The security situation across Afghanistan has remained volatile, with continuing high numbers of incidents briefly interrupted by the reduction in violence during the Eid al-Fitr ceasefires, says a report presented to the Security Council on Sept 10th.
The report, titled “Situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security”, says Southern Afghanistan witnessed the highest number of incidents followed by the eastern and south-eastern regions, with those three regions accounting for 67 per cent of all incidents between 15 May and 15 August.
ISIL-KP continued to fight against the Taliban in the East, with armed clashes reported in Nangarhar and Kunar Provinces. International military forces continued to target ISIL-KP conducting a series of air strikes against targets in Deh Bala, Achin, Khugyani, Naziyan and Chaparhar districts of Nangarhar Province.
Armed clashes continued to make up the largest number of security incidents (61 per cent of all incidents); suicide attacks increased by 38 per cent and air strikes by the Afghan Air Force and international military forces increased by 46 per cent compared with the same period in 2017.
Some excerpts from the report
Concerns remained over deteriorating security conditions in the north. The Government’s control over territory decreased in Faryab Province, as the Taliban captured three district administrative centres and overran the Afghan National Army base in Ghormach over a one-week period in August. High levels of ground engagements were recorded in Balkh, Faryab and Jowzjan Provinces, while incidents along the main ring road had a negative impact on movement between the capitals of the three provinces. In total, the northern region recorded 17 per cent more security incidents over the first half of 2018 than in the same period in 2017.
The overall level of violence decreased significantly during the Eid al-Fitr ceasefires, bookended by spikes in armed clashes in the preceding and following weeks. Over the week incorporating the holiday, UNAMA recorded a total of 285 incidents, the lowest level of violence in a one-week period since the 2014 security transition. However, the weeks following the ceasefire again saw a rise in Taliban initiated armed clashes, as the movement sought to regain the offensive following the unprecedented events of Eid.
There were no sustained changes in territorial control between the Government and the Taliban during the reporting period. The Taliban mounted a number of attacks against district administrative centres, temporarily taking control of Jaghatu and Deh Yak in Ghazni Province, Tala Wa Barfak and Burkah in Baghlan Province and Atghar in Zabul Province, before withdrawing following counter-attacks by Afghan national security forces, often supported by international military airstrikes. On 10 August, the Taliban launched a large-scale attack against the capital of Ghazni Province, Ghazni City. Fighting lasted five days before the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces pushed Taliban fighters to the edge of the city. Additional reports were received of attacks against the Deh Yak, Khwajah Omari and Ajrestan district administrative centres in Ghazni Province, and of Taliban ambushes against reinforcements travelling to Ghazni in Zabul, Wardak and Logar Provinces. The main highway from Kabul to Kandahar cities continued to see high levels of insecurity.
ISIL-KP remained a significant presence in the eastern region, claiming responsibility for eight suicide and complex attacks in Nangarhar Province during the reporting period, two attacks in Kabul and one in Gardez City. ISIL-KP continued to fight against the Taliban in the East, with armed clashes reported in Nangarhar and Kunar Provinces. International military forces continued to target ISIL-KP in Nangarhar Province, conducting a series of air strikes against ISIL-KP targets in Deh Bala, Achin, Khugyani, Naziyan and Chaparhar districts of Nangarhar Province. On 1 August, a large group of fighters proclaiming affiliation with ISIL-KP surrendered to the Government in Jowzjan Province, following a series of fierce battles against Taliban forces. The incident allowed the Taliban to consolidate its position as the pre-eminent insurgent force in Jowzjan and represented a blow to the attempt by ISILKP to gain a foothold in the country’s north.
The Government continued its efforts to implement security sector reform in accordance with its four-year road map. Under the Inherent Law of 2017, 656 generals have been retired from the Afghan National Army in an attempt to promote generational change, rebalance the distribution of ranks and foster stronger leadership. The reforms were expanded to the Ministry of the Interior, with the first of two planned tranches of retirements initiated in July. The Afghan National Police also continued to roll out the verification of personnel, which began on 15 April. The process, which includes biometric registration and proof of vetting of Police personnel, remained ongoing as at August 2018.
In total, 12 incidents involving United Nations personnel were reported, including 5 cases of intimidation, 1 assassination and 1 improvised explosive device related incident. A contractor working with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) was killed during a complex attack on 31 July on a government facility in Jalalabad City.