Anfragebeantwortung zu Afghanistan: Sicherheitslage in der Provinz Dschuzdschan (auch: Jowzjan, Jawzjan, Jozjan) [a-9834-1]

1. September 2016

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Das Institute for the Study of War (ISW), eine in Washington D.C. ansässige Denkfabrik, veröffentlicht im August 2016 einen Überblick zu Sicherheitsentwicklungen in Afghanistan seit Juli 2016 (ISW, 28. August 2016 a). Dieser Überblick enthält eine detaillierte Karte zur Sicherheitssituation in Afghanistan:

 

·      ISW Map: Institute for the Study of War: Afghanistan Partial Threat Assessment: August 28, 2016, 28. August 2016b
http://www.understandingwar.org/sites/default/files/August%2028%20AFG%20Partial%20Threat%20Assessment_4.pdf

 

Derselbe Überblick des ISW zur Sicherheitslage vom August 2016 erwähnt folgende jüngere Entwicklungen in der Provinz Jowzjan:

ISIS Wilayat Khorasan militants are operating alongside Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) militants in Jowzjan Province. Security forces arrested the alleged ISIS ‘shadow governor’ of Jowzjan province in Qush Tepah District in early August after a group of ISIS and IMU-affiliated militants clashed with security forces. It is unclear whether ISIS flipped the Taliban shadow governor in the province, or whether local reporting is simply referring to a local ISIS commander. A woman also surrendered to police in the provincial capital on August 16 [2016], claiming her husband was pressuring her to travel to Nangarhar to receive training to become a suicide bomber for ISIS.” (ISW, 28. August 2016a)

Das ISW beschreibt in einem früheren, im April 2016 veröffentlichten Überblick zu Sicherheitsentwicklungen in Afghanistan folgende Entwicklungen in Jowzjan sowie in den benachbarten Provinzen Faryab und Balch:

Rival Northern Warlords First Vice President General Abdul Rashid Dostum and Balkh Provincial Governor Mohammad Atta Noor conducted competing operations against Taliban militants in Faryab, Jowzjan and Balkh Provinces in late February and early March. Competition between the rival warlords intensified when Dostum and Atta’s supporters staged protests and counter-protests in Mazar-e Sharif and Maimanah Cities on March 22 and 23. Competition between these northern warlords reflects competition between President Ghani, linked with Ghani, and CEO Abdullah Abdullah, whom Atta backs, and challenges the legitimacy of the National Unity Government by strengthening militias conducting operations outside of government control.” (ISW, 12. April 2016)

Afghanische Medienquellen bezeichnen die Sicherheitslage in Jowzjan als „relativ volatil“ (KP, 20. April 2016) bzw. „volatil“ (KP, 1TV, 31. Juli 2016). Laut dem afghanischen Fernsehsender 1TV habe es in Jowzjan in den letzten Jahren eine Zunahme aufständischer Bewegungen gegeben. (1TV, 31. Juli 2016).

 

Der UNO-Generalsekretär schreibt in seinem Bericht vom Juni 2016 an den UNO-Sicherheitsrat:

„The difficult security situation prompted some leading politicians associated with militia groups both inside and outside of the Government to call for a more direct role in military efforts. The First Vice-President, Abdul Rashid Dostum, and militia groups associated with his Junbish-i-Milli political party launched counterinsurgency operations in Jawzjan Province on 20 April [2016].” (UN General Assembly, 10. Juni 2016)

Die Unterstützungsmission der Vereinten Nationen in Afghanistan (UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, UNAMA) merkt in ihrem Halbjahresbericht vom Juli 2016 (Berichtszeitraum: Jänner bis Juni 2016) Folgendes zur Sicherheitslage in Jowzjan und benachbarten Provinzen an:

„UNAMA also remains concerned by the Government’s continued reliance on pro-Government armed groups reportedly linked to prominent power brokers to maintain security and conduct operations, particularly in Faryab, Jawzjan, and Khost provinces. Such groups continue to enjoy general impunity for any abuses committed, reportedly due to their affiliation with power brokers.” (UNAMA, 25. Juli 2016, S. 7-8)

„[O]n 7 January [2016], in Khoja Dokoh district, Jawzjan province, around 15 masked armed men carrying rifles and rockets entered Khoja Dokoh Female High School and warned that female students over the age of 12 must wear burqas, a requirement the school director imposed on the students following the threat. UNAMA also verified two incidents of threats and intimidation by Anti-Government Elements in Jawzjan and Badakhshan provinces aimed at excluding certain subjects, including science, from the school curriculums in order to focus instead on Islamic studies.” (UNAMA, 25. Juli 2016, S. 21)

Weiters berichtet UNAMA, dass im April 2016 sieben Schafhirten in Jowzjan von Mitgliedern einer regierungsfreundlichen bewaffneten Gruppe zusammengeschlagen worden seien (UNAMA, 25. Juli 2016, S. 83).

Die afghanische Tageszeitung Afghanistan Times berichtet im August 2016 über die Provinz Jowzjan:

„Speaking to residents on his administration’s six-month performance, provincial governor Maulavi Lutfullah Aziz said that significant changes brought about the law and order situation in the province.

In fight against insurgency he said that several districts of the province such as Kham Aab, Qarqin, Faizabad, Muradyan, Mangajak, Aqcha, Khan Aqa and Khwaja Durqu are cleared from the presence of insurgents.

Moreover, he said that 245 insurgents were killed, 186 received injuries and 117 other detained during anti-government elements operation in the province. […]

‘The Taliban claim capturing some areas from security forces after the military operation came to an end, but their assertion is wrong. Security forces are engaged in fighting against the militants in some areas,’ Pajhwok Afghan News quoted the governor, as saying.

However, he said that there are insurgents who are still active in Zar Aab and Qush Tepa districts, but the security forces are committed to clear areas from their (militants) presence.” (Afghanistan Times, 16. August 2016)

Die offizielle afghanische staatliche Nachrichtenagentur Bakhtar News berichtet im Juli 2016:

„Sheberghan (BNA) Seven Daesh loyalists were killed in a clash by security forces in Jawzjan province yesterday. The clash took place in Qosh Tapa district of the province, in addition killing of seven Daesh fighters, 15 others including Qsari Hekmat and Qari Ghani two leaders of them were injured. Mohammad Reza Ghafoori spokesman for Jawzjan governor told BNA, Qari Hekmat earlier was shadow governor of Taliban in Qosh Tapa district and as a result of interpersonal dispute joined to Daesh. The source added during the conflict, two security forces were also martyred and four others were injured.” (Bakhtar News, 31. Juli 2016)

Der afghanische Nachrichtensender Tolo News berichtet im Mai 2016:

„At least 20 new security check posts were established in four districts of Jawzjan to prevent the infiltration of terrorist groups in the province, said Abdul Hafiz Khashi, security chief at Jawzjan police headquarters.

According to him, the areas were recently cleared of militants in a military operation carried out by Afghan security forces and led by first Vice President Abdul Rashid Dostum.” (Tolo News, 29. Mai 2016)

Der afghanische Fernsehsender 1TV berichtet in einer Sendung vom Mai 2016 unter Berufung auf den (ersten) Vizepräsidenten General Raschid Dostum:

„The vice-president says that as a result of operations launched by the security forces in the provinces of Jawzjan and Sar-e Pol this morning, 35 Taliban have been killed and 40 more wounded. The operation has also led to clearing around 40 districts of the Taliban. Abdul Aziz Karimi reports from Jawzjan:

[Correspondent, video showing soldiers on foot] After a break of a few days, a new military operation led by the first vice-president has been launched in parts of Jawzjan Province.

[Video showing General Dostum telling his men not to leave [the area] in order to prevent remnants of the Taliban from escaping.]

[Correspondent] As a result of the operation, more than 70 Taliban have been killed and wounded and more than 40 villages cleared.” (1TV, 9. Mai 2016)

Die afghanische Online-Zeitung Khaama Press (KP) berichtet in einem Artikel vom April 2016:

„The Vice President General Abdul Rashid Dostum has returned to the battlefield in northern Jawzjan province as local officials report the Taliban insurgents have suffered heavy casualties.

Provincial governor’s spokesman Mohammad Reza Ghafoori said at least 30 Taliban insurgents have been killed and nearly 40 others have sustained injuries during the operations.

He said the operations are being conducted in Aqcha district but the Office of the Vice President reported that 5 villages have been cleared of the militants so far.

The operations were launched around 5:00 am local time today and clearance operations are underway after the militants were forced to flee the area, the Office of the Vice President said.

In the meantime, Ghafoori said, a commander of the Taliban group, identified as Mullah Rasool was killed and the group’s shadow district governor for Aqcha was injured.

He said operations are also underway in Qosh Tapa district where majority of the militants have suffered casualties.

The Taliban militants group has not commented regarding the report so far.

Jawzjan is among the relatively volatile provinces in northern Afghanistan where anti-government armed militants are actively operating in a number of its districts.” (KP, 20. April 2016)

Der UNO-Generalsekretär bemerkt in seinem Bericht vom März 2016 an den UNO-Sicherheitsrat:

The Taliban expanded its territorial reach in 2015, temporarily capturing 24 district centres in the north (in Badakhshan, Baghlan, Faryab, Jawzjan, Kunduz, Sari Pul and Takhar provinces), in the west (in Badghis and Farah provinces), in the east (in Nuristan Province) and in the south (in Helmand and Kandahar provinces), in addition to temporarily seizing the provincial capital of Kunduz. This represents a significant increase compared with 2014, when the Taliban captured only three centres. Even though most district centres were quickly retaken by pro-government forces, several remained under Taliban control for weeks, including in Faryab, Helmand, Kunduz, Sari Pul and Takhar provinces.” (UN General Assembly, 7. März 2016, S. 4-5)

Die afghanische Nachrichtenagentur Pajhwok Afghan News (PAN) berichtet im Februar 2016:

„Security officials in northern Jawzjan province on Tuesday said six Taliban fighters had been killed and five others wounded during a clash in Tosh Tapa district.

But the insurgents claimed 21 Afghan soldiers were killed, wounded and captured during the clash.

Maj. Reza Rezaee, spokesman for the 209th Shaheen Military Corps, told Pajhwok Afghan News the clashes happened in Khan Aqa, Turkmen and Oldi Chaqma Choqur villages.

He said security forces defused four landmines in the area, but a fifth exploded, claiming the lives of two Afghan National Army (ANA) soldier and one policeman.

He added reinforcements were about to reachthe area, where a clearing operation would be launched soon.

But Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed six soldiers were killed, a dozen wounded and three others captured during fighting.

Sher Mohammad, a resident of Sher Baig village, said scores of domestic animals had been lost as a result of the ongoing fighting in the five villages. He said residents had fled the area and migrated to other places.” (PAN, 16. Februar 2016)

In einem Artikel vom März 2016 erwähnt die afghanische staatliche Zeitung Arman-e Melli die Provinz Jowzjan als eine der Provinzen des Landes, in denen es im Jahr 2015 heftige Kampfhandlungen zwischen Taliban und afghanischen Sicherheitskräften gegeben habe:

„In Afghanistan, it was speculated that 2015 would be a bloody year for the people of this country. As expected, it turned out to be a bloody year. Hundreds of civilians and military forces were martyred and a large number of Taleban fighters were killed that year. Helmand, Faryab, Jawzjan, Badghis, Sar-e Pol, Ghazni, Kandahar, Zabol and Nangarhar were provinces where Taleban and Afghan security forces fought one another fiercely.” (Arman-e Melli, 19. März 2016)

Das Europäische Unterstützungsbüro für Asylfragen (European Asylum Support Office, EASO), eine Agentur der Europäischen Union, deren Ziel es ist, die praktische Zusammenarbeit der Mitgliedsstaaten im Asylbereich zu fördern, schreibt in seinem im Jänner 2016 veröffentlichen Bericht zur Sicherheitslage in Afghanistan Folgendes über sicherheitsrelevante Entwicklungen und Ereignisse in der Provinz Jowzjan in Zeitraum Jänner bis August 2015:

„From 1 January to 31 August 2015, Jawzjan province counted 199 security incidents. Table 27 provides an overview of the nature of the security incidents:” (EASO, Jänner 2016, S. 140)

„An anonymous source in Kabul stated that due to a large number of insurgents infiltrating the province from Balkh, Sar-e Pul and Faryab, the security situation in Jawzjan was deteriorating during 2015. Previously this province was considered stable. Particularly the districts of Mingajik, Aqcha, Mardyan, Qarqin, Khamyab, Darzab and Qush Tepa were, in July 2015, considered very volatile. […]

Reportedly, insurgents carry out their activities in almost all villages of Qushtepa and Darzab districts except the district centres. Harassment of the local population in areas controlled by insurgents led several families to flee these districts and seek refuge in Shiberghan. According to a source in Kabul, such harassment includes extortion, targeted killings, illegal taxation, intimidation, forced recruitment/child recruitment as well as Taliban use of the civilian houses, schools/madrassa (religious schools) and residential areas as human shields to launch attacks against ANSF. In order to avoid airstrikes, Taliban fighters use mobile units rather than permanent bases and hide in people’s houses during raids. Additionally, a parallel court is active in almost all villages under control of insurgents. […]

The political situation in Jawzjan is closely linked to Junbeshe Melli and its leader, First Vice-President Abdul Rashid Dostum. After years of singleparty domination by Junbesh in the province, however, other political parties, namely Jamiat and Hezbe Islami, have succeeded in establishing bases in the province.

By December 2014, local parliamentarians warned that insecurity was ‘widely spread’ in northern provinces including Jawzjan. They also warned of a popular uprising. In January 2015, thousands of Jawzjan residents took to the streets to demonstrate against the Taliban. Men and women vowed to form a popular uprising against the insurgents if they did not reconcile with the government. That uprising came about under the direction of Uzbek strongman Dostum. After months of lobbying in the National Security Council, he decided to raise his own militia to take on the insurgents in the north. In July 2015, he gathered thousands of armed men to fight the Taliban in Jawzjan, neighbouring Sar-e Pul and Faryab, commanding them from his residence in Shiberghan. In August 2015, thousands of Jawzjan residents again rallied in the provincial capital to voice their support for Dostum and to denounce Pakistan’s alleged role in the insurgency. […]

Insurgents mainly seem to consist of Taliban fighters. Unlike neighbouring Faryab, where IMU [Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan][1] is broadly recruiting among Turkic speakers, ethnic Turkmen in Jawzjan eager to fight are recruited by the Taliban. According to a source of RFE/RL’s Qishloq Ovozi Blog, more than 90% of Taliban in Aqcha, Shiberghan and Andkhoy districts are ethnic Turkmen. In southern Darzab and Qushtepa, the Taliban seems to be drawing more from frustrated Uzbek.

In August 2015, the Taliban issued a statement where mawlawi Abdul Rahman is mentioned as ‘in charge’ of the province Jawzjan. In an article of September 2015, a senior security official told Pajhwok that the former Taliban governor in Mingajik district, mullah Qader, had killed qari Amin, the Taliban military commander in Jawzjan. The killing was in retaliation for the murder of one of mullah Qaders bodyguards by qari Amin.

In February 2015, the provincial chief of police claimed 600 insurgents ‘rebranded’ themselves as fighters of ‘Daesh’ or Islamic State. Already in January 2015, a Sar-e Pul official stated there were reports of IS recruiting in Darzab. In April 2015, a small group of Uzbek members of IS were reported recruiting in some villages in Qushtepa.

In April 2015, the chief of police mentioned an influx of IMU fighters and their families, driven out of Faryab into Qushtepa.

In the spring of 2015, thousands of foreign fighters, such as Chechens, Uighur, Arabs, Turkmen and Uzbek, were driven out of their safe havens in the Pakistani tribal areas by a military campaign and settled throughout the northern provinces, including Jawzjan. This movement was claimed to be partially responsible for the uptick in violence in the north of the country. These foreign insurgents and their families have allegedly been involved in the fighting, propaganda and preparation of explosives. In May 2015, officials in Jawzjan’s central district of Aqcha estimated that there were at least 300 ‘foreigners’ among militants battling government forces.

In December 2014, former Taliban shadow governor Mawlawi Nehtamullah, allegedly joined the peace process, together with 200 of his fighters previously active in the southern districts of Qushtepa and Darzab. Later, these men joined the ALP [Afghan Local Police] and several were killed by the Taliban in attacks on their positions in Qushtepa. In December 2014, an official claimed that of the 600 ALP in both districts, 200 had already left their jobs. In July 2015, another 50-personel ALP-programme was approved for Fayzabad district. As of July 2015, of the 600 approved, a total of 420 ALP were reported to serve in the districts of Qush Tepa, Darzab and Fayzabad.

In the northern districts, several former Jihadi warlords have rearmed their followers and created arbaki. In Qarqin, a group of 150 armed people managed to keep the Taliban out of the district, and in Kokal Dash, Fayzabad district, 70 to 80 arbaki chased the Taliban from their area and set up a string of fortified checkpoints. Several arbaki groups joint the ANSF [Afghan National Security Forces] in the fight for Khamyab and withdrew with them when they gave up the district in December 2014.” (EASO, Jänner 2016, S. 140-144)

 

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Quellen: (Zugriff auf alle Quellen am 1. September 2016)

·      Afghanistan Times: Militants flushed out, all roads reopened in Jawzjan: Official, 16. August 2016
http://afghanistantimes.af/militants-flushed-out-all-roads-reopened-in-jawzjan-official/

·      Arman-e Melli: Afghan paper looks back at troubled year, 19. März 2016 (zitiert nach BBC Monitoring)

·      Bakhtar News: Daesh Loyalists Killed in Jawzjan Clash, 31. Juli 2016
http://www.bakhtarnews.com.af/eng/security/item/24022-daesh-loyalists-killed-in-jawzjan-clash.html

·      EASO - European Asylum Support Office: Afghanistan Security Situation, Jänner 2016
http://www.ecoi.net/file_upload/1226_1454492894_easo-coi-afghanistan-security-situation-bz0416001enn-fv1.pdf

·      ISW - Institute for the Study of War: Afghanistan Partial Threat Assessment: April 12, 2016, 12. April 2016
http://post.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/afghanistan-partial-threat-assessment-april-12-2016

·      ISW - Institute for the Study of War: Afghanistan Partial Threat Assessment: August 28, 2016, 28. August 2016a
http://post.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/afghanistan-partial-threat-assessment-august-28-2016

·      ISW Map: Institute for the Study of War: Afghanistan Partial Threat Assessment: August 28, 2016, 28. August 2016b
http://www.understandingwar.org/sites/default/files/August%2028%20AFG%20Partial%20Threat%20Assessment_4.pdf

·      JF - Jamestown Foundation: Wilayat Khorasan Stumbles in Afghanistan; Terrorism Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 5, 3. März 2016 (verfügbar auf ecoi.net)
https://www.ecoi.net/local_link/320838/460145_de.html

·      KP - Khaama Press: Taliban suffer heavy casualties in operations led by Gen. Dostum in Jawzjan, 20. April 2016
http://www.khaama.com/taliban-suffer-heavy-casualties-in-operations-led-by-gen-dostum-in-jawzjan-0721

·      PAN - Pajhwok Afghan News: Security forces among 9 dead in Jawzjan gunbattles, 16. Februar 2016
http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2016/02/16/security-forces-among-9-dead-jawzjan-gunbattles

·      UNAMA - UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan: Afghanistan Midyear Report 2016; Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, 25. Juli 2016
http://www.ecoi.net/file_upload/1226_1470819956_protectionciviliansarmedconflict2016.pdf 

·      Tolo News: Jawzjan Police Establish 20 New Security Check Posts, 29. Mai 2016
http://www.tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/25542-jawzjan-police-establish-20-new-security-check-posts

UN General Assembly: The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security; Report of the Secretary-General [A/70/775–S/2016/218], 7. März 2016
http://www.ecoi.net/file_upload/1226_1458124283_n1605468.pdf

·      UN General Assembly: The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security; Report of the Secretary-General [A/70/924–S/2016/532], 10. Juni 2016
http://www.ecoi.net/file_upload/1226_1466074301_n1616020.pdf

·      1TV: Afghan warlord Dostum fights Taliban in north, 9. Mai 2016 (zitiert nach BBC Monitoring)

·      1TV: Taliban execute woman in front of father, child in Jowzjan: official, 31. Juli 2016
http://1tvnews.af/en/news/afghanistan/23967-taliban-execute-woman-in-front-of-father-child-in-jowzjan-official

 

 

 

[1] Bezüglich der Islamischen Bewegung Usbekistans (IMU) berichtet die Jamestown Foundation (JF), eine unabhängige Denkfabrik mit Sitz in den USA, dass diese im Spätherbst 2015 im Zuge einer Offensive der Taliban in der Provinz Zabul „vernichtet“ worden sei. Zuvor habe sich die IMU dem afghanischen Ableger der Gruppe Islamischer Staat (Wilayat Chorasan) angeschlossen und damit ihr bisheriges Naheverhältnis zu den Taliban abgebrochen, und es sei zu sich schnell eskalierenden bewaffneten Auseinandersetzungen mit den Taliban gekommen. (JF, 3. März 2016)