried out in Saydabad district, followed by Chak and Nerkh districts. The majority of theseair/drone strikes were carried out by Afghan military forces, some were attributed to NATO forces.3604
While these air/drone strikes mostly inflicted losses among AGEs3605, some also caused civilian
casualties - such as a combined US and Afghan forces air strike in Jaghatu district in July 2019, killing
several civilians3606; an air strike conducted by American and Afghan forces in Saydabad district in
September 2019, causing the death of at least seven civilians3607; and several air strikes in the
Sadmarah area of Nerkh district in October 2019, resulting in the killing of at least seven members of
one family.3608
AGEs using roadside bombs or IEDs, often targeting the Afghan security forces, represented 12 % of allreported security incidents in Wardak. The majority of IED incidents were registered in Saydabad
district, where for example several Afghan soldiers were killed and wounded when their vehicle hit aroadside bomb planted by the Taliban in March 20203609, followed by Maydan Shahr, Chak and Nerkh
districts.3610 Some of these incidents resulted in casualties among civilians. This happened in August
2019 in Jaghatu district, when a roadside bomb hit a civilian vehicle, killing a university teacher from
Kandahar and four of his family members.3611 In October 2019, a car bomb targeting the convoy of
Wardak’s governor killed three civilian traffic department employees in a nearby car.3612
ACLED coded 3 % of the violent incidents in Wardak as ‘shelling, artillery and missile attacks’.3613 Someof these incidents resulted in civilian casualties - for example in August 2019, when an ANA-fired

Workers and Civilians, 31 October 2019, url; UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report
2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 74
3602 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Midyear Report 2019, 30 July 2019, url, pp. 10-113603 Ruttig, T., “Murder Is Always”: The Kulalgo Night Raid Killings, AAN, 17 August 2019, url
3604 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Wardak; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
3605 Khaama Press, 18 Taliban Militants Killed in Airstrikes Conducted in Wardak Province, 22 April 2019, url; Khaama Press,
U.S. Airstrikes Kill 28 Taliban Militants in Wardak and Ghazni Provinces, 4 July 2019, url; Khaama Press, Airstrike Kills Top
Taliban Leaders Including the Group’s Intelligence Chief in Wardak, 20 August 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’sDistrict Chief killed in Wardak Airstrike, 17 October 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, 11 Taliban Killed in Maidan Wardak
Raid, Airstrike, 9 November 2019, url; Khaama Press, 20 Taliban Militants Killed in Ghazni, Paktika and Wardak Provinces, 19
May 2020, url
3606 Pajhwok Afghan News, Perpetrators of Civilian Casualties Be Punished: Senate, 16 July 2019, url; International Crisis
Group, Crisis Watch Tracking Conflict Worldwide: Global Overview, Afghanistan, July 2019, url
3607 Tolonews, Seven Civilians Reportedly Killed in Maidan Wardak Airstrike, 9 September 2019, url; Reuters, Fighting Picks
Up in Afghanistan After Talks Collapse, 11 September 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, US Forces Apologize for Wardak
Civilian Deaths, 14 September 2019, url
3608 Pajhwok Afghan News, 7 of a Family Killed in Maidan Wardak Airstrike, 16 October 2019, url
3609 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: March 2020, 5 March 2020 (updated 26 March 2020), url
3610 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Wardak; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
3611 Pajhwok Afghan News, 4 of a Family Including University Teacher Killed in Wardak Blast, 13 August 2019, url
3612 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: October 2019, 4 October 2019 (updated 31 October 2019), url; Tolonews,
Spokesman: Governor of Wardak Survives Car Bomb, 20 October 2019, url; Pajhwok Afghan News, Maidan Wardak
Governor Survives Bomb Attack, 20 October 2019, url
3613 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus; Afghanistan; Wardak; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url

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artillery round hit a wedding celebration in Chak district3614, and in October 2019, when a rocket firedby the Taliban landed on a civilian home in Nerkh district.3615
ACLED categorised 5 % of all reported violent incidents in Wardak as ‘violence against civilians’.3616
These incidents involved ANDSF (night)raids and operations in Saydabad district in March 20193617 andin Nerkh district in April 20193618, killing several civilians including women and children; a Taliban attackon the Hazara neighbourhood of Mirazar in Markaz-e Behsud (or Hesa-i Duwum-e Behsud) district (seeabove), killing five civilians and wounding a dozen more3619; Taliban ambushes/attacks and killings ofcivilians and off-duty security personnel in Jalrez district in June 20193620, in Saydabad district in April
20203621 and in Chak district in May 20203622; a Taliban shooting of a tribal elder and three of his family
members in Chak district in June 2020 (however, the Taliban reportedly denied their involvement in
the incident)3623; the kidnapping and killing of the head of Afghanistan’s Independent Human Rights
Commission (AIHRC) of Ghor province by the Taliban along the highway in Jalrez district in September
20193624; and the abduction by the Taliban of dozens of civilians, reportedly professionally related to
the Afghan government, from several villages in Chak district in March 2020.3625
Wardak’s voter turnout as percentage of its registered voters for the presidential elections on
28 September 2019 reached around 27 %.3626 AAN related Wardak’s below average voter registration
to the ‘high insecurity’ in the province.3627 In the Asia Foundations 2019 Survey of the Afghan People,
51-75 % of respondents in Wardak province reported to have experienced fear while voting.3628 In thelead-up to polling day, in August 2019, two rockets landed near an election campaign rally ofpresidential candidate and Hezb-e Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar in Maydan Shahr City, no
casualties were reported.3629 According to Taliban reports, the main road in Maydan Shahr was blocked
the night before election day. In the whole province, there was reportedly no mobile phone connection
on 28 September, caused by an imposed blackout on telecom companies by the Taliban.3630 The
majority of the violence in Maydan Shahr on polling day involved indirect fire, especially rockets3631,
rather than targeted attacks. The roads in and around the provincial capital were described as almost
entirely deserted. According to an Independent Election Commission (IEC) manager, Wardak’s poor
3614 Pajhwok Afghan News, 1 Wedding Guest Killed, 6 Injured in Wardak Artillery Strike, 23 August 2019, url
3615 Tolonews, Three Wardak Residents Killed as Rocket Hits Their House, 4 October 2019, url
3616 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the

Caucasus; Afghanistan; Wardak; Event types: Battles; Explosions/Remote Violence; Violence against Civilians; 1 March 2019- 30 June 2020), url
3617 Al Jazeera, Civilians, Including Children, Killed in Afghan Forces' Operation, 10 March 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War
Casualty Report: March 8-14, 15 March 2019, url
3618 Pajhwok Afghan News, Maidan Wardak Operation Leaves 6 of a Family Killed, 20 April 2019, url; NYT, Afghan War
Casualty Report: April 19-25, 25 April 2019, url
3619 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 10-16, 16 May 2019, url
3620 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: May 31-June 6, 6 June 2019, url
3621 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban Kill 3 Off-Duty Soldiers in Wardak, 21 April 2020, url
3622 Pajhwok Afghan News, Chak District Police Chief Killed in Taliban Attack, 23 May 2020, url
3623 Khaama Press, A Tribal Leader and Family Members Killed in Wardak, 7 June 2020, url; Tolonews, 'Taliban' Kill 4
Members of Family in Wardak: Officials, 7 June 2020, url
3624 NYT, Afghan War Casualty Report: September 2019, 5 September 2019 (updated 26 September 2019), url; RFE/RL,
Afghan Human Rights Defender Kidnapped, Shot Dead, 5 September 2019, url; Al Jazeera, What Peace Means for
Afghanistan's Hazara People, 18 September 2019, url; UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual
Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 343625 Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban Abduct 55 Civilians in Madian Wardak, 2 March 2020, url; NYT, U.S. Announces Troop
Withdrawal in Afghanistan as Respite From Violence Ends, 2 March 2020, url; Ruttig, T., From Doha to Peace? Obstacles
Rising in the Way of Intra-Afghan Talks, AAN, 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan - Weekly Humanitarian Update (2 - 8
March 2020), 11 March 2020, url, p. 23626 SIGAR, Quarterly Report to the United States Congress, 30 January 2020, url, p. 98
3627 Warden, S., Past as Prologue? What the Parliamentary Election Results Tell Us About the September Presidential
Election, AAN, 23 August 2019, url
3628 Asia Foundation (The), A Survey of the Afghan People - Afghanistan in 2019, 2 December 2019, url, p. 623629 Pajhwok Afghan News, 2 Rockets Land near Hekmatyar’s Election Campaign Rally, 22 August 2019, url
3630 Bjelica, J. and Ruttig, T. Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (11): First Look How E-Day Went, AAN, 28 September 2019, url
3631 HRW, World Report 2020: Afghanistan - Events of 2019, 14 January 2020, url

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security situation caused the low voter turnout in the province. For example in Saydabad district,continuous shelling -by the Taliban against the district centre and by government forces against
surrounding villages held by the Taliban- prevented people from voting.3632
Many of Wardak’s highways are described as ‘not safe for civilians’3633 and ‘unprotected by thegovernment’.3634 In May and June 2019, the Afghan army started to close various small checkpoints
along several highways. The Afghan troops stationed in these small outposts, difficult to protect andreportedly frequently attacked by AGEs, were to be consolidated into larger bases, with each about 40
troops, along the main highways in the province.3635 According to an international source Lifos spoke
to in January 2020, the Kabul-Kandahar Highway, passing through Wardak, has been insecure for years- with more incidents recorded in 2019 compared to previous years. AGEs, such as the Taliban, havebeen reportedly active on this highway3636, controlling some parts of the road3637 and using roadblocks
to target government employees and members of the Afghan security forces.3638 In March 2019, theKabul-Kandahar Highway was blocked by an anti-government demonstration, after several civilians
were killed in an air strike in Saydabad district (see above).3639 In June 2019, the Taliban reportedly
killed three civilian passengers on the road from Maydan Shahr to Jalrez district.3640 In October 2019,the same road, also known as Highway Two connecting Afghanistan’s capital to the Hazarajat
region3641, was reopened by ANDSF forces, after having been closed since mid-September.3642 In July
2019, the road between Chak district and Kabul was blocked by ANDSF forces, impeding civilian
movement and trade routes to the capital region.3643 In December 2019, AAN reported on an
increasing number of Afghans taking flights or longer routes to bypass roads situated in contested or
Taliban-controlled areas. An NGO employee, cited by AAN, declared to use the Ghorband Valley route(through Parwan province) to travel from Jalrez to Kabul, instead of the road between Maydan Sharand Bamyan.3644
Mid-July 2019, reportedly in reaction to an NDS raid on a health clinic (see above), the Taliban forced
the closure of 42 clinics from the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan in three different areas under
their control in Wardak. After a week, the Taliban agreed to reopen all of the closed clinics.3645 In June
2020, UNAMA expressed its concern on the scale of deliberate attacks on healthcare in Afghanistan at
a time when the country has been confronted with the Covid-19 pandemic, documenting several
Taliban abductions of healthcare workers in Wardak province between 11 March and 23 May 2020.3646

3632 VICE News, The Taliban Made Sure Afghans Were Too Terrified to Vote on Election Day, 1 October 2019, url; AAN,

Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (13): Observations from Kandahar, Takhar, Wardak and Balkh, 4 October 2019, url
3633 NYT, Afghan Town’s First Female Mayor Awaits Her Assassination, 4 October 2019, url
3634 NYT, A Country Where Driving Makes You a Target, 26 December 2019, url
3635 Stars and Stripes, Afghan Military Looks to Bigger Bases while Closing Checkpoints in Hostile Taliban Territory, 11 May
2019, url; Salaam Times, Afghan Army Starts Closing Checkpoints, Building Larger Bases, 25 June 2019, url
3636 UNSG, The Situation in Afghanistan and Its Implications for International Peace and Security, A/73/777–S/2019/193, 28
February 2019, url, p. 14; Arab News, In the Line of Fire: Wardak Residents Struggle to Stay Afloat in Afghanistan, 23 June
2019, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan - Weekly Humanitarian Update (17 - 23 February 2020), 23 February 2020, url, p. 23637 An international source Landinfo spoke to in October 2019. Norway, Landinfo, Afghanistan: Sikkerhetssituasjon og
konfliktmonster i 2019, 22 January 2020, url, p. 293638 Sweden, Lifos/Migrationsverket, Säkerhetsläget i Afghanistan (Version 2.0), 7 April 2020, url, p. 52
3639 Bjelica, J. and Reid, R., Civilians at Greater Risk from Pro-government Forces: While Peace Seems More Elusive?, AAN, 9
June 2019, url
3640 Reporterly, Taliban Kills Three Passengers in Jalrez District of Maidan Wardak, 2 June 2019, url
3641 Al Jazeera, What Peace Means for Afghanistan's Hazara People, 18 September 2019, url
3642 UNOCHA, Afghanistan - Weekly Humanitarian Update (30 September - 6 October 2019), 6 October 2019, url, p. 23643 Pajhwok Afghan News, People Suffer As Security Forces Shut Chak-Kabul Road, 17 July 2019, url
3644 Kazemi, S., R., Peace in the Districts (1): A Chasm between High Talks and Local Concerns in Afghanistan, AAN, 11
December 2019, url
3645 Al Jazeera, Swedish-Run Clinics Stay Shut in Afghanistan for Fifth Day, 18 July 2019, url; RFE/RL, Swedish Aid Group
Reopens Afghan Health Centres after Taliban Threats, 19 July 2019, url; UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in
Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 74
3646 UNAMA, Afghanistan: Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict. Special Report: Attacks on Healthcare during the Covid19 Pandemic, June 2020, url, pp. 3, 20

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2.34.3.2 Displacement
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, reporting 2 865 persons displaced
from Wardak province, mainly coming from Jalrez3647 district (1 444 individuals) -with a peak (of 1 297
individuals) in August and in the beginning of September 2019, reportedly due to armed clashes
between non-state armed groups and ANDSF forces.3648 Due to military operations and conflict,smaller numbers of IDPs came from the districts of Jaghatu (with a peak of 434 individuals in May2019), Saydabad3649, Maydan Shahr3650, Daymirdad and Nerkh.3651 3652 In the first half of September
2019, UNOCHA reported on the displacement of around 1 400 people from the area of Deh Afghanen
in Maydan Shahr district, due to clashes between non-state armed groups and ANDSF forces.3653
The majority of the displaced people (2 023 individuals) from Wardak found refuge within the province
itself, mainly in Maydan Shahr district or in the districts of Saydabad, Jalrez, Nerkh and Daymirdad.
Others sought shelter in the neighbouring provinces of Kabul (Kabul district) and Bamyan (Bamyan
district).3654 In August 2019, surging insecurity and conflicts between armed opposition groups andAfghan security forces reportedly displaced hundreds of families from several villages in Jalrez and the
Maydan Valley of Wardak to neighbouring Bamyan province. As soon as the situation improved, some
IDP families left Bamyan and returned to their villages in Jalrez or moved on further towards Kabul.3655
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 - 30 June 2020, reporting 35 persons displaced to
Wardak coming from other provinces, constituting a group of five families from Zurmat district inneighbouring Paktya province who found refuge in Wardak’s Maydan Shahr district in October
2019.3656
IOM data from the first half of 2019 ranked two out of five persons in Wardak province as IDPs who
have fled their home.3657 According to IOM displacement data published in August and October 2019,
most IDPs and returnees in Wardak province resided in Maydan Shahr district, followed by Saydabad,
Nerkh and Hesa-i Awal-e Behsud districts.3658 According to UNHCR, Wardak is one of the four provinceswith the highest percentage of returnees who originate there but choose to live somewhere else once
they return.3659

3647 UNOCHA, Afghanistan - Weekly Humanitarian Update (28 October - 3 November), 3 November 2019, url, p. 23648 ERM, AC401-ERM 09 Conflict Household Assessment Report in Bamyan City, August 2019, url, p. 1; UNOCHA,

Afghanistan - Weekly Humanitarian Update (26 August - 1 September 2019), 1 September 2019, url, p. 23649 UNOCHA, Operational Coordination Team (OCT) - Maidan Wardak Province - Meeting Summary, 19 March 2019, url, p.
2; UNOCHA, Afghanistan - Weekly Humanitarian Update (28 October - 3 November), 3 November 2019, url, p. 23650 UNOCHA, Operational Coordination Team (OCT) - Maidan Wardak Province - Meeting Summary, 23 October 2019, url,
p. 2; UNOCHA, Afghanistan - Weekly Humanitarian Update (28 October - 3 November), 3 November 2019, url, p. 2
3651 UNOCHA, Operational Coordination Team (OCT) - Maidan Wardak Province - Meeting Summary, 19 March 2019, url, p.
2; UNOCHA, Operational Coordination Team (OCT) - Maidan Wardak Province - Meeting Summary, 23 October 2019, url, p.
23652 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
3653 UNOCHA, Afghanistan - Weekly Humanitarian Update (9 - 15 September 2019), 15 September 2019, url, p. 23654 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
3655 ERM, AC401-ERM 09 Conflict Household Assessment Report in Bamyan City, August 2019, url, p. 1
3656 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 3 March 2020, url; UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict
Displacement 2020, last updated: 12 July 2020, url
3657 IOM, Baseline Mobility Assessment: Summary Results March - June 2019, 1 July 2019, url, p. 1
3658 IOM, Afghanistan - Wardak Baseline Mobility Assessment Summary Results Round 7 (October - December 2018), 1
August 2019, url, pp. 1, 2, 6, 11; IOM, DTM Afghanistan Baseline Mobility Assessment I District Level I Total Inflow(Returnees+IDPs) I June 2019 I Province: Wardak, 9 October 2019, url
3659 UNHCR, Returnee and Internally Displaced Persons Monitoring Report - Final Report, May 2018, url, p. 19

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2.35 Zabul
2.35.1 General description of the province

Map 35: Afghanistan – Zabul province, source: UNOCHA3660

Zabul province is located in the southern part of Afghanistan and shares an international border withPakistan. Among the Afghan provinces, Zabul borders Kandahar, Uruzgan, Ghazni and Paktika. The
provincial capital is Qalat (formerly known as Qalat-i Ghilzai)3661; Zabul is divided into the following
administrative units: the provincial capital Qalat, Tarnak Wa Jaldak (also known as Shahr Safa), Shinkai(also Seori, Seyuri), Mizan, Arghandab, Shah Joi, Daichopan, Atghar, Naw Bahar, Shemel Zayi, Kakar(also known as Khak-e Afghan).3662 According to NSIA, the population of Zabul is estimated at 384 349
for 2020/21. Urban population, living in provincial capital Qalat, constitutes about 3.5 % of all
inhabitants.3663 It is composed mainly of Pashtuns belonging to mainly Hotak and Tokhi tribes3664 andBaloch.3665 The province is also known by the name ‘Zabalistan’ and is considered the birthplace of the
Pashtun ethnic group.3666
The province is one of the poorest provinces in the country with many families migrating to Pakistani
Balochistan to seek greater economic opportunities. Migrant communities in Pakistan are under strong
influence of Islamic radicals and religious parties. Anti-government sentiments are very strong among

3660 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Zabul Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url
3661 US, Naval Postgraduate School, Zabul Provincial Overview, n.d., url
3662 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Zabul Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url; Afghanistan, NSIA, Estimated Population of

Afghanistan 2020-2021, url, p 363663 Afghansitan, NSIA, Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-2021, url,, p 363664 Sabawoon A., Government Rule Confined to District and Provincial Centres: Zabul’s capital under threat, 05 November
2019, url
3665 Afghanistan, Office of the President, Provincial Profile Zabul, 1 February 2017, url; US, Naval Postgraduate School, Zabul
Provincial Overview, n.d., url
3666 Pajhwok Afghan News, Background profile of Zabul, n.d., url

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Afghan youth originating from Zabul but living in Pakistani diaspora. It has a very negative impact on
security situation in the province.3667
The Kabul-Kandahar Highway, also known by the name of Highway One3668, runs through the districtsof Tarnak wa Jaldak, Qalat and Shahjoy.3669 The road has a significant strategic relevance, as it connects
the capital city with Kandahar. It passes through remote areas of the province, many of which are notunder government control. It is a key supply route for the south.3670 Conflict-related security incidents
such as illegal armed groups attacking police checkpoints and detonations of improvised explosive
devices are reported to have taken place along some highway sections in Zabul province.3671 Taliban
also set up their own roadblocks and check passing cars.3672
Zabul also has a 65-kilometre long, porous border with Pakistan. There are three unpaved roads leading
to the border-crossing: in the Zanzir area, near Qala-ye Rashid and further north, from where a roadleads to the Pakistani city of Zhob. Taliban militants cross the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan
using these routes and the Taliban collect taxes on goods there. Also, the Taliban collect taxes from theillegal trade in lumber from Paktika province’s forests that are illegally exported to Pakistan throughZabul’s border. However, the central government did not manage to establish any custom facility
although such plans had existed.3673
According to the UNODC data obtained by AAN, poppy cultivation in Zabul province decreased by 38 %in 2019, compared to 2018.3674 The opium trade represents one of the main sources of income for the
insurgency.3675
The province tried to impose lockdown in the spring of 2020 when 20 cases of Covid-19 were registered
but it was widely ignored by the population for economic reasons.3676

2.35.2 Conflict background and actors in Zabul
In terms of the presence of government security forces, Ghazni province is under the responsibility of
the 203rd ANA Corps, which falls under Task Force Southeast (TF Southeast), led by US forces.3677 The
government's control is however limited to the fortress in Qalat3678 and to some military outposts inthe seven southern districts.3679 Police chiefs and district governors are often linked to the MPs or
senators from the region and many of them have served on these posts for many years. In July 2019
President Ghani ordered the transfer or termination of duties some of them. It did not improve the3667 Sabawoon A., Government Rule Confined to District and Provincial Centres: Zabul’s capital under threat, AAN, 05

November 2019, url
3668 Telegraph (The), Kabul-Kandahar highway is a symbol of what‘s gone wrong in Afghanistan, 9 September 2012, url
3669 UNOCHA, Afghanistan: Zabul Province – District Atlas, April 2014, url
3670 Telegraph (The), Kabul-Kandahar highway is a symbol of what‘s gone wrong in Afghanistan, 9 September 2012, url;
Sabawoon A., Government Rule Confined to District and Provincial Centres: Zabul’s capital under threat, 05 November
2019, url
3671 Tolonews, Seven Police Killed In Kabul-Kandahar Highway Attack, 15 August 2018, url; Khaama Press, Explosion on
Kandahar-Zabul highway leaves 3 civilians dead, 7 July 2018, url
3672 Sabawoon A., Government Rule Confined to District and Provincial Centres: Zabul’s capital under threat, 05 November
2019, url
3673 Sabawoon A., Government Rule Confined to District and Provincial Centres: Zabul’s capital under threat, 05 November
2019, url
3674 Bjelica J., New World Drug Report: Opium production in Afghanistan remained the same in 2019, AAN, 25 June 2020, url
3675 RFE/RL, The Forgotten Afghan Province That Is A Key Taliban Stronghold, 16 December 2018, url
3676 The Guardian, Civil war, poverty and now the virus: Afghanistan stands on the brink, 2 May 2020, url
3677 USDOD, Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan, 1 June 2020, url, p. 133678 RFE/RL, The Forgotten Afghan Province That Is A Key Taliban Stronghold, 16 December 2018, url
3679 Sabawoon A., Government Rule Confined to District and Provincial Centres: Zabul’s capital under threat, 05 November
2019, url

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security situation in the area because some of the dismissed influential figures started to cooperatewith Taliban and the number of attacks on soldiers and government employees increased.3680
In October 2019, the government started the military operation called Gen. Abdul Razeq (former
Kandahar Police chef killed by the Taliban in 2018), aimed at clearing the Kabul-Kandahar Highway
around Zabul.3681
Zabul province has a historical significance for the Taliban, who started their battle over the control of
the country in the 1990s from there. Mullah Mohammad Omar, the founder of the Taliban movement,
was from the Hotak tribe3682 and there are many Zabulis in the Taliban’s higher ranks including Mullah
Amir Khan Haqqani. Taliban recruitment is also very popular among Zabulis.3683 Moreover, the ‘feelingof being forgotten by the government’ is reportedly one of the reasons for the considerable Taliban
presence in the area.3684
The Taliban contest or control most of Zabul, where government forces are under constant attack.3685
In the end of 2019, Taliban controlled most northern districts. The government was only militarily
present in seven districts on the south of the province, with no possibility to deliver any civil services
to population. Apart from Qalat, only Shahr-e Safa district was mainly under governmental control. In
July 2019 Taliban attacked military outposts in Shah Joi district where Highway One passes through.3686
In July 2019, at least in three administrative units: Naw Bahar, Arghandab and Kakar, Afghan
government was operating outside the premises of the district’s headquarters, or the administration
has been relocated to military bases.3687 According to AAN, also Mizana district centre was relocatednear Qalat City later in the summer.3688
Besides local Taliban insurgents, ISKP is purportedly present in several districts of the province3689,
however probably it is not military active.3690 The United Nations also reported that Zabul is one ofthree provinces ‘with the most significant numbers’ of al Qaeda operatives present.3691

2.35.3 Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population
2.35.3.1 General
In 2019, UNAMA documented 496 civilian casualties (142 deaths and 354 injured) in Zabul province.
This represents an increase of 69 % compared to 2018. Leading causes of casualties were groundengagements, suicide IEDs and air strikes.3692 Resolute Support recorded between 0 and 25 civilian

3680 Sabawoon A., Government Rule Confined to District and Provincial Centres: Zabul’s capital under threat, AAN, 5

November 2019, url
3681 Sabawoon A., Government Rule Confined to District and Provincial Centres: Zabul’s capital under threat, 5 November
2019, url
3682 RFE/RL, The Forgotten Afghan Province That Is A Key Taliban Stronghold, 16 December 2018, url
3683 Sabawoon A., Government Rule Confined to District and Provincial Centres: Zabul’s capital under threat, 5 November
2019, url
3684 RFE/RL, The Forgotten Afghan Province That Is A Key Taliban Stronghold, 16 December 2018, url
3685 RFE/RL, The Forgotten Afghan Province That Is A Key Taliban Stronghold, 16 December 2018, url
3686 Sabawoon A., Government Rule Confined to District and Provincial Centres: Zabul’s capital under threat, 5 November
2019, url
3687 Tolonews, 64 Administrative Units Partially Paralyzed In 19 Provinces, 01 July 219, url
3688 Sabawoon A., Government Rule Confined to District and Provincial Centres: Zabul’s capital under threat, 5 November
2019, url
3689 Jamestown Foundation (The), Islamic State a Deadly Force in Kabul, 6 April 2018, url; Sabawoon A., Government Rule
Confined to District and Provincial Centres: Zabul’s capital under threat, 05 November 2019, url
3690 Sabawoon A., Government Rule Confined to District and Provincial Centres: Zabul’s capital under threat, 5 November
2019, url
3691 LWJ, Taliban overruns district HQ in Zabul, 11 November 2019, url
3692 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url, p. 94

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 319

casualties in Zabul in the first quarter of 2020, reporting an increase in the number of civilian casualties
in the second quarter of the year, with 26-50 casualties recorded (from 1 April to 30 June 2020).3693
In the period from 1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, ACLED reported a total of 722 incidents related tosecurity in Zabul province, of which 479 were coded as battles, 221 as remote violence, 22 as violenceagainst civilians. Since the first months of 2020, the number of incidents and fatalities significantly
dropped.3694

Figure 37. Zabul - Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians from
1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, based on ACLED data3695

During the reporting period, Taliban fighters were able to target civilians in Qalat City. Taliban orunidentified fighters killed a technician at the national TV in June 2019, four members of one family
while raiding their home in August 2019. On 28 May 2020, a human rights defender was killed,
reportedly by the Taliban.3696
During summer 2019, the Taliban warned people that they should evacuate because they wereplanning an attack on Qalat. On 19 September 2019, the Taliban blew up the provincial hospital in
Qalat, killing at least 15 and wounding 66 others, most of them patients, one doctor, six cooks andcleaner and two of the hospital’s police guards. The Taliban claimed that they had targeted an office of
the National Directorate for Security (NDS), which is situated right opposite the hospital.3697 The main
hospital in the province was completely destroyed and abandoned. The only part still standing is apaediatric ward which has been recently adapted as an isolation centre for patients with COVID-19.3698
The police and military checkpoints along Highway One continued to be the main target of Taliban
attacks in the reporting periods, mainly in Shah Joi district. Some of them were captured by the Taliban
and recaptured by government later. Taliban insurgents have been carrying out activities related toterrorism such as shootings, suicide attacks and planting IED bombs resulting in casualties among
civilians, the Afghan security forces and the insurgents themselves.3699 On 19 May 2020, IED planted in
Mizan district killed four civilians and wounded another eight, including children.3700

3693 SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The United States Congress, 30 April 2020, url, p. 69; SIGAR, Quarterly Report To The UnitedStates Congress, 30 July 2020, url, p. 72
3694 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus – Afghanistan; Zabul; Event types: battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020, url
3695 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus - Afghanistan; Zabul; Event types: battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020, url
3696 EASO analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, (Filters applied: Central Asia & the
Caucasus – Afghanistan; Zabul; Event types: battles, explosions/remote violence and violence against civilians; 1 March
2019 - 30 June 2020, url
3697 Sabawoon A., Government Rule Confined to District and Provincial Centres: Zabul’s capital under threat, AAN, 05
November 2019, url
3698 Guardian (The), Civil war, poverty and now the virus: Afghanistan stands on the brink, 2 May 2020, url
3699 Sabawoon A., Government Rule Confined to District and Provincial Centres: Zabul’s capital under threat, 5 November
2019, url; Salaam Times, Taliban lose over 100 fighters in joint security operations in Zabul, 26 November 2019, url
3700 Khaama News, Children, women among 12 killed, wounded in Taliban IED attack in Zabul 19 May 2020, url

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Furthermore, airstrikes by Afghan and US forces continued to take place in 2019 and 2020.3701 On
4 August 2019, a mortar shell hit a house in Shah Joi district, killing a mother and three children.
According to government sources, the mortar was fired by the Taliban.3702 On 13 November 2019, amortar fired by ANA killed a woman and wounded a child, when the army tried to target AGEs hidden
in civilian houses in Shinkay/Seori district. The Afghan army tried to blame the Taliban for thecasualties.3703 Most victims of the conflict, however, are security personnel and fighters. According to
Afghan authorities, from 8 September to 11 November 2019, over 100 Taliban fighters were killed, and50 others wounded during the operation called Gen. Abdul Razeq. Afghan security forces allegedly
were able to evict Taliban fighters from more than 40 villages in Shah Joi, Shinkay and Naw Bahar
districts in Zabul.3704
There was also at least one large-scale insider attack reported in Zabul province, when on
20 March 2020 a group of Taliban - linked policemen opened fire on sleeping troops at a joint police
and army headquarters near Qalat, killing at least 37 army and police personnel.3705

2.35.3.2 Displacement
UNOCHA collected data for the period 1 March 2019 – 30 June 2020, reporting 4 417 persons displaced
within Zabul province. They were displaced from different districts of the province such as Arghandab,
Daichopan, Kakar, Qalat, Shah Joi and Tarnak Wa Jaldak. Most of them moved to provincial capital
Qalat. The biggest group of 1270 persons left their houses in Arghandab in November 2019, but thegroup stayed within the district.3706

3701 Sabawoon A., Government Rule Confined to District and Provincial Centres: Zabul’s capital under threat, 5 November

2019, url; Salaam Times, Taliban lose over 100 fighters in joint security operations in Zabul, 26 November 2019, url
3702 Sabawoon A., Government Rule Confined to District and Provincial Centres: Zabul’s capital under threat, 5 November
2019, url
3703 UNAMA, Afghanistan Protection Of Civilians In Armed Conflict Annual Report 2019, 22 February 2020, url , p. 51
3704 Salaam Times, Taliban lose over 100 fighters in joint security operations in Zabul, 26 November 2019, url
3705 Al Jazeera, Dozens of Afghan troops killed in insider attack: Officials 20 March 2020, url ; Khaama News, Abdullah reacts
to deadly Taliban attack in Zabul, calling it ‘An Unforgivable Crime’ 21 March 2020, url
3706 UNOCHA, Afghanistan Conflict Displacement 2019, last updated: 03 March 2020, url

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 321

Annex 1: Bibliography
Oral sources, including anonymous sources
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Clark, K., Co-director at Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN), online video interview with EASO, 27 July 2020

Public sources
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Al Bawaba, In Uruzgan, Afghan Mothers Feed Their Children Opium to Make Them Sleep, 2 November 2017,https://www.albawaba.com/editorchoice/uruzgan-afghan-mothers-feed-their-children-opium-make-themsleep-1042812, accessed 24 June 2020
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EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 331

Al Jazeera, Weakened ISIL's Sectarian Agenda Exacts Heavy Toll in Afghanistan, 2 April 2020,
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/weakened-isil-sectarian-agenda-exacts-heavy-toll-afghanistan200401060725810.html, accessed 1 July 2020
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Ali, O. and Ruttig, T., Battle for Faryab: Fighting intensifies on one of Afghanistan’s major frontlines, AAN, 12
March 2018, https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/battle-for-faryab-fighting-intensifies-on-one-ofafghanistans-major-frontlines/, accessed 10 July 2020
Ali, O. and Ruttig, T., Classics of Conflict (1): Reviewing some of Afghanistan’s most notorious hotspots, AAN, 3
July 2015, https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/classics-of-conflict-1-reviewing-some-of-afghanistans-mostnotorious-hotspots/, accessed 10 July 2020
Ali, O. and Ruttig, T., Elections 2014 (22): How disenchantment with General Dostum split the Uzbek vote bank,
AAN, 22 May 2014, https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/en/reports/political-landscape/the-split-uzbek-votebank-disenchantment-with-general-dostum-spreads-from-his-party-to-the-electorate/, accessed 1 July 2020
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2019, https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/en/reports/war-and-peace/taleban-attacks-on-kunduz-and-pul-ekhumri-symbolic-operations/, accessed 8 May 2020
Ali, O., Afghanistan’s 2019 Election (22): Glances at Kunduz, Baghlan, Samangan, ANN, 30 October 2019,https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/en/reports/political-landscape/afghanistans-2019-election-22-glancesat-kunduz-baghlan-samangan/, accessed 8 May 2020
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Analysts Network), 17 November 2018, https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/the-2018-election-observed-4in-nuristan-disfranchisement-and-lack-of-data/, accessed 10 July 2020
Ali, O., Fire in the Pashai Hills: A Two-District Case Study from Kapisa, ANN, 6 April 2015,
https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/fire-in-the-pashai-hills-a-two-district-case-study-from-kapisa/, accessed
4 May 2020
Ali, O., Hit from Many Sides 1: Unpicking the Recent Victory Against the ISKP in Nangarhar, ANN, 1 March 2020,
https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/en/reports/war-and-peace/hit-from-many-sides-1-unpicking-therecent-victory-against-the-iskp-in-nangrahar/, accessed 8 June 2020
Ali, O., New Confusion about ISKP: A case study from Sar-e Pul, ANN, 7 September 2018,https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/new-confusion-about-iskp-a-case-study-from-sar-e-pul/, accessed 1 July
2020
Ali, O., New Taleban Attacks in Kunduz: Less coordination, still well placed to threaten the city, ANN, 9 July
2017, https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/taleban-attacks-in-kunduz-less-coordinated-but-still-well-placedto-threaten-the-city/, accessed 1 July 2020
Ali, O., The Non-Pashtun Taleban of the North (1): A case study from Badakhshan, AAN, 3 January 2017,https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/the-non-pashtun-taleban-of-the-north-a-case-study-from-badakhshan/,accessed 1 July 2020
Ali, O., Non-Pashtun Taleban in the North (2): Case studies of Uzbek Taleban in Faryab and Sar-e Pul, ANN, 17
March 2017, https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/non-pashtun-taleban-of-the-north-2-case-studies-ofuzbek-taleban-in-faryab-and-sar-e-pul/, accessed 1 July 2020
Ali, O., The Non-Pashtun Taleban of the North (3): The Takhar case study, AAN, 29 July 2017,https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/the-non-pashtun-taleban-of-the-north-the-takhar-case-study/, accessed
1 July 2020
Ali, O., Non-Pashtun Taleban of the North (4): A case study from Jawzjan, ANN 18 September 2017,https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/non-pashtun-taleban-of-the-north-4-a-case-study-from-jawzjan/,accessed 1 July 2020
Ali, O., One Land, Two Rules (3): Delivering public services in insurgency-affected Dasht-e Archi district inKunduz province, AAN, 26 February 2019, https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/en/reports/economydevelopment-environment/one-land-two-rules-3-delivering-public-services-in-insurgency-affected-dasht-earchi-district-in-kunduz-province/, accessed 8 May 2020

332 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

Ali, O., Precarious Consolidation: Qari Hekmat’s IS-affiliated ‘island’ survives another Taleban onslaught, AAN, 4
March 2018, https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/precarious-consolidation-qari-hekmats-is-affiliated-islandsurvives-another-taleban-onslaught/, accessed 1 July 2020
Ali, O., Qari Hekmat’s Island Overrun: Taleban defeat ‘ISKP’ in Jawzjan, AAN, 4 August 2018,https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/qari-hekmats-island-overrun-taleban-defeat-iskp-in-jawzjan/, accessed
1 July 2020
Ali, O., Qari Hekmat’s Island: A Daesh enclave in Jawzjan?, AAN, 11 November 2018, https://www.afghanistananalysts.org/qari-hekmats-island-a-daesh-enclave-in-jawzjan/, accessed 1 July 2020
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insurgent-controlled Zurmat district, ANN, 4 September 2019, https://www.afghanistananalysts.org/en/reports/war-and-peace/one-land-two-rules-8-delivering-public-services-in-insurgencyaffected-insurgent-controlled-zurmat-district/, accessed 10 July 2020
Ali, O., Still under the IS’s Black Flag: Qari Hekmat’s ISKP island in Jawzjan after his death by drone, AAN, 15
May 2018, https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/still-under-the-iss-black-flag-qari-hekmats-iskp-island-injawzjan-after-his-death-by-drone/, accessed 1 July 2020
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Ali, O., The 2016 Insurgency in the North: Raising the Daesh flag (although not for long), AAN, 15 July 2016,
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accessed 1 July 2020
Ali, O., The Empty Streets of Mohammad Agha: Logar‘s Struggle Against the Taleban, ANN, 15 December 2014,
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https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/the-taleban-assault-on-kunduz-city-deja-vu-but-why/, assessed 7 July
2020
Aman F. Afghan migrants: Unwanted in Iran and at home, Atlantic council, 15 May 2020,
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development-environment/one-land-two-rules-4-delivering-public-services-in-embattled-achin-district-innangrahar-province/, accessed 10 July 2020
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Kazemi, S.R., Speculation Abounding: Trying to make sense of the attacks against Shias in Herat city,
Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN), 3 February 2019, https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/speculationabounding-trying-to-make-sense-of-the-attacks-against-shias-in-herat-city/, accessed 10 July 2020
Kazemi, S.R., The 2018 Election Observed (6) in Herat: Insecurity, organisational shambles, alleged rigging,Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN), 20 December 2018, https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/the-2018election-observed-6-in-herat-insecurity-organisational-shambles-alleged-rigging/, accessed 10 July 2020
Khaama News, Abdullah reacts to deadly Taliban attack in Zabul, calling it ‘An Unforgivable Crime’ 21 March
2020, https://www.khaama.com/abdullah-reacts-to-deadly-taliban-attack-in-zabul-calling-it-an-unforgivablecrime-04536/, accessed 7 July 2020
Khaama Press, Children, women among 12 killed, wounded in Taliban IED attack in Zabul 19 May 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/children-women-among-12-killed-wounded-in-taliban-ied-attack-in-zabul-08848/
accessed 30 June 2020
Khaama Press, Explosion on Kandahar-Zabul highway leaves 3 civilians dead, 7 July 2018,https://www.khaama.com/explosion-on-kandahar-zabul-highway-leaves-3-civilians-dead-05523/, accessed 13
June 2020
Khaama Press, Taliban commander, in charge of high-tech weapons, among 23 killed in Uruzgan, 16 May
2020, https://www.khaama.com/taliban-commander-in-charge-of-high-tech-weapons-among-23-killed-inuruzgan-08826/, accessed 15 June 2020
Khaama Press, 10 Taliban militants killed, 9 arrested in Kunduz and Badghis operations, 15 April 2019,https://www.khaama.com/10-taliban-militants-killed-9-arrested-in-kunduz-and-badghis-operations-03723/,
accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, 11 Taliban militants killed in Special Forces raid, airstrikes in Laghman and Baghlan, 4 June 2019,https://www.khaama.com/11-taliban-militants-killed-in-special-forces-raid-airstrikes-in-laghman-and-baghlan03544/, accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, 11 Taliban Militants Killed, 4 Wounded in Special Forces Raid in Logar, 10 May 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/11-taliban-militants-killed-4-wounded-in-special-forces-raid-in-logar-07795/,
accessed 10 June 2020
Khaama Press, 12 Children Killed, Wounded in Parwan IED Explosion, 22 September 2019,https://www.khaama.com/12-children-killed-wounded-in-parwan-ied-explosion-04100/, accessed 27 May
2020
Khaama Press, 16 Taliban Militants Killed, Wounded in Kapisa, Wardak and Herat Provinces, 12 June 2019,https://www.khaama.com/16-taliban-militants-killed-wounded-in-kapisa-wardak-and-herat-provinces-03601/,
accessed 7 May 2020
Khaama Press, 18 Taliban Militants Killed in Airstrikes Conducted in Wardak Province, 22 April 2019,https://www.khaama.com/18-taliban-militants-killed-in-airstrikes-conducted-in-wardak-province-03776/,
accessed 18 June 2020
Khaama Press, 19 ISIS militants killed in Afghan Special Forces raid, airstrikes in Kapisa and Kunar, 21 February
2020, https://www.khaama.com/19-isis-militants-killed-in-afghan-special-raid-airstrikes-in-kapisa-and-kunar04474/, accessed 10 July 2020
Khaama Press, 2 Chechen militants killed, wounded in Badakhshan artillery strikes, 25 March 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/2-chechen-militants-killed-wounded-in-badakhshan-artillery-strikes-03569/,
accessed 12 May 2020

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Khaama Press, 2 civilians killed, 14 wounded in an explosion in Baghlan province, 4 June 2019,https://www.khaama.com/2-civilians-killed-14-wounded-in-an-explosion-in-baghlan-province-03543, accessed
12 May 2020
Khaama Press, 2 senior Taliban commanders arrested, 2 others killed in the outskirts of Kunduz city, 26 March
2019, https://www.khaama.com/2-senior-taliban-commanders-arrested-2-others-killed-in-the-outskirts-ofkunduz-city-03579/, accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, 20 Taliban Militants Killed in Ghazni, Paktika and Wardak Provinces, 19 May 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/20-taliban-militants-killed-in-ghazni-paktika-and-wardak-provinces-08842/,
accessed 18 June 2020
Khaama Press, 22 Taliban militants killed, wounded on Kabul-Jalalabad highway, 7 July 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/22-taliban-militants-killed-wounded-on-kabul-jalalabad-highway-08942/, accessed
10 July 2020
Khaama Press, 22 Taliban Militants Killed, Wounded on Kabul-Jalalabad Highway, 7 July 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/22-taliban-militants-killed-wounded-on-kabul-jalalabad-highway-08942/, accessed
7 July 2020
Khaama Press, 25 Taliban militants killed, 17 wounded in the operation ‘Retake of Khamaab’, 12 April 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/25-taliban-militants-killed-17-wounded-in-the-operation-retake-of-khamaab04648/, accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, 25 Taliban militants killed, 33 wounded in Balkh clashes, 24 March 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/25-taliban-militants-killed-33-wounded-in-balkh-clashes-04558/, accessed 12 May
2020
Khaama Press, 28 Taliban militants killed in past 48 hours in Faryab: 209th Shaheen Corps, 18 March 2019,https://www.khaama.com/28-taliban-militants-killed-in-past-48-hours-in-faryab-209th-shaheen-corps-03518/,
accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, 29 Taliban militants killed, wounded in separate incidents in Badghis province, 14 April 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/29-taliban-militants-killed-wounded-in-separate-incidents-in-badghis-province04659/, accessed 10 July 2020
Khaama Press, 3 Prominent Taliban Leaders Arrested by Afghan Forces in Logar Province, 26 April 2019,https://www.khaama.com/3-prominent-taliban-leaders-arrested-by-afghan-forces-in-logar-province-03805/,
accessed 10 June 2020
Khaama Press, 3 Taliban commanders and their 10 fighters killed in Nuristan province, 21 April 2019,https://www.khaama.com/3-taliban-commanders-and-their-10-fighters-killed-in-nuristan-province-03767/,
accessed 10 July 2020
Khaama Press, 3 Taliban militants killed, 2 detained in Balkh and Kunduz provinces, 20 June 2019,https://www.khaama.com/3-taliban-militants-killed-2-detained-in-balkh-and-kunduz-provinces-03674/,
accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, 31 Taliban militants, civilians killed, wounded as explosives-laden vehicle goes off in Jawzjan, 31
October 2019, https://www.khaama.com/31-taliban-militants-civilians-killed-wounded-as-explosives-ladenvehicle-goes-off-in-jawzjan-04299/, accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, 4 Taliban Militants Killed, 5 Detained in Wardak and Logar Operations, 19 June 2019,https://www.khaama.com/4-taliban-militants-killed-5-detained-in-wardak-and-logar-operations-03667/,
accessed 23 June 2020
Khaama Press, 49 Taliban militants killed, wounded; strategic compound destroyed in Balkh, 9 September
2019, https://www.khaama.com/49-taliban-militants-killed-wounded-strategic-compound-destroyed-in-balkh03992/, accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, 5 killed As Special Forces Bust Major Network Led by ISIS, Haqqani Network in Kabul, 6 May
2020, https://www.khaama.com/5-killed-as-special-forces-bust-major-network-led-by-isis-haqqani-network-inkabul-07786/, accessed 5 June 2020
Khaama Press, 5 killed as Special Forces Bust Major Network Led by ISIS, Haqqani Network in Kabul, 6 May
2020, https://www.khaama.com/5-killed-as-special-forces-bust-major-network-led-by-isis-haqqani-network-inkabul-07786/, accessed 3 June 2020

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Khaama Press, 5 Taliban Explosives Facilitators Killed in Parwan, 28 April 2020, https://www.khaama.com/5taliban-explosives-facilitators-killed-in-parwan-03826/, accessed 26 May 2020
Khaama Press, 52 militants killed, 33 wounded as Afghan forces repulse Taliban attack in Baghlan, 30 July 2019,https://www.khaama.com/52-militants-killed-33-wounded-as-afghan-forces-repulse-taliban-attack-in-baghlan03494/, accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, 550 kgs of explosives discovered from a vegetables truck in Nuristan province, 11 June 2019,https://www.khaama.com/550-kgs-of-explosives-discovered-from-a-vegetables-truck-in-nuristan-province03586/, accessed 10 July 2020
Khaama Press, 6 ISIS Media Activists Arrested in Kabul City, 4 April 2019, https://www.khaama.com/6-isismedia-activists-arrested-in-kabul-city-03644/, accessed 30 June 2020
Khaama Press, 6 Taliban militants killed in Special Forces raid, airstrike in Takhar province, 6 July 2019,https://www.khaama.com/6-taliban-militants-killed-in-special-forces-raid-airstrike-in-takhar-province-03832/,
accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, 6 Taliban Militants Killed, 4 Wounded in Wardak Operations: Thunder Corps, 20 April 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/6-taliban-militants-killed-4-wounded-in-warak-operations-thunder-corps-04694/,
accessed 18 June 2020
Khaama Press, 8 Taliban militants killed in an airstrike of the Afghan Air Force in Balkh province, 4 April 2019,https://www.khaama.com/8-taliban-militants-killed-in-an-airstrike-of-the-afghan-air-force-in-balkh-province03643/, accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, 8 Taliban militants killed, 24 IEDs destroyed in Balkh, Farah and Paktika provinces, 25 May 2019,https://www.khaama.com/8-taliban-militants-killed-24-ieds-destroyed-in-balkh-farah-and-paktika-provinces03475/, accessed 10 July 2020
Khaama Press, 8-year-old child shot dead by Taliban militants in Jawzjan province, 7 March 2019,https://www.khaama.com/8-year-old-child-shot-dead-by-taliban-militants-in-jawzjan-province-03436/,
accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, 9 arrested for alleged gang-rape of a mid-wife and a nurse in Samangan province, 21 May 2019,https://www.khaama.com/9-arrested-for-alleged-gang-rape-of-a-mid-wife-and-a-nurse-in-samangan-province03440/, accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, 9 Militants Killed, Roadside Bombs and House-borne IED Destroyed in Kapisa and Wardak, 29
June 2019, https://www.khaama.com/9-militants-killed-roadside-bombs-and-house-borne-ied-destroyed-inkapisa-and-wardak-03760/, accessed 7 May 2020
Khaama Press, 9 Taliban militants killed in Helmand, Uruzgan and Jawzjan provinces, 5 march 2019,https://www.khaama.com/9-taliban-militants-killed-in-helmand-uruzgan-and-jawzjan-provinces-03422/,
accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, A Tribal Leader and Family Members Killed in Wardak, 7 June 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/a-tribal-leader-and-family-members-killed-in-wardak-9878976/, accessed 19 June
2020
Khaama Press, Afghan Air Force’s A-29s and MD-530s Target Taliban Hideouts in Kunar and Kapisa, 23 March
2020, https://www.khaama.com/afghan-air-forces-a-29s-and-md-530s-target-taliban-hideouts-in-kunar-andkapisa-03552/, accessed 7 May 2020
Khaama Press, Afghan armed forces launch Walid-40 operations in Balkh province, 12 March 2019,https://www.khaama.com/afghan-armed-forces-launch-walid-40-operations-in-balkh-province-03466/,
accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Afghan Forces Foil ISIS Bid to Recruit Militants in Logar Province, 18 June 2019,https://www.khaama.com/afghan-forces-foil-isis-bid-to-recruit-militants-in-logar-province-03654/, accessed
12 June 2020
Khaama Press, Afghan forces fully clear 2 districts of Taliban militants in Farah and Takhar, 13 September 2019,https://www.khaama.com/afghan-forces-fully-clear-2-districts-of-taliban-militants-in-farah-and-takhar-04032/,
accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Afghan forces inflict casualties on Mullah Mushtaghfir, Mullah Muhajir militants in Farah, 7August 2019, https://www.khaama.com/afghan-forces-inflict-casualties-on-mullah-mustaghfir-mullah-muhajirmilitants-in-farah-03584/, accessed 10 July 2020

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Khaama Press, Afghan Forces Inflict Heavy Casualties on Taliban Militants in Daikundi and Kandahar, 3 August
2019, https://www.khaama.com/afghan-forces-inflict-heavy-casualties-on-taliban-militants-in-daikundi-andkandahar-03540/, accessed 13 May 2020
Khaama Press, Afghan Forces Kill the Shadow Governor of Taliban for Wardak Province, 12 April 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/afghan-forces-kill-the-shadow-governor-of-taliban-for-wardak-province-04649/,
accessed 23 June 2020
Khaama Press, Afghan forces killed, wound 34 Taliban militants in Khost, Paktiya: 203rd Thunder Corps, 13 July
2019, https://www.khaama.com/afghan-forces-killed-wound-34-taliban-militants-in-khost-paktiya-203rdthunder-corps-03905/, accessed 10 July 2020
Khaama Press, Afghan forces recapture Kiran Wa Manjan district in Badakhshan province, 11 September 2019,https://www.khaama.com/afghan-forces-recapture-kiran-wa-manjan-district-in-badakhshan-province-04010/,
accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Afghan Forces Repulse Taliban Attack in Wardak Province: 203rd Thunder Corps, 6 May 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/afghan-forces-repulse-taliban-attack-in-wardak-province-203rd-thunder-corps07781/, accessed 18 June 2020
Khaama Press, Afghan forces storm another Taliban prison in Zurmat district of Paktiya, 6 June 2019,https://www.khaama.com/afghan-forces-storm-another-taliban-prison-in-zurmat-district-of-paktiya-03552/,
accessed 10 July 2020
Khaama Press, Afghan Forces Suffer Casualties in Taliban Attack in Daikundi Province, 24 November 2019,https://www.khaama.com/afghan-forces-suffer-casualties-in-taliban-attack-in-daikundi-province-04389/,
accessed 13 May 2020
Khaama Press, Afghan forces suffer casualties in Taliban attacks, 23 January 2019,https://www.khaama.com/afghan-forces-suffer-casualties-in-taliban-attack-870980986/, accessed 12 May
2020
Khaama Press, Afghan Military Operations Kill 8 Taliban Militants, 17 January 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/afghan-military-operations-kill-8-taliban-militants-9798636/, accessed 10 June 2020
Khaama Press, Afghan Special Forces arrest key ISIS group member in Baghlan province, 16 May 2019,https://www.khaama.com/afghan-special-forces-arrest-key-isis-group-member-in-baghlan-province-03995/,
accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Afghan Special Forces arrest top ISIS leader in Kunduz province, 7 July 2019,https://www.khaama.com/afghan-special-forces-arrest-top-isis-leader-in-kunduz-province-03850/, accessed
12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Afghan Special Forces Destroy Suicide Bombers Training Center in Logar Province, 13 August
2019, https://www.khaama.com/afghan-special-forces-destroy-suicide-bombers-training-center-in-logarprovince-03617/, accessed 10 June 2020
Khaama Press, Afghan Special Forces destroy Taliban prison, arms and explosives depots in Kunduz, 9 April
2019, https://www.khaama.com/afghan-special-forces-destroy-taliban-prison-arms-and-explosives-depots-inkunduz-03680/, accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Afghan Special Forces Inflict Casualties on Taliban Militants in Wardak Province, 20 May 2019,https://www.khaama.com/afghan-special-forces-inflict-casualties-on-taliban-militants-in-wardak-province03421/, accessed 18 June 2020
Khaama Press, Afghan Special Forces inflict heavy casualties on Taliban militants in Badghis, Kunduz, 2 August
2019, https://www.khaama.com/afghan-special-forces-inflict-heavy-casualties-on-taliban-militants-in-badghiskunduz-03529/, accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Afghan Special Forces kill 11 Taliban fighters in Kunar province, 22 May 2019,https://www.khaama.com/afghan-special-forces-kill-11-taliban-fighters-in-kunar-province-03452/, accessed 10
July 2020
Khaama Press, Afghan Special Forces Kill 11 Taliban Militants, Destroy Weapons Cache in Logar, 21 September
2019, https://www.khaama.com/afghan-special-forces-kill-11-taliban-militants-destroy-weapons-cache-inlogar-04096/, accessed 10 June 2020

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Khaama Press, Afghan Special Forces Kill Taliban Attack Coordinator in Bagram, 25 June 2019,https://www.khaama.com/afghan-special-forces-kill-taliban-attack-coordinator-in-bagram-03731/, accessed
27 May 2020
Khaama Press, Afghan special forces storm Taliban leadership’s compound in Farah province, 31 May 2019,https://www.khaama.com/afghan-special-forces-storm-taliban-leaderships-compound-in-farah-province03512/, accessed 10 July 2020
Khaama Press, Airstrike by Afghan Air Force kills 30 Taliban militants in Faryab province, 17 June 2019,https://www.khaama.com/airstrike-by-afghan-air-force-kills-30-taliban-militants-in-faryab-province-03645/,
accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Airstrike Destroys Car Bomb in Bagram District of Parwan Province, 8 May 2019,https://www.khaama.com/airstrike-destroys-car-bomb-in-bagram-district-of-parwan-province-03916/,
accessed 26 May 2020
Khaama Press, Airstrike in Kunduz kills top Taliban commander and his comrades, 3 September 2019,https://www.khaama.com/airstrike-in-kunduz-kills-top-taliban-commander-and-his-comrades-03951/,
accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Airstrike kills 5 Taliban, destroys weapons cache in Sar-e Pul province, 21 February 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/airstrike-kills-5-taliban-destroys-weapons-cache-in-Sar-e Pul-province-04475/,
accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Airstrike Kills 6 Taliban Fighters in Logar Province, 4 July 2019,https://www.khaama.com/airstrike-kills-6-taliban-fighters-in-logar-province-03814/, accessed 15 June 2020
Khaama Press, Airstrike kills 8 Taliban militants in Bala Murghab district of Badghis Province, 4 July 2019,https://www.khaama.com/airstrike-kills-8-taliban-militants-bala-murghab-district-of-badghis-province-03817/,
accessed 10 July 2020
Khaama Press, Airstrike Kills Taliban Shadow for Governor for Logar and His Two Deputies, 28 June 2019,https://www.khaama.com/airstrike-kills-taliban-shadow-for-governor-for-logar-and-his-two-deputies-03759/,
accessed 10 June 2020
Khaama Press, Airstrike Kills Top Taliban Leaders Including the Group’s Intelligence Chief in Wardak, 20 August
2019, https://www.khaama.com/airstrike-kills-top-taliban-leaders-including-the-groups-intelligence-chief-inwardak-03711/, accessed 18 June 2020
Khaama Press, Airstrikes kill 13 ISIS militants in Nangarhar and Kunar provinces of Afghanistan, 9 November
2019, https://www.khaama.com/airstrikes-kill-13-isis-militants-in-nangarhar-and-kunar-provinces-ofafghanistan-04317/, accessed 10 July 2020
Khaama Press, Airstrikes Kill 4 Taliban Militants in 2 Districts of Wardak Province, 2 July 2019,https://www.khaama.com/airstrikes-kill-4-taliban-militants-in-2-districts-of-wardak-province-03797/, accessed
23 June 2020
Khaama Press, Airstrikes Kill 8 Taliban Militants in Takhar, Wardak and Parwan Provinces, 13 July 2019,https://www.khaama.com/airstrikes-kill-8-taliban-militants-in-takhar-wardak-and-parwan-provinces-03912/,
accessed 26 May 2020
Khaama Press, Airstrikes kill at least 40 Taliban militants in Badakhshan, 4 September 2019,https://www.khaama.com/airstrikes-kill-at-least-40-taliban-militants-in-badakhshan-03953/, accessed 12 May
2020
Khaama Press, Airstrikes kill more than 40 Taliban militants in Takhar and Kunduz provinces, 11 September
2019, https://www.khaama.com/airstrikes-kill-more-than-40-taliban-militants-in-takhar-and-kunduzprovinces-04007/, accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Airstrikes, Special Forces raid kill 6 ISIS militants in East of Afghanistan, 18 February 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/airstrikes-special-forces-raid-kill-6-isis-militants-in-east-of-afghanistan-04462/,
accessed 10 July 2020
Khaama Press, Around 100 Taliban militants killed, 88 arrested in Special Forces raids in Baghlan: Sources, 25
October 2019, https://www.khaama.com/airstrikes-kill-more-than-40-taliban-militants-in-takhar-and-kunduzprovinces-04007/, accessed 12 May 2020

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Khaama Press, At least 40 Taliban militants killed, wounded in Jawzjan airstrikes, 31 August 2019,https://www.khaama.com/at-least-40-taliban-militants-killed-wounded-in-jawzjan-airstrikes-03908/, accessed
12 May 2020
Khaama Press, At least 50 militants killed, wounded in Special Forces raid in Faryab: Special Ops Corps, 30 July
2019, https://www.khaama.com/at-least-50-militants-killed-wounded-in-special-forces-raid-in-faryab-specialops-corps-03489/, accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Attack on Baghlan Police HQ claims the lives of 13 people, wounding 55 others, 5 May 2019,https://www.khaama.com/coordinated-attack-reported-on-police-headquarters-in-baghlan-province-03894/,
accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, BREAKING: Government storms a warlord’s home with Helicopter gunships in northern Balkhprovince as he refuses to surrender to security forces, 15 December 2019, https://www.khaama.com/breakinggovernment-storms-qaisaris-home-with-helicopter-gunships-as-he-refuses-to-surrender-to-security-forces181819/, accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Car bomb destroyed; 15 Taliban militants killed in Balkh operations, 17 August 2019,https://www.khaama.com/car-bomb-destroyed-15-taliban-militants-killed-in-balkh-operations-03678/,
accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Chechen and Chinese Militants Among Dozens Killed, Wounded in Logar Operation, 2 August
2019, https://www.khaama.com/chechen-and-chinese-militants-among-dozens-killed-wounded-in-logaroperation-03528/, accessed 10 June 2020
Khaama Press, Children among 10 killed as Taliban IED goes off in Khost province, 17 December 2019,https://www.khaama.com/children-among-10-killed-as-taliban-ied-goes-off-in-khost-province-04425/,
accessed 10 July 2020
Khaama Press, Children, elder man among 14 killed, wounded in latest Taliban attacks in Faryab, 26 April 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/children-elder-man-among-14-killed-wounded-in-latest-taliban-attacks-in-faryab04723/, accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Clashes reported among Taliban militants in Paktika province, 16 July 2019,https://www.khaama.com/clashes-reported-among-taliban-militants-in-paktika-province-03949/, accessed 10
July 2020
Khaama Press, Coalition Airstrike Kills Taliban Leader Mullah Amin Gul and His 3 Comrades in Logar, 7 April
2019, https://www.khaama.com/coalition-airstrike-kills-taliban-leader-mullah-amin-gul-and-his-3-comradesin-logar-03669/, accessed 10 June 2020
Khaama Press, Command of Joint Forces Established to Root Out Terror Cells, Criminal Gangs in Kabul, 4 June
2020, https://www.khaama.com/command-of-joint-forces-established-to-root-out-terror-cells-criminal-gangsin-kabul-08891/, accessed 1 July 2020
Khaama Press, Couple shot dead by Taliban militants in Sar-e-Pul province, 20 April 2019,https://www.khaama.com/couple-shot-dead-by-taliban-militants-in-sar-e-pul-province-03756/, accessed 12
May 2020
Khaama Press, Dadullah alias Surkhabi, one of the most dangerous leaders of Taliban killed in Jawzjan, 17 July
2019, https://www.khaama.com/dadullah-alias-surkhabi-one-of-the-most-dangerous-leaders-of-taliban-killedin-jawzjan-03955/, accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Dozens of Taliban militants killed in latest Special Forces operations, airstrikes, 14 March 2019,https://www.khaama.com/dozens-of-taliban-militants-killed-in-latest-special-forces-operations-airstrikes03481/, accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Explosion close to a prison leaves 3 dead in Laghman province of Afghanistan, 2 May 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/explosion-close-to-a-prison-leaves-3-dead-in-laghman-province-of-afghanistan04757/, accessed 10 July 2020
Khaama Press, Explosion injures 18 civilians in Balkh province of Afghanistan 17 December 2019,https://www.khaama.com/explosion-injures-18-civilians-in-balkh-province-of-afghanistan-04427/, accessed 12
May 2020
Khaama Press, Explosion Leaves 4 Dead, Wounded in Kabul, 4 June 2020, https://www.khaama.com/explosionleaves-4-dead-wounded-in-kabul-08892/, accessed 5 June 2020

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Khaama Press, Explosion on Kandahar-Zabul highway leaves 3 civilians dead, 7 July 2018,https://www.khaama.com/explosion-on-kandahar-zabul-highway-leaves-3-civilians-dead-05523/
Khaama Press, Four key Taliban group leaders ambushed in Laghman province, 1 October 2018,https://www.khaama.com/four-key-taliban-group-leaders-ambushed-in-laghman-province-06069/, accessed
10 July 2020
Khaama Press, Gang Leader Killed During a Clash With the Police Forces in Kabul, 18 May 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/gang-leader-killed-during-a-clash-with-the-police-forces-in-kabul-08840/, accessed
3 June 2020
Khaama Press, Gen. Dostum reacts to killing of uprising commander in Taliban militants ambush in Jawzjan, 7April 2019, https://www.khaama.com/gen-dostum-reacts-to-killing-of-uprising-commander-in-talibanmilitants-ambush-in-jawzjan-03662/, accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Girls school set on fire in the northern Takhar, 3 February 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/taliban-set-a-girl-school-on-fire-in-the-northern-takhar-790879086/, accessed 12
May 2020
Khaama Press, Haqqani Terrorist Network’s Target Killer Arrested in Kabul, 26 August 2019,https://www.khaama.com/haqqani-terrorist-networks-target-killer-arrested-in-kabul-03769/, accessed 3 June
2020
Khaama Press, Heavy clashes underway between Taliban, ISIS militants in two districts of Kunar, 22 June 2019,https://www.khaama.com/heavy-clashes-underway-between-taliban-isis-militants-in-two-districts-of-kunar03695/, accessed 10 July 2020
Khaama Press, IED claims one death in northern Balkh province, 4 January 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/ied-claims-one-death-in-the-northern-balkh-province-said-a-local-official-32145/,
accessed 10 July 2020
Khaama Press, Infighting among Taliban Militants Leaves 4 Dead in Wardak Province, 23 November 2019,https://web.archive.org/web/20200408015825/https://www.khaama.com/infighting-among-taliban-militantsleaves-4-dead-in-wardak-province-04381/, accessed 23 June 2020
Khaama Press, Interior minister reacts to as former chief of Farah joins Taliban, 10 May 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/interior-ministry-reacts-as-former-police-chief-of-farah-joins-taliban-07796/,
accessed 10 July 2020
Khaama Press, Kam Air Starts Direct Commercial Flights to Bamyan for the First Time, 9 March 2016,
https://www.khaama.com/kam-air-starts-direct-commercial-flights-to-bamyan-for-the-first-time-0288/,
accessed 18 May 2020
Khaama Press, Key Taliban commanders among 31 killed in Faryab operations: 209th Shaheen Corps, 2 July
2019, https://www.khaama.com/key-taliban-commanders-among-31-killed-in-faryab-operations-209thshaheen-corps-03787/, accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Key Taliban Red Unit Group Member Killed in Wardak Clash, 16 June 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/key-taliban-red-unit-group-member-killed-in-wardak-clash-08902/, accessed 18
June 2020
Khaama Press, KP Reporter Traumatized after Being Robbed at Gunpoint close to Kabul Police Station, 24
March 2020, https://www.khaama.com/kp-reporter-traumatized-after-being-robbed-at-gunpoint-close-tokabul-police-station-04553/, accessed 26 June 2020
Khaama Press, Local Taliban commanders among 16 killed, wounded in Balkh and Jawzjan clashes, 25
November 2019, https://www.khaama.com/local-taliban-commanders-among-16-killed-wounded-in-balkhand-jawzjan-clashes-04396/, accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Media staff killed in Afghanistan’s southern province Helmand, 2 January 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/media-staff-killed-in-helmand-of-afghanistan-nai-wants-gov-to-pay-seriousattention-investigating-the-assassination-78965/, accessed 10 July 2020
Khaama Press, Media staff killed in Afghanistan’s southern province Helmand, 2 January 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/media-staff-killed-in-helmand-of-afghanistan-nai-wants-gov-to-pay-seriousattention-investigating-the-assassination-78965/, accessed 3 July 2020

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Khaama Press, Militants suffer heavy casualties in ANDSF operations in Kandahar and Zabul, 7 February 2019,https://www.khaama.com/militants-suffer-heavy-casualties-in-andsf-operations-in-kandahar-and-zabul03256/, accessed 2 July 2020
Khaama Press, Mini Truck Packed with Explosives Goes Off Close to Bagram Airfield, 22 March 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/mini-truck-packed-with-explosives-goes-off-close-to-bagram-airfield-04543/,
accessed 27 May 2020
Khaama Press, More than 30 Taliban, ISIS-K militants killed, wounded in latest security operations, 16 March
2019, https://www.khaama.com/more-than-30-taliban-isis-k-militants-killed-wounded-in-latest-securityoperations-03500/, accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, NDS Forces Arrest 9 ISIS Sympathisers from a Landmark Mall in Kabul City, 12 February 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/nds-forces-arrest-9-isis-sympathizers-from-a-landmark-mall-in-kabul-city-04447/,
accessed 30 June 2020
Khaama Press, NDS Special Forces kill 2 Taliban leaders and their fighters during a raid in Paktiya, 12 August
2019, https://www.khaama.com/nds-special-forces-kill-2-taliban-leaders-and-their-fighters-during-a-raid-inpaktiya-03616/, accessed 10 July 2020
Khaama Press, NDS Special Forces storm key Taliban compound in Baghlan province, 3 March 2019,https://www.khaama.com/nds-special-forces-storm-key-taliban-compound-in-baghlan-province-03411/,
accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Nearly 500 Taliban militants killed in Faryab in past one month: 209th Shaheen Corps, 20 July
2019, https://www.khaama.com/nearly-500-taliban-militants-killed-in-faryab-in-past-one-month-209thshaheen-corps-03994/, accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Notorious Taliban commander, his fighters killed in Balkh before disrupting elections, 28
September 2019, https://www.khaama.com/notorious-taliban-commander-his-fighters-killed-in-balkh-beforedisrupting-elections-04148/, accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Precision airstrike kills deputy commander of the Red Unit of Taliban in Takhar, 15 February
2020, https://www.khaama.com/precision-airstrike-kills-deputy-commander-of-the-red-unit-of-taliban-intakhar-04455/, accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Premature car bomb explosion damages 10 houses, injures 13 civilians in Sar-e Pul, 28
November 2019, https://www.khaama.com/premature-car-bomb-explosion-damages-10-houses-injures-13civilians-in-sar-e-pul-04415/, accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Prominent Haqqani Network commander arrested in Jalalabad city, 7 March 2019,https://www.khaama.com/prominent-haqqani-network-commander-arrested-in-jalalabad-city-03438/,
accessed 10 July 2020
Khaama Press, Prominent Taliban Commander Identified as Shafiullah Killed in Logar Province, 11 March 2019,https://www.khaama.com/prominent-taliban-commander-identified-as-shafiullah-killed-in-logar-province03464/, accessed 10 June 2020
Khaama Press, Prominent Taliban leader killed in Herat drone strike, 17 December 2018,https://www.khaama.com/prominent-taliban-leader-killed-in-herat-drone-strike-02944/, accessed 10 July
2020
Khaama Press, Prominent Taliban Leader Killed in Wardak Province, 5 April 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/prominent-taliban-leader-killed-in-wardak-province-04613/, accessed 23 June 2020
Khaama Press, Roadside bomb explosion kills 2 children in Balkh province, 15 July 2019,https://www.khaama.com/roadside-bomb-explosion-kills-2-children-in-balkh-province-03932/, accessed 12
May 2020
Khaama Press, Scores of Taliban Fighters Killed After Attacking ANDSF Checkpoint in Wardak, 30 May 2019,https://www.khaama.com/scores-of-taliban-fighters-killed-after-attacking-andsf-checkpoint-in-wardak03510/, accessed 18 June 2020
Khaama Press, Security Forces Kill Taliban’s Suicide Attacks Planner in Kapisa Province, 23 May 2019,https://www.khaama.com/security-forces-kill-talibans-suicide-attacks-planner-in-kapisa-province-03463/,
accessed 7 May 2020

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Khaama Press, Senior Security Officials on the Run after Raping a Young Woman in Bamyan Province, 14 August
2019, https://www.khaama.com/senior-security-officials-on-the-run-after-raping-a-young-woman-in-bamyanprovince-03628/, accessed 15 May 2020
Khaama Press, Shelling by Pakistani military kill, wound 9 Afghan children in Kunar, 28 August 2019,https://www.khaama.com/shelling-by-pakistani-military-kill-wound-9-afghan-children-in-kunar-03788/,
accessed 10 July 2020
Khaama Press, Special Forces fully clear Baharak district of Takhar from the presence of Taliban militants, 6 July
2019, https://www.khaama.com/special-forces-fully-clear-baharak-district-of-takhar-from-the-presence-oftaliban-militants-03833/, accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Special Forces Kill 13 Militants, Detain 9 More in Wardak Operations, 30 June 2019,https://www.khaama.com/special-forces-kill-13-militants-detain-9-more-in-wardak-operations-03778/,
accessed 18 June 2020
Khaama Press, Special Forces Kill 13 Militants, Detain 9 More in Wardak Operations, 30 June 2019,https://www.khaama.com/special-forces-kill-13-militants-detain-9-more-in-wardak-operations-03778/,
accessed 18 June 2020
Khaama Press, Special Forces Kill 40 Taliban Militants, Arrest 13 Others in Parwan Province, 29 July 2019,https://www.khaama.com/special-forces-kill-40-taliban-militants-arrest-13-others-in-parwan-province-03483/,
accessed 26 May 2020
Khaama Press, Special Forces Kill, Detain 13 Taliban Militants During the Operations in Wardak, 6 August 2019,https://www.khaama.com/special-forces-kill-detain-13-taliban-militants-during-the-operations-in-wardak03566/, accessed 18 June 2020
Khaama Press, Special Forces Kill, Detain 27 Taliban and ISIS Militants in 6 Provinces, 19 November 2019,https://www.khaama.com/special-forces-kill-detain-27-taliban-and-isis-militants-in-6-provinces-04359/,
accessed 6 July 2020
Khaama Press, Special Forces Kill, Detain 38 Taliban Militants in Daykundi and Wardak Provinces, 31 October
2019, https://www.khaama.com/special-forces-kill-detain-38-taliban-militants-in-daykundi-and-wardakprovinces-04298/, accessed 18 June 2020
Khaama Press, Special Forces Kill, Detain 9 Taliban Militants in Wardak Province, 10 August 2019,https://www.khaama.com/special-forces-kill-detain-9-taliban-militants-in-wardak-province-03608/, accessed
18 June 2020
Khaama press, Special Forces rescue 2 oil tanker drivers, kill 5 Taliban militants in Baghlan, 18 July 2019,https://www.khaama.com/special-forces-rescue-2-oil-tanker-drivers-kill-5-taliban-militants-in-baghlan-03975/,
accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Sporadic Attacks in 3 Provinces of Afghanistan Kill, Wound 7 Including Security Personnel, 18
March 2020, https://www.khaama.com/sporadic-attacks-in-3-provinces-of-afghanistan-kill-wound-7-includingsecurity-personnel-04527/, accessed 7 May 2020
Khaama Press, Suicide Bomber and His Companion Arrested in Kabul: NDS, 10 March 2019,https://www.khaama.com/suicide-bomber-and-his-companion-arrested-in-kabul-nds-03457/, accessed 5 June
2020
Khaama Press, Taliban appoints first Shia Hazara as shadow district chief of the group, 28 April 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/taliban-appoints-first-shia-hazara-as-shadow-district-chief-of-the-group-04734/,
accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Taliban Commander Among Dozens Killed in Latest Military Operations, 8 March 2019,https://www.khaama.com/taliban-commander-among-dozens-killed-in-latest-military-operations-03445/,
accessed 10 June 2020
Khaama Press, Taliban Commander Involved in High Profile Attacks, Assassinations Has Been Killed in Wardak,
9 March 2019, https://www.khaama.com/taliban-commander-involved-in-high-profile-attacks-assassinationshas-been-killed-in-wardak-03446/, accessed 18 June 2020
Khaama Press, Taliban Commander Loses Both Legs in Premature Mortar Round Explosion in Kabul, 4 May
2020, https://www.khaama.com/taliban-commander-loses-both-legs-in-premature-mortar-round-explosionin-kabul-04773/, accessed 5 June 2020

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Khaama Press, Taliban commander Qari Mehdi among several killed, wounded in Balkh airstrikes, 1 August
2019, https://www.khaama.com/taliban-commander-qari-mehdi-among-several-killed-wounded-in-balkhairstrikes-03523/, accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Taliban Commanders among 6 Killed, Wounded in Surobi District of Kabul: Silab Corps, 27 March
2019, https://www.khaama.com/taliban-commanders-among-6-killed-wounded-in-surobi-district-of-kabulsilab-corps-03589/, accessed 3 June 2020
Khaama Press, Taliban destroys telecom towers following occupancy of a district in northern Jawzjan province,
2 January 2020, https://www.khaama.com/taliban-destroys-telecom-towers-following-occupancy-of-a-districtin-northern-jawzjan-province-667755/, accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Taliban kills two MOI officials in Jurm district of Badakhshan, 14 November 2019,https://www.khaama.com/taliban-kills-two-moi-officials-in-jurm-district-of-badakhshan-8763/, accessed 12
May 2020
Khaama Press, Taliban militants behead a disabled man in Sar-e-Pul province, 4 August 2019,https://www.khaama.com/taliban-militants-behead-a-disabled-man-in-sar-e-pul-province-03550/, accessed 12
May 2020
Khaama Press, Taliban militants capture Kuran wa Munjan district of Badakhshan province, 22 July 2019,https://www.khaama.com/taliban-militants-capture-kuran-wa-munjan-district-of-badakhshan-province03407/, accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Taliban militants kidnap 22 passengers from Kabul-Gardez highway, 31 July 2018,https://www.khaama.com/taliban-militants-kidnap-22-passengers-from-kabul-gardez-highway-05674/,
accessed 10 July 2020
Khaama Press, Taliban militants kidnap a member of Provincial Council from Samangan-Baghlan Highway, 24
august 2019, https://www.khaama.com/taliban-militants-kidnap-a-member-of-provincial-council-fromsamangan-baghlan-highway-03751/, accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Taliban Militants Kill 1 Civilian, Wound 3 Others in Kapisa Province, 20 April 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/taliban-militants-kill-1-civilian-wound-3-others-in-kapisa-province-04697/, accessed
7 May 2020
Khaama Press, Taliban militants killed in U.S. drone strike in Nuristan province, 24 October 2018,https://www.khaama.com/taliban-militants-killed-in-u-s-drone-strike-in-nuristan-province-02620/, accessed 10
July 2020
Khaama Press, Taliban militants loot Gosfandi district in Sar-e-Pul province, snatch 100 sheep from local
residents, 14 April 2019, https://www.khaama.com/taliban-militants-loot-gosfandi-district-in-sar-e-pulprovince-snatch-100-sheep-from-local-residents-03711/, accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Taliban militants open fire on youths who were playing cricket, 15 April 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/taliban-militants-open-fire-on-youths-who-were-playing-cricket-04664/, accessed
10 July 2020
Khaama Press, Taliban militants suffer heavy casualties in Jawzjan province, 30 June 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/taliban-militants-suffer-heavy-casualties-in-jawzjan-province-08931/, accessed 9
July 2020
Khaama Press, Taliban militants suffer heavy casualties in Kapisa clashes, 15 June 2020, accessed 10 July 2020
Khaama Press, Taliban Militants Suffer Heavy Casualties in Logar Operations, 8 June 2019,https://www.khaama.com/taliban-militants-suffer-heavy-casualties-in-logar-operations-03556/, accessed 10
June 2020
Khaama Press, Taliban militants suffer heavy casualties in preemptive airstrikes in Samangan, 30 April 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/taliban-militants-suffer-heavy-casualties-in-preemptive-airstrikes-in-samangan04746/, accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Taliban Militants Suffer Heavy Casualties in Special Forces Raid in Logar, 17 June 2019,https://www.khaama.com/taliban-militants-suffer-heavy-casualties-in-special-forces-raid-in-logar-03643/,
accessed 10 June 2020
Khaama Press, Taliban Militants Suffer Heavy Casualties in Wardak Air, Ground Operations, 21 May 2019,https://www.khaama.com/taliban-militants-suffer-heavy-casualties-in-wardak-air-ground-operations-03438/,
accessed 18 June 2020

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Khaama Press, Taliban militants take control of the strategic Kayan Valley in Baghlan province, 2 July 2019,https://www.khaama.com/taliban-militants-take-control-of-the-strategic-kayan-valley-in-baghlan-province03792/, accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Taliban Militants Target Civilian Houses with Grenade Launcher in Kapisa: 201st Silab Corps, 18
July 2019, https://www.khaama.com/taliban-militants-target-civilian-houses-with-grenade-launcher-in-kapisa201st-silab-corps-03978/, accessed 7 May 2020
Khaama Press, Taliban Sniper Killed in Armed Forces Operation in Kapisa Province, 29 April 2019,https://www.khaama.com/taliban-sniper-killed-in-armed-forces-operation-in-kapisa-province-03835/,
accessed 7 May 2020
Khaama Press, Taliban suffer heavy in Afghan Special Forces operation in Kunduz province, 6 March 2019,https://www.khaama.com/taliban-suffer-heavy-in-afghan-special-forces-operation-in-kunduz-province-03434/,
accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Taliban takes over Darzab district of northern Jawzjan province, 31 December 2019,https://www.khaama.com/taliban-takes-over-darzab-district-of-jawzjan-90876/, accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Taliban’s ambush in Takhar kills 20 members of public uprising forces, 29 December 2019,https://www.khaama.com/taliban-ambush-in-takhar-kills-20-members-of-public-uprising-forces-8897/,
accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Taliban’s Claims Regarding the Deadly Mosque Attack in Parwan Province, 19 May 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/talibans-claims-regarding-the-deadly-mosque-attack-in-parwan-province-08847/,
accessed 26 May 2020
Khaama Press, Taliban’s High-Profile Attack Planner Killed in Logar Airstrike, 21 March 2019,https://www.khaama.com/talibans-high-profile-attack-planner-killed-in-logar-airstrike-03541/, accessed 10
June 2020
Khaama Press, Taliban’s IED expert blown up by own bomb in Jawzjan province, 29 June 2019,https://www.khaama.com/talibans-ied-expert-blown-up-by-own-bomb-in-jawzjan-province-03765/, accessed
12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Taliban’s most dangerous commander Mullah Khadem killed in Balkh province, 16 May 2019,https://www.khaama.com/talibans-most-dangerous-commander-mullah-khadem-killed-in-balkh-province03987/, accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Taliban’s Red Unit militants clash with ISIS fighters in Nangarhar province, 22 September 2019,https://www.khaama.com/talibans-red-unit-militants-clash-with-isis-fighters-in-nangarhar-province-04104/,
accessed 10 July 2020
Khaama Press, Taliban’s Shadow District Chief and His 6 Security Guards killed in Wardak, 7 July 2019,https://www.khaama.com/talibans-shadow-district-chief-and-his-6-security-guards-killed-in-wardak-03849/,
accessed 18 June 2020
Khaama Press, Taliban's deputy military chief surrenders in Baghlan province, 12 August 2017,https://www.khaama.com/talibans-deputy-military-chief-surrenders-in-baghlan-province-03339/, accessed 1
July 2020
Khaama Press, Traditional Dambora Musical Festival Organized in Bamyan Province, 30 June 2018,https://www.khaama.com/traditional-dambora-musical-festival-organized-in-bamyan-province-05461/,
accessed 19 May 2020
Khaama Press, U.S. airstrike kills 7 ISIS militants in Kunar province of Afghanistan, 5 March 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/u-s-airstrike-kills-7-isis-militants-in-kunar-province-of-afghanistan-04474/, accessed
10 July 2020
Khaama Press, U.S. Airstrike Kills At Least 20 Taliban Militants in Logar Province, 2 September 2019,https://www.khaama.com/u-s-airstrike-kills-at-least-20-taliban-militants-in-logar-province-03933/, accessed 10
June 2020
Khaama Press, U.S. Airstrikes Kill 28 Taliban Militants in Wardak and Ghazni Provinces, 4 July 2019,https://www.khaama.com/u-s-airstrikes-kill-28-taliban-militants-in-wardak-and-ghazni-provinces-03812/,
accessed 18 June 2020

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Khaama Press, U.S. Airstrikes Kill At Least 30 Taliban Militants in Logar Province, 8 August 2019,https://www.khaama.com/u-s-airstrikes-kill-at-least-30-taliban-militants-in-logar-province-03598/, accessed 10
June 2020
Khaama Press, U.S. Airstrikes Kill Top Taliban Leaders in Logar Province, 16 July 2019,https://www.khaama.com/u-s-airstrikes-kill-top-taliban-leaders-in-logar-province-03944/, accessed 10 June
2020
Khaama Press, Up to 40 Taliban Militants Killed, Wounded in Special Forces Operations, Airstrikes, 15 March
2019, https://www.khaama.com/up-to-40-taliban-militants-killed-wounded-in-special-forces-operationsairstrikes-03491/, accessed 18 June 2020
Khaama Press, Up to 50 Militants Killed in Afghan Special Forces Operations, Airstrikes, 6 March 2019,https://www.khaama.com/up-to-50-militants-killed-in-afghan-special-forces-operations-airstrikes-03431/,
accessed 7 May 2020
Khaama Press, Up to 50 militants killed in Afghan Special Forces operations, airstrikes, 6 March 2019,https://www.khaama.com/up-to-50-militants-killed-in-afghan-special-forces-operations-airstrikes-03431/,
accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Update: Suicide attack in Kunduz leaves at least 17 dead, wounded, 2 September 2019,https://www.khaama.com/update-suicide-attack-in-kunduz-leaves-at-least-26-dead-wounded-03937/,
accessed 12 May 2020
Khaama press, Video: Airstrike destroys key Taliban compound in Balkh province, 6 April 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/video-airstrike-destroys-key-taliban-compound-in-balkh-province-04615/, accessed
12 May 2020
Khaama Press, Video: Precision Airstrikes Kill 10 Taliban Militants, Wound 16 Others in Logar, 19 April 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/video-precision-airstrikes-kill-10-taliban-militants-wound-16-others-in-logar04692/, accessed 10 June 2020
Khamaa Press, Over 100 Taliban militants during a 16-day operation in Ghazni province, 11 May 2020,
https://www.khaama.com/over-100-taliban-militants-during-a-16-day-operation-in-ghazni-province-07799/
Khan P. and Ruttig, T., The 2018 Election Observed (1) in Zurmat, Paktia: Real voting only in the district centre,
ANN, 29 October 2018, https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/en/reports/political-landscape/election-days-inzurmat-paktia-real-voting-only-in-the-district-centre/, accessed 10 July 2020
Kilid Group (The), Unknown Gunmen Kill 3 Employees of Private Company in Balkh Province, 28 June 2020,
https://tkg.af/english/2020/06/28/unknown-gunmen-kill-3-employees-of-private-company-in-balkh-province/,
accessed 9 July 2020
KUNA, Roadside blast kills 8 civilians in N. Afghanistan, 4 November 2019,https://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticlePrintPage.aspx?id=2830840&language=en, accessed 11 June 2020
KUNA, Taliban attacks kill 15 security men in N. Afghanistan, 1 January 2020,
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New York Times (The), Pompeo Cuts $1 Billion in Afghan Aid as 2 Leaders Reject Push for Unity, 23 March 2020,
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New York Times (The), Suspicions of Russian Bounties Were Bolstered by Data on Financial Transfers, 30 June
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New York Times (The), Taliban Capture About 150 Afghan Soldiers After Chase Into Turkmenistan, 17 March
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New York Times (The), Taliban Kill More Than 200 Afghan Defenders on 4 Fronts: ‘A Catastrophe’, 12 August
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New York Times (The), Taliban Kill Unarmed Afghan Police Officers Waiting for Pay, 5 May 2019,https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/05/world/asia/taliban-kill-unarmed-afghan-police-officers-waiting-forpay.html, accessed 23 April 2020
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New York Times (The), They Fight Suicide Bombers. But Can Afghan Police Fight Crime? 8 February 2020,
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New York Times (The), To Disrupt Elections, Taliban Turn to an Old Tactic: Destroying Cell Towers, 2 October
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New York Times (The), To Start Afghan Withdrawal, U.S. Would Pull 5,400 Troops in 135 Days, 2 September
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378 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

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Pajhwok Afghan News, 3 policemen killed, 8 wounded in Jawzjan firefight, 28 January 2020,
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Pajhwok Afghan News, 3 Rockets Land in Panjsher, Causing No Casualties, 13 July 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/07/13/3-rockets-land-panjsher-causing-no-casualties, accessed 7 July
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Pajhwok Afghan News, 3 Takhar residents shot dead by Tajik border guards, 26 December 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/12/26/3-takhar-residents-shot-dead-tajik-border-guards, accessed 4 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 3 uprising members killed in Jawzjan clashes, 3 March 2020,
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Pajhwok Afghan News, 3 volleyball players killed in Kapisa ground blast, 14 September 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/09/14/3-volleyball-players-killed-kapisa-ground-blast, accessed 5 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 30 security forces killed and wounded in Faryab assault, 1 March 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/03/01/30-security-forces-killed-and-wounded-faryab-assault, accessed 4
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Pajhwok Afghan News, 30 soldiers suffer casualties in Balkh attack, 26 December 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/12/26/30-soldiers-suffer-casualties-balkh-attack, accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 30 Taliban killed in Kunduz operation, 9 March 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/03/09/30-taliban-killed-kunduz-operation, accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 30 Taliban, 6 security forces perish in Jawzjan battle, 1 July 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/07/01/30-taliban-6-security-forces-perish-jawzjan-battle, accessed 4 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 32 Killed, 123 Wounded in Election Day Attacks, 28 September 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/09/28/32-killed-123-wounded-election-day-attacks, accessed 7 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 33 polling sites to stay shut in Balkh on Election Day, 14 September 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/09/14/33-polling-sites-stay-shut-balkh-election-day, accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 38 local uprising members killed, injured in Zare clash, 1 may 2020,
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May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 4 Appellant Court Judges Killed in Taliban Ambush, 7 November 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/11/07/4-appellant-court-judges-killed-taliban-ambush, accessed 10 June
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 4 children killed, 5 injured in Faryab blast, 10 May 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/05/10/4-children-killed-5-injured-faryab-blast, accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 4 civilians killed in Faryab mortar shelling, 30 September 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/09/30/4-civilians-killed-faryab-mortar-shelling, accessed 4 May 2020

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Pajhwok Afghan News, 4 Civilians Killed in Landmine Blast in Logar, 6 June 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/06/06/4-civilians-killed-landmine-blast-logar, accessed 10 June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 4 local security personnel killed in Samangan attack, 24 April 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/04/24/4-local-security-personnel-killed-samangan-attack, accessed 4 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 4 of a Family Including University Teacher Killed in Wardak Blast, 13 August 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/08/13/4-family-including-university-teacher-killed-wardak-blast, accessed
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Pajhwok Afghan News, 4 Police Killed, 8 Injured in Daikundi Clash, 29 March 2020,
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Pajhwok Afghan News, 4 worshippers killed in Badakhshan gun attack, 12 December 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/12/12/4-worshippers-killed-badakhshan-gun-attack, accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 5 children injured in Kunduz roadside blast, 14 February 2002,
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May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 5 killed, 34 injured in Gardez truck bombing, 14 May
2020, https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/05/14/5-killed-34-injured-gardez-truck-bombing, accessed 10 July
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Pajhwok Afghan News, 5 Killed, 7 Wounded in Fresh Wave of Violence, 7 October 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/10/07/5-killed-7-wounded-fresh-wave-violence, accessed 6 July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 5 killed, 7 wounded in fresh wave of violence, 7 October 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/10/07/5-killed-7-wounded-fresh-wave-violence, accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 5 of a family gunned down in Baghlan attack, 16 April 2020,
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Pajhwok Afghan News, 5 police killed, 6 wounded in Balkh firefight, 9 May 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/05/09/5-police-killed-6-wounded-balkh-firefight, accessed 5 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 5 Pro-Govt Fighters Killed in Maidan Wardak Attack, 12 May 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/05/12/5-pro-govt-fighters-killed-maidan-wardak-attack, accessed 18 June
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 5 pro-govt militiamen killed in Jawzjan, Samangan, 26 June 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/06/26/5-pro-govt-militiamen-killed-jawzjan-samangan, accessed 5 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 5 security personnel killed, 14 injured in Baghlan attack, 3 July 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/07/03/5-security-personnel-killed-14-injured-baghlan-attack, accessed 5
May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 5 Taliban killed in Samangan operation, 22 March 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/03/22/5-taliban-killed-samangan-operation, accessed 5 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 5 Women, Child among 11 Killed in Kabul Attack, 25 July 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/07/25/5-women-child-among-11-killed-kabul-attack, accessed 30 June
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 58 rebels, 4 security forces killed in Kunduz operation, 23 March 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/03/23/58-rebels-4-security-forces-killed-kunduz-operation, accessed 5
May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 6 ALP personnel killed in Nurisitan [sic] attack, 17 October 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/10/17/6-alp-personnel-killed-nurisitan-attack, accessed 10 July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 6 Civilians Killed in Kapisa Operations, Says Rights Watchdog, 29 December 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/12/29/6-civilians-killed-kapisa-operations-says-rights-watchdog, accessed
7 May 2020

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 381

Pajhwok Afghan News, 6 Civilians Killed in Logar Raid, NATO Denies, 5 May 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/05/05/6-civilians-killed-logar-raid-nato-denies, accessed 10 June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 6 Haqqani rebels eliminated in Paktika airstrike, 17 December 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/12/17/6-haqqani-rebels-eliminated-paktika-airstrike, accessed 10 July
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 6 killed, 33 injured in Baghlan clashes, 1 September 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/09/01/6-killed-33-injured-baghlan-clashes, accessed 5 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 6 militants killed, 11 wounded in Samangan operation, 20 October 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/10/20/6-militants-killed-11-wounded-samangan-operation, accessed 5
May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 6 months on, Ghazni-Paktika highway remains closed, 13 December 2018,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2018/12/13/6-months-ghazni-paktika-highway-remains-closed, accessed 10
July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 6 of a family shot dead in Faryab; Taliban deny involvement, 19 January 2020,
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Pajhwok Afghan News, 6 policemen killed, 7 injured in Kunduz suicide blast, 2 Septemer 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/09/02/6-policemen-killed-7-injured-kunduz-suicide-blast, accessed 5 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 6 security personnel killed in Taliban ambush, 4 February 2020,
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Pajhwok Afghan News, 6 soldiers, as many Taliban killed in Laghman firefight, 11 May 2020,
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Pajhwok Afghan News, 6-Member Gang of Kidnappers Busted in Kabul: NDS, 26 December 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/12/26/6-member-gang-kidnappers-busted-kabul-nds, accessed 26 June
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 7 civilians killed in Paktika raid, security forces deny, 10 March 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/03/10/7-civilians-killed-paktika-raid-security-forces-deny, accessed 10
July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 7 labourers killed, 6 wounded in Kunduz blast, 2 June 2020,
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2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 7 of a family killed in Balkh airstrike, residents claim, 26 January 2020,
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2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 7 of a Family Killed in Maidan Wardak Airstrike, 16 October 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/10/16/7-family-killed-maidan-wardak-airstrike, accessed 18 June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 7 Security Forces, 6 Rebels Killed in Fresh Offensives, 4 July 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/07/04/7-security-forces-6-rebels-killed-fresh-offensives, accessed 7 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 7 Security Personnel, 3 Militants Killed in Kapisa Clash, 21 March 2020,
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Pajhwok Afghan News, 7 Taliban Killed in Daikundi Operation, 27 December 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/12/27/7-taliban-killed-daikundi-operation, accessed 6 July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 7 Taliban killed in Paktika operations, 19 December 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/12/19/7-taliban-killed-paktika-operations, accessed 10 July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 7 Taliban killed, 13 wounded in Sar-i-Pul clashes, 11 May 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/05/11/7-taliban-killed-13-wounded-sar-i-pul-clashes, accessed 5 May2020382 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

Pajhwok Afghan News, 75 people suffer casualties in Sunday attack: Baghlan governor, 6 may 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/05/06/75-people-suffer-casualties-sunday-attack-baghlan-governor
Pajhwok Afghan News, 8 highway police personnel killed in Balkh assault, 1 January 2020,
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2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 8 of a family killed in Baghlan roadside bombing, 4 November 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/11/04/8-family-killed-baghlan-roadside-bombing, accessed 5 May 2020
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2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 8 Security Personnel Killed, 5 Wounded in Daikundi Assault, 24 November 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/11/24/8-security-personnel-killed-5-wounded-daikundi-assault, accessed
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Pajhwok Afghan News, 9 killed, score injured in Faryab mortar attack, 5 July 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/07/05/9-killed-score-injured-faryab-mortar-attack, accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, 9 schoolchildren dead in Takhar explosion, 2 November 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/11/02/9-schoolchildren-dead-takhar-explosion, accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Afghan forces recapture 2 strategic areas in Maimana, 2 July 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/07/02/afghan-forces-recapture-2-strategic-areas-maimana, accessed 4
May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Afghan forces retake Darqad district, Taliban refute, 25 October 20199,
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May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Af-Pak trade via Ghulam Khan route set to resume, 5 March 2018,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2018/03/05/af-pak-trade-ghulam-khan-route-set-resume, accessed 10 July
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Airstrikes Kill 13 Daesh Rebels in Kapisa, Kunar, 21 February 2020,
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Pajhwok Afghan News, Alipour’s Men Kidnap, Beat Road Workers in Wardak, 23 June 2020,
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Pajhwok Afghan News, ALP Commander for Logar Killed in Taliban Attack, 7 July 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/07/07/alp-commander-logar-killed-taliban-attack, accessed 10 June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, ANA Soldier Killed, 12 Wounded in Kapisa Explosion, 6 November 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/11/06/ana-soldier-killed-12-wounded-kapisa-explosion, accessed 7 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Anti-Daesh operation to follow uplift projects in Achin, 7 October 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/10/07/anti-daesh-operation-follow-uplift-projects-achin, accessed 10 July
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Around 58,000 Sar-i-Pul children to miss polio drops, 27 January 2020,
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2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Background profile of Badakhshan province, n.d.,
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Pajhwok Afghan News, Background profile of Herat province, n.d.,
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Pajhwok Afghan News, Background profile of Laghman province, n.d.,
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Pajhwok Afghan News, Background profile of Nimroz, n.d.,
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Pajhwok Afghan News, Background profile of Nuristan, n.d.,
http://elections.pajhwok.com/en/content/background-profile-nuristan, accessed 10 July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Background profile of Paktia province, n.d.,
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Pajhwok Afghan News, Background profile of Paktika, n.d., http://elections.pajhwok.com/en/content/background-profile-paktika, accessed 10 July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Background profile of Sar-i-Pul province, n.d.,
http://www.elections.pajhwok.com/en/content/background-profile-sar-i-pul-province, accessed 1 July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Background profile of Takhar province, n.d.,
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Pajhwok Afghan News, Badakhshan detective chief wounded, father killed, 3 October 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/10/03/badakhshan-detective-chief-wounded-father-killed, accessed 4
May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Badghis Police Chief Gunned Down in Kabul, 24 October 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/10/24/badghis-police-chief-gunned-down-kabul, accessed 30 June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Baghlan administrative units, n.d., http://elections.pajhwok.com/en/content/baghlanadministrative-units, accessed 1 July 2020
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2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Baghlan IDPs in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, 30 October 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/10/30/baghlan-idps-urgent-need-humanitarian-assistance, accessed 4
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Pajhwok Afghan News, Baghlan police official killed in explosion, 17 September 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/09/17/baghlan-police-official-killed-explosion, accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Baghlan protestors unblock Kabul-North highway, 13 March 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/03/13/baghlan-protestors-unblock-kabul-north-highway, accessed 4 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Baghlan: 371 displaced families in need of urgent assistance, 4 April 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/04/04/baghlan-371-displaced-families-need-urgent-assistance, accessed
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Pajhwok Afghan News, Balkh official injured in Taliban attack, 14 September 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/09/14/balkh-official-injured-taliban-attack, accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Balkh police record over 800 crimes in six months, 7 February 2020,
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2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Balkh police taking action against illegal armed men: Chief, 10 June 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/06/10/balkh-police-taking-action-against-illegal-armed-men-chief,
accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Balkh protestors close road after forces kill 2 children, 22 June 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/06/22/balkh-protestors-close-road-after-forces-kill-2-children, accessed 3
July 2020

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Pajhwok Afghan News, Balkh students stop attending lessons as violence rages, 27 August 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/08/27/balkh-students-stop-attending-lessons-violence-rages, accessed 4
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Pajhwok Afghan News, Balkh: 2 tanks torched in Dawlatabad firefight, 20 March 2020,
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Pajhwok Afghan News, Balkh: District police chief killed in Taliban attack, 6 November 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/11/06/balkh-district-police-chief-killed-taliban-attack, accessed 4 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Balkh: Gunfire erupts after talks on new police chief fail, 14 March 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/03/14/balkh-gunfire-erupts-after-talks-new-police-chief-fail, accessed 5
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Pajhwok Afghan News, Baraki Barak Police Chief Killed in Bomb Blast, 18 March 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/03/18/baraki-barak-police-chief-killed-bomb-blast, accessed 10 June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Bomber killed, 2 civilians injured in Baghlan, 2 February 2020,
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Pajhwok Afghan News, Chak District Police Chief Killed in Taliban Attack, 23 May 2020,
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2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Civilians, Civil Society Activists gunned Down in Pul-i-Alam, 29 March 2020,
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Pajhwok Afghan News, Civilians, military personnel among 63 killed in Baghlan clashes, 2 September 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/09/02/civilians-military-personnel-among-63-killed-baghlan-clashes,
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Pajhwok Afghan News, Civilians, Policeman Killed in Kapesa Mortar Shell Attack, 25 March 2020,
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Pajhwok Afghan News, Clashes leave Faryab capital, some districts in darkness, 2 October 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/10/02/clashes-leave-faryab-capital-some-districts-darkness, accessed 5
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Pajhwok Afghan News, Clearing operation Ongoing in Maidan Wardak, 24 October 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/10/24/clearing-operation-ongoing-maidan-wardak, accessed 18 June
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Pajhwok Afghan News, Commander among 18 Taliban killed in Jawzjan blitz, 5 March 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/03/05/commander-among-18-taliban-killed-jawzjan-blitz, accessed 4 May
2020

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Pajhwok Afghan News, Construction of second lane Kabul-Jalalabad Road faces hurdles, 22 April 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/04/22/%E2%80%98construction-second-lane-kabul-jalalabad-road-faceshurdles, accessed 10 July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Corruption alleged in Kunduz City airport project, 7 March 2018,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2018/03/07/corruption-alleged-kunduz-city-airport-project, accessed 1 July
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Current Salang tunnel insufficient, says President Ghani, 15 October 2018,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2018/10/15/current-salang-tunnel-insufficient-says-president-ghani, accessed 1
July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Daikundi Blast: 7 People Killed, 4 Injured, 10 May 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/05/10/daikundi-blast-7-people-killed-4-injured, accessed 12 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Daikundi Residents Concerned About Daesh in Neighborhood, 3 June 2018,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2018/06/03/daikundi-residents-concerned-about-daesh-neighborhood,accessed 14 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Daikundi Residents Rally against Mounting Instability, 3 August 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/08/03/daikundi-residents-rally-against-mounting-instability, accessed 6
July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Daikundi: 80pc of Pato Residents without Tazkira, 6 May 2018,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2018/05/06/daikundi-80pc-pato-residents-without-tazkira, accessed 11 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Darzab district residents seek arms for self-defense, 2 October 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/10/02/darzab-district-residents-seek-arms-self-defense, accessed 4 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Decrees on $100m loan for 2 projects approved, 6 January 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/01/06/decrees-100m-loan-2-projectsapproved?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter, accessed 10 July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Defence Counsel Association Member Shot Dead in Kabul, 26 May 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/05/26/defence-counsel-association-member-shot-dead-kabul, accessed
30 June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Deputy Head of Logar Ulema Council Shot Dead, 8 May 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/05/08/deputy-head-logar-ulema-council-shot-dead, accessed 10 June
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Deputy intelligence chief for Baghlan gunned down, 12 May 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/05/12/deputy-intelligence-chief-baghlan-gunned-down, accessed 4 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Dilapidated Kandahar road gives passengers bumpy ride, 14 November 2018,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2018/11/14/dilapidated-kandahar-road-gives-passengers-bumpy-ride;
Pajhwok Afghan News, District chief demand more troops as Taliban attacks Khanabad district, 6 September
2019, https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/09/06/district-chief-demand-more-troops-taliban-attackskhanabad-district, accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Dostum’s convoy attacked in Balkh, bodyguard killed, 30 March 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/03/30/dostum%E2%80%99s-convoy-attacked-balkh-bodyguard-killed,
accessed 5 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, dozens of civilians, forces killed in Farah, 6 May 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/05/06/dozens-civilians-forces-killed-and-wounded-farah, accessed 10 July
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Dozens of illegal armed group active in Samangan, 8 April 2018,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2018/04/08/dozens-illegal-armed-groups-active-samangan, accessed 4 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Efforts Ongoing for Release of Election Workers, 1 October 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/10/01/efforts-ongoing-release-election-workers, accessed 26 May 2020

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Pajhwok Afghan News, Elections 2019: Bamyan Province Background Profile, n.d.,
http://elections.pajhwok.com/en/content/background-profile-bamyan-province, accessed 18 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Elections 2019: Daykundi Province Background Profile, n.d.,
http://www.elections.pajhwok.com/en/content/daikundi-province-background-profile, accessed 11 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Elections 2019: Kabul Province Background Profile, n.d.,
http://www.elections.pajhwok.com/en/content/kabul-province-background-profile, accessed 4 June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Elections 2019: Logar Province Background Profile, n.d.,
http://elections.pajhwok.com/en/content/background-profile-logar, accessed 11 June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Elections 2019: Panjsher Province Background Profile, n.d.,
http://www.elections.pajhwok.com/en/content/panjsher-background-profile, accessed 20 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Elections 2019: Parwan Province Background Profile, n.d.,
http://www.elections.pajhwok.com/en/content/background-profile-parwan, accessed 27 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Elections 2019: Wardak Province Background Profile, n.d.,
http://www.elections.pajhwok.com/en/content/background-profile-maidan-wardak, accessed 22 June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Faryab Families Displaced to Parwan in Need of Help, 8 July 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/07/08/faryab-families-displaced-parwan-need-help, accessed 26 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Faryab’s Qarghan district falls to Taliban: Officials, 28 August 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/08/28/faryab%E2%80%99s-qarghan-district-falls-taliban-officials,
accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Father, Son Killed as Ex-Commanders Clash in Parwan, 31 December 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/12/31/father-son-killed-ex-commanders-clash-parwan, accessed 28 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Feeling Unsafe, Traders & Well-Off Persons Flee Parwan, 1 December 2018,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2018/12/01/feeling-unsafe-traders-well-persons-flee-parwan, accessed 29 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Forces re-take control of Faryab’s Qarghan district, 30 August 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/08/30/forces-re-take-control-faryab%E2%80%99s-qarghan-district,accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Foreign Militants Swell Taliban Ranks in Charkh District: Official, 30 April 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/04/30/foreign-militants-swell-taliban-ranks-charkh-district-official,accessed 15 June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Former police chief joins Taliban in Farah, 10 May 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/subscription-required?redirect_from=571666, accessed 10 July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Ghani’s campaign office attacked in Balkh, 1 September 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/09/01/ghani%E2%80%99s-campaign-office-attacked-balkh, accessed 5
May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Ghor residents fume over suspension of flights, 19 March 2018,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2018/03/19/ghor-residents-fume-over-suspension-flights, accessed 10 July 10,
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Girl Rescued, 2 Suspected Abductors Held in Kabul, 14 June 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/06/14/girl-rescued-2-suspected-abductors-held-kabul, accessed 1 July
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Girls’ school set ablaze in Kunduz’s Qala Zal district, 6 October 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/10/06/girls%E2%80%99-school-set-ablaze-kunduz%E2%80%99s-qala-zaldistrict, accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Govt retakes control of Ghazni’s Jaghato district, 22 September 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/09/22/govt-retakes-control-ghazni%E2%80%99s-jaghato-district
Pajhwok Afghan News, Govt Unable to Collect Taxes in 5 Logar Districts, 9 October 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/10/09/govt-unable-collect-taxes-5-logar-districts, accessed 15 June 2020

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Pajhwok Afghan News, Govt won´t talk peace from a weak position: Ghani, 1 June 2015,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2015/06/01/govt-won%E2%80%99t-talk-peace-weak-position-ghani, accessed
19 June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Growing insecurity worries Baghlan shopkeepers, 13 October 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/10/13/growing-insecurity-worries-baghlan-shopkeepers, accessed 4 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Gunmen rape 2 sisters in Faryab, family seeks justice, 19 May 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/05/19/gunmen-rape-2-sisters-faryab-family-seeks-justice, accessed 5 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Hajigak Pass Reopens for Traffic, 26 April 2015,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2015/04/26/hajigak-pass-reopens-traffic, accessed 18 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Headmaster among 4 gunned down in Baghlan, 30 November 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/11/30/headmaster-among-4-gunned-down-baghlan, accessed 4 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Health clinic dynamited in Paktika’s Barmal district, 31 March 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/03/31/health-clinic-dynamited-paktika%E2%80%99s-barmal-district,accessed 10 July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Illegal armed men threaten Mazar-i-Sharif security, 22 May 2018,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2018/05/22/illegal-armed-men-threaten-mazar-i-sharif-security, accessed 1
July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Illegal gunmen seen behind insecurity in Mazar-i-Sharif, 25 January 2018,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2018/01/25/illegal-gunmen-seen-behind-insecurity-mazar-i-sharif, accessed 1
July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, In Takhar, rising crime graph sparks concerns, 2 December 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/12/02/takhar-rising-crime-graph-sparks-concerns, accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Increasing crime incidents worry Balkh dwellers, 26 October 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/10/26/increasing-crime-incidents-worry-balkh-dwellers, accessed 4 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Insecurity growing on Kabul-Gardez highway, 18 July 2018,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2018/07/18/%E2%80%98insecurity-growing-kabul-gardezhighway%E2%80%99, accessed 10 July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Insurgents kidnap district chief in Samangan, 2 February 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/02/24/insurgents-kidnap-district-chief-samangan, accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Intelligence Agent Gunned Down in front of Kardan University, 14 November 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/11/14/intelligence-agent-gunned-down-front-kardan-university, accessed
30 June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Jaghato District Chief Gunned Down in Kabul, 13 October 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/10/13/jaghato-district-chief-gunned-down-kabul, accessed 30 June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Jawzjan: 17 security personnel killed in Taliban assault, 30 December 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/12/30/jawzjan-17-security-personnel-killed-taliban-assault, accessed 4
May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Kabul in dark as 3 pylons blown up in Baghlan, 15 September 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/09/15/kabul-dark-3-pylons-blown-baghlan, accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Kabul university teacher shot dead in Baghlan, 6 November 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/11/06/kabul-university-teacher-shot-dead-baghlan, accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Kapisa Police Chief Injured in Clash with Taliban, 13 November 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/11/13/kapisa-police-chief-injured-clash-taliban, accessed 7 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Kapisa Police Officer Gunned Down, 29 December 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/12/29/kapisa-police-officer-gunned-down, accessed 27 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Kapisa: District Intelligence Chief Killed in Taliban Ambush, 30 January 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/01/30/kapisa-district-intelligence-chief-killed-taliban-ambush, accessed 7
May 2020

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Pajhwok Afghan News, Key figures Among 22 Rebels Killed in Maidan Wardak, 5 September 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/09/05/key-figures-among-22-rebels-killed-maidan-wardak, accessed 18
June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Khost market unaffected by closure of Pakistan border, 8 July 2016,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2016/07/08/khost-market-unaffected-closure-pakistan-border, accessed 10
July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Khost police chief killed in roadside blast, 8 May 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/05/08/khost-police-chief-killed-roadside-blast, accessed 10 July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Khost: 20 crime suspects arrested in a week, 12 May 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/dr/node/571815, accessed 10 July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Kuduz police chief wounded in blast amid clashes, 31 August 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/08/31/kuduz-police-chief-wounded-blast-amid-clashes, accessed 4 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Kunar’s Nawapas road reopens after 5-year closure, 7 September 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/09/07/kunar%E2%80%99s-nawapas-road-reopens-after-5-year-closure,accessed 10 July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Kunduz airport gets new terminal worth $1.4m, 22 February 2017,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2017/02/22/kunduz-airport-gets-new-terminal-worth-14m, accessed 1 July
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Kunduz City comes under multi-pronged rebel attack, 31 August 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/08/31/kunduz-city-comes-under-multi-pronged-rebel-attack, accessed 4
May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Kunduz residents in fear as kidnapping incidents spike, 9 March 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/03/09/kunduz-residents-fear-kidnapping-incidents-spike, accessed 5 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Kunduz: 15 civilians killed in roadside blast, 28 November 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/11/28/kunduz-15-civilians-killed-roadside-blast, accessed 5 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Kunduz: 5 Afghan soldiers killed in Taliban attack, 18 April 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/04/18/kunduz-5-afghan-soldiers-killed-taliban-attack, accessed 4 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Kunduz: Taliban take tax on imported goods, 22 June 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/06/22/kunduz-taliban-take-tax-imported-goods, accessed 30 June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Laghman prison head among 7 wounded in blast, 2 May 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/05/02/laghman-prison-head-among-7-woundedblast?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter, accessed 10 July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Logar Province: Illegal Extraction of Logar Chromites Goes On, 6 October 2015,
http://elections.pajhwok.com/en/2015/10/06/illegal-extraction-logar-chromites-goes, accessed 11 June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Logar: 2 Engineers Killed in Taliban Attack, 26 June 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/06/26/logar-2-engineers-killed-taliban-attack, accessed 10 June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Logar: 56 Militants Eliminated in Azra Offensive, 13 July 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/07/13/logar-56-militants-eliminated-azra-offensive, accessed 10 June
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Logar’s Azra District on the Verge of Collapse, 25 June 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/06/25/logar%E2%80%99s-azra-district-verge-collapse, accessed 15 June
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Magnetic bomb blast leaves 7 civilians injured in Baghlan, 14 May 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/05/14/magnetic-bomb-blast-leaves-7-civilians-injured-baghlan, accessed
4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Maidan Wardak Governor Survives Bomb Attack, 20 October 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/10/20/maidan-wardak-governor-survives-bomb-attack, accessed 19 June
2020

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 389

Pajhwok Afghan News, Maidan Wardak Judge Gunned Down in Kabul, 2 July 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/07/02/maidan-wardak-judge-gunned-down-kabul, accessed 30 June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Maidan Wardak Operation Leaves 6 of a Family Killed, 20 April 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/04/20/maidan-wardak-operation-leaves-6-family-killed, accessed 19 June
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Massive operations launched against Taliban in Baghlan, 17 October 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/10/17/massive-operations-launched-against-taliban-baghlan, accessed 4
May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Mastermind Behind Kabul Bombings Killed, 26 October 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/10/26/mastermind-behind-kabul-bombings-killed, accessed 10 June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Mazar-i-Sharif garrison failing to bar illegal gunmen: Residents, 7 March 2018,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2018/03/07/mazar-i-sharif-garrison-failing-bar-illegal-gunmen-residents,
accessed 1 July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Mazar-i-Sharif-Turkey-Europe air corridor formally opens, 9 January 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/01/09/mazar-i-sharif-turkey-europe-air-corridor-formally-opens, accessed
4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Medical supplies to Paktia clinics yet to resume, 30 January 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/dr/node/564484, accessed 10 July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Militant attacks on oil tankers increasing in Baghlan, 30 March 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/03/30/militant-attacks-oil-tankers-increasing-baghlan, accessed 5 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Militants close Herat-Farah highway for traffic, 19 March 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/subscription-required?redirect_from=568127, accessed 10 July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Mineral Resources of Daikundi Province, 1 February 2014,
http://mines.pajhwok.com/news/mineral-resources-daikundi-province, accessed 11 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Ministry Official Gunned Down in Kabul, 17 October 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/10/17/ministry-official-gunned-down-kabul, accessed 3 June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Mohammad Agha District Official Gunned Down, 4 May 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/05/04/mohammad-agha-district-official-gunned-down, accessed 10 June
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, More Than 200,000 Tourists Visit Bamyan This Year, 3 September 2017,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2017/09/03/more-200000-tourists-visit-bamyan-year, accessed 18 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, More than 50pc of Logar Being Controlled by Taliban, 26 June 2017,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2017/06/26/more-50pc-logar-being-controlled-taliban, accessed 12 June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Nangarharis say targeted killings continue unabated, 6 May 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/05/06/nangarharis-say-targeted-killings-continue-unabated, accessed 10
July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, NDS Employee Shot Dead in Parwan, 27 July 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/07/27/nds-employee-shot-dead-parwan, accessed 27 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, NDS Personnel Killed, Weapons, Explosives Recovered in Parwan, 11 October 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/10/11/nds-personnel-killed-weapons-explosives-recovered-parwan,
accessed 27 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Nearly a Dozen Taliban Killed in Logar Raid, 11 May 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/05/11/nearly-dozen-taliban-killed-logar-raid, accessed 10 June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Nimroz farmers in despair as drought kills livestock, 2 January 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/01/02/nimroz-farmers-despair-drought-kills-livestock
Pajhwok Afghan News, Notorious Taliban commander killed in Balkh operation, 16 may 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/05/16/notorious-taliban-commander-killed-balkh-operation, accessed 4
May 2020

390 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

Pajhwok Afghan News, One army Officer Shot Dead, Another Wounded in Parwan, 17 June 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/06/17/one-army-officer-shot-dead-another-wounded-parwan, accessed
27 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Over 180 killed in deadliest week of current year, 1 June 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/06/01/over-180-killed-deadliest-week-current-year, accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Pakistani forces stray into Gomal district of Paktika, 8 November 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/11/08/pakistani-forces-stray-gomal-district-paktika, accessed 10 July
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Paktika residents say civilians killed in Nika airstrike, 3 April 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/04/03/paktika-residents-say-civilians-killed-nika-airstrike, accessed 10
July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Paktika’s Barmal district police chief killed in Taliban attack, 19 June 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/06/19/paktika%E2%80%99s-barmal-district-police-chief-killed-talibanattack, accessed 10 July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Paktika’s Sarobi district chief shot injured, 18 April 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/04/18/paktika%E2%80%99s-sarobi-district-chief-shot-injured, accessed
10 July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Panjsher Residents Protest for Release of Khurasani, 29 June 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/06/29/panjsher-residents-protest-release-khurasani, accessed 7 July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Parts of school, clinic damaged in Kunduz airstrike: Officials, 3 February 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/02/03/parts-school-clinic-damaged-kunduz-airstrike-officials, accessed 4
May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Parwan: Taliban’s District Intelligence Head Killed, 28 April 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/04/28/parwan-taliban%E2%80%99s-district-intelligence-head-killed,
accessed 28 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Parwan-Bamyan Highway Closed amid Fierce Clash, 27 July 2017,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2017/07/27/parwan-bamyan-highway-closed-amid-fierce-clash, accessed 28
May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, People Suffer As Security Forces Shut Chak-Kabul Road, 17 July 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/07/17/people-suffer-security-forces-shut-chak-kabul-road, accessed 22
June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Perpetrators of Civilian Casualties Be Punished: Senate, 16 July 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/07/16/perpetrators-civilian-casualties-be-punished-senate, accessed 18
June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Physician killed, 20 civilians injured in Baghlan blast, 4 April 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/04/04/physician-killed-20-civilians-injured-baghlan-blast, accessed 4 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Platoon Commander Killed in Parwan, 31 August 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/08/31/platoon-commander-killed-parwan, accessed 27 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Police officer accused of torture, extortion, 19 March 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/03/19/police-officer-accused-torture-extortion, accessed 10 July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Policeman, 3 Taliban killed in Sar-i-Pul clash, 10 October 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/10/10/policeman-3-taliban-killed-sar-i-pul-clash, accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Political Parties Seen As a Source of Insecurity in Daikundi, 14 April 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/04/14/political-parties-seen-source-insecurity-daikundi, accessed 14 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Power transmission line damaged in Baghlan, 18 March 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/03/18/power-transmission-line-damaged-baghlan, accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Prayer Leader Gunned Down in Kabul, Say Police, 10 May 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/05/10/prayer-leader-gunned-down-kabul-say-police, accessed 7 July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Primary court judge gunned down in Balkh, 8 August 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/08/08/primary-court-judge-gunned-down-balkh, accessed 4 May 2020

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 391

Pajhwok Afghan News, Pro-govt commander shot dead in Sar-i-Pul, 14 July 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/07/14/pro-govt-commander-shot-dead-sar-i-pul, accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Protestors Close Kabul-Parwan Highway after Civilian Deaths, 27 April 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/04/27/protestors-close-kabul-parwan-highway-after-civilian-deaths,
accessed 28 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Recognition of southern Helmand province, n.d.,
https://www.elections.pajhwok.com/en/content/recognition-southern-helmand-province
Pajhwok Afghan News, Reconstructed Gardez-Khost highway inaugurated, 15 December 2015,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2015/12/15/reconstructed-gardez-khost-highway-inaugurated, accessed 10
July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Recruiter Among 10 Taliban Killed in Logar Raids, 4 July 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/07/04/recruiter-among-10-taliban-killed-logar-raids, accessed 10 June
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Rehabilitation work on Nuristan-Kunar road kicks off, 20 May 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/05/20/rehabilitation-work-nuristan-kunar-road-kicks, accessed 10 July
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Religious scholar gunned down in Farah, 10 April 2020,
https://baztab.news/article/1311692, accessed 10 July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Religious scholar shot dead in Kabul, 21 March 2020,
https://baztab.news/article/1297555, accessed 10 July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Residents worried as clashes approach Taloqan, 3 October 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/10/03/residents-worried-clashes-approach-taloqan, accessed 5 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Rising targeted killings spark concerns in Gardez, 16 June 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/06/16/rising-targeted-killings-spark-concerns-gardez, accessed 10 July
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Road connecting 2 districts with Paroon being built, 24 June 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/06/24/road-connecting-2-districts-paroon-being-built, accessed 10 July
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Robbers Snatch Guns from Parwan Police Officers, 23 August 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/08/23/robbers-snatch-guns-parwan-police-officers, accessed 29 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Sar-i-Pul province, 16 January 2020, https://www.pajhwok.com/en/node/564157,
accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Sar-i-Pul: Taliban besiege Sancharak district center, 15 April 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/04/15/sar-i-pul-taliban-besiege-sancharak-district-center, accessed 4 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, School Principal Gunned Down in Kabul, 14 October 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/10/14/school-principal-gunned-down-kabul, accessed 30 June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Scores of rebels, security personnel killed in clashes, 14 December 2018,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2018/12/14/scores-rebels-security-personnel-killed-clashe, accessed 10 July
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Security forces among 17 killed in Samangan attack, 27 September 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/09/27/security-forces-among-17-killed-samangan-attack, accessed 4 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Security forces regain Dasht-i-Archi control, 12 October 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/10/12/security-forces-regain-dasht-i-archi-control, accessed 5 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Security forces retake control of Baghlan’s Guzarga Noor district, 30 January 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/01/30/security-forces-retake-control-baghlan%E2%80%99s-guzarga-noordistrict, accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Security forces retake Faryab’s Balcharagh district, 25 June 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/06/25/security-forces-retake-faryab%E2%80%99s-balcharagh-district,accessed 5 May 2020

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Pajhwok Afghan News, Security forces retake Warduj district after 3 years, 7 September 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/09/07/security-forces-retake-warduj-district-after-3-years, accessed 5
May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Security forces, Taliban extort money on Mazar-Dara-i-Suf road, 9 December 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/12/09/security-forces-taliban-extort-money-mazar-dara-i-sufroad?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter, accessed 7 July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Security forces, Taliban extort money on Mazar-Dara-i-Suf road, 9 December 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/12/09/security-forces-taliban-extort-money-mazar-dara-i-suf-road,accessed 5 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Security forces’ mounting casualties spark concerns, 12 December 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/12/12/security-forces%E2%80%99-mounting-casualties-spark-concerns,
accessed 5 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Security personnel among 14 killed in Jawzjan incidents, 28 December 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/12/28/security-personnel-among-14-killed-jawzjan-incidents, accessed 4
May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Security personnel, Taliban suffer casualties in Faryab clashes, 30 June 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/06/30/security-personnel-taliban-suffer-casualties-faryab-clashes,
accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Seeking aid, dozens of Sar-i-Pul IDPs rally against govt, 5 March 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/03/05/seeking-aid-dozens-sar-i-pul-idps-rally-against-govt, accessed 4
May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Seized 2 Days Ago, Taliban Release Parwan Teachers, 31 January 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/01/31/seized-2-days-ago-taliban-release-parwan-teachers, accessed 28
May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Senior figure among 30 IS rebels surrender in Laghman, 19 March 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/03/19/senior-figure-among-30-rebels-surrenderlaghman?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter, accessed 10 July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Separate Taliban attacks cause 28 civilian casualties, 26 April 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/04/26/separate-taliban-attacks-cause-28-civilian-casualties, accessed 18
June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Shadow district chief among 8 Taliban killed in Balkh, 22 September 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/09/22/shadow-district-chief-among-8-taliban-killed-balkh, accessed 4
May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Some Wardak Hospitals Closed after Taliban Threats, 16 July 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/07/16/some-wardak-hospitals-closed-after-taliban-threats, accessed 19
June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Suicide Bomber Targets NATO Convoy in Parwan, 24 August 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/08/24/suicide-bomber-targets-nato-convoy-parwan, accessed 27 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Supreme Court Official Gunned Down in Kabul, 3 May 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/05/03/supreme-court-official-gunned-down-kabul, accessed 3 June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Takhar seminary blast leaves 10 students dead, 18 June 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/06/18/takhar-seminary-blast-leaves-10-students-dead, accessed 30 June
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Takhar: 2 uprising members killed in Taliban attack, 15 January 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/01/15/takhar-2-uprising-members-killed-taliban-attack, accessed 4 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Takhar: Imam shot dead by unidentified gunmen, 13 June 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/06/13/takhar-imam-shot-dead-unidentified-gunmen, accessed 30 June
2020

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 393

Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban abduct 40 elderly men from Jawzjan funeral, 10 December 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/12/10/taliban-abduct-40-elderly-men-jawzjan-funeral, accessed 4 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban Abduct 55 Civilians in Madian Wardak, 2 March 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/03/02/taliban-abduct-55-civilians-madian-wardak, accessed 19 June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban abduct, slay 8 civilians in Balkh, 8 April 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/04/08/%E2%80%8Btaliban-abduct-slay-8-civilians-balkh, accessed 30 June
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban attack leaves 2 oil tankers torched in Baghlan, 12 may 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/05/12/taliban-attack-leaves-2-oil-tankers-torched-baghlan
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban behead influential elder in Takhar, 4 April 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/04/04/taliban-behead-influential-elder-takhar, accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban capture Badakhshan’s Karan wa Menjan district, 22 July 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/07/22/taliban-capture-badakhshan%E2%80%99s-karan-wa-menjandistrict, accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban capture Jawzjan’s Qush Tepa district, 2 June 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/07/02/taliban-capture-jawzjan%E2%80%99s-qush-tepa-district, accessed
5 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban capture lapis mine, 30 guars in Badakhshan, 16 July 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/07/16/taliban-capture-lapis-mine-30-guards-badakhshan, accessed 5 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban capture, kill off-duty soldier in Faryab, 7 February 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/02/07/taliban-capture-kill-duty-soldier-faryab, accessed 5 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban chief for Chamtal district killed in airstrike, 7 February 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/02/07/taliban-chief-chamtal-district-killed-airstrike, accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban claims capturing Zari district in Balkh, 3 September 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/09/03/taliban-claims-capturing-zari-district-balkh, accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban Claims Inflicting Casualties on Security Forces in Maidan Wardak, 7 May 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/05/07/taliban-claims-inflicting-casualties-security-forces-maidan-wardak,
accessed 18 June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban close 12 NGO-run health clinics in Nuristan, 11 May 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/05/11/taliban-close-12-ngo-run-health-clinics-nuristan, accessed 10 July
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban Commander Who Killed 10 Police Detained in Logar, 27 March 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/03/27/taliban-commander-who-killed-10-police-detained-logar, accessed
10 June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban continue telecom services shutdown in Baghlan, 14 August 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/08/14/taliban-continue-telecom-services-shutdown-baghlan, accessed 4
May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban control 80pc of Faryab area, says governor, 28 November 2018,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2018/11/28/taliban-control-80pc-faryab-area-says-governor, accessed 4 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban District Chief Among 5 Killed in Logar Blitz, 18 August 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/08/18/taliban-district-chief-among-5-killed-logar-blitz, accessed 10 June
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban driven from 4 strategic Faryab villages, 8 July 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/07/08/taliban-driven-4-strategic-faryab-villages, accessed 5 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban execute 2 young sisters in Logar, 7 June 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/subscription-required?redirect_from=573317, accessed 10 June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban execute 5 civilians over cooperation with govt, 23 June 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/06/23/taliban-execute-5-civilians-over-cooperation-govt, accessed 5 May
2020

394 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban Free 8 Election Workers in Parwan, 9 December 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/12/09/taliban-free-8-election-workers-parwan, accessed 26 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban increase tax on coal trucks in Samangan, 29 October 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/10/29/taliban-increase-tax-coal-trucks-samangan, accessed 5 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban Kidnap District’s Court Chief in Parwan, 17 January 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/01/17/taliban-kidnap-district%E2%80%99s-court-chief-parwan, accessed
28 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban kill 10 security forces, capture 7 in Kunduz, 4 March 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/03/04/taliban-kill-10-security-forces-capture-7-kunduz, accessed 5 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban Kill 3 Off-Duty Soldiers in Wardak, 21 April 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/04/21/taliban-kill-3-duty-soldiers-wardak, accessed 19 June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban kill 30 civilians in a week : NSC, 12 April 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/04/12/taliban-kill-30-civilians-week-nsc, accessed 10 July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban Kill 9 Pro-Government Fighters in Kapisa, 18 February 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/02/18/taliban-kill-9-pro-government-fighters-kapisa, accessed 7 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban kill HIA commander’s sons in Ghor clash, 13 January 2018,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2018/01/13/taliban-kill-hia-commander’s-sons-ghor-clash, accessed 10 July
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban kill poll panel worker in Sar-i-Pul, 8 October 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/10/08/taliban-kill-poll-panel-worker-sar-i-pul, accessed 5 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban lose 15 fighers in battle for Khwaja Ghar district, 12 June 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/06/12/taliban-lose-15-fighters-battle-khwaja-ghar-district, accessed 4
May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban Not Allowing Us to Buy Food: Daikundi Residents, 30 March 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/03/30/taliban-not-allowing-us-buy-food-daikundi-residents, accessed 12
May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban Order Shutdown of 8 Seminaries in Parwan, 28 August 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/08/28/taliban-order-shutdown-8-seminaries-parwan, accessed 28 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban overrun district; police in denial, 8 September 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/09/08/taliban-overrun-district-police-denial, accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban overrun Gajwae locality in Sar-i-Pul’s Sancharak district, 3 March 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/03/03/%E2%80%98taliban-overrun-gajwae-locality-sar-ipul%E2%80%99s-sancharak-district%E2%80%99, accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban overrun Qarma Qul district of Faryab, 23 November 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/11/23/taliban-overrun-qarma-qul-district-faryab, accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban raid leaves 14 security forces dead in Takhar, 30 March 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/03/30/taliban-raid-leaves-14-security-forces-dead-takhar, accessed 4 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban Rebels Accused of Looting Food-Laden Trucks, 24 January 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/01/24/taliban-rebels-accused-looting-food-laden-trucks, accessed 13 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban release 54 security forces in Jawzjan, 9 July 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/07/09/taliban-release-54-security-forces-jawzjan, accessed 5 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban running ‘customs check-point’ on Nimroz road, 20 January 2018,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2018/01/20/taliban-running-%E2%80%98customs-check-point%E2%80%99nimroz-road, accessed 19 June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban set fire to girls’ school in Takhar: Rahimi, 3 February 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/02/03/taliban-set-fire-girls%E2%80%99-school-takhar-rahimi, accessed 4
May 2020

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 395

Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban set free 40 elderly individuals in Jawzjan, 12 December 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/12/12/taliban-set-free-40-elderly-individuals-jawzjan, accessed 4 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban Shadow Governor for Logar Among Key Members Killed in Airstrike, 28 June
2019, https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/06/28/taliban-shadow-governor-logar-among-key-members-killedairstrike, accessed 12 June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban storm Cha Ab district in Takhar, 30 August 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/08/30/taliban-storm-cha-ab-district-takhar, accessed 5 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban Suffer Heavy Casualties in Parwan, 25 April 2018,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2018/04/25/taliban-suffer-heavy-casualties-parwan, accessed 28 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban torch 3 telecom antennas in Jawzjan, 1 January 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/01/01/taliban-torch-3-telecom-antennas-jawzjan, accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban torch Salaam Telecom tower in Jawzjan, 7 September 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/09/07/taliban-torch-salaam-telecom-tower-jawzjan, accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’s attempt at capturing Kunduz City thwarted, 15 April 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/04/15/taliban%E2%80%99s-attempt-capturing-kunduz-city-thwarted,
accessed 5 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’s district chief among 8 killed in Faryab, 12 September 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/09/12/taliban%E2%80%99s-district-chief-among-8-killed-faryab, accessed
5 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’s District Chief killed in Wardak Airstrike, 17 October 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/10/17/taliban%E2%80%99s-district-chief-killed-wardak-airstrike, accessed
18 June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’s District Police Chief Among 7 killed in Wardak Firefight, 5 April 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/04/05/taliban%E2%80%99s-district-police-chief-among-7-killed-wardakfirefight, accessed 18 June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’s Governor for Logar Among 22 Militants Killed, 24 August 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/08/24/taliban%E2%80%99s-governor-logar-among-22-militants-killed,
accessed 10 June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’s groups attack on Dara-i-Souf Paen district repulsed, 3 January 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/01/03/taliban%E2%80%99s-groups-attack-dara-i-souf-paen-districtrepulsed, accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’s influence, insecurity grow in Balkh, 18 August 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/08/18/taliban%E2%80%99s-influence-insecurity-growbalkh?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter, accessed 5 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’s Military Commission Head Killed in Kapesa, 29 November 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/11/29/taliban%E2%80%99s-military-commission-head-killed-kapesa,
accessed 7 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’s military leader among 11 killed in Samangan clash, 28 December 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/12/28/taliban%E2%80%99s-military-leader-among-11-killed-samanganclash, accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’s Military Official Arrested in Tagab District, 22 August 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/08/22/taliban%E2%80%99s-military-official-arrested-tagab-district,accessed 7 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’s Red Unit loses 7 men in Jawzjan firefight, 28 March 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/03/28/taliban%E2%80%99s-red-unit-loses-7-men-jawzjan-firefight,
accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’s Shadow Deputy Governor for Panjsher Killed: MoI, 4 August 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/08/04/taliban%E2%80%99s-shadow-deputy-governor-panjsher-killedmoi, accessed 7 May 2020

396 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’s shadow governor among 43 rebels killed in Baghlan, 5 September 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/09/05/taliban%E2%80%99s-shadow-governor-among-43-rebels-killedbaghlan, accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Taliban’s shadow governor killed in airstrike, 15 September 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/09/15/taliban%E2%80%99s-shadow-governor-killed-airstrike, accessed 4
May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Tribal Elders Among 4 Killed in Logar Airstrike, 7 April 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/04/07/tribal-elders-among-4-killed-logar-airstrike, accessed 10 June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, UNAMA Vehicle Comes under Attack in Panjsher, 14 November 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/11/14/unama-vehicle-comes-under-attack-panjsher, accessed 20 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Undocumented vehicles, bikes being seized in Balkh, 27 October 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/10/27/undocumented-vehicles-bikes-being-seized-balkh, accessed 4 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Unexploded rocket kills 4 Sar-i-Pul children, 17 July 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/07/17/unexploded-rocket-kills-4-sar-i-pul-children, accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Uprising commander, ex-mayor killed in Faizabad blast, 1 September 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/09/01/uprising-commander-ex-mayor-killed-faizabad-blast, accessed 4
May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Uruzgan administrative units, n.d., http://elections.pajhwok.com/en/content/uruzganadministrative-units, accessed 10 June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Uruzgan: 3 women from Chora district join Daesh, 18 April 2018,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2018/04/18/uruzgan-3-women-chora-district-join-daesh, accessed 4 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, US Forces Apologize for Wardak Civilian Deaths, 14 September 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/09/14/us-forces-apologize-wardak-civilian-deaths, accessed 18 June 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, US forces, AIHRC probing Khost drone strike, 1 December 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/12/01/us-forces-aihrc-probing-khost-drone-strike, accessed 10 July 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Woman shot dead in Fayab over alleged elopement, 22 November 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/11/22/woman-shot-dead-fayab-over-alleged-elopement, accessed 4 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Women Among 6 of a family Killed in Kapisa Blast, 2 October 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/10/02/women-among-6-family-killed-kapisa-blast, accessed 7 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Women, children among 12 killed in Kunduz blitz, 23 March 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/03/23/women-children-among-12-killed-kunduz-blitz, accessed 5 May
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Worsening insecurity worries Herat residents, 19 December 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/12/19/worsening-insecurity-worries-herat-residents, accessed 10 July
2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Would-be suicide bomber killed in Kunduz, 28 September 2019,https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2019/09/28/would-be-suicide-bomber-killed-kunduz, accessed 5 May 2020
Pajhwok Afghan News, Yamgan district falls to Taliban after fierce fighting, 28 March 2020,
https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2020/03/28/yamgan-district-falls-taliban-after-fierce-fighting, accessed 5 May
2020‫ر‬
Pajhwok Afghan News, ‫امنیت پولیس هرات به دلیل غفلت وظیفوی برکنار شد‬‫[ آمر حوزه دهم‬informal translation: ‘chief of
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EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 397

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Tolonews, Ghani, Fired at During Logar Visit, Pledges Increased Security, 1 July 2020,
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Tolonews, Helmand’s Marjah Cleared of ‘Insurgents’ After Four Years, 1 December 2019,https://tolonews.com/afghanistan/helmand%E2%80%99s-marjah-cleared-insurgents-after-four-years-mod
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Tolonews, NDS Chief Says Claims against Alipoor Will Be Investigated, 27 November 2018,https://tolonews.com/index.php/afghanistan/nds-chief%C2%A0says-claims-against-alipoor-will-beinvestigated, accessed 18 May 2020
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Tolonews, Nimroz Identified As Key Human Trafficking Route, 13 September 2018,https://tolonews.com/afghanistan/nimroz-identified-key-human-trafficking-route
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Tolonews, Police: Four ANA ‘Mistakenly Killed in Airstrike’ in Logar, 12 November 2019,https://tolonews.com/afghanistan/police-four-ana-%E2%80%98mistakenly-killed-airstrike%E2%80%99-logar,
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Tolonews, Residents Set Fire To Taliban’s Stronghold In Parwan, 22 August 2019,https://tolonews.com/afghanistan/residents-set-fire-taliban%E2%80%99s-stronghold-parwan, accessed 29
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Tolonews, Taliban Abducts 19 Bus Passengers and Police On Uruzgan Highway, 28 February 2018,https://tolonews.com/index.php/afghanistan/%D8%B7%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%B1%DB%B9%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B1-%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D8%B2%D8%B4%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%87-%DA%A9%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B2%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%AF%D9%86%D8%AF;
Tolonews, 'Taliban' Attack ANP Convoy in Bagram, 1 ANP Killed, 7 March 2020,
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Tolonews, 11 Police Killed/Wounded In Balkh, Police Under Siege in Jawzjan, 1 October 2019,https://tolonews.com/afghanistan/11-police-killedwounded-balkh-police-under-siege-jawzjan, accessed 11
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Tolonews, Afghan Forces Take Casualties in Sar-e-Pul Clash, 21 February 2020,
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Tolonews, Farah officials claim civilians were killed in airstrike, 9 February 2020,
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Tolonews, Qush Tepa District in Jawzjan Falls to Taliban: Sources, 2 July 2019,https://tolonews.com/afghanistan/qush-tepa-district-jawzjan-falls-taliban-sources, accessed 12 May 2020
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Tolonews, Samangan Provincial Council Member Killed By Militants: Official, 25 August 2019,https://tolonews.com/afghanistan/samangan-provincial-council-member-killed-militants-official, accessed 11
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan: Laghman Province– District Atlas, April 2014,
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan Conflict Induced
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan: Humanitarian
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manitarian_needs_overview_2020.pdf, accessed 23 June 2020
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eting_minutes_-03_oct_2019.docx, accessed 10 July 2020
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan Daykundi Province District Atlas, April 2014,
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan: Kapisa Province District Atlas, April 2014,
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan: Logar Province District Atlas, April 2014,
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June 2020
UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan: Panjsher Province District Atlas, April 2014,
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan: Parwan Province District Atlas, April 2014,
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan: Wardak Province District Atlas, April 2014,
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Operational Coordination Team
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Operational Coordination Team
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan Monthly
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan Monthly
Humanitarian Update January 2020, 11 February 2020,
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y_humanitarian_update-jan.pdf, accessed 14 May 2020
UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Humanitarian Regional Team
(HRT) - Central Region - Meeting Summary, 6 October 2019,https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/documents/files/minutes_hrt_meeting_-_central_region_6_october_2019.docx, accessed 8 June 2020
UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Operational Coordination Team
(OCT) - Maidan Wardak Province - Meeting Summary, 23 October 2019,https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/documents/files/minutes_oct_meeting_minutes_wardak_23_october_2019.docx, accessed 16 June 2020
UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Operational Coordination Team
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manitarian_access_snapshot_feb_2020.pdf, accessed 10 July 2020
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manitarian_access_snapshot_mar_2020.pdf, accessed 10 July 2020
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan: Kunar Conflict –Update (as of 3 April 2019), 4 April 2019,https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/documents/files/201904
04_ocha_update_kunar_conflict_displacement.pdf, accessed 10 July 2020
UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan: Kunar Province –District Atlas, April 2014,
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan: Kunduz Province –District Atlas, April 2014,
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan: Takhar Province –District Atlas, April 2014,
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan: Northern region
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan: Nangarhar
Province – District Atlas, April 2014,
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10 July 2020
UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan: Nuristan Province –District Atlas, April 2014,
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10 July 2020
UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan: Paktika Province –District Atlas, April 2014,
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July 2020
UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan: Paktya Province –District Atlas, April 2014,
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan: South Eastern
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan: North Eastern
Region – District Atlas, April 2014,
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan: Samangan Province– District Atlas, April 2014,
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1 July 2020
UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan: Sar-e-Pul Province– District Atlas, April 2014,
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan: Update on thesituation in Kunduz city and Pul-e-Khumri Flash Update No.4 (09 September 2019), 9 September 2019,https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/flash_update_4__update_on_the_situation_in_kunduz_city_9_september_2019.pdf, accessed 20 April 2020
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
Humanitarian Update 6 January - 12 January 2019, 15 January 2019,https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/afghanistan_humanitarian_weekly_13_jan.pdf,
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
Humanitarian Update 5 August – 11 August 2019, 14 August 2019,https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/documents/files/afg_we
ekly_humanitarian_update_11_august-2019.pdf, accessed 10 July 2020
UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs),Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
Humanitarian Update 18 August – 25 August 2019, 25 August 2019,https://reliefweb.int/report/afghanistan/afghanistan-weekly-humanitarian-update-18-25-august-2019,
accessed 10 July 2020
UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
Humanitarian Update 26 August - 1 September 2019, 1 September 2019,https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/OCHA%20Weekly-1-Sept.pdf, accessed 16 June 2020
UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
Humanitarian Update 2 - 8 September 2019, 11 September 2019,https://reliefweb.int/report/afghanistan/afghanistan-weekly-humanitarian-update-2-8-september-2019,
accessed 20 April 2020
UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
Humanitarian Update 9 September – 15 September 2019, 18 September 2019,

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https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/en/operations/afghanistan/document/afghanistan-weeklyhumanitarian-update-9-%E2%80%93-15-september-2019, accessed 10 July 2020
UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
Humanitarian Update 16 September – 22 September 2019, 22 September 2019,https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/en/operations/afghanistan/document/afghanistan-weeklyhumanitarian-update-16-%E2%80%93-22-september-2019, accessed 10 July 2020
UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
Humanitarian Update 23 September – 29 September 2019, 2 October 2019,https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/en/operations/afghanistan/document/afghanistan-weeklyhumanitarian-update-23-%E2%80%93-29-september-2019, accessed 10 July 2020
UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
Humanitarian Update 30 September – 6 October 2019, 9 October 2019,https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/en/operations/afghanistan/document/afghanistan-weeklyhumanitarian-update-30-september-6-october-2019, accessed 10 July 2020
UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
Humanitarian Update 7 October – 13 October 2019, 16 October 2019,https://reliefweb.int/report/afghanistan/afghanistan-weekly-humanitarian-update-7-october-13-october2019, accessed 10 July 2020
UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
Humanitarian Update 14 October – 20 October 2019, 24 October 2019,https://reliefweb.int/report/afghanistan/afghanistan-weekly-humanitarian-update-14-october-20-october2019, accessed 20 April 2020
UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
Humanitarian Update 21 October – 27 October 2019, 30 October 2019,https://reliefweb.int/report/afghanistan/afghanistan-weekly-humanitarian-update-21-october-27-october2019, accessed 20 April 2020
UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
Humanitarian Update 14 October – 20 October 2019, 24 October 2019,https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/documents/files/afghani
stan-humanitarian_weekly-14-20october.pdf, accessed 10 July 2020
UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
humanitarian update 21 - 27 October 2019, 27 October 2019,https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/afghanistan-humanitarian_weekly-28_october.pdf,
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
Humanitarian Update 28 October – 3 November 2019, 6 November 2019,https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/en/operations/afghanistan/document/afghanistan-weeklyhumanitarian-update-28-october-3-november-2019, accessed 10 July 2020
UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
Humanitarian Update 4 November – 10 November 2019, 13 November 2019,https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/documents/files/afghani
stan-humanitarian_weekly-10_november_2019.pdf, accessed 10 July 2020
UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
Humanitarian Update 11 – 17 November 2019, 21 November 2019,https://reliefweb.int/report/afghanistan/afghanistan-weekly-humanitarian-update-11-17-november-2019,
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
Humanitarian Update 18 – 24 November 2019, 27 November 2019,https://reliefweb.int/report/afghanistan/afghanistan-weekly-humanitarian-update-18-24-november-2019,
accessed 20 April 2020
UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
humanitarian update, 25 November – 1 December 2019, 4 December 2019,https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/en/operations/afghanistan/document/afghanistan-weeklyhumanitarian-update-25-november-1-december-2019, accessed 10 July 2020

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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
Humanitarian Update 2 December - 8 December 2019, 11 December 2019,https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/en/operations/afghanistan/document/afghanistan-weeklyhumanitarian-update-2-december-8-december-2019, accessed 10 July 2020
UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
Humanitarian Update 9 December – 15 December 2019, 18 December 2019,https://reliefweb.int/report/afghanistan/afghanistan-weekly-humanitarian-update-9-december-15-december2019, accessed 20 April 2020
UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
Humanitarian Update 16 December – 22 December 2019, 26 December 2019,https://reliefweb.int/report/afghanistan/afghanistan-weekly-humanitarian-update-16-december-22december-2019, accessed 20 April 2020
UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
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stan_humanitarian_weekly-_29_december.pdf, accessed 10 July 2020
UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
Humanitarian Update 30 December 2019 – 5 January 2020, 8 January 2020,
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stan_humanitarian_weekly_5_january.pdf, accessed 10 July 2020
UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
Humanitarian Update 6 January – 12 January 2020, 15 January 2020,
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
Humanitarian Update13 January – 19 January 2020, 22 January 2020,
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
Humanitarian Update 20 - 26 January 2020, 29 January 2020,
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stan-humanitarian_weekly_26_jan.pdf, accessed 5 June 2020
UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
Humanitarian Update 27 January - 2 February 2020, 3 February 2020,
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stan-humanitarian_weekly-02_february.pdf, accessed 5 June 2020
UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
Humanitarian Update 3 February – 9 February 2020, 12 February 2020,
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
Humanitarian Update 10 February – 16 February 2020, 19 February 2020,
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
Humanitarian Update 17 - 23 February 2020, 23 February 2020,
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
Humanitarian Update 24 February – 1 March 2020, 4 March 2020,
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
Humanitarian Update 2 March - 8 March 2020, 11 March 2020,

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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
Humanitarian Update 9 - 15 March 2020, 15 March 2020,
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
humanitarian update, 16 March – 22 March 2020,
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
humanitarian update, 23 March – 29 March 2020, 1 April 2020,
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stan_humanitarian_weekly_29_march.pdf, accessed 10 July 2020
UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
Humanitarian Update 30 March - 5 April 2020, 5 April 2020,
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
humanitarian update 6 - 12 April 2020, 12 April 2020,
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
Humanitarian Update 13 April – 20 April 2020, 22 April 2020,
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
Humanitarian Update 20 April – 26 April 2020, 29 April 2020,
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
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Humanitarian Update 28 April – 4 May 2020, 7 May 2020,
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
Humanitarian Update 4 May – 10 May 2020, 13 May 2020,
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
Humanitarian Update 11 May – 17 May 2020, 20 May 2020,
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ay.pdf, accessed 8 June 2020
UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
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Humanitarian Update 8 June – 14 June 2020, 17 June 2020,
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UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), Afghanistan weekly
Humanitarian Update 15 June – 21 June 2020, 24 June 2020,
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EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 445

Annex 2: Terms of Reference
The goal of this report is to provide security-related information relevant for international protection
status determination.
An important goal of this report is to provide details on a regional, provincial or even district level. The
reporting period for incidents and events illustrating the general trends of the conflict is
1 January 2018 until 28 February 2019.
The content of the report should contain information on the following topics:••

General description of the security situation-

Conflict background▪ Overview of recent conflicts in Afghanistan▪ Political landscape▪ Peace talks▪ International context-

Actors in the conflict▪ Pro-government forces• Tasks/roles/numbers• Components• Civilian casualties’ attribution▪ Anti-government elements• Level of organisation• Civilian casualties’ attribution-

Recent security trends and armed confrontations▪ Trends, nature of violence and methods primarily used-

Impact of the violence on the civilian population▪ Civilian casualties▪ State ability to secure law and order▪ Socio-economic situation▪ Refugees, IDPs, returnees▪ Children-

Geographical overview▪ Broad regional differences▪ Insurgent control▪ Conflict severity-

Mobility▪ security aspects of travelling (roads, flights)

Regional description: per province- General description (districts, population, geography, economy)- Conflict background (description on presence and general activity of actors, Taliban
control/presence)- Recent security trends and impact on the civilian population▪ Civilian casualties

446 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATION

▪
▪
▪
▪

Conflict severity
Incident numbers
Description of representative incidents
Displacement

EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 447

Annex 3: Addenda and Corrigenda
Please note that on 9 October 2020, this report was re-published in order to correct some factual
errors and to add some relevant information which was missing in the original version. The following
corrections and additions were made:Page 76:
Addition: While according to information contained in a LWJ map, Ghormach, Muqur and Bala Murghab districtsof Badghis province were under the Taliban control […]Original: While according to information contained in a LWJ map, Muqur and Bala Murghab districts of Badghis
province were under the Taliban control […]Page 117:
Addition: According to information by LWJ collected and presented in a map, Gulistan, Bala Buluk, Saheb Koh,Anar Dara and Khak-e Safed districts of Farah province were under Taliban control, Qala-i Kah, Posht-e Rod,Bakwa, Pur Chaman districts as well as Farah City were contested, while Lash-e Juwayn district was under
government control.
Original: According to information by LWJ collected and presented in a map, Gulistan, Bala Buluk, Saheb Koh,Anar Dara and Khak-e Safed districts of Farah province were under Taliban control, and Qala-i Kah, Posht-e Rod,Bakwa districts and as well as Farah City were contested.
Page 166:
Correction: In the second quarter of 2020, Resolute Support indicated Kabul as one out of three provinces,
together with Nangarhar and Ghazni, that experienced the highest number of civilian casualties countrywide,with an average of 204 civilian casualties each, among the three provinces.
Original: In the second quarter of 2020, Resolute Support recorded an average of 204 civilian casualties in Kabul
province, indicating Kabul as one out of three provinces (together with Nangarhar and Ghazni) that experienced
the highest number of civilian casualties countrywide.
Page 232:
Correction: As for Resolute Support, it recorded between 101 and 125 civilian casualties in Nangarhar in the firstquarter of 2020. In the second quarter of 2020, RS indicated Nangarhar as the province that experienced thehighest number of civilian casualties countrywide, with 259 civilian casualties recorded. This represents a 236 %increase compared to the previous quarter.
Original: As for Resolute Support, it recorded between 101 and over 251 civilian casualties in Nangarhar in thefirst half of 2020, reporting an increase during the second quarter compared to the first.
Page 240:
Correction: In the period from 1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, ACLED reported a total 142 incidents related tosecurity in Nimroz province, of which 109 were coded as battles, 30 as remote violence, 3 as violence against
civilians.
Original: In the period from 1 March 2019 to 30 June 2020, ACLED reported a total 142 incidents related tosecurity in Nimroz province, of which 109 were coded as battles, 11 as remote violence, 2 as violence against
civilians.
Page 318:
Correction: In 2019, UNAMA documented 496 civilian casualties (142 deaths and 354 injured) in Zabul province.
This represents an increase of 69 % compared to 2018.
Original: In 2019, UNAMA documented 496 civilian casualties (142 deaths and 354 injured) in Zabul province.
This represents an increase of 3 % compared to 2018.

448 —EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN – SECURITY SITUATIONEASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT: AFGHANISTAN - SECURITY SITUATION— 449

doi: 10.2847/251142