Nangarhar is an ethnic-Pashto province east of Kabul bordering the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan near the Khyber Pass; its capital and military centre is Jalalabad (ACC 5 Dec. 2002). Current provincial officials are Governor Haji Din Mohammed (AFP 26 Jan. 2003; RFE/RL 19 Feb. 2003), Deputy Governor Mohammad Asef Qazizada (Radio Afghanistan 30 Mar. 2003) and military leader Haji Hazrat Ali (The News 17 Mar. 2002; Denmark 7 Mar. 2003, 12; IWPR 15 Apr. 2003). Headquartered in Darra-e-Noor in southeast Jalalabad (The News 17 Mar. 2002), Ali's militia is dominated by the Pashais ethnic group (Denmark 7 Mar. 2003, 12). Twenty delegates represent Nangarhar on the Loya Jirga tribal assembly (AFP 3 July 2003).

The provincial leadership cooperates with the Afghan Interim government on security issues (ibid. 5 July 2003), taxation (Xinhua News Agency 15 May 2003; AFP 24 May 2003) and to the ongoing anti-drug operations (ibid. 16 Dec. 2002; RFE/RL 18 Dec. 2002; Bradenton Herald 27 Jan. 2003; IWPR 15 Apr. 2003). In addition, according to the Danish Immigration Service, military commander Ali "has the support of the USA as part of the fight against al-Qaida" (Denmark 7 Mar. 2003, 12). The Research Directorate did not find 2003 analyses of the degree of federal control over the region maintained by the transitional government in Kabul. However, in early 2002, Pakistani journalist Arif Jamal observed a lack modern state institutions, in addition to noting that that "[l]ocal warlords are ruling most of the provinces" (The News 17 March 2002).

The Afghan Security Situation in General

In its weekly security assessments, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) described the situation in Afghanistan in 2003 as generally "calm" between mid-January and early March (UN 17 Jan. 2003; ibid. 24 Jan. 2003; ibid. 31 Jan 2003; ibid. 14 Feb. 2003; ibid. 21 Feb. 2003; 28 Feb. 2003). Following a country-wide series of bombings, the WFP changed its description to "deteriorat[ing]" on 7 March (ibid. 7 Mar. 2002) and from mid-March until the end of April 2003, it called the Afghan security situation "volatile" (ibid. 14 Mar. 2003; ibid. 28 Mar. 2003; ibid. 7 April. 2003; ibid. 14 April 2003; ibid. 17 April 2003). On 27 June 2003, the WFP again described the situation as calm (ibid. 27 June 2003). In a July interview, the German commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) observed that the number of attacks on stabilization forces and NGOS in May was double the total in April and that "the level of attacks stabilised 'on a very high level' in June" (AFP 2 July 2003).

The Security Situation in Nangarhar Province

Nangarhar is identified as a route taken by "terrorist groups and Taliban supporters" after crossing into Afghanistan from Pakistan (RFE/RL 19 Feb. 2003). It is also one of the "traditional strongholds" of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar and the Hizb-i-Islami Afghanistan (HIA) political party, which may now be allied with the Taliban (Times Asia 21 July 2003). Jane's Intelligence Review also referred to HIA's strong network in Nangarhar and its "ad hoc alliance" with Taliban forces and "groups of Al-Qaeda stragglers" (May 2003, 13, 10-11). An unnamed Taliban commander specified that the "Arab mojahedin" were not presenting Nangarhar (Al Jazeera 7 May 2003).

Officials "warn[ed] that bandits and remnants of the al-Qaida terrorist network still roam the countryside" around Jalalabad (Bradenton Herald 27 Jan. 2003). The Taliban leader corroborated this view when interviewed by Al-Jazeera television in May 2003. He claimed that the Taliban had established a centre in Jalalabad and asserted that the "Afghan mojahedin" continued "attacks ... on the Americans in Jalalabad ... almost every day" (Al Jazeera 7 May 2003). In May, regrouped Taliban forces and their allies were blamed for attacks on coalition stabilization forces and humanitarian aid organizations (JIR May 2003, 11). Even so, local authorities claimed on 26 May 2003 that the security situation in Nangarhar province was "very calm" (VIRI 26 May 2003) and that they have established peace (Radio Nangarhar 7 June 2003).

Nevertheless, attempts to curtail the cultivation of poppies for opium production in Nangarhar, led to unrest in 2003 (IWPR 15 Apr. 2003). The region is one of the major poppy growing areas of Afghanistan (ibid.) and was the scene of a crackdown led by a team tasked to destroy poppy crops (RFE/RL 18 Dec. 2002). According to one report, farmers' increasing anger toward UN aid agencies-thought to be passing information about poppy production to anti-drug authorities-led to sporadic attacks on aid workers and the mining of roads (Bradenton Herald 27 Jan. 2003). In February 2003, unrest among the local populations of Khogyani, Wazeer, and Agam forced anti-drug authorities to flee and led to clashes between farmers and police in Shinwari (IWPR 15 Apr. 2003).

The Research Directorate found numerous reports of attacks on international non-combatants in Nangarhar, including a 26 January ambush on a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) convoy that led the UNHCR to temporarily suspend its operations in the provincial districts of Khogyani, Sherazad and Hesarak on 27 January 2003 (AFP 26 Jan. 2003; AP 27 Jan. 2003; UN 31 Jan. 2003). In addition, unknown assailants targeted NGO vehicles using remote controlled mines laid on roads in Dih Bala Hesk Mina (BAAG May 2003, 5) and south of Jalalabad (AFP 26 May 2003). Regional security commander Haji Ajab Shah alleged that Afghan guards hired by the NGOs were bribed by al-Qaeda to carry out the attacks (VIRI 26 May 2003).

In Jalalabad, explosive devices were thrown into the office of an NGO (BAAG May 2003, 5) and fired at a UNICEF office (Hindokosh News Agency 30 June 2003; JIR May 2003); most recently, a UNHCR warehouse was bombed (Weekend Australian 12 July 2002). In the latter case, authorities blamed Taliban fugitives, al-Qaeda and HIA loyalists (ibid.).

Anti-coalition forces were also held responsible for a March rocket attack on the Jalalabad airport, which is controlled by US and Afghan troops (RFE/RL 31 Mar. 2003; Radio Afghanistan 30 Mar. 2003). Jane's Intelligence Review noted that this was one of several attacks on US-controlled military bases across Afghanistan (JIR May 2003, 11). On 18 June, US Special Forces and regional militaries targeted Taliban, al-Qaeda and HIA forces in Operation Unified Resolve, which sought to disrupt infiltration networks into Afghanistan (AFP 3 July 2003; The Nation 26 June 2003) and possibly "flush out" anti-coalition fighters hiding in Nangarhar and other Afghan provinces (AFP 24 June 2003). Following this action, there were skirmishes reported between forces loyal to Hazrat Ali and Pakistani border forces (ibid. 5 July 2003) along the Afghan-Pakistan border (RFE/RL 11 July 2003; Dawn 8 July 2003). Afghan sources claimed that Pakistani troops penetrated into the Nangarhar districts of Lal Pur, Goshta and Khas Kunar (AFP 3 July 2003).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate 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. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Afghan Chamber of Commerce (ACC). 5 December 2002. "Nangarhar." http://www.afghanchamberofcommerce.com/States/Nangarhar.htm [Accessed 22 July 2003]

Agence France Presse (AFP). 5 July 2003. "Afghanistan Probes Reported Border Violation by Pakistan." (ProLog) http://www.ptd.net/webnews/wed/ae/Qafghanistan-pakistan.RUYj_D15.html [Accessed 16 July 2003]

_____. 3 July 2003. "Tribal Leader Claims Pakistan Militias Intrude into Afghan Territory." (FBIS-NES-2003-0703 7 July 2003/Dialog)

_____. 2 July 2003. Mike Patterson. "Attacks in Afghanistan Doubled in May: ISAF Commander." (ReliefWeb) http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/480fa8736b88bbc3c12564f6004c8ad5/7114f1006b3f2b2ec1256d57004fc1ae?OpenDocument [Accessed 24 July 2003]

_____. 24 June 2003. Rana Jawad. "Islamists Wary as Pakistani Troops Control Border Area with Afghanistan." (NEXIS)

_____. 26 May 2003. "Two Afghan Employees of German NGO Injured in Bomb Explosion" (Relief Web) http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/480fa8736b88bbc3c12564f6004c8ad5/65e43e7b932cb081c1256d32005ebebd?OpenDocument [Accessed 17 July 2003]

_____. 24 May 2003. "Karzai Replaces Governor of Southeast Afghan Province." (FBIS-2002-NES-0524 27 May 2003/Dialog)

_____. 26 January 2003. Barry Neild. "'At Least' Two Killed in Attack on UN Convoy in Afghanistan." (FBIS-NES-2003-0126 27 Jan. 2003/Dialog)

_____. 16 December 2002. Stephane Orjollet. "Afghanistan Battles Poppy Trade, Farmers See Few Alternatives." (FBIS-NES-2002-1216 17 Dec. 2002/Dialog)

Associated Press Worldstream (AP). 27 January 2003. Janullah Hashimzada. "U.N. Agency Halts Operation in Eastern Afghanistan Following Deadly Attack on Convoy." (NEXIS)

Bradenton Herald [Bradenton, Florida]. 27 January 2003. Malcom Garcia. "Crackdown on Afghanistan's Opium Farms May Spark Terror, Leader Warns." (Media Awareness Project Drug News Vol. 3, No. 134) http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n134/a10.html [Accessed 22 July 2003]

British Agencies Afghanistan Group (BAAG). May 2003. "Security" Afghanistan: Monthly Review. http://www.baag.org.uk/baag_may_03.pdf [Accessed 31 July 2003]

_____. March 2003. "Security." Afghanistan: Monthly Review. http://www.baag.org.uk/baag_march_03.pdf [Accessed 31 July 2003]

Dawn [Karachi]. 8 July 2003. "'Incursions' Anger Afghan Tribe." http://www.dawn.com/2003/07/08/top16.htm [Accessed 16 July 2003]
Denmark. 7 March 2003. Danish Immigration Service. The Political, Security and Human Rights Situation in Afghanistan: Report on Fact-Finding Mission to Kabul and Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan and Islamabad, Pakistan 22 September-5 October 2002. (European Country of Origin Information Network) http://www.ecoi.net/docPipe.php?file=pub/ds459_02642afgh.pdf [Accessed 17 July 2003]

Hindokosh News Agency [Kabul, in Dari]. 30 June 2003. "UNICEF Officers Comes Under Attack in Eastern Afghan Town-Agency." (BBC Monitoring/Dialog)

Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR). 15 April 2003. Afghanistan Recovery Report. No. 56. Hakam Khan Chapand. "Opium Growers Defy Ban." http://www.iwpr.net/index.pl?archive/arr/arr_200304_56_1_eng.txt [Accessed 17 July 2003]

Jane's Intelligence Review (JIR) [Surrey]. May 2003. Anthony Davis. "Afghan Security Deteriorates as Taliban Regroup."

Al-Jazeera Television [Doha, Qatar, in Arabic]. 7 May 2003. "Taleban Commander Says the Aim Is to Expel US Troops from Afghanistan." (BBC Monitoring 9 May 2003/Dialog)

The Nation [Lahore]. 26 June 2002. Aziz-ud-din Ahmad. "Author Views Impact of Anti-al Qa'ida, Taliban Operation in Tribal Area." (FBIS-NES-2003-0626 27 June 2003/Dialog)

The News [Islamabad]. 17 March 2002. Arif Jamal. "The Missing Centre." http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/mar2002-weekly/nos-17-03-2002/dia.htm [Accessed 18 July 2003]

Radio Afghanistan [Kabul, in Pashto]. 30 March 2003. "Afghanistan: Jalalabad Airport Comes Under Missile Attack." (FBIS-NES-2003-0330 31 Mar. 2003/Dialog)

Radio Nangarhar [Jalalabad, in Pashto]. 7 June 2003. "Afghan Commander Assures Japanese Envoy of Security Efforts." (BBC Monitoring 8 June 2003/Dialog)

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). 11 July 2003. Afghanistan Report. Vol. 2, No. 24. "Afghan-Pakistani Forces Reportedly Clash Along Border." http://www.rferl.org/afghan-report/2003/07/24-110703.asp [Accessed 16 July 2003]

_____. 31 March 2003. Newsline. "As U.S. and Afghan Troops Are Attacked in Kandahar, Nangarhar Provinces." http://www.rferl.org/2003/03/310303.asp [Accessed 16 July 2003]

_____. 19 February 2003. Newsline. "Nangarhar Governor Says His Province Ready to Repel Terrorist Infiltrations from Pakistan." (Afghanistan Daily Digest 19 Feb. 2003) http://www.eurasianet.org/resources/Afghanistan/hypermail/200302/0069.shtml [Accessed 17 July 2003]

_____. 18 December 2002. Newsline. "Anti-Narcotics Force Created in Afghanistan's Nangarhar Province." http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2002/12/181202.asp [Accessed 16 July 2003]

Time Asia. 21 July 2003. Vol. 162, No. 2. Phil Zabriskie. "Undefeated." http://www.time.com/time/asia/magazine/printout/0,13675,501030721-464487,00.html [Accessed 18 July 2003]

United Nations (UN). 27 June 2003. World Food Programme. David Morton. "WFP Emergency Report No. 26 of 2003." (Relief Web) http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/6686f45896f15dbc852567ae00530132/5e8dc4b2701f356e85256d520064f76b?OpenDocument [Accessed 18 July 2003]

_____. 17 April 2003. World Food Programme. David Morton. "WFP Emergency Report No. 16 of 2003." (Relief Web) http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/0/6f2489b501ff93c685256d0b00674e39?OpenDocument [Accessed 18 July 2003]

_____. 14 April 2003. World Food Programme. David Morton. "WFP Emergency Report No. 15 of 2003." (Relief Web) http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/0/9f9aec89092fd3ee85256d08006496b4?OpenDocument [Accessed 18 July 2003]

_____. 4 April 2003. World Food Programme. David Morton. "WFP Emergency Report No. 14 of 2003." (Relief Web) http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/0/8aa0be294a2ae14885256cfe006f5a52?OpenDocument [Accessed 18 July 2003]

_____. 28 March 2003. World Food Programme. David Morton. "WFP Emergency Report No. 13 of 2003." (Relief Web) http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/0/ac150cd7564e87f485256cf7006825d2?OpenDocument [Accessed 18 July 2003]

_____. 14 March 2003. World Food Programme. David Morton. "WFP Emergency Report No. 11 of 2003." (Relief Web) http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/0/e518fe8f39ecf88885256ce9007154f6?OpenDocument [Accessed 18 July 2003]

_____. 7 March 2003. World Food Programme. David Morton. "WFP Emergency Report No. 10 of 2003." (Relief Web) http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/0/4f62dea3522f9c3d85256ce200697ab5?OpenDocument [Accessed 18 July 2003]

_____. 28 February 2003. World Food Programme. Carlo Scaramella. "WFP Emergency Report No. 09 of 2003." (Relief Web) http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/0/24b876913c4b6ced85256cdb006eff26?OpenDocument [Accessed 18 July 2003]

_____. 21 February 2003. World Food Programme. Francesco Strippoli. "WFP Emergency Report No. 08 of 2003." (Relief Web) http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/0/e412bb1d83d08ffc85256cd4006e56c4?OpenDocument [Accessed 18 July 2003]

_____. 14 February 2003. World Food Programme. Francesco Strippoli. "WFP Emergency Report No. 07 of 2003." (Relief Web) http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/0/b14a849e746cfee185256ccd006eb8bc?OpenDocument [Accessed 18 July 2003]

_____. 31 January 2003. World Food Programme. Francesco Strippoli. "WFP Emergency Report No. 05 of 2003." (Relief Web) http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/0/36417d3ed6e06cfa85256cbf006f8370?OpenDocument [Accessed 17 July 2003]

_____. 24 January 2003. World Food Programme. Francesco Strippoli. "WFP Emergency Report No. 04 of 2003." (Relief Web) http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/0/2D974CB51076301085256CB8005FD55D?OpenDocument&Start=1&Count=1000&ExpandView&StartKey=Caribbean:+Tropical+Storm+Lili+-+Sep+2002 [Accessed 18 July 2003]

_____. 17 January 2003. World Food Programme. Francesco Strippoli. "WFP Emergency Report No. 03 of 2003." (Relief Web) http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/0/44269c05ffd405ed85256cb1005f294c?OpenDocument [Accessed 18 July 2003]

Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran (VIRI) [Mashhad, in Dari]. 26 May 2003. "Afghan Official Says Security Calm in Eastern Province-Iranian Radio." (BBC Monitoring/Dialog)

The Weekend Australian [Sydney]. 12 July 2002. "Bomb Explodes in Afghanistan." http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,6745073%5E1702,00.html [Accessed 22 July 2003]

Xinhua News Agency. 15 May 2003. "Afghan Government to Be Tough on Customs Revenue Issue with Border Provinces." (World Bank Newsletter 12 May 2003-16 May 2003/Factiva Select) http://www1.worldbank.org/publicsector/tax/southasia512.htm [Accessed 22 July 2003]

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites, including:

Afghan Web

Afghanistan Daily Digest

Afghanistan Information Management Service (AIMS)

Eurasianet.org

European Country of Origin Information Network

International Crisis Group

Radio Free Afghanistan

Relief Web

UNHCR