London 2010: New chance for Afghanistan?

Dossier

London 2010: New chance for Afghanistan?

The international assistance effort in Afghanistan has entered a critical phase with many potential outcomes. A debate has flared in Germany questioning whether German troops should continue to assist in developing and bringing peace to Afghanistan. This debate also seems to provide the option of reaching a simple decision between war and peace as a possible conclusion to the situation.

However, the situation is far more complex and can neither be evaluated nor understood by simply providing such basic answers. A successful assessment of the current situation can only be reached by grouping together a variety of different perspectives and by taking into account the past, present and possible future outcomes as well as the needs of the Afghan people.

Hence, for ‘Afghanistan: The London Conference’ taking place on January 28, 2010, this Afghanistan Dossier offers a variety of articles, analysis and commentary from Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Germany, regarding the current situation in Afghanistan and its potential outcomes.

Note: This dossier reflects the status of 2010 and will no longer be updated.

The current dossier can be found here: Afghanistan 2011-10 Years of International Engagement
The current dossier on the German side can be found here: Afghanistan 2011-10 Jahre Internationales Engagement

Gallery

Civil development and reconstruction in Afghanistan

Rebuilding a road between Jalalabad and Konar

Pictures: © Gregor Enste

Perspectives from Germany

Article

State-building light won’t work. The path of re-constructing Afghanistan

February 7, 2010 - In this commentary, former UN Special Representative for Afghanistan, Tom Koenigs, discusses the outcome of the London Conference with a focus on US and German engagement in reconstructing Afghanistan. more»

Perspectives from Afghanistan

AIHRC Press Release about London Conference

January 30, 2010 - The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) issued a press release for the London Conference. It hopes that all actions taken are based on active participation of Afghans, that human rights, women’s rights, freedom of speech and media and civil society’s activities are protected and supported and that the values of justice, litigation and ending of impunity are top priorities. more»

Statement from the Afghan Civil Society to the 2010 London Conference

- January 29, 2010 - The six major coordinating bodies of civil society and NGO groups in Afghanistan call on the participants of the London Conference to ensure that the needs of the Afghan people remain forefront on the international community’s agenda. The statement highlights priorities in three areas—security, governance, and economic and social development—and includes the call to immediately cease any attempt to utilise civil society and NGO actors to pursue a military objective. more»

Open Letter

Demands of the “50% Campaign” to the International Afghanistan Conference

- January 27, 2010 - On January 16, 2010, the 50% Campaign, an Afghan group of women’s rights and citizenry activists, published an open letter. They ask the Afghan Government and the international community at the International Afghanistan Conference in London to stand by their obligations before the Afghan women and to deal with their demands. more»

Interview

"Afghanistan needs to heal its trauma of injustice"

- January 20, 2010 - In an interview Aziz Rafiee, the Managing Director of the Afghan Civil Society Forum, talks about how the funding for Afghanistan could be employed better, the German involvement in the country and why he doesn't think the Talibn will negotiate. Interview by Johannes Kode more»

Open Letter of Afghan Women to the Parlamentarians of Germany

- December 1, 2009 - A group of Afghan women activists from politics, media and civil society in Afghanistan met in the office of the Heinrich-Böll-Foundation in Kabul. Now they adress an open letter to the Members of Parliament. more»

Perspectives from Pakistan

Afghanistan: The Missing Strategy

January 20, 2010 - President Barack Obamas strategy for Afghanistan probably only satisfied the American audience who will support a continued US war effort only if there is a fixed deadline for starting to pull out US troops. Those who feel the war is futile were bound to be disappointed. But the reaction in Afghanistan and Pakistan has been equally skeptical. By Ahmed Rashid more»

Background information

Publication

Afghanistan’s Parliament in the Making

June 29, 2009 - The involvement of women in Afghanistan’s public life is decreasing. Attacks, vigilantism, and legal processes that contradict the basic principles of human and women’s rights are the order of the day. This book, based on interviews of male and female members of parliament, examines the realities of parliamentary work in Afghanistan. more»

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Publication series democracy, Volume 16

Pakistan

- December 28, 2009 - This publication is designed to provide a differentiated view of Pakistan’s complex political processes and social challenges to a broad international audience. Authors from a variety of disciplines present their analyses of Pakistan’s deficits and shortcomings, as well as their ideas and visions for a more democratic and peaceful future. more»

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21.2.	„A Lot Like You“ - Filmabend und Diskussion - Filmreihe “Her Stories - Filmmakers with African Roots”
28.2.	Green Lecture mit Rob Hopkins: Transition – Modell für eine zukunftsfähige Lebensweise? - Internationale Vortragsreihe zu Zukunftsfähigkeit, nachhaltiger Entwicklung und Ressourcengerechtigkeit Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, Berlin
6.3.	Symposium: Im Bann der sinnlichen Natur - Wege in eine lebensfördernde Gesellschaft
14.3.	„The Place in Between“ - Filmabend mit Diskussion - Filmreihe “Her Stories - Filmmakers with African Roots”
22.- 24.3.	Energize, Polarize, Mobilize! Human Rights, Participation, Activism, Internet. - International Workshop Conference Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, Berlin
9./10. 4.	Energiewende – Think European! - International Conference Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, Berlin
17.5.	„Footprints of my Other“ - Filmabend und Diskussion - Filmreihe “Her Stories - Filmmakers with African Roots”
13.6.	Kurzfilme von Afro-Europäischen Fimemacherinnen - Filmreihe “Her Stories - Filmmakers with African Roots”
1.- 11.9.	Chicago - Hamburgs Partnerstadt in den USA