Update to AFG18001.E of 20 July 1994 on the current situation in Jalalabad and whether or not it is now considered a "safe haven" for Afghanis [AFG19913.E]

According to the attached Xinhua article, Jalalabad, the "first important city from the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan," has remained peaceful since 1992 (16 Feb. 1995). References have also been made to Jalalabad as the "peaceful eastern Afghan city" (Deutsche Presse-Agentur 4 Jan. 1995; ibid. 19 Nov. 1994), a city "more or less at peace" (The Herald 8 Dec. 1994), "removed from the fighting" (Voice of America 31 Oct. 1994) and a city which has "emerged as a major trading centre because of relative peace in the region" (AFP 16 Feb. 1995).

Jalalabad and its refugee camps contain between 200 000 and 500 000 people who have sought safe haven from the fighting elsewhere in the country (Financial Times 16 Feb. 1995; Reuters 16 Nov. 1994; AP 6 Dec. 1994; OAA Sept. 1994, 4). According to attachments from Reuters, Xinhua and Voice of America dated October and November 1994, approximately 1 000 refugees were arriving per day in Jalalabad, many of whom were displaced by the fighting in Kabul (16 Nov. 1994; 3 Nov. 1994; 31 Oct. 1994). None of the sources provided specific dates with regards to the refugee influx into Jalalabad.

However, according to the attachment from Financial Times, the Talibans, a movement of armed young male Islamic students who number approximately 20 000, are eyeing the province of Nangarhar, of which Jalalabad is the capital, as their next possible target (16 Feb. 1995). Furthermore, the attached Xinhua and Agence France Presse articles state that the council of Jalalabad, which contains mujahideen from all political parties, is prepared to defend itself if the Taliban attack Jalalabad (16 Feb. 1995; 16 Feb. 1995).

For general information on the Taliban, please consult the attachments from Financial Times, Agence France Presse and both al-Watan al-Arabi articles. Sources differ on the number of provinces controlled by the Taliban, ranging from five (al-Watan al-Arabi 17 Feb. 1995), eight (AFP 4 Feb. 1995), nine (Xinhua 16 Feb. 1995) to "over ten of Afghanistan's 30 provinces" (The Economist 25 Feb. 1995, 36). According to the Financial Times attachment, the Taliban have taken over the provincial governments of 5 of Afghanistan's 29 provinces in the last three months (16 Feb. 1995).

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References


Agence France Presse (AFP) [Hong Kong, in English]. 16 February 1995. "Jalalabad Council Opposed to Taleban Invasion." (FBIS-NES-95-033 17 Feb. 1995, p. 55)

_____. 4 February 1995. Herve Clerc. "New Religious Movement Has Kabul in Its Sight." (NEXIS)

Associated Press (AP). 6 December 1994. "2,000 Tons of Aid Rolls into Kabul." (NEXIS)

Deutsche Presse-Agentur [Hamburg]. 4 January 1995. "U.S. Envoy Visits Warring Leaders in Afghanistan." (NEXIS)

_____. 19 November 1994. BC Cycle. "News at a Glance." (NEXIS)

The Economist [London]. 25 February 1995. "Afghanistan: Revenge of the Pathans."

Financial Times [London]. 16 February 1995. Farhan Bokhari. "Mysterious 'Talibans' at Kabul's Gates." (NEXIS)

The Herald [Glasgow]. 8 December 1994. Alistair Lyon. "Kabul in Currency Crisis." (NEXIS)

Office of Asylum Affairs (OAA), Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. September 1994. Afghanistan: Profile of Asylum Claims and Country Conditions. Washington, DC: Department of State.

Reuters. 16 November 1994. BC Cycle. Alistair Lyon. "The Approach of Winter Threatens Survival in Kabul." (NEXIS)

Voice of America []. 31 October 1994. Douglas Bakshian. "Afghan Fighting." (WEBB)

al-Watan al-Arabi [Paris, in Arabic]. 17 February 1995. "Taleban Official Details Movement's Objectives." (FBIS-NES-95-034 21 Feb. 1995, pp. 79-80)

The Xinhua News Agency. 16 February 1995. "Jalalabad, Afghanistan, Ready to Defend." (NEXIS)

_____. 3 November 1994. "Afghan Refugees Call for Peace." (NEXIS)

Attachments

Agence France Presse (AFP) [Hong Kong, in English]. 16 February 1995. "Jalalabad Council Opposed to Taleban Invasion." (FBIS-NES-95-033 17 Feb. 1995, p. 55)

_____. 4 February 1995. Herve Clerc. "New Religious Movement Has Kabul in Its Sight." (NEXIS)

Deutsche Presse-Agentur [Hamburg]. 4 January 1995. "U.S. Envoy Visits Warring Leaders in Afghanistan." (NEXIS)

Financial Times [London]. 16 February 1995. Farhan Bokhari. "Mysterious 'Talibans' at Kabul's Gates." (NEXIS)

Voice of America []. 31 October 1994. Douglas Bakshian. "Afghan Fighting." (WEBB)

al-Watan al-Arabi [Paris, in Arabic]. 17 February 1995. "Taleban Official Details Movement's Objectives." (FBIS-NES-95-034 21 Feb. 1995, pp. 79-80)

_____. 6 January 1995. "'New' Brand of Mojahedin Rising." (FBIS-NES-95-036 23 Feb. 1995, pp. 63-65)

The Xinhua News Agency. 16 February 1995. "Jalalabad, Afghanistan, Ready to Defend." (NEXIS)